Bucks county reception

[bucks83]

Well the system isn't completely done yet and what's in the database which is what the vendor installed will definitely grow in time. The development started in the western part of the state and nothing is completed in our area. I would think it is totally wasted space in your radio and you don't want to listen to it.

Do your reading and learn how to use the radio so that you can program it yourself from Sentinel and you can supplement the many many channels especially conventional older frequencies that they probably did not put in your radio as they probably just put systems. They don't know your area from a hole in the wall.

We have a saying that... the more you scan the less you hear. For example the only active talk groups you want to have for Bucks County are either EMS South or north and Hospital talk groups depending where you are, the fire response and Ops channels depending where you are, you don't have to listen to that countywide dispatch fire and EMS Channel with all the tones if you listen to either South, east, central or north fire talk groups. They dispatched the fire calls there also. I listen to fire south and east response and Ops. Also the fire police talk groups for North and South are active depending where your location is. I'm in Bristol so Bristol Fire Police have an old repeater system they've been using forever which I bet is not programmed into your scanner. You can listen to Tac 1 through 5 talk groups also. They are not encrypted and were meant for inner Ops. I actually did hear a radar trap today on one of the tac channels but they are rarely used. You need to lock out all of the police stuff including dispatch and Ops. They're all encrypted.

I don't know what counties they put in there but five counties to scan is way too much, I hope you at least have Philadelphia that still has dispatch in the clear, everybody else is encrypted for police.

Hopefully you will get familiar with the database and Sentinel and be able to customize your radio. Remember the less you scan the more you hear so start hitting double taps on the avoid button. Also there are a lot of VHF High frequencies that rebroadcast different counties fire Systems for dispatch. I'm going to venture and say they didn't program them either but they usually carry a very good distance.

Keep working on it and pare back what you listening to as much as you can.

I think I have some of those frequencies (Fire south and fire east) but if you don't mind can you list them ? I'm in Lower Makefield.

The only thing I hear from Philadelphia is Septa Police and a fireground but I think that one might be encrypted.

I'm experimenting with adding frequencies in the 'Quick Save Group’ in a ‘Quick Save System. ws
I was following a guy on youtube explaining how to create favorites in Sentinel but he quit the video before he finished saying he would continue in his next video but I was never able to find his next video.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I think I have some of those frequencies (Fire south and fire east) but if you don't mind can you list them ?

All the info is in the database...

From the Bucks TRS...

16	010	T	FD East	Fire East - Response	Fire-Tac
46	02e	T	FD East Ops	Fire East - Operations	Fire-Tac

17	011	T	FD South	Fire South - Response	Fire-Tac
47	02f	T	FD South Ops	Fire South - Operations	Fire-Tac

VHF rebroadcasts here...

155.11500

WQDS898

B

97.4 PL

Brstl B FD S

Fire South (Simulcast from TRS)

FM

Fire-Tac

151.22000

WQAW225

B

97.4 PL

Fire East

Fire East (Simulcast from TRS)

FM

Fire-Tac

The only thing I hear from Philadelphia is Septa Police and a fireground but I think that one might be encrypted.

Philadelphia operates here. Any talkgroup listed as mode "DE" is encrypted (for instance, fire tac channels)

 

[trentbob]

Thanks Johnny. Bucks 83 those are the VHF frequencies that will repeat the TRS. You can actually listen on a conventional scanner. Those talk groups on the county system for fire East and fire South will repeat the dispatch call without all the tones. Also look in the database or on your radio for EMS South talk group and look for the hospital notification talk groups, they are all active now. The fire police talk groups are active. If you are in the Bristol area then for fire police they use 460.4125 pl 131.8... Tac1- Tac5 are in the clear and always have been. They are for inner Ops between the different disciplines. Occasionally the police will use them for a radar trap. They will also be used for special assignments for fire police such as parades or special events. They are rarely used.

As far as that T-band repeater for SEPTA police that is a good frequency to listen to as it repeats J band in Philadelphia. Because of all the tunnels it has different input frequencies but only that one output frequency you see used. As far as J band it is really a talk group on the Philly system. It's not a band but that comes from long in the past when it was called J band then. That is the Citywide emergency frequency monitored by top brass, specialty units and of course the media, It is Flash information on all major events anywhere in the city. There is also a T band which is Citywide tactical, traffic and Highway Patrol and there is a Citywide M BAND which is Administrative. One thing about SEPTA police rebroadcasting J band is that SEPTA police broadcast override the J band transmissions.

It is imperative that you get to be very familiar with the database on radio reference. Once you get started looking things up you'll be there all the time LOL... Bob.

