Marion County (Ocala area): What transmissions would a top of the line scanner receive in this part of Florida?

[NeedtoKnow2]

I sold my Home Patrol 2 scanner because it picks up nothing here. It works fine in other areas of the country.
I was looking at the Uniden SDS 100 and 200 models that handle simulcasting.

I was wondering if that type of unit would be worthwhile in Marion County or similar areas that have advanced radio communication systems.

(Note: Be careful not to rant about the "e" word.)

I would appreciate learning what types of transmission are still accessible in this area of Florida and thoughts on how worthwhile a $600+ scanner might be in this area. This is not for any particular purpose other than hobby and knowing what's going on in a disaster scenario.

If nothing much would be heard, I'd like to know that, too.

 

[frankbreden]

Looks to be P25 system.

 

[frankbreden]

Marion County Public Safety Trunking System, Ocala, Florida

Marion County Public Safety Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Anything that has DE you CANNOT pick up.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

So I should be able to pick up all of the ones listed below, correct?

Is there any reason why my former Home Patrol 2 (even with various antennae outside the house) would not pick up any of these in my area?
Why would the SDS200 do any better? Or would it?

These are all government transmissions. Is there a listing of private, business/airport/rail communications in this area?

Frank, you said "Looks to be P25 system." What does? And what is significance?

1103	44f	D	MCFR Primary	Fire Primary	Fire Dispatch
1104	450	D	MCFR Scene 1	Fire Scene 1	Fire-Tac
1105	451	D	MCFR Scene 2	Fire Scene 2	Fire-Tac
1106	452	D	MCFR Scene 3	Fire Scene 3	Fire-Tac
1107	453	D	MCFR Scene 4	Fire Scene 4	Fire-Tac

1210

4ba

D

MBFR Helo

Helicoptor

EMS-Talk

1200	4b0	D	EMSA Disp	EMSA Dispatch	EMS Dispatch
1201	4b1	D	EMSA Tac	EMSA Tac	EMS-Tac
1202	4b2	D	EMSA Tac 1	EMSA Tac 1	EMS-Tac
1203	4b3	D	EMSA Tac 2	EMSA Tac 2	EMS-Tac
1204	4b4	D	EMSA Tac 3	EMSA Tac 3	EMS-Tac
1205	4b5	D	EMSA Tac 4	EMSA Tac 4	EMS-Tac
1206	4b6	D	EMSA NonEmer	EMSA Non-Emergency	EMS-Talk
1207	4b7	D	EMSA Admin	EMSA Admin	EMS-Talk
1208	4b8	D	EMSA Train	EMSA Training	EMS-Talk
1209	4b9	D	EMSA SpecOps	EMSA Special Operations	EMS-Talk
1216	4c0	D	EMSA AllCall	EMSA All-Call	EMS Dispatch
1119	45f	D	MC EMS-MRMC	EMS-To-Monroe Regional Medical Center	Hospital
1120	460	D	MC EMS-ORMC	EMS-To-Ocala Regional Medical Center	Hospital
1121	461	D	MC EMS-WMCH	EMS-To-West Marion Community Hospital	Hospital
1122	462	D	MC EMS-TRMC	EMS-To-Timber Ridge Medical Center	Hospital
1123	463	D	MC EMS-STC	EMS to Shands Trauma Center	Hospital

1035	40b	D	MC EM 1	Emergency Management 1	Emergency Ops
1036	40c	D	MC EM 2	Emergency Management 2	Emergency Ops
1037	40d	D	MC EM 3	Emergency Management 3	Emergency Ops
1038	40e	D	MC EM 4	Emergency Management 4	Emergency Ops

1033	409	D	MC Maint 1	Maintenance 1	Public Works
1034	40a	D	MC Maint 2	Maintenance 2	Public Works
1041	411	D	MC YouthSvcs	Youth Services	Public Works

 

[WX4JCW]

That list is inaccurate everything on Marion and Ocala is Encrypted that i remember Fire and Police for sure

 

[WX4JCW]

Alachua was open, but Lake and Sumter are completely encrypted as well, and Further north on I75 Columbia is Encrypted

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

So is everyone saying getting a scanner in this area would be a waste of money? Would the SDS do any better than my form Home Patrol 2 in this area, and if so, what would the SDS pick up that the HP2 did not?

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

That list is inaccurate everything on Marion and Ocala is Encrypted that i remember Fire and Police for sure

The Radio Reference table is out of date and relatively useless for Marion County? Is there a more accurate source available?

 

[WX4JCW]

I work it when I go through but everything is encrypted and the talk group numbers were all wrong but i think we got it fixed, since they are encrypted there is really no way to tell what is what anymore unless someone gets ahold of a channel matrix

hate to say it but in that area i would save my money

 

[Bolt21]

So is everyone saying getting a scanner in this area would be a waste of money?

Yes, if you are interested in listening to public safety.

 

[WX4JCW]

So is everyone saying getting a scanner in this area would be a waste of money? Would the SDS do any better than my form Home Patrol 2 in this area, and if so, what would the SDS pick up that the HP2 did not?

not much really, it may pick up Alachua County depending on where in Marion County you are, it would definitely be good to listen if you were in Orange/Seminole/Osceola but as far as public safety goes in Marion, you are SOL sorry, nothing will work

 

[whooey]

Without a tower, Alachua County probably wont be obtainable. The system fades quickly after the county line south.

 

[KMG54]

For less than 40 bucks you could get a rtl dongle and a year of DSD+Fastlane and set it up on your PC. Set it on the control channel and listen to what you might get. You never know what might be in the clear.

 

[batdude]

Every so often I get solid copy on Marion county. These hits over the last few days are NOT in the RR dB - but I do not know what agency is using the 11xxx series TGs - note, DSD+ did report most of these calls as Encrypted:

P25, BEE00.1D4, 11001, 50, Normal, 234, 2021/11/25 8:41, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11002, 50, Normal, 1145, 2021/11/25 8:38, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11005, 50, Normal, 37, 2020/12/27 0:57, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11006, 50, High, 4, 2020/12/16 4:23, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11007, 50, High, 1, 2021/11/25 7:03, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11018, 50, Normal, 78, 2021/11/25 8:43, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11021, 50, Normal, 7, 2021/11/25 6:48, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11100, 50, Normal, 189, 2021/11/25 8:41, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11101, 50, Normal, 102, 2021/11/25 8:41, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11103, 50, Normal, 406, 2021/11/25 8:41, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11104, 50, High, 165, 2021/11/25 8:43, ""
P25, BEE00.1D4, 11105, 50, High, 26, 2020/12/27 1:03, ""

 

[2006walt]

Recently moved to Sumter County (The Villages) and have new SDS100. Is the Fla Turnpike and nearby prison open? If yes, is the RR DB up to date for Turnpike, Federal, Sumter and surrounding counties? Hope there is something around here to listen to besides ham radio. Anyone around here have SDS scanners? Thanks

 

[whooey]

Think everything around there ENC for the most part. Sucks.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Instead of $600 for a relatively useless scanner - around here, anyway - I spent most of that amount on an Rspdx SDR, a couple of loop and whip antennas, tuner, and a bunch of cables, connectors and switches. That gets me from 500kHz up to 2 gigahertz. That way I can see what pops up instead of waiting for the scan.

 

[NYRHKY94]

Florida is ground zero for ENC, particularly Lake, Sumter & Marion counties. Been that way for quite some time. Can't even monitor golf cart incidents in The Villages ;-)

 

[TDR-94]

Can't even monitor golf cart incidents in The Villages ;-)

And why would you want to?

 

[NYRHKY94]

And why would you want to?

Sarcasm ;-)