Bloomington PD and Normal PD Starcom 21

[Highlander_821]

Hi all. I was just on a camping trip in McLean County and brought my old Radio Shack Pro-2096 with me. I programmed the Starcom 21 frequencies for both the Normal and Leroy towers and was receiving the system well and getting lots of traffic from the agencies whose talkgroup IDs I had programmed in.

However, I did notice that any transmissions I was getting involving Bloomington or Normal PD were unintelligible. I assumed this was because they have chosen not to broadcast in the clear (no ranting or judging, just wondering, lol) I'm posting here just to make sure that that is correct---or is it a newer form of digital modulation that my scanner can't decode?

Thanks!

 

[RBMTS]

Many of the PD talk groups are encrypted. Thus the noise you heard. You can't decode or monitor encrypted talk groups. The Starcom DB will show you what TG's are and are not encrypted.

 

[cubn]

My parents concur. BPD1 is coming in encrypted on their Pro96. This is a very new development as during the looting these were not encrypted.

 

[Highlander_821]

Thanks for the replies. I figured it was encryption but just wanted to make sure. I was a little disappointed.

On a brighter note, the little retractable TV antenna on my motorhome makes an excellent scanner antenna!

 

[Awesomeman92]

Apparently it's been in the works for a while. First reference I could find that sheriff and Normal were looking into it is back in 2018. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7274

 

[chip448]

Are BFD, NFD, and county fire tg's encrypted as well?

 

[nick223]

Are BFD, NFD, and county fire tg's encrypted as well?

RR database still shows FD/Ems in the Clear

 

[cubn]

I was told that fire/EMS is still clear.

I read on CARMA that Normal and County Shf dispatch is clear but the mobiles are encrypted.