Brazos Valley Activity Thread

[nosliwmj]

I just heard BCSO talking on the txwarn system. I think they're beginning to make the switch or maybe simulcasting. The dispatcher told the deputy to hold on because she was on 911.

Signal 70 is CSPD's code for drugs. Closing the call 11 is effectively saying its complete and no further action is needed. They do use an odd code system, but I believe it has to do with the cad software and how that's setup.

 

[partyguy816]

Yep, I hear them as well. They are not currently talking on their "old" system, but they are still broadcasting on 155.4150 along with TxWarn.


Do you happen to know anymore codes from CSPD?

 

[nosliwmj]

I think they're just simulcasting on txwarn because its the same radio ID that shows up no matter who is talking. The individual ID's are showing on the old system still.

I don't really know many of them off hand, but closing a call 18 is a citation issued and 19 is a warning. Most of the time you can somewhat infer on what they mean if you catch the beginning and the end of the call so you know what they're working on. Like when you hear a call about somebody can smell signal 70 coming from the neighbors apartment, its kinda obvious what that is.

 

[mfn002]

They've been on and off the system since Bryan PD and FD switched over (yes, BFD has almost completely switched over, there was a call for a house fire yesterday and they were using their TxWARN tactical channels). Also, if you listen to the BFD VHF patch (154.415; their old, old primary), you'll notice that the units have that same sort of mechanical sound SO has when listening to 155.415. Anyway, I have a friend whose dad is a deputy, and he said he would tell me when anything changes. All I can say is that Bryan Police/Fire are no longer using the County system.

 

[lbashaw]

TxWarn Update

Brazos County, Washington County, Cities of Bryan, Brenham, and College Station, as well as Texas A&M main campus are all in the final stages to complete changeover to TxWarn 700/800 system. Public safety agencies in Washington County are already primarily using the TxWarn system except for fire paging. Some VHF legacy systems will remain on for awhile, and some Brazos County will remain simulcast for awhile. No timeframe on that yet. It is expected that complete changeover to TxWarn will take effect by Mid-March, 2011.

All exisiting VHF systems regionally must be narrow-band no later than 12/31/2012. However, most VHF systems are still wide-band.

I am told that only the very new (and expensive) scanners will be capable of receiving the TxWarn channels. And yes, some of them are encrypted. Maybe someone has some ideas on what quality scanners are available that will facilitate these new channels.

 

[mfn002]

I am told that only the very new (and expensive) scanners will be capable of receiving the TxWarn channels. And yes, some of them are encrypted. Maybe someone has some ideas on what quality scanners are available that will facilitate these new channels.

See signature. I would recommend the BC396XT and 996XT because they both have very high channel capacity (as compared to the PSR500/600). Also, the XT's have a feature that mutes the encrypted signal so you won't be stuck listening to it (unlike the PSRs, which don't have this feature).

 

[csfd77]

Does anyone know if Bryan police is encrypted? I don't hear them much.

 

[partyguy816]

They are not encrypted. They are pretty active tonight.

 

[mfn002]

Does anyone know if Bryan police is encrypted? I don't hear them much.

Are you monitoring the correct system? There has been no activity (except for the occasional activity on BPD secondary) on any of the BPD channels on the County system. Currently, BCSO is simulcasting their primary on both the County system and TxWARN.

Here's something interesting that happened at about 2 AM this morning (I was awoken by the tones--I forgot to turn my scanners off before I fell asleep). Navasota was dealing with what was apparently a major residential fire, and needed help. Oddly, instead of contacting Brazos County VFD, they instead contacted both Bryand and College Station fire departments to request assistance. I think this was some sort of poor idea. First of all, both Bryan and College Station fire departments had their VHF radios removed. So, they could not contact Navasota Fire. They tried to reach them on their (unused) TxWARN channel, but they (surprise, surprise) got no reply. So, it ended up being the Bryan and College Station units using NAVASOTA FIRE-1 on TxWARN for their ops, while Navasota used Texas Fire 1. The resulting confusion was most evident when a Bryan firefighter told his engine to move his hose so he wasn't blasting the Navasota firefighters off their feet.

