I am talking about local police units in Conroe. I only receive EMS/Fire dispatch. I cannot hear any local pd units nor do I hear any tactical mobile units. I am operating from a residence. I am approx. 1 mile from I 45. I have only heard 1 DPS. I do not hear any 10-28's, vehicle stops etc. I was using the included rubber duck antenna, then purchased multi band telescoping antenna. Still no luck. In San Antonio I was on 3rd floor of hotel right next to I-10 and never heard any local units (PD or DPS). Think this is antenna problem or scanner problem? Thanks
It's not a "problem" with the scanner. Nothing broken, needing repair. Instead, its a combination of several factors.
As I indicated previously, DPS does make heavy use of their MDTs for routine vehicle stops and subject checks. Plus, with the duplex operation of their Vhf channels, you're less likely to hear the troopers in the field, as opposed to the base stations. What I have in my scanners are the specific channels, mobile, base, and the mobile repeaters, active in my area, and areas that I often travel to or through. I also have the Statewide Apco-25 Channel Plan programmed.
For the Conroe area, besides the Region II (Houston area) base, mobile, and repeater frequencies, make sure that you also have the DPS talkgroups on
TxWARN P25 loaded, along with the sites in your immediate area.
For your experience in San Antonio, the local PD there is on a ProVoice system,
San Antonio/Bexar County EDACS ProVoice Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas - Scanner Frequencies
While some of the talkgroups are encrypted, the ones that are not are mostly ProVoice, a digital format that the HP-2 cannot decode and monitor. TX DPS also has a few talkgroups listed on the ProVoice system. The only scanners that currently will decode and monitor ProVoice are the BCD463HP 7 BCD536HP; for either scanner, this requires an available, paid, update.
For Conroe specifically, the database page does not appear to be 100% accurate. For Conroe, it's showing that the city uses the Montgomery County EDACS system. However, the police talkgroups on that system are labeled as "depreciated", meaning no longer in use. However, over on the HoustonScan Yahoo group, I see
comments that Conroe is actual
ly on this system:
Montgomery County (P25) Trunking System, Conroe, Texas - Scanner Frequencies
The comments are also that the PD has moved to encrypt all of their talkgroups. No scanner can monitor encrypted talkgroups,
If someone in the area has more to add to the above, hopefully, they will chime in.