Trunked comm. in Parsons (S.E.Kansas)

joekansas · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 12:02 AM

I started asking these questions in the "check in" thread, deleted them, and started a new thread.........

I've got a pro-2050 and want to experience some trunked system transmissions, but don't know squat about what exactly to do to. I want to listen to KHP trunked, but I see I have the wrong scanner.

Found the freq's list for who's trunked in Kansas, I see EDACS, KSISC, motorola, and a bunch of other abbreviations which are greek to me. Don't be afraid to give me a long winded explanations, and please explain what abbreviations mean that you use. I can read up and learn as I go, but I want to filter out things that are above this scanners' capabilities. Need to learn to walk before you run.

On the "all trunked systems in Labette county" I find the only thing close is Coffeyville refinery and Westar. The refinery is probably too far away- it says they have an effective range of 25 miles and I think that's too far.

Westar enery is right in my area. Says they are in the 900 mhz range so I will try and insert some of their freqs and see what happens.

As far as the control channel versus the communication channel, do I just put all the freqs. in the bank I am using as trunk tracking and let it sorts things out? Have to do nothing special?

On the other hand, does any Ks. state law enforcement division do any broadcasting down in VHF-lo band anymore that I may be able to pick up in SEK?

jereck_99 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 10:55 AM

Hey Joekansas you have to have a digtal scanner to listen to KHP in that area i know because i travel that alot. Radio shack is the best on the market and easier to program and question email me back.

n0lqt · #3 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 11:25 AM

Well, other than APCO-25 digital systems that your current radio won't receive, there just isn't too much analog Public Safety Trunking systems in your area anymore. Springfield (which is probably too far away, unless you have a good tower and beam) Scanner Frequencies: Springfield / Greene County Public Safety/Services - 800 Mhz Trunking System, Springfield, Missouri would be about the busiest I am aware of in the area. There are several commercial and business systems in the near area such as Westar Energy Scanner Frequencies: Westar Energy - 900 MHz (KS/MO) Trunking System, Various, Multi-State There is also the State of Oklahome DPS/Tulsa system, Scanner Frequencies: State of Oklahoma DPS / City of Tulsa Trunking System, Various, Oklahoma but even that is quickly switching to APCO-25 digitial I believe. There is still a lot to listen to on it that isn't digital or encrypted (last I knew almost all of the EMS traffic was being encrypted due to privacy concerns). I only get to listen to it when I go visit my brother down in Oklahoma though.

As far as putting the systems into you radio, with the Pro-2050, you are limited to Motorola analog trunked systems (what are referred to as Type I, Type II, or Hybrid system) This link ( Programming Shortcut Pro-2050 - The RadioReference Wiki ) gives you much clearer instructions than the supplied manual. (You have to remember all instruction manuals are written in Japanese, translated to Swahili, then German, and then English... ;-) I don't really remember if the 2050 was one of the scanners you only have to enter the control channels (the frequency where you hear a continous data stream that sounds like a bunch of angry bees) or whether you have to enter all of the channels used by a particular tower. I'd start with something simple like one of the Type II systems (Westar), pick a nearby tower site, and enter just the control channels first. If you don't hear any traffic after a hour or so, go back and enter the remaining voice channles if you have to.

Also, I'd start saving my pennies for a new P-25 capable scanner. More and more areas will be switching to this in the coming years and they will still pick up the analog conventional and trucked systems. Radio Shack has been running a lot of sales on the Pro-106 (20-106) Pro-197 (20-197) although neither one is on sale right now. Both have been as low as $349 (or less if you happen ot catch a "Friends and Family Sale at the same time). I have no idea when they might go back on sale again, but I'm sure they will.....

joekansas · #4 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 11:47 AM

Very well, guys- I appreciate the comeback.
I'm very glad I found this site- especially the regular VHF freqs. that seem quite up to date. Does this info get updated from, for instance, FCC data or is it from scanner enthusiasts who happen to search and find transmissions?

Our county had a new EMS channel - 151.070 - that I found on here that I would've never came across searching. This is a good site!

KAA951 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekansas

On the other hand, does any Ks. state law enforcement division do any broadcasting down in VHF-lo band anymore that I may be able to pick up in SEK?

Lowband is pretty well dead in Kansas. KHP stopped installing low-band in their cars about 8 years ago and tore out all their low-band systems.

