Bexar County and San Antonio.

[kirbyfree]

Hello Everyone, just a quick question, I am operating a Uniden BC 346XT Digital Scanner. Is it possible at all to scan the Bexar County Fire Alarm Channels, BCSO, as well as SAFD and/or SAPD Channels, Even if it requires extensive set up I would like to know if it is possible, and if anyone knows, how. Please let me know, Thanks!

[Michael-SATX]

Hello Kirby and welcome to GREatest website Radioreference (You've got Questions, We've got Answers
The gQQd news is that your Uniden BC-346XT supports the EDACS w/"ESK" (Enhanced Security Key)
type trunking method which will allow you to trunk track the Bexar Co Fire Alarm agencies system talkgroups
as well as the very few random analog type "In the clear" talkgroups like a handfull of SAPD Code-3 Calls,etc.
The bad news is that your scanner cannot by itself receive the SAPD, SAFD and BCSO agencies in SATX.
The type of digital that SAPD/BCSO migrated to on Sunday 03/21/2004 is under a strict technology patent.
Example: You being brilliant that you are come up with a new wonder drug to cure cancer, you could enjoy
a 7 year patent before everybody and their mother would be allowed to copy you and have their generics.
However, unlike the medication world, these darn technology patents are different, their indefinite I'm affraid.
So to make a long story short, Uniden and Radio Shack are not legally permited to sell a consumer grade
scanner that will receive our type of digital call "Pro-Voice" we affectionately refer to as "No-Voice" in SA
So for almost 9 years scanning for most folks has been pretty quiet in old San Antonio and sadly so, etc.
Sooo, are you ready for some GREat news ? Thanks to some VERY dedicated folks things have changed !
Not to long ago "extensive" would have set you back around $2500, lot's of hassle, bulky and not portable.
Now the good part as promised, you need to meet your new best friend Mr "DSD" (Digital Spech Decoder).
He's freeware and can finally run on Mr Windows instead of Mr Linux (ie 2 PC's and 2 scanners to lug, etc).
Also, If you were to adopt a new child or toy in the form of the GRECOM PSR-800 Digital Scanner w/updates
you could grab you scanner and toss a laptop or even a netbook under your arm and head out the door
Bottom line: It's all possible and the RR WIKI explains how and sure there is lots of prep before payoff !!!

btw~How is that for a long answer to quick question ? ps~Do you have 346 PC programming software ?

[W8RMH]

Originally Posted by kirbyfree

Hello Everyone, just a quick question, I am operating a Uniden BC 346XT Digital Scanner. Is it possible at all to scan the Bexar County Fire Alarm Channels, BCSO, as well as SAFD and/or SAPD Channels, Even if it requires extensive set up I would like to know if it is possible, and if anyone knows, how. Please let me know, Thanks!

FYI the BC346XT is NOT a digital scanner it is analog only. The BCD396XT is Uniden's digital scanner.

[kirbyfree]

Originally Posted by Michael-SATX

Hello Kirby and welcome to GREatest website Radioreference (You've got Questions, We've got Answers
The gQQd news is that your Uniden BC-346XT supports the EDACS w/"ESK" (Enhanced Security Key)
type trunking method which will allow you to trunk track the Bexar Co Fire Alarm agencies system talkgroups
as well as the very few random analog type "In the clear" talkgroups like a handfull of SAPD Code-3 Calls,etc.
The bad news is that your scanner cannot by itself receive the SAPD, SAFD and BCSO agencies in SATX.
The type of digital that SAPD/BCSO migrated to on Sunday 03/21/2004 is under a strict technology patent.
Example: You being brilliant that you are come up with a new wonder drug to cure cancer, you could enjoy
a 7 year patent before everybody and their mother would be allowed to copy you and have their generics.
However, unlike the medication world, these darn technology patents are different, their indefinite I'm affraid.
So to make a long story short, Uniden and Radio Shack are not legally permited to sell a consumer grade
scanner that will receive our type of digital call "Pro-Voice" we affectionately refer to as "No-Voice" in SA
So for almost 9 years scanning for most folks has been pretty quiet in old San Antonio and sadly so, etc.
Sooo, are you ready for some GREat news ? Thanks to some VERY dedicated folks things have changed !
Not to long ago "extensive" would have set you back around $2500, lot's of hassle, bulky and not portable.
Now the good part as promised, you need to meet your new best friend Mr "DSD" (Digital Spech Decoder).
He's freeware and can finally run on Mr Windows instead of Mr Linux (ie 2 PC's and 2 scanners to lug, etc).
Also, If you were to adopt a new child or toy in the form of the GRECOM PSR-800 Digital Scanner w/updates
you could grab you scanner and toss a laptop or even a netbook under your arm and head out the door
Bottom line: It's all possible and the RR WIKI explains how and sure there is lots of prep before payoff !!!

btw~How is that for a long answer to quick question ? ps~Do you have 346 PC programming software ?t\

First off, Thanks alot for this interesting yet detailed response, It is extremely helpful, Unfortunately I do not have the 346 PC software. I've got just one more question, The BCFA Channels are really the only channels I care about at this point in time.

