Police radio goes fully digital

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

After years of tinkering, the Honolulu Police Department switched over to an all-digital communications system yesterday and reported no immediate problems.

The department began the switch at 10 a.m. yesterday and activated all eight police districts without any major problems, said Myron Yamaki of the HPD technology division.

"It went fairly well," Yamaki said. "Digital voice is a cleaner signal. It's a secure signal for the police officers."

Unlike analog systems, digital radios convert voice transmissions to a numerical code that thwarts eavesdropping.

Police wanted a complete digital switchover when the city acquired the system in 1998, but gaps in the radio coverage, along with time required for hardware and software changes, forced the postponement of the full conversion while the patrol division kept using the analog system.

The digital system was activated in 1998 for an initial outlay of $20 million, but "dead spots" and other improvements forced the city to spend an estimated $40 million on the system.

Police Cpl. Leland Cadoy said yesterday's switchover went smoothly, but he said he's still taking a wait-and-see approach.

"In the next couple of days, we'll be able to see some of the flaws or problems, but for right now as of this morning, the switch was good," said Cadoy, who works in Waikiki. "Right now it's working really good. It's clearer, it comes out a lot cleaner. As far as audio goes, we can understand each other. For now, it sounds really good. I like it. It's a big difference. "

With the total conversion, hobbyists who monitor police radio will not be able to use their analog, or nondigital, scanners to decode transmissions.