A Question Regarding Texas DPS Call Signs

Status
Not open for further replies.

NORCAL

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2003
Messages
137
Location
Saratoga, CA
Does anyone know how the call signs for the Texas State Trooper work? If you were monitoring radio traffic in Abilene, let’s say, what you expect to hear as oppose to what you would hear in the Dallas area. What are the rules that the Texas State Trooper Dept uses when it comes to their radio call signs?

Second question: Is the RadioReference Database for the Texas DPS updated and correct?
 

nd5y

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
11,225
Location
Wichita Falls, TX
Most of the regular troopers have 4 digit unit numbers. The first digit is the region. In Abilene you might hear 4123, Dallas 1123, Waco 6123, etc.
 

NORCAL

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2003
Messages
137
Location
Saratoga, CA
Texas State Trooper Call Signs

nd5y said:
Most of the regular troopers have 4 digit unit numbers. The first digit is the region. In Abilene you might hear 4123, Dallas 1123, Waco 6123, etc.

Is there a place where you find the all the C/S number for the entire state of Texas? Also,
does the first two digits (using the Abilene example - 41) indicate location and the second two digits (23) indicate a particular beat?
 

NORCAL

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2003
Messages
137
Location
Saratoga, CA
Texas State Trooper Call Signs - Thanks for Info

To all who replied to my questions, I sincerely appreciate the feedback.
 

bobbyaa

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
12
Location
Frisco, TX
Here's a break down of the DPS numbering system.

For the most part, the THP are the primary uses of the Regional Communications Centers and their unit numbers are four digit numberical. The first digit in their call number is the region to which they are assigned. If the trooper is in region one, their number is 1XXX, region six, thier number is 6XXX, etc. The second position in the call number is for the sub-region. The sub-regions are refered to as A, B, C, etc, but for radio purposes, region A is represented by 1, region B is represented by 2 or 4, and region C is represented by 3, etc. The third number is the sargeant area that the "troop" is assigned to and can cover a several county area.

As an example, say you hear "2464 Lufkin, 10-27 Texas." This transmission is the trooper calling his regional communications center in Lufkin to run a DL check. The 2464 shows that he is in Region 2-B-6 (6 being the sgt. area) and that he is the #4 trooper in that sgt area. You will notice that troopers always state their unit number, then the station they are calling, and then the ten-code for the radio traffic. The station will always respond with their name and then the troopers radio call number. Once the transmission between the trooper and the station is terminated, the station will always end the transmission with their FCC callsign. This may sound stupid, but the actual reason for it is because of the nature of DPS radios. Troopers can only hear the station they are calling and not other troopers so this is their cue that the radio traffic going on is completed.

Here's an example of a trooper running a driver's license check:

"2466 Lufkin, 10-27 Texas."
"Lufkin 2466?"
"18326381, go ahead."
"Lufkin 2466, Smith, Clear, No 10-29. KKH775."
 

rattlerbb01

TX/LA Database Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
2,224
Location
Boerne, Texas
A couple to add to that would be the canine units, represented by a K as the first letter, then a number representing their region, then a number for the sergeant area, then the individual unit number. For instance, the canine unit in Walker County is K232. His sergeant is 2503, and his fellow troopers are 2530's. Here in Grimes County we don't have a canine unit, but our area sergeant, 2504, oversees two counties, Waller (2540-2547) and Grimes (2041-2045). Our station is 2C04 here in Grimes County, so you can see how that relates to the call sign. Some counties have more that one sergeant though, and in Montgomery County you will find 2510's and 2520's. So just when you think that you have it all figured out, some of them will confuse you. The best way I have found is to just listen and see what you come up with.
 

225Texas

Member
Joined
May 28, 2006
Messages
142
Don't forget the DL Troopers. Here in Houston, they're 90** Houston. They usually go 10-42 by 6p.
 

