In Harris Co.. can I listen to Hidalgo Co?

[aeroz51]

I live in Harris County.. I would like to listen to the Hidalgo County in South Tx (about 400 miles away). Is this possible? Or am I limited to my surrounding areas only? I have a BCT8 - using it as desktop with original antenna.

[mfn002]

You're out of luck there. The maximum range for a VHF signal is about 100 miles. I'm not too sure what they have down there, but I can guarantee you that you'll never hear it in Houston. Therefore, you're only limited to Harris and the surrounding counties.

[aeroz51]

Thats good to know, Thank you. I spent some time yesterday trying to program those frequencies... thats why I couldnt hear anything. I have the preprogrammed channels that came with my BCT8. I like listening to just about everything though. Can you recommend any good channels? (I listen to anything interesting!)

[mfn002]

Houston PD and FD, of course. I would also recommend listening to some of the various FD's and PD's around the county (ones that are not on TxWARN):

Bellaire PD: 460.175/PL167.9
Bellaire FD: 460.600/PL167.9
Cypress-Creek (Cy-Creek) EMS: 453.125/PL192.8
Cypress-Creek (Cy-Creek) Fire: 453.300/PL141.3
Cypress-Fairbanks (Cy-Fair) Fire: 453.600/DPL143
Little York FD: 453.4625/PL192.8
Northwest VFD: 453.575/PL192.8
Rosehill FD: 159.390/PL146.2
Texas Medical Center PD: 155.580/PL136.5
Cloverleaf FD: 155.715/PL203.5
Channelview FD: 154.370/PL167.9
Huffman FD: 154.445/PL136.5
Harris County Emergency Communications District (Dispatches for several small FD's): 155.385/PL192.8

[aeroz51]

Thanks. I have a dumb question... When I program these, for example: Bellaire PD.. do I just enter 460.175? What is the PL? I can enter all of this into one bank, correct?

[mfn002]

Originally Posted by aeroz51

Thanks. I have a dumb question... When I program these, for example: Bellaire PD.. do I just enter 460.175? What is the PL? I can enter all of this into one bank, correct?

Yes, just enter 460.175. PL (Private Line) is the "official" name for CTCSS. Same goes for DCS, it's known as DPL (Digital Private Line). You can enter these channels in the same bank. There are bunches of others, just look here:
Harris County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

[N5AMS]

Originally Posted by mfn002

Houston PD and FD, of course. I would also recommend listening to some of the various FD's and PD's around the county (ones that are not on TxWARN):

Texas Medical Center PD: 155.580/PL136.5

This one is obsolete they are on the TxWarn P25 system now

[mfn002]

Originally Posted by N5AMS

This one is obsolete they are on the TxWarn P25 system now

No, not really. I still hear it when I'm in Houston.

[aeroz51]

Do I program these as LTR? I tried programming them as E2-800 and I got an error message. It accepted the frequencies as LTR... just wondering if I programmed it correctly. Thank you for all your help. Greatly appreciated.

[mfn002]

Originally Posted by aeroz51

Do I program these as LTR? I tried programming them as E2-800 and I got an error message. It accepted the frequencies as LTR... just wondering if I programmed it correctly. Thank you for all your help. Greatly appreciated.

What are you referring to?

[aeroz51]

The Houston and Bellair PD frequencies

Bellaire PD: 460.175/PL167.9
Bellaire FD: 460.600/PL167.9
Cypress-Creek (Cy-Creek) EMS: 453.125/PL192.8
Cypress-Creek (Cy-Creek) Fire: 453.300/PL141.3
Cypress-Fairbanks (Cy-Fair) Fire: 453.600/DPL143
Little York FD: 453.4625/PL192.8
Northwest VFD: 453.575/PL192.8
Rosehill FD: 159.390/PL146.2
Texas Medical Center PD: 155.580/PL136.5
Cloverleaf FD: 155.715/PL203.5
Channelview FD: 154.370/PL167.9
Huffman FD: 154.445/PL136.5
Harris County Emergency Communications District (Dispatches for several small FD's): 155.385/PL192.8
__________________

[mfn002]

Nope. All conventional (non-trunked).