Texas DPS: Clarification Needed

[RadioDitch]

Evening All,

I'm working on an HPE file for a drive across Texas next year and I'm running into some frustration attempting to decipher the information for Texas DPS. Partly cause the DPS RadioReference Wiki appears deleted and partly because there's conflicting info across the interwebs.

Does Highway Patrol/DPS on the interstates, in this case I-30 and I-20, only operate on their own frequencies? Or, as I seem to garner from reading, do they also use the County Sheriffs' frequency for each of the 24 counties in my route, necessitating them being included in the file?

Any guidance is welcome. Thanks!

 

[rattlerbb01]

Good question. DPS Highway Patrol uses their Base A, B, C and D as well as their numerous 159.210, 159.2175, 155.505, 155.5125 repeaters and some oddballs in there too. They are all listed in the appropriate regions you will be travelling on. But you are correct in that in many counties, especially rural ones, they tend to only check in with their DPS dispatchers for On Duty, Off Duty, Out of Service, or when responding to a MVA. The rural counties will closely work with THP for even general law enforcement where the locals are slim in numbers. I am not familiar with all the counties along I30 and I20 anymore since I haven't travelled that route for work in 10 years, but across the state, it seems to be the case.

 

[RadioDitch]

Good question. DPS Highway Patrol uses their Base A, B, C and D as well as their numerous 159.210, 159.2175, 155.505, 155.5125 repeaters and some oddballs in there too. They are all listed in the appropriate regions you will be travelling on. But you are correct in that in many counties, especially rural ones, they tend to only check in with their DPS dispatchers for On Duty, Off Duty, Out of Service, or when responding to a MVA. The rural counties will closely work with THP for even general law enforcement where the locals are slim in numbers. I am not familiar with all the counties along I30 and I20 anymore since I haven't travelled that route for work in 10 years, but across the state, it seems to be the case.

Bowie, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Rockwall, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker (Begin I-20), Palo Pinto, Erath, Eastland, Callahan, Taylor, Nolan, Mitchell, Howard, Martin, Midland, Ector, Crane, Ward, and Reeves.

Clearly the latter of which west of Abilene qualify as rural to say the least. lol.

Thanks. I'll just throw all the county law enforcement in there and GPS lock it to the county boundaries. Extra work, but worth it.

 

[rattlerbb01]

Bowie, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Rockwall, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker (Begin I-20), Palo Pinto, Erath, Eastland, Callahan, Taylor, Nolan, Mitchell, Howard, Martin, Midland, Ector, Crane, Ward, and Reeves.

Clearly the latter of which west of Abilene qualify as rural to say the least. lol.

Thanks. I'll just throw all the county law enforcement in there and GPS lock it to the county boundaries. Extra work, but worth it.

Absolutely worth it. If you want to know when a trooper is in close proximity, the DPS base and repeater inputs are handy to have as well. Safe travels.

 

[Ensnared]

Yes, DPS is all over the place. I see them, often, but don't necessarily hear them. On IH20 and IH35, the are numerous, depending on the time of day. You might want to watch out for Texas Game Wardens. They are also state police. However, you are very lucky if you hear them key up. They are very stealthy. I use the statewide DPS plan.

 

[ecps92]

Not sure what link you went to but the DPS Wiki is at

Department of Public Safety (TX) - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Evening All,

I'm working on an HPE file for a drive across Texas next year and I'm running into some frustration attempting to decipher the information for Texas DPS. Partly cause the DPS RadioReference Wiki appears deleted and partly because there's conflicting info across the interwebs.

Does Highway Patrol/DPS on the interstates, in this case I-30 and I-20, only operate on their own frequencies? Or, as I seem to garner from reading, do they also use the County Sheriffs' frequency for each of the 24 counties in my route, necessitating them being included in the file?

Any guidance is welcome. Thanks!