VintageJon

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
567
Mother Of Moses! I think the DPS is still Analog here in Austin, Pleae correct me if I'm wrong.

KKD303 is not as strong as it was few years back, so I'm wondering...

-Jon
 

NORCAL

Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2003
Messages
137
Location
Saratoga, CA
County Numbers

rattlerbb01 said:
A couple to add to that would be the canine units, represented by a K as the first letter, then a number representing their region, then a number for the sergeant area, then the individual unit number. For instance, the canine unit in Walker County is K232. His sergeant is 2503, and his fellow troopers are 2530's. Here in Grimes County we don't have a canine unit, but our area sergeant, 2504, oversees two counties, Waller (2540-2547) and Grimes (2041-2045). Our station is 2C04 here in Grimes County, so you can see how that relates to the call sign. Some counties have more that one sergeant though, and in Montgomery County you will find 2510's and 2520's. So just when you think that you have it all figured out, some of them will confuse you. The best way I have found is to just listen and see what you come up with.

What does the 2540-2547 (Waller county) mean? Do all counties have similar numbers. Is there guide that provides the numbers for all the counties?
 

scanfan03

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
1,672
Location
Houston, Texas
NORCAL said:
What does the 2540-2547 (Waller county) mean? Do all counties have similar numbers. Is there guide that provides the numbers for all the counties?

The highest one I know of for Waller County is 2543, there used to be a 2544, but she quit. Those are just the unit numbers for the Waller County DPS units.
 

225Texas

Member
Joined
May 28, 2006
Messages
142
Scanfan03,

There is a 2546, and 2547. They spend most of their time in Grimes County or on I-10 near Katy-Brookshire area.
 

rattlerbb01

TX/LA Database Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
2,224
Location
Boerne, Texas
225Texas said:
Scanfan03,

There is a 2546, and 2547. They spend most of their time in Grimes County or on I-10 near Katy-Brookshire area.

Yup. And 2540 is the corporal. The only one I have never heard is 2545. It can get pretty confusing sometimes, with Highway 6 around here. We have 2040's and 6510's working traffic on the county primary sometimes, along with 6445 (TABC) and 9106 (Game Warden). I guess it is like that in most counties that are on a DPS regional border.
 

scanfan03

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 2, 2003
Messages
1,672
Location
Houston, Texas
225Texas said:
Scanfan03,

There is a 2546, and 2547. They spend most of their time in Grimes County or on I-10 near Katy-Brookshire area.

I just heard a 2544 yesterday on Waller County primary. Is he a Grimes county unit? Or is he mainly a waller county unit, like 2541?
 
Last edited:

225Texas

Member
Joined
May 28, 2006
Messages
142
Scanfan03,
I've never heard him. I'm going to say Washington County DPS? Right on the river bridge?
Rattlerbb01,
2540, Good O’l Corporal Victor Gails. Very nice man. How often does TABC use the county? I've heard them on the TABC Houston VHF Channel and on STARNET, but never on a primary.
 

rattlerbb01

TX/LA Database Admin
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
2,224
Location
Boerne, Texas
225Texas said:
Scanfan03,
How often does TABC use the county? I've heard them on the TABC Houston VHF Channel and on STARNET, but never on a primary.

Just when they make arrests or need backup at a local bar. Something like 6444 if I recall. We have a TABC repeater in Grimes County, don't think I have heard it in a while though.

And yeah, Corporal Gails is a cool dude. 2504 Tucker has a pretty good group of guys working for him in Grimes and Waller counties.

2544 is a Waller County DPS Unit. Here are a few that I know:

204x - Grimes County
208x - Austin County
2260-2267 - San Jacinto County
2268-2269 - Trinity County
2300's - Houston Metro
244x - Polk County
249x - Tyler County
2503 - Walker County Sgt
2504 - Waller County Sgt
251X - Montgomery County
252X - Montgomery County
253X - Walker County
254X - Waller County
258X - Washington County
26XX - License and Weight
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top