MHP help

jamcdow · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 05:07 PM

Hello, recently purchased Uniden BCD99T with ARC software. Software works great with the RR database and had no problems getting up and running. Problem is I just can't get any traffic from DPS (Highway Patrol). I"ve loaded the DPS data as it exists in the RR DB. I don't have outside antenna but only live about 12 miles from the main DPS office in Jackson and would expect to hear something. Also drove about 100 miles on the interstate the other day and never heard a peep. Any tips on what may be my problem? Thanks.

nexus · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 06:28 PM

You should be scanning 42.1200 mhz for dispatch in Jackson and 42.1800 mhz for the units in jackson. This is where you're going to hear all of your traffic.

With just the supplied antenna you're gonna have to be close in, within a couple of miles or so in order to hear the units. You might get 5 or 6 miles with the dispatch depending on how high their antenna is and the power they're putting out. Try programming in all of the Fixed point-to-point UHF frequencies on here Mississippi State Agencies Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

You might have better luck hearing that way. Most of the time I have to use the 458.000 mhz point-to-point to be able to hear them. That freq is for the Gulf Coast though. Not sure which one is in jackson so just try programming them all in and scan them all.

Hopefully in a year or so MHP along with all of the state agencies will move to the 700mhz State wide system and you'll be able to listen to them on your 996. See the link in the database for the MS Wireless Interopt. Network. Scanner Frequencies: Mississippi Wireless Interoperable Network (MWIN) Trunking System, Jackson, Mississippi

Believe me there is nothing wrong with your scanner. MHP has always been very difficult to monitor with just a back of set or rubber duck antenna. Because they put out low power and they're talking direct, not through a repeater you have to be close in to get to them. I find they don't talk too much on the air either. Like I've seen them pull people over and never hear a peep. Either they were using nextel or cellular phones to talk back to dispatch. But that's just been my experience down here on the coast. It might be completely different up north. I hardly ever hear anything on the MHP freqs.

jamcdow · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I'm going to go park in the DPS main parking lot one day next week and set up there just to hear them once. Also shopping around for outside antennas so I'm sure that will help.
Thanks again.

milf · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 12:40 AM

Get a mag mout ant and youll hear them in Jackson fine on the Lo Band. Also some traffic on the Rankin Co TRS. They should be getting tg's on the Central MS Regional Net.... Cap PD and UMC PD are on it... only makes sense... And like Nexus stated,... in the next five years MWIN will build out hopefully. I used to live in both Copiah County, and in Jackson... Was able to monitor the dispatch easily and they are not real busy except of course early am evening rush.. and weekends. You should get the vehicle repeaters just fine most of the time for the units within 5 to 10 miles of you at least that was my experience using a PRO 92, 94, 2052, 97, and my 96.

MississippiPI · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 12:40 AM

I have a freind with MHP who advised that alot of those units are operating on either a counties channell or some are using satellite communication..

Be safe

bee · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 10:17 AM

I don't know for a fact, but I do not believe MHP is using, "satellite communications". If so, it is the first time I have heard that!

MississippiPI · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 10:28 AM

I have also found that if you are in the jackson area and want to monitor the units talking back to dispatch; there are times that I hear them on 42.185--they use split frequencies.

Be Safe

SFD722 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 03:41 PM

Just some comments:

The two frequencies that Nexus mentioned are going to be your best bet. Also try 42.200 (statewide car-to-car).

There are no districts that dispatch over satellite. The only agencies that utilize it regularly is Homeland Security, MDWFP, and MEMA. I iknow there are quite a few others but those are the most frequent users.

I've learned that the amount of traffic from dispatch-to-car and car-to-car varies WIDELY between districts. I think it just depends on the individual district. I do a good bit of dispatching over the radio, but since troopers are regularly checking in and out of their vehicles, the radio sometimes becomes secondary to state cell phones.

Nexus spoke about MWIN--I would think (and this is completely my opinion) that expecting that to be operational in the central region within a year is a big stretch. Considering it's taken this long to get the southern region operational, and the fact that they're still trying to iron out problems with finding tower sites in the central region, I wouldn't expect it in the next 2-3 years at least. I heard one radio tech say that he wouldn't be surprised that the equipment they've got now will be out of warranty by the time they get all of it in service. From the looks of the progress so far, and what I'm hearing from our techs and the priority they seemed to have placed on the project, statewide MHP operation on MWIN is still a giant pipe dream at this point.

milf · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 05:00 PM

Oh yeah dont forget the statewide repeaters on 45.3200 its a lot of intradistrict car to car on it... But its also used as district primary in the event of the 42 MHz going down... Many times I heard this in D-9 Brookhaven. From what I heard from my cousin who is now Public Service Commish for Central (formerly State Senator) MWIN in Central is behind, but he said about five years for that,.. Northern is a LONG ways off.