 

[RadioDitch]

Not sure what link you went to but the DPS Wiki is at

Department of Public Safety (TX) - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Thanks Bill. The link in the database needs a correction. This is what is currently there on the DPS listing in the database: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Department_of_Public_Safety_(DPS)_(TX)

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks Bill. The link in the database needs a correction. This is what is currently there on the DPS listing in the database: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Department_of_Public_Safety_(DPS)_(TX)

Here in Dallas County, I almost never hear DPS. The exception is the units working the tollways, which are on this trunked system.

Mineral Wells DPS does have a talkgroup on FWRRS, as well as one on the Parker County P25 system. Not sure how much they use FWRRS; it's out of range for me at home. However, they are quite active on the Parker County system, as well as on their own channels, including the Aledo mobile repeater (DPS RPT 13). Palo Pinto County & westward to Eastland County, primarily I hear then on the county channels. I rarely am in range of the counties west of Eastland, so no pattern that I can share for them.

 

[nd5y]

They changed the name in the database and broke the wiki button link. Happens all the time.

 

[mass-man]

If you go with the statewide plan you’ll be good to go...mobiles will use DPS freq when they setup for a speed check...I primarily hear the dispatcher call the units on the Parker Co TG but hardly do the mobiles use it to call the dispatcher. YMMV in even more rural counties...
Honestly DPS is not all that interesting...the MDT has killed good radio traffic! Even this week a major accident on I20 was worked by the sheriff with the DPS arriving at the scene and 20 min later departing!!!

 

[Wes]

Lots of MDT/MDC usage by DPS. When they do use radios, it could easily be either their radio (when within range) or a local sheriff's channel. I'm not sure there's even a policy regarding which form of communication they use.

 

[RadioDitch]

Thanks all for the answers. I set up the file to work across multiple receivers so I'll keep DPS Statewide Plan going on one, and the appropriate Sheriffs GPS rolling on another.

 

[bpckty1]

Don't forget the counties that are using trunked radio systems. Texarkana/Bowie County are on GATRRS. I haven't been up there in a while, but I wouldn't be surprised if they show up there.

 

[Stephen]

Texas DPS is required to have access to all county and local agencies channels, though it depends on each county whether the county request a Trooper response on their own channel or contacts the DPS communications for a Trooper to be dispatched. While the MDC handles checking on/off duty, self dispatching to calls, and most criminal/vehicle checks the communication really varies across the state. When agencies use the term "major/minor" motor vehicle crash, it can be deceiving, as by statute, DPS works generally crashes outside of the city limits and crashes in city limits of areas below certain population thresholds. If the crash results in no or minor injuries only then a deputy or local officer may work the crash. Keep in mind that some troopers may be covering more than 1 county or may be helping out another county so a response of 20-40 minutes is not uncommon.

 

[Myles]

In the Houston area, the DPS VHF channels have pretty much gone silent in favor of the TxWARN P25 regional trunked radio system. Definitely program in any trunked public safety systems along your route and there should be talkgroups listed for DPS.

 

[DIsenberg]

I've not heard any DPS comms in the Dallas area in quite some time on VHF.

 

[Russell]

You'll hear them on the County SO channels in DFW. I hear them on Collin SO Dispatch frequently.

 

[IAmSixNine]

I've not heard any DPS comms in the Dallas area in quite some time on VHF.

DPS Dallas channel is active daily. While there isnt much traffic on it, its still active. You will hear DPS101 checking in when they go on flights, or units being requested to crash scenes in various counties, or the dispatcher asking for a trooper for a wanted person on a license plate reader..
But if your scanning other stuff you are likely to miss their comms. So having a dedicated scanner / radio helps.

 

[Stephen]

For most of DFW yes the troopers work on the SO channel, with the exception of Dallas County since there is no Highway Patrol assigned to Dallas County, with the exception of the tollway guys that work DNT and PGBT. A little farther east it really varies by county on how the office handles the radio traffic.

 

[bpckty1]

I've been seeing what appear to be new VHF antennas on DPS patrol cars recently.
I guess they're getting ready to go to the RGV if necessary.
Normally in the Harris County area they are on the TXWARN system, and MDTs.