 

[partyguy816]

It seems this morning that Brazos Co Sheriff is only broadcasting on 155.4150. Their county system and txwarn systems are quiet.

 

[mfn002]

It seems this morning that Brazos Co Sheriff is only broadcasting on 155.4150. Their county system and txwarn systems are quiet.

I was just noticing how quiet they are today (I forgot to put in their VHF channels when I originally programmed my 996XT).

 

[mfn002]

SO's still on the County system, but hasn't popped up on TxWARN today.

 

[rattlerbb01]

Are you monitoring the correct system? There has been no activity (except for the occasional activity on BPD secondary) on any of the BPD channels on the County system. Currently, BCSO is simulcasting their primary on both the County system and TxWARN.

Here's something interesting that happened at about 2 AM this morning (I was awoken by the tones--I forgot to turn my scanners off before I fell asleep). Navasota was dealing with what was apparently a major residential fire, and needed help. Oddly, instead of contacting Brazos County VFD, they instead contacted both Bryand and College Station fire departments to request assistance. I think this was some sort of poor idea. First of all, both Bryan and College Station fire departments had their VHF radios removed. So, they could not contact Navasota Fire. They tried to reach them on their (unused) TxWARN channel, but they (surprise, surprise) got no reply. So, it ended up being the Bryan and College Station units using NAVASOTA FIRE-1 on TxWARN for their ops, while Navasota used Texas Fire 1. The resulting confusion was most evident when a Bryan firefighter told his engine to move his hose so he wasn't blasting the Navasota firefighters off their feet.

Interesting. I think a patch for the four main repeaters would be a good idea for Grimes County, seeing as they are now surrounded by TxWARN users. Or.........maybe Sheriff Sowell and the others could just do the right thing and join up.

 

[mfn002]

Interesting. I think a patch for the four main repeaters would be a good idea for Grimes County, seeing as they are now surrounded by TxWARN users. Or.........maybe Sheriff Sowell and the others could just do the right thing and join up.

I think that might be the plan. From that incident, I kind of deduced that maybe those Law/Fire/EMS/EOC TGs for Grimes and Burleson Counties might be indicative of a future move to TxWARN, though I'm not too sure about that. I'm still trying to figure out why they didn't just request for Brazos County VFD to help them out...

 

[nosliwmj]

I heard the call you're talking about the other night too. College told one of the trucks to switch to channel M-5 or something like that, but yeah they got nothing back from navasota fire. I would have thought college station, bryan, or the BCSO could have patched navasota in like the so vhf is, but I guess maybe not.

It sounds like BCSO is also active on the txwarn system now because I can see different radio ID's showing up instead of just the single dispatch radio ID from before.

 

[mfn002]

It sounds like BCSO is also active on the txwarn system now because I can see different radio ID's showing up instead of just the single dispatch radio ID from before.

I think some of the deputies have the new radios now, so expect to see more of that.

 

[SeaRider]

Eligible / Ineligible

Does anyone know what the CS PD means when they return with a DL that is eligible or not eligible?

 

[nosliwmj]

Eligible to drive or not. They say the same thing on id cards, but I think that is whether its current or expired.

 

[mfn002]

Changing the topic, I've noticed recently that the Brazos County Constables have began using TxWARN TGs. I haven't noticed if their old County TGs are still active, but the bulk of the traffic is on TxWARN now. Also, BCSO seems to have moved most of their traffic to TxWARN. I have not noticed any activity on the TxWARN Bryan Utilities TGs.

 

[SeaRider]

Eligible to drive or not. They say the same thing on id cards, but I think that is whether its current or expired.

That's what I thought originally, but then I wonder why they don't simply say the DL is expired. I'm thinking there's more to it that just currency of the DL.