Highway Patrol frequencies

[N467RX]

I'll be traveling in Texas in a couple of weeks or so, all the way from the TX Toll Road 255 (Solidarity Intl Bridge) to Laredo, San Antonio and San Marcos (only I-35), and I want to see if I can listen to the Highway Patrol frequencies on the road.

Even with the frequencies, is it legal to be using a scanner in a car in Texas? I know there's a checkpoint 25 miles north of Laredo, and a mile before I will turn it off and store it just so that I don't run into any sort of trouble (I don't mess with DHS people).

Did the Highway patrol already migrate to APCO-25? Or are they still analog?

 

[sums007]

Doesn't answer your frequency question, but the checkpoints in my area are for NORTHBOUND traffic only. Southbound, you breeze right on by.

 

[wpwx694]

I'll be traveling in Texas in a couple of weeks or so, all the way from the TX Toll Road 255 (Solidarity Intl Bridge) to Laredo, San Antonio and San Marcos (only I-35), and I want to see if I can listen to the Highway Patrol frequencies on the road.

Even with the frequencies, is it legal to be using a scanner in a car in Texas? I know there's a checkpoint 25 miles north of Laredo, and a mile before I will turn it off and store it just so that I don't run into any sort of trouble (I don't mess with DHS people).

Did the Highway patrol already migrate to APCO-25? Or are they still analog?

Check out this web site for scanner laws.
http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/scanner5.html

Also, some of the DPS already moved to APCO-25.

 

[hiegtx]

I'll be traveling in Texas in a couple of weeks or so, all the way from the TX Toll Road 255 (Solidarity Intl Bridge) to Laredo, San Antonio and San Marcos (only I-35), and I want to see if I can listen to the Highway Patrol frequencies on the road.

Even with the frequencies, is it legal to be using a scanner in a car in Texas? I know there's a checkpoint 25 miles north of Laredo, and a mile before I will turn it off and store it just so that I don't run into any sort of trouble (I don't mess with DHS people).

Did the Highway patrol already migrate to APCO-25? Or are they still analog?

You can use a scanner, as long as you are not using it in the commission of another crime. Turning it off & storing it before checkpoints is probably a common sense idea with heightened security right now.

According to what's in the database, it looks like DPS is using digital along most of your stretch from San Antonio to Laredo. It's conventional Vhf-high (not trunked), in Apco-25 digital voice.

 

[n4voxgill]

DPS uses the sheriffs frequency primarily in my county, between San Marcos and San Antonio. The only time they use DPS frequencies is to talk car to car or to get tag checks if the SO dispatchers are busy.

 

[loumaag]

In addition, note that unless the type is "RM" the conventional channels are duplex. Some of the channels are listed on one line instead of properly on two lines so check the type and if it says "BM" has two different frequencies, you will have to program them both.

 

[N467RX]

Sums007,
Thanks, I remember that now from last year (at that point I had forgotten)

hiegtx,
What does APCO-25 digital voice mean?

n4voxgill,
Your county between San Marcos and San Antonio... Are you in Comal county (or New Braunfels)?

 

[loumaag]

hiegtx,
What does APCO-25 digital voice mean?

See this wiki page.

 

[SCPD]

I run I-35 between Dallas and Laredo every day and DHS could not care less about a scanner in a vehicle. They don't even have the authority to enforce any laws involving such stuff. They only care about illegals and drugs. I run with scanners, a cb and amateur radio equipment and have never been asked once about it in 13 years of going through that checkpoint or any other one for that matter. So be paranoid if you want. And by the way, TX 255 is the Camino Columbia Tollroad, not the Solidarity Toll Bridge. Not even close to each other.

 

[n4voxgill]

Sums007,
Thanks, I remember that now from last year (at that point I had forgotten)

hiegtx,
What does APCO-25 digital voice mean?

n4voxgill,
Your county between San Marcos and San Antonio... Are you in Comal county (or New Braunfels)?

Yes, since New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County.

APCO25 Digital means it is a digital system and will need a digital scanner to decode.

 

[N467RX]

But do they use APCO25 voice in Comal? or are they fully conventional?

I knew what APCO25 Digital trunking is, but I didn't know about the voice part, but now I know. Thanks everyone