CHP RADIO SYSTEMS
PART 4
1987-2000
THE 1987 GE RADIO FLEET
(Note: Because this equipment is still in use, the photos and more details are found on my separate web page called CHP 2001 described below)
GE RANGR RADIO:
In 1986, the CHP began the evaluation process for the purchase of new radios. RCA had already exited the land mobile radio business, which left a choice of Motorola or GE. For reasons known only to those who made the purchasing decisions, but mainly because they were willing to design a "special for CHP" control head and were also the low bidder, the contract this time went to GE (later Ericsson-GE). GE supplied their RANGR 100 Watt low band mobile radio, with the series S810 alpha-numeric display integrated control head, which is still in use. It would take more than two years to completely replace the existing radio fleet with the new GE equipment, which was for the most part not retrofitted into existing vehicles in the field. Thus, in 1990, for example, there were a few area offices still using the older Micor mobiles and original GE MVR-16 repeaters in their vehicles. The RANGR equipment began to be phased into the fleet in approximately late 1987 or early 1988 and probably wasn't fully integrated until perhaps 1990 or even 1991. It appears that the Mustang cars were the last to get the RANGR equipment; there are examples of new 1989 Mustangs leaving the assembly line with the older Motorola Micor equipment.
The RANGR mobile radio was manufactured in Japan by JRC, to a GE design which is basically a copy of their Delta-SX USA-made radio, and then merely labeled "GE". Apparently the "Buy American" policy in place at State of California purchasing overlooked this issue. It was developed specifically for the CHP but has since found widespread use in other agencies and on other frequency bands. It is small, rugged and reliable, mounted in a cast metal frame. It is synthesized and programmable; the frequency storage and all personality aspects of the radio are contained in the "smart" control head. The GE control head also controls the siren/PA equipment via a number of TTL-level data lines and there is a serial data output which controls the emergency lighting via a separate control box located in the vehicle trunk. There is a mobile repeater as in the previous generation of radios, although in this case it is a newer generation of the original GE Executive II MVR which had a redesigned and modernized logic section, but was otherwise identical in appearance to the originals. The model number is RVR-16HS and it was apparently made only for CHP. That repeater has now in turn been (to some extent) replaced by a Pyramid Communications repeater, made in Huntington Beach, California. The motorcycles, starting in 1996, were also equipped with a mobile repeater, but in that case it consisted of a modified GE MP-A series portable radio mounted in a small box with a voltage dropping circuit to allow it to run from 12 volts. The M-PA is software programmable and in this case has been specially programmed to act as a "simplex" repeater. These are still in use as of 2011.
The S810 RANGR control head was developed by GE specifically for the CHP but later redesigned as a "stock" "over the counter" item, re-numbered S825, and called the "System" control head by GE. The CHP version contains older and completely different firmware, as well as a different rubber keypad overlay, but it is actually, in a way, more versatile than the "off the shelf" S825 head. There have been at least three versions of the overlay supplied to the CHP. The RANGR is also used on motorcycles, but with the simpler head numbered S815, which GE refers to as their "scan" version S820 control head in the "off the shelf" model. The S815 does not have the lighting control right-hand keypad buttons as used on the S810. When the majority of the motorcycles began to be equipped with the M-PA vehicular repeater mentioned above, that repeater was attached to the top of the RANGR radio, which required a spacer under the top lid of the white fiberglass weather housing as supplied by GE. The current BMW cycles use a streamlined radio housing made and supplied by BMW, which does not require a spacer, and the GE housings last used on the Kawasaki KZ1000's have been retired and surplused.
The GE Rangr CHP equipment can be programmed by either the TQ-2310 "Suitcase" programmer, or the TQ-3370 interface box although the earliest software appears to have only been available via the suitcase programmer. In both cases, only the S810 or S815 control heads are programmed. The radio drawer itself is then programmed by the control head each time the head is powered up or a new bank of channels is selected.
Photos and information on the present CHP mobile radios can be found here: CHP 2001
In approximately late 1987, at the same time the mobile fleet began to be modernized, the hand-held radio was upgraded to the GE MPS, a 12 channel synthesized (programmable) radio otherwise identical in appearance to the existing older 2 channel MPR unit. Some of the MPS radios featured voice encryption (scrambling); those were used for dignitary escort and were kept in Sacramento and only issued for special needs. The MPS is programmed by use of the special GE TQ- series "suitcase programmer" and an interface cable which plugs into a series of pin-sockets on the back of the radio mother-board. In late 1996, the GE MPS hand-helds were replaced by the Motorola HT-1000 portable. The HT-1000 is presently in service although as of 2008 the CHP is transitioning to a 700 MHz "extender" system and has awarded at least one hand-held radio contract to EF Johnson.