I see that in the BCFA DEC list that all the channels i need are Mode "A" (Analog). Does that mean that I will in fact be able to monitor them? As for the other SAPD channels you where talking about, What is one example? I don't necessarily want to track them but I would like to know what makes them scan-able and others not. Thanks a lot for your help!

[Michael-SATX]

Kirby, (your first name goes here) your welcome.
I highly recomment that you download the FreeScan PC programming software for 2 reasons:
1) It will considerably boost your learning curve in scanning. 2) It will save your mind and keypad.
Our San Antonio/Bexar Co EDACS TRS has BOTH "D" Digital (Pro-Voice) and "A" (Analog) TG's.
Of our roughly 400 TG's, approx 75~100 TG were programmed in EDACS standard ( "A" Analog mode)
Many are listed as "M" (we have logged both A & D modes) the rest "D" that you scans knows to mute out P/V mode.

OK, here is my idea for your 1st Bank/Scanlist or Quickey in your case Qkey #1 = "BCFA Talkgroups"

BCFA FirePatch-1 Group 1
BCFA FirePatch-2 Group 2
BCFA FirePatch-3 Group 3
BCFA FirePatch-4 Group 4
BCFA FirePatch-5 Group 5
BCFA FirePatch-6 Group 6
BCFA FirePatch-7 Group 7
BCFA Airlife-EMS Group 1082
BCFM Administrat Group 1105
BCFM Investigatn Group 1106
BCFM Inspections Group 1107
BCFM CO EOC Tac1 Group 1108
BCFM CO EOC Tac2 Group 1109
BCFA Fire Access Group 1110
BCFA Fire Tac-3* Group 1111
BCFA Fire Grnd-1 Group 1112
BCFA Fire Grnd-2 Group 1113
BCFA Fire Grnd-3 Group 1114
BCFA Fire Grnd-4 Group 1115
BCFA Fire Grnd-5 Group 1116
BCFA Fire Grnd-6 Group 1117
BCFA Fire Grnd-7 Group 1118
BCFA Fire Grnd-8 Group 1119
BCFA Dispatch911 Group 1814
BCFA Acadian EMS Group 1815

My idea for your Bank/Scanlist or Qkey # 2 ir for your "Interoperability" ( or Interagency TG's on the same Gold TRS )

SAPD Fleetwide * Group 256 ( Yes SAPD Code-3 calls do show up on the Gold as well, mostly on the Blue TRS)
Inter-Op Fleet-W Group 1808
Hailing SAPD 1-M Group 1809
Hailing SAFD 1-A Group 1810
Hailing BCSO Inf Group 1811
Hailing SAPW Str Group 1812
Hailing Airport Group 1818
Hailing 1-Common Group 1819
Hailing OA Call* Group 1823
TxLaw-1 Interop* Group 1817
TxLaw-2 Interop* Group 1816
LCRA-SAC-Interop Group 1841
LCRA-SA1-Interop Group 1842
LCRA-SA2-Interop Group 1843
LCRA-SA3-Interop Group 1844
LCRA-SA4-Interop Group 1845
LCRA-SA5-Interop Group 1846
Outside Agency-1 Group 1601
Outside Agency-2 Group 1602
Outside Agency-3 Group 1603
Outside Agency-4 Group 1604
Outside Agency-5 Group 1605
Outside Agency-6 Group 1606



My idea for your next Bank/Scanlist or Qkey #3 is for the 60 "Mutual Aid TG's" that were and will be used in the big grass fires, etc.
Please setup a new TRS and ONLY enter the Blue Simulcast Layer ( 1=856.4375 leave unused17 & 18 blank, end w/19=854.6625 )