 

[bucks83]

Thanks guys, this scanner thing reminds me of trying to create batch files in DOS back in the late 90's.

 

[u2brent]

Thanks guys, this scanner thing reminds me of trying to create batch files in DOS back in the late 90's.

Depending on how in depth you get with this hobby, that skill may return to haunt you..

 

[ceb515]

Thanks Ryan, when the police went encrypted I was fortunate enough to have no less than 5 people who were able to give me info that turned out to be correct and accurate. I'll reach out and see if I can find out anything since there hasn't been any information that I'm aware of that changed. As I say anything is possible.

If I hear anything I'll start a thread where it belongs, personally, I'm not a EMS or fire listener and don't tie up a radio with the county Phase II system just to listen to Tac 1 through 5 which is in the clear but not often used. Occasional speed trap or special events. The fire police talk groups are active I hear but I live in Bristol and they have their own 500 megahertz repeater which is active.

I listen to the 2 VHF rebroadcast of the TRS for fire south and east.

As I say I'm still so disappointed that the county made this decision and lost their transparency during these times that the lack of police transparency is being made such an issue but it is what it is.

Trent,
I am uncertain if it is a miscommunication between people who do and do not understand radio communications, but there was talk in my department's meeting about Fire Ops and EMS N/S going encrypted as well.

 

[trentbob]

It's Bob, the trent is for Trenton where I worked as a longtime newspaper man but now retired.

To be honest, I have not been following recently, I really don't listen to EMS or fire. During the time of the police going on and off encryption, example when there were riots in Philadelphia of which Bucks County never had any of, I guess they felt they had to give up transparency because of mob rule and the domestic terrorist conducting the organized riots.

I had multiple sources who would contact me and let me know what they heard and it was all at the county level. Now the police are gone, it's done.

The last I had heard was the county Commissioners had approved 1.2 million dollars to make fire and EMS radios capable of receiving encrypted police transmissions for situational awareness and the process was hands-on, could not be done OTA and would take quite a while.

If I receive a call or a text or an email regarding any changes I will come on and share what I can confirm with other sources closer to the job. Many rumors were going around at the time and even the county itself was changing its mind regularly. Right before they went permanently encrypted a source had a email from a commissioner that a decision had not been made. Several other sources said that a vote was made by the police Chiefs Association and staying a transparent County lost by one vote. What does it matter, It's all water under the bridge now.

If you hear anything that you can confirm, I have no idea who you are, but please share it with us, if you want... anything is possible lol... thanks, Bob.

 

[trentbob]

Trent,
I am uncertain if it is a miscommunication between people who do and do not understand radio communications, but there was talk in my department's meeting about Fire Ops and EMS N/S going encrypted as well.

Okay, I was able to find out, all of the fire talk groups will remain in the clear for the foreseeable future. The funds provided by the county for the receive only encryption upgrade were insufficient to upgrade all fire radios.

The other issue that impacts this is that some fire departments purchased non Motorola radios and there's not a current solution available for these either... Bob.

 

[trentbob]

Trent,
I am uncertain if it is a miscommunication between people who do and do not understand radio communications, but there was talk in my department's meeting about Fire Ops and EMS N/S going encrypted as well.

Okay I've been able to get another confirmation on my last post.

I do remember a email response to a firefighter's concern about situational awareness from the director of the Radio Room and she said that, if any fireman has a concern they should contact their chief and that receive only police encryption radios would be available as loners if needed.

I've been able to confirm that some Chiefs and deputy chiefs do have these radios.

 

[ceb515]

Okay I've been able to get another confirmation on my last post.

I do remember a email response to a firefighter's concern about situational awareness from the director of the Radio Room and she said that, if any fireman has a concern they should contact their chief and that receive only police encryption radios would be available as loners if needed.

I've been able to confirm that some Chiefs and deputy chiefs do have these radios.

Just spoke with my AC, he stated bucks is moving fire to fully encrypted within the week. I guess we will find out. Unless anyone else here with connections to the county radio room has any more details.

 

[u2brent]

That's nuts!

 

[trentbob]

I'll say this again, anything is possible. I only spoke to two people. No one else has contacted me. I guess we just find out. They do read RR. When the police went permanently encrypted even some dispatchers were not in the loop. At least there will be a few departments I imagine that have Harris radios?

If anyone can find out what will be done about dispatch and pagers Etc. If I hear anything more I'll let people know. Where did this money come from? So many questions. If there's any firefighters out there that have had technicians physically work on their radios to meet the end