UNIDEN handheld radio that detects a CHP mobile transmission at 3 miles?

[RadioWave2005]

What is the UNIDEN handheld radio that detects a CHP mobile transmission at 3 miles?

Thanks.

 

[Kirk]

What is the UNIDEN handheld radio that detects a CHP mobile transmission at 3 miles?

Thanks.

Any of them when cabled to a Super StationMaster tuned for 42MHz?

I don't understand your question.

 

[rdale]

Something that doesn't exist ;> Is this a trick question? That would depend on location, location, location and antenna. And location.

 

[kb5udf]

Bear Tracker Not on Handhelds

While what you ask for can be easily done (ie take any handheld scanner with lowband receive and program in the 10 or so channels CHP transmits on), just scan the channels
conventionally.

It sounds like you are asking if unidens 'beartracker' 'alert' systems is available in a handheld. I believe this automatic feature that scans HP frequencies is only on a few base units. But see above, it should be easy to duplicate effectively.

Using my old pro-92 and a mag mount 800mhz antenna, I could routinely receive MHP (MS) units on Low band several 5+ miles away.

The key here is an external antenna (outside of car). Inside a car, any handheld on Low Band is going to suffer some pretty severe attenuation.

Good Luck!

 

[RadioWave2005]

Thanks for jogging my memory:

BearTracker™ Warning System - Alerts you to activity on Highway Patrol link frequencies to let you know if there is activity within about 3 miles of your location.

Thats what I was looking for.

Frequency Coverage (BCT8) - Includes the most interesting "action" bands where you can hear police, ambulance, fire, amateur radio, public utilities, weather, and more. 25-54,108-174,400-512,806-956 (excluding cellular)

 

[Kirk]

Ah, the Beartracker. I believe these worked by monitoring 154.905 (CHP mobile extender) and alerting when they heard traffic (other freqs in other states, presumably).

It's as likely to keep you from getting a ticket as covering your car with aluminum foil.

The CHiPpies mobile extender is controlled by a button on the Rangr control head in the cruiser. If the extender is on, a loud "BEEEEEEEP!" sounds in the car every 10-20 seconds or so. As such, unless the CHP officer is outside his/her car (where they're presumably busy giving someone else a ticket), their extender will be switched off.

In the old days, the extender was pretty much left on all the time. Not anymore.

 

[RolnCode3]

You can make any radio "alert" you when you're near a CHP unit. Just set the extender as a priority channel. It's not foolproof, because if the extender is off (officer is in the car), you won't know the unit is there. Listening to the mobile frequency isn't foolproof either, because you can sometimes pick them up many miles away.

*EDIT* Oops...kinda of rehashed what Kirk wrote...didn't read his whole post.

 

[RadioWave2005]

I just read some interesting facts by the inventor of the Valentine1 radar detector. That EE seems to know what hes talking about, although there is no foolproof way to detect inbound automobile radar. Wish I could find a decent radar jamming site besides the DOD.

 

[Tweekerbob]

It's as likely to keep you from getting a ticket as covering your car with aluminum foil.

I think if you covered your car in foil, you will probably get a ticket, or at least pulled over:

"May I see your license, registration, and insurance? Oh, and what's the deal with all the foil?"

Ryan

 

[hotdjdave]

Bearcat Tracker

I have a Bearcat BCT-7. This unit actually saved me from getting a ticket. However, it is pretty much useless in a metropolitan area like where I live in Los Angeles because there is usually a CHP unit within three miles where ever you drive on the LA freeways. It works best while driving on the highway in rural areas.

Many times, CHP (or NHP) units sit on the side of the freeway to do RADAR enforcement and turn on their mobile extender in case they have to get out of the car. The mobile extender retransmits the 42 MHz communication from their car to their 154 MHz walkie-talkie (HT) they carry on their belt and back to the car radio. The mobile extender transmits with enough power so if the officer gets into a foot pursuit, he/she can still use the HT and be able to reach the car radio - hence the supposed 3-mile range. Basically, the mobile extender is like a cross-band repeater. My Icom W2A, hooked up with a dual-band amplifier does the same thing.

And as others have mentioned, any receiver/scanner cable of receiving the HT frequency of a Highway Patrol's radio (in CA, 154.905 MHz) can alert you to the proximity of the transmition. Just set that channel with priority and/or an alert or pay close attention when that channel tunes in on your scanner. The stronger the signal, the closer you are to the Highway Patrol unit.

Note: sometimes officers forget to turn of the mobile extender and drive around with it on, rebroadcasting every transmission received on the car radio over the mobile extender frequency.

 

[akardam]

Note: sometimes officers forget to turn of the mobile extender and drive around with it on, rebroadcasting every transmission received on the car radio over the mobile extender frequency.