Mutual Aid CH-1 Group 1873
Mutual Aid CH-2 Group 1874
Mutual Aid CH-3 Group 1875
Mutual Aid CH-4 Group 1876
Mutual Aid CH-5 Group 1877
Mutual Aid CH-6 Group 1878
Mutual Aid CH-7 Group 1879
Mutual Aid CH-8 Group 1880
Mutual Aid CH-9 Group 1881
Mutual Aid CH-10 Group 1882
Mutual Aid CH-11 Group 1883
Mutual Aid CH-12 Group 1884
Mutual Aid CH-13 Group 1885
Mutual Aid CH-14 Group 1886
Mutual Aid CH-15 Group 1887
Mutual Aid CH-16 Group 1889
Mutual Aid CH-17 Group 1890
Mutual Aid CH-18 Group 1891
Mutual Aid CH-19 Group 1892
Mutual Aid CH-20 Group 1893
Mutual Aid CH-21 Group 1894
Mutual Aid CH-22 Group 1895
Mutual Aid CH-23 Group 1896
Mutual Aid CH-24 Group 1897
Mutual Aid CH-25 Group 1898
Mutual Aid CH-26 Group 1899
Mutual Aid CH-27 Group 1900
Mutual Aid CH-28 Group 1901
Mutual Aid CH-29 Group 1902
Mutual Aid CH-30 Group 1903
Mutual Aid CH-31 Group 1905
Mutual Aid CH-32 Group 1906
Mutual Aid CH-33 Group 1907
Mutual Aid CH-34 Group 1908
Mutual Aid CH-35 Group 1909
Mutual Aid CH-36 Group 1910
Mutual Aid CH-37 Group 1911
Mutual Aid CH-38 Group 1912
Mutual Aid CH-39 Group 1913
Mutual Aid CH-40 Group 1914
Mutual Aid CH-41 Group 1915
Mutual Aid CH-42 Group 1916
Mutual Aid CH-43 Group 1917
Mutual Aid CH-44 Group 1918
Mutual Aid CH-45 Group 1919
Mutual Aid CH-46 Group 1825
Mutual Aid CH-47 Group 1826
Mutual Aid CH-48 Group 1827
Mutual Aid CH-49 Group 1828
Mutual Aid CH-50 Group 1829
Mutual Aid CH-51 Group 1830
Mutual Aid CH-52 Group 1831
Mutual Aid CH-53 Group 1832
Mutual Aid CH-54 Group 1833
Mutual Aid CH-55 Group 1834
Mutual Aid CH-56 Group 1835
Mutual Aid CH-57 Group 1836
Mutual Aid CH-58 Group 1837
Mutual Aid CH-59 Group 1838
Mutual Aid CH-60 Group 1839

OK, new Bank/Scanlist or Qkey #4 you could use the same Blue TRS freqs and just have these "SAPD TG's" ( rarely in A mode, but randomly yes )

SAPD Fleetwide * Group 256
SAPD NorthPatrol Group 273
SAPD North Open Group 274
SAPD West Patrol Group 275
SAPD West Open Group 276
SAPD SouthPatrol Group 277
SAPD South Open Group 278
SAPD Cntl Patrol Group 279
SAPD 1-H Open Group 280
SAPD East Patrol Group 281
SAPD East Open Group 282
SAPD Prue Patrol Group 283
SAPD Prue Open Group 284
SAPD 1-M Info * Group 285
SAPD 1-N Tr/Gang Group 286
SAPD 1-P RAU Dsp Group 287
SAPD Traf-1 Patr Group 289
SAPD Traf-2 Open Group 290
SAPD 2-C C-Bike Group 291
SAPD TrafficOpen Group 292
SAPD 2-E TAC-1 Group 293
SAPD 2-F TAC-2 Group 294
SAPD Metro/Gangs Group 295
SAPD Spcl Evnts1 Group 296
SAPD Spcl Evnts2 Group 297
SAPD Spcl Evnts3 Group 298
SAPD 2-K Digital Group 299
SAPD 2-L Digital Group 300
SAPD 2-M Digital Group 301
SAPD 2-N Digital Group 302
SAPD TrafficOpen Group 303
SAPD 2-P Blank * Group 334
SAPD Inteligence Group 305
SAPD 3-B ViceOps Group 306
SAPD Narcotics Group 307
SAPD Detectives Group 308
SAPD 3E ROP Team Group 309
SAPD 3-F Open Group 310
SAPD 3-G SWAT Group 311
SAPD Homicide/Sx Group 312
SAPD Auto Thefts Group 313
(skipped do to charater limit when posting, but there never analog anyway ... lol )
Hailing 1-Common Group 1819
LiveOak Interop1 Group 1841 ( I logged SAPD Eagle Helo in "A" mode patched to the Live Oak P25 TRS ie Car Chase, etc)
LiveOak Interop2 Group 1842

ps ~ I left out SAFD & SAFD EMS on purpose, they are 99% in Digital "No-Voice" mode and programming them is a waste of time !!!

btw ~ As for the Q: "What makes them scan" A: Your BC-346XT is an Analog Scanner and will only trunk track "A" or EDACS standard mode.
Further, remember the pesky Pro-Voice patent issue, so Uniden cannot offer EDACS Pro-Voice reception so at least it's processor
and circuitry will at least mute these "D" mode talkgroups ... note you scanner will occasionly mis-track and you will just hear yucky noise.
This annomily will be annoying, but just a fact of scanning a mixed mode system like ours in San Antonio, Texas.
OK, off to sleep, prgramming all these TG's "should" keep you out of trouble for a while ... soooo, how is that reply dad ?