However, there is a interoperability sytstem, called Motobridge, where KDOT put low-band, high-band, UHF and analog 800 transmitters using mutual aid freqs on all of their towers. The low-band transmitters use the old 39.58 and 39.46 freqs but are fairly low power (50 watts if I remember correctly) and I do not see them being used very often as most agencies don't have low-band anymore.

Motobridge is neat in that it allows anyone with the mutual aid channels programmed in their radio to tap into the state radio system. The user contacts the KHP dispatcher in Salina on a mutual aid channel of the tower that is closest to them and requests a radio patch. The dispatcher then patches the radio channel they are on with any other Motobridge channel in the state or directly into the state KSICS P-25 trunking system.

So, hypothetically a Deputy Sheriff in Pittsburg operating his portable radio on high-band could patch through the system and talk directly to a Trooper who is on his 800 MHZ portable radio on I-70 near Goodland. The key (and primary downfall of the system) is that local agencies have to program the national mutual aid channels into their radios to use the system.

joekansas · #6 (**permalink**) 01-29-2009, 11:13 PM

That is a good idea. Why all the agencies wouldn't go ahead and have mutual aid programmed into everyones mobiles, and bases, is hard to imagine. While the radio service man has their mobiles connected to the programming cable, type in a few more numbers, and viola.......

While I'm here, is a p25 capable scanner a stand alone item, or do you have to get your computer involved to program it? With the economy going towards depression, maybe the price of R.S. scanners will drop.

KAA951 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekansas

While I'm here, is a p25 capable scanner a stand alone item, or do you have to get your computer involved to program it? With the economy going towards depression, maybe the price of R.S. scanners will drop.

The scanner should be a stand alone- however, using a computer (and very lost cost or free software) will make programming and managing your frequencies / systems much easier.

gcombs · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 02:10 PM

I would say the analog vs. digital ratio in Kansas is still very much weighted to the analog....with the major exception being KSICS. Other than the large metro areas (Wichita, Johnson County, and the other greater KC area...) most counties are still using good ole' VHF and UHF for operations.

Labette county can be pretty active at times, and I don't hardly listen to enough of it to be familiar with their systems...but if indeed you do find some new frequencies, pass them along! I'll gladly help you get them in the database.

Happy scanning and good luck. If you have any questions, these guys are great to ask!

n0lqt · #9 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekansas

That is a good idea. Why all the agencies wouldn't go ahead and have mutual aid programmed into everyones mobiles, and bases, is hard to imagine. While the radio service man has their mobiles connected to the programming cable, type in a few more numbers, and viola.......

While I'm here, is a p25 capable scanner a stand alone item, or do you have to get your computer involved to program it? With the economy going towards depression, maybe the price of R.S. scanners will drop.

$$$$

Cost is always the answer in communications. After all, if we can send live video from the surface of Titan, it all comes down to how much do you want to spend to do it. Cities and counties, first of all, have to have a license to use those frequencies. That means FCC applications and the associated process of environmental impact studies and the such. True, for mobile only licensing, the EIS would be fairly straight forward, but how many agencies do you know are going to program in a frequency into mobiles and handhelds only and not have a base system capable of monitoring, transmitting, and recording activity on that channel. That means moving antennas on a tower, adding coax feeds, new equipment, and upgrades to existing equipment. And more a complicated EIS (which is usually done by a outside contractor or consultant) and more $$$$.

I was once told by a county administrator that to add a single channel to an existing radio system (we were studying the costs and feasibility of adding MDTs to all Fire/EMS/Law equipment in the county) that it cost them about $60,000 to $80,000 for about 120 individual units (mobiles, handhelds, and base). As federal and state money dries up, we are going to see a lot of "Hey, that's a great idea! Why hasn't anyone done that yet?"

KAA951 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n0lqt

$$$$

Exactly!

I know several agencies that have 800 digital capable radios that are balking at KDOT wanting $50 per radio to program them onto KSICS. Even though they will have no user fees on the system and won't have to pay anything else- but $50 per radio when you have 50 or 100 radios starts adding up quickly.

Now, the mutual aid channels (should be) a one time re-program that anyone can do- not just KDOT. As far as I am concerned there really is no excuse for not having those programmed into radios across the state. In fact, I would go as far as to say that a state law should be passed that all public safety radios must have the applicable band of mutual aid channels programmed into them- talk about officer / firefighter safety!