It's easy to hear when they do, their audio goes into feedback, and usually they unkey really quick, turn down or off their extender or portable, and then key up again.

 

[RolnCode3]

...
Note: sometimes officers forget to turn of the mobile extender and drive around with it on, rebroadcasting every transmission received on the car radio over the mobile extender frequency.

Pretty hard for CHP to forget the extender is on...that damn beeping would drive the pope to curse God!

 

[hotdjdave]

Pretty hard for CHP to forget the extender is on...that damn beeping would drive the pope to curse God!

You are correct; beeping would be an annoying reminder.

I worked for an agency that used mobile extenders and I don't recall them having a tone or beep. If I forgot, I was usually reminded when the HT blasted the transmission along with the car radio. Nevertheless, I have experienced CHP and NHP units driving with their mobile extender active, even in rural areas.

I remember when I was a cop in the Air Force, I had pulled someone over. The light bar control head beeped periodically when the emergency lights were on. After the traffic stop, I drove around for like 3 or 4 minutes without realizing my lights were on. I somehow tuned out the beep (which was beeping). I finally figured out something was up when people kept pulling over out of my way - duh! :lol:

 

[OpSec]

That beeping from the repeater was put in place on the Rangrs because back in the Micor days, often the officer would leave the repeater enabled for the entire shift. If you have a scanner or hammie radio that had 154.905 in it, you could always tell when a CHP car was around.

Personally, I say "who cares?" if the repeater is on, but leave it to Sacramento...

 

[ipod]

arent these illegal to have in the car?

i have this model if this is the 800 mgz model shaped in a housing similar to a radar detector. i had this one coupled with my passport radar detector when i travel long distance. but not very often. maybe once or twice. dont need to be stopped and get arrested. i may use them both when i drive in nj this easter break. these cops are nasty! frivolous traffic infractions. quick green to yellow to red light. cant rest at a truck stop if you are in a car, driving to a parking lot to ask a cop for directions, get a tkt. and if you dont want to get points on your license you pay a real hefty fine. $440 to $600.00, depending on the mood of the prosecutor!

 

[JoeyC]

$440 to $600.00, depending on the mood of the prosecutor!

most likely depending on the attitude and history of the offender :roll:

 

[UPMan]

Current (future) models BCT8 and BCT15 have BearTracker(r) Warning System.

 

[hotdjdave]

BearTracker® Warning System on the BCD996T (or APCO P25 on the BCT15)

Current (future) models BCT8 and BCT15 have BearTracker(r) Warning System.

Paul,

My great wish (what would make me buy a Uniden mobile/base in addition to my BCD396T I just bought) would be that either the BCT15 will decode APCO P25 or the BCD996T will have the BearTracker® Warning System.

 

[cristisphoto]

Scanning CHP questions.....

What is the UNIDEN handheld radio that detects a CHP mobile transmission at 3 miles?

Thanks.

My Pro 97 with the stock antenna picks up Golden Gate Coms just fine....
Of about two blocks from my Building CHP has a Huuge repeater and Station sooo
I guess Location helps
Anyways.
Crista

 

[Mick]

CHP patrol car in-trunk repeater

It's crucial the CHP officer not leave the repeater on, but instead be certain to turn it on when he arrives at a scene, and that each arriving officer turn his repeater on when arriving at the same scene where other officers are already at. That's why the beep is on, to remind the officer when he gets back in the patrol car to turn it off. It's neccessary for the tone burst to tell other repeaters they are now the primary repeater. If it's not done, the next time an officer uses his handheld on 154.905, more than one patrol car repeater may key up and dispatch has a difficult time hearing two patrol cars transmitting on low band at the same time.

I saw this at the Socalscan Yahoo group:
"Let me see if I can remember how this goes...
When the officer activates his extender (VHF Hi radio in his unit), the radio
transmits a short tone burst on 154.905, which tells any other extenders in
range that it is now the "repeater" in use. The next officer to roll up on
the scene activates his extender which will transmit a tone burst, telling
the first extender to step down. As more units arrive on scene, and their
extenders are activated, a queue is set up with the last extender activated
being the "repeater in use.

All of the vehicle extenders are still listening for any officer to talk on
his portable on the extender frequency (with the correct PL) or the low
band radio to receive a signal. If the unit with the "in use repeater"
leaves the scene, the next extender in the queue will, after not hearing a
transmission from the extender that was the "in use repeater" within a
certain period of time, move up in queue and start repeating the 42 MHz (or
for those of you who are lucky- 39 MHz) traffic."

Personally, I say "who cares?" if the repeater is on, but leave it to Sacramento...