McKinney P25

[MaxTracker]

Hello Danny - Good post!

Like I mentioned there are a lot of rumors flying about the McKinney System and who is going to join and who wants to join. We got a book by D/FW Communications in Fannin County outlying the radio system and the costs if We wanted to Join it. I believe both Grayson and Hunt were also sent this also, It shows future expansion into Princeton and North towards Blue ridge. I guess I confused that with Princeton actually going on it. And yes, to add a site/site controller was in the million dollar range let alone the radio cost of 5 to 7 thousand dollars a piece.

I know some McKinney Fire guys who absolutely hate it, but I also know some McKinney cops who love it and rub it in us scanner folks faces every chance they can get. But many of the officers also know it is kind of BS because there are decent folks out here who are not criminals that like listening. I've also heard (And I am not knocking radio reference at all) That McKinney wanted their Police traffic off the internet and was really concerned that anyone with an iPhone could listen in without the need of a scanner. Radio Reference is NOT a top secret website for both Crook or Cop.

If I pay half a million for Radio Encryption I am going to use it also. But I would like to see them wise up and create a few TG's in the clear for at least interoperability reasons.

We'll all see how this unfolds over the next few years. It sux not being able to hear them but its also comforting knowing that criminals can't either. McKinney is professional enough that I still feel safe in their city even without being able to hear them, Dallas I'd be Leary of in the same circumstance.

Brian, Nice website ... bookmarked ya.

73's

[reedeb]

As someone who has been in Public safety communiations for over 20 years I see good and bad here. I see the need to SOMETIMES encrypt [stakeouts and very sensetive issues] BUT other times from my experience many folks in "scannerland" do indeed help out with info. If LEO's are looking for a certain car or person [if it's sooo secret why broadcast it in newspapers or on TV?] I've been out looking for a smoke check and have someone with a scanner go thru the area and notice it and let us know [saved more then 1 home in several instances]

With todays economic woes I cannot forsee too many more changeovers without the population having a fit about the waste [not when you have teachers laid off other personal also getting the pink slip and shutting down other services]

[rkh]

Originally Posted by bhall7

Hearing some activity tonight on TG 6 (dec), that sounds like some tactical PD work.

UPDATE (4/8/11, 8:30 pm): Just went silent.

Yeah, I heard that too. Given their love for encryption, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Must have been an exercise or rookies who were purposely not shown the encrypt button :-) It was all over by 8:30 when the med unit was called in for minor injuries.

I don't know how encryption is handled on their radios. Maybe it's by channel and they didn't realize that this particular channel was 'open', given that they have seldom used it since switching over.

The odd thing is I hear a fair amount of traffic on ch. 1 in the clear. Why not encrypt everything just to keep things simple. Given that scanners are cheaper than the moto's, maybe they have other parties whom they want to be in on the discussion - sometimes.

[jschandua87]

I am thinking about moving here but I would like to hear the McK-PD are they still Encryption or have they let up on it? And I hope someone can make a program that would help us hear them. That alot of money spent on this area.

[procopper7005]

Even though a TG is encrypted its still recorded by dispatch (at least most main TG's are). You can always submit an open records request and pay for a recording for a certain time frame.

[jschandua87]

ok so what can I hear if I am In McKinney?

[hiegtx]

Originally Posted by jschandua87

ok so what can I hear if I am In McKinney?

The encrypted portioon of the McKinney system is not monitorable. No way to receive it, no software to decode it, etc. However, the fire groups are in the clear and could be tracked.

You'd also be able to monitor the Collin County system, which also includes a number of the smaller cities.Depending on where, in the McKinney area you settle, you may also be able to monitor the PAWM (Plano, Allen, Wylie, Murphy) and Frisco systems.

Other area systems, a bit farther out, but possible depending on location, scanner & antenna used, would be the Denton (county) system, maybe Lewisville or Carrollton, Garland, Mesquite. Dallas is Uhf conventional, but is a fairly strong signal. So is Dallas County (Vhf-high), both found on the Dallas County page.

There are other systems and cities, again depending on your exact location, as well as scanner & antenna used, but still plenty to hear besides McKinney PD.

[musicman476]

Originally Posted by jschandua87

I am thinking about moving here but I would like to hear the McK-PD are they still Encryption or have they let up on it? And I hope someone can make a program that would help us hear them. That alot of money spent on this area.

Don't count on a "program" to let us hear them. It is illegal to decode encrypted communications. Right now, all you can hear is some occasional FD traffic, but it's been spotty in my experience.

In response to the poster upthread who mentioned McKinney ISD: They were never on the McKinney TRS. Up until a few years ago, they had their own VHF radios, but now they've gone entirely to Nextel. I THINK McKinney PW has gone that way, too?

[muduout1968]

yes mckinney texas police still blocked fire are still on line but can not find out what happenn to collin county sheriffs feeds ?

[bhall7]

Collin County re-banded recently. Do a search on the RadioReference forums and you'll find some helpful posts for tuning in. Your scanner must be capable of scanning re-banded trunked radio systems, though.