BC246T and Calgary CIty Police

[smiddlet]

Just getting into scanning and I picked up a BC246T. I've used Arc246 to load the Calgary City Police channels and when I listen to the dispatch channels all I hear is digital noise. I understand that this is because the system requires specific setup but I'm at a total loss as how to do it.

Can someone give me an idea of what I'd need to get this working?

 

[Jay911]

I don't think the 246 can handle digital audio. Calgary Police are digital P25 audio on an analog Motorola trunk system.

There is no special setup for the Calgary Digital Radio system other than to put the frequencies in and listen in.

 

[masonb]

Yea, i got the same scanner and the same problem. But you can get anything else... like on mine i have delievery, tow trucks, plows, sweepers, rcmp north, east, west and south, ems, stars, fire ect....

Still lots of good stuff to listen to ut there

 

[smiddlet]

Bummer, I was really looking forward to eavesdropping on them... But you're right, at least there's still lots of interesting things to listen to.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Jay911]

There are a handful of seldom-used CPS channels that are in analog. They are used for interoperability and, on a rare occasion, when the "main" CPS system becomes unusable. I know that it's hard to reason why an analog talkgroup on the system would work any better (strictly speaking, digital arguments be damned) than a digital one, but they often fall back to these channels when things crap out. These channels are B15 and B16 (see the RRDB entry) ... and they will often use the other interop/tri-services channels (B9 thru B14) if they need them in this situation.

 

[smiddlet]

Well lesson learned, I have sprung for the much more expensive BCD396T in order to get the CPS channels. Anyone interested in a used 246T?

 

[alpinebeers]

I too just bought a 246T witht the assumption it would work for the Calgary Police can somebody tell what scanner will work to pick up everything in calgary???

 

[Jay911]

If you're wanting to go with Uniden, you need the 396 for a handheld version, or the 996 for a base/mobile version.

I'm not up to speed on which RS/GRE scanners are digital, so I can't describe that.

If you can find them, the older Uniden models which work with the Calgary system are the BC250D or BC296D (handheld) or BC785D or BC796D (base/mobile). You might find them easier on eBay or second-hand, but they're not of the latest design like the 246/396/996.

None of the scanners will unscramble the encrypted channels (like SHOP, CARRT, Strike, etc) and no scanner will be made that can. So the above is as close to "everything" as you're going to get.

 

[alpinebeers]

I am new to this whole scanner thing and dont really know what SHOP, CARRT, Strike and those things mean I guess I should just ask what type of scanner I should I buy to listen to Fire, EMS, POlice and RCMP in the Calgary area. Any help on what is the best model and what is the best bang for your buck would help. Thanks Alpine

 

[thehammer]

Ive listened to calgary police for over a year and they really are boring... all the good stuff is encrypted anyway (swat, Drugs, homicide). The real action is the fire department because they get dispatched to everything good.....(accidents, major disasters, etc) you can pick those up on your 246t and get updated quite regularly. the city police just attend to complaints and traffic stops.... I got really board after a while.

 

[Jay911]

I am new to this whole scanner thing and dont really know what SHOP, CARRT, Strike and those things mean

Calgary Police Service has several special teams.

SHOP - Serious Habitual Offender Program
CARRT - Child At Risk Response Team
IROC - Integrated Response to Organized Crime
TAC/SFU - Tactical Team / Strike Force Unit
ASU - Air Services Unit
MU - Marine Unit
GIU - General Investigations Unit
SIU - Special Investigations Unit

etc., There is a lot more that I can't think of off the top of my head.

 

[nec208]

Ive listened to calgary police for over a year and they really are boring... all the good stuff is encrypted anyway (swat, Drugs, homicide). The real action is the fire department because they get dispatched to everything good.....(accidents, major disasters, etc) you can pick those up on your 246t and get updated quite regularly. the city police just attend to complaints and traffic stops.... I got really board after a while.

You still have dispatch calls or are they MDT mostly.

 

[Jay911]

Police, Fire, and Ambulance all use a mobile data terminal system here in Calgary, but they do a lot of verbalization of addresses, etc., for confirmation's sake. Of course, the dispatcher is more inclined to say "1101, take a look at the 10-21 on your screen please" instead of "1101, we have a timed-out 10-21 running around the intersection of Fifth and Macleod in his underwear shouting anti-Facebook rantings". Often, the 'juice' of the call is left on the data screen now, instead of announced over the air.

 

[nec208]

Toronto police and Peel police still call out many calls but there still some disptacher in peel 311 and 322 MDU call only .

York police use the MDT alot I have seen calls like .XXXX are you available for a Domestic in you area ? XXXXX yap I'm clearing I will take it.Dispatcher awesome.

And you hear nothing else.There was fight call in York the officer was telling dispatch to call it out.

 

[thehammer]

Police, Fire, and Ambulance all use a mobile data terminal system here in Calgary, but they do a lot of verbalization of addresses, etc., for confirmation's sake. Of course, the dispatcher is more inclined to say "1101, take a look at the 10-21 on your screen please" instead of "1101, we have a timed-out 10-21 running around the intersection of Fifth and Macleod in his underwear shouting anti-Facebook rantings". Often, the 'juice' of the call is left on the data screen now, instead of announced over the air.

Very true, and the only way youll get any juice is from updates that the cops or fire give their dispatch verbally.

 

[SCPD]

Radio Shack digital scanners

Desktop- 2096
Handheld- Pro 96