The frequencies programmed into the MPS were as follows:
CH 1: 154.905 Simplex, PL for Car to Station (S)
CH 2: 154.905 Simplex, PL for Car to Car (C)
CH 3: 154.905 Simplex, No PL, Portable to Portable
CH 4: 154.920 Simplex, CLEMARS mutual aid
CH 5: 156.075 Simplex, CALCORD Mutual Aid
CH 6: 155.475 Simplex, NALEMARS National Mutual Aid
CH 7: 154.905 Simplex no PL (Portable to portable)
CH 8 through 12: As channel 7 above, subject to change per area office involved.
By approximately 1996, the MPS had in turn been replaced by Motorola HT 1000 units, as shown below.
THE SCANNERS
As described in the previous page, CHP began the 1990's using the Regency Turbo Scan TS-2.
By 1989 the TS-2 was being replaced by the Uniden MR 8100, although either type could be seen through about 1993. By 1993, the MR 8100 had been installed on an almost fleet-wide basis.
By 2000, the Uniden scanners were in turn being replaced by the Bearcat 760 XLT.
RELAY BOXES
Note that the relay boxes for the scanners to use the existing communications antenna, as introduced in 1981, were still used in this era. See the previous page covering CHP radio equipment where photos of this relay box are shown.
THE MOBILE "EXTENDER" Equipment
The VHF 154.905 MHz portable to car equipment was upgraded to a second generation GE Executive II unit which appears physically identical to the original MVR16 unit, except that the logic circuitry is modernized. The original "MVR" is shown below. The newer unit is of identical appearance.
By the late 1990's CHP had begun to use the Pyramid brand mobile repeater. These are shown on the next page, in the CHP 2001 section.
IN-VEHICLE COMPUTERS
The use of in-vehicle computers did not begin on any meaningful scale until approximately 1997, when the antennas for the low band radio began being moved to the roof primarily to avoid interference to and by the computer. More data can be found on the CHP 2001 page. As computers were installed in the cars, the shotguns began to be removed from the passenger compartment and were placed in the trunk.
THE FATE OF THE 1977 MOTOROLA/GE RADIO FLEET:
In 1987, GE did not accept the Motorola Micor radio fleet as trade-in credit for the new RANGR radios. Instead, CHP participated in a program where most electronic equipment was sent to the State Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento where it was warehoused and recycled. By recycling, it is meant that city, county and state agencies as well as the Red Cross, Explorer Scouts and so forth could draw whatever they needed from this warehouse essentially without charge. The GE RANGR radio changeover was apparently complete by about 1990 although as mentioned above, there is evidence the Micor equipment was for some reason still being installed in Mustang cars as late as 1989. Thus, the 1977 fleet was saved from destruction, although pieces of it have been scattered throughout the State of California and beyond as a result.
Concluding Notes: Every time I think I have all the details straight, I learn something which throws me a curve, or I find new material, and it's then necessary to re-write part of this page. Sometimes inaccurate information creeps in, an unavoidable aspect of a project this large, which is an ongoing effort of refinement.. So don't be surprised if you check back later and find that some of the information has changed. Please also note that the dates shown for when equipment was put into service are not absolute as far as when the previous equipment was removed from service. In other words, it took anywhere up to three or four years to completely replace the entire radio fleet, and was done as each new vehicle left Sacramento. Some installations were modified in the field so that they were not technically the same as the way they left Sacramento. In a system as large as this, there will always be variations, and always exceptions to the "general rule."
NOTE TO POLICE CAR RESTORERS: It has come to my attention that certain websites may contain photos of "restored" CHP cars and motorcycles containing bogus radio installations. These cars and cycles are also occasionally offered on eBay and at collector auctions as "totally authentic," which they are not. It is suggested that before you waste a lot of money purchasing one of these fakes, or equipment which is represented to be genuine, do your homework!
This page created by Geoff Fors, Monterey California. Not officially sponsored by the State of California or the California Highway Patrol. If you have any additional information, historical data or photos, or have any suggestions, please do contact me by e-mail, at geoff @wb6nvh.com. I hope to find others who are also interested in preserving this history. I am always looking for CHP radio equipment, parts, manuals, etc. for this "virtual museum" and my collection, particularly the pre-1960 equipment, as well as almost any ancient land mobile radio equipment and documentation. I am still trying to find the RCA radio drawers for the CHP-Special Super Carfone and Super Fleetfone 1960's radios, motorcycle equipment pre-1978, and control heads for the Philco prewar police receivers and the RCA CMV-3 "Fleetfone." Don't let history wind up in the landfill ! I also need photos from the 1970's and earlier (full credit will be given) especially of the car interiors, people involved in CHP radio systems, and of the equipment in actual use.
THIS PAGE CONTINUED, 2001 AND LATER
last updated: 3/14/2012 © Geoffrey C. Fors , 1998 All rights reserved