[kirbyfree]

Michael you have answered all my questions, Thank you very much for your help an input, it is greatly appreciated!

[NC5267]

Also remember if the scanner is not ESK capable you can't even monitor the analog TG's, And don't forget BCFA dispatch is still patched to 154.250 and Ops is patched to 153.770

[Michael-SATX]

Mark, the "XT Series" Uniden Scanners support EDACS with "ESK" so Kirby is gQQd to go !
Kirby ( first name still goes here ) I meant to say that you should have BCFA conventional freqs
such as BCFA Dispatch of 154.2500 w/PL=156.7 & BCFA Ops/Tac-3 of 153.7700 w/PL=156.7
and while you at it you might as well toss in Airlife-BHS-SATX of 159.8850 w/PL=203.5 ...

[NC5267]

The old Airlife freq on 159.885 is used just to notify the Crane Operater by University of inboud helos. They moved their primary to a narroband encrypted vhf freq. in the 159 to 160 area(can't remember it off hand). Lindsay posted about it some months ago.

[blantonl]

Originally Posted by Michael-SATX

gQQd to go !

Why do you do that?

[Michael-SATX]

Hmm, I think it's just a defect in my firmware, maybe just trying to be light hearted or impart some levity?
OK, you got me thinking it would be GREat perhaps if I made fixing this bug my New Years resolution

btw ~ Lindsay, what is that new Airlife-BHS-SATX NFM freq that NC5267 mentioned he thought you posted?

ps ~ I will mark the old Airlife159.8850 w/PL=203.5 as a fav, so I can better study any traffic and content, etc.

[NC5267]

It is 159.9525 and it is simplex encrypted. They have a bunch of new vhf licenses in the fcc database. Also heard some encryption on 151.860 simplex in the New Braunfels area as well, which is one of those freqs listed in the fcc database.

[Michael-SATX]

Thanks for that freq NC, what ... no tone info ? I got home at midnight and have heard several old freq 159.8850 w/PL=203.5 Airlife comms.

[NC5267]

I forgot the NAC it is P25 encrypted, only monitored it a couple times and it was encrypted every time

[rattlerbb01]

I'm really gonna have to stop by your shop sometime Michael and get you to show me the setup you use for the DSD. The most technological thing I have used to date is good old Unitrunker. I really only need to hear the northwest side stuff like Boerne and Helotes, but if I could get to hearing some SA ops, it might reignite some interest in my veins. I don't think I have turned the scanner on twice in the last three months.

[Michael-SATX]

That NAC is 273 for that new Airlife P25 freq and yes it's encrypted as I have heard it several times tonight.
I placed 2 scanners right by me, one parked on 159.9525 w/NAC=273 and the other on 159.8850 w/203.5.
More or less, as soon as the Digital/Encrypted P25 traffic would stop, the analog traffic would follow and
several times I would RX traffic on both that would overlap. It's clear that they fly with both, now after 2012?


Airlife-BHS-SATX 159.885000 FM CTCSS 203.5
Airlife-P25eSATX 159.952500 NFM NAC 273 ( because it's P25 encrypted, I will leave it locked out )

[Ensnared]

Since it looks like I'm going to be "forced" to visit SA due to incoming relatives, I wish someone would share their SA Win500 with me. I am interested in listening to anything that can be intercepted. If SA county and SA PD choose to be underground, then I suppose the area is fairly rich with Federal agencies. If you have such, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

[Michael-SATX]

Hello Ensnared,

I will be happy to send you my WIN500 for the San Antonio, Bexar Co Area.
Please reply with your personal email and I will ship right over my GREat file to you.
I sent you a PM also. Yes, there is still stuff to monitor ~ we wish there was more !

Michael-SATX

[Ensnared]

Originally Posted by Michael-SATX

Hello Ensnared,

I will be happy to send you my WIN500 for the San Antonio, Bexar Co Area.
Please reply with your personal email and I will ship right over my GREat file to you.
I sent you a PM also. Yes, there is still stuff to monitor ~ we wish there was more !

Michael-SATX

I greatly appreciate this. I sent a PM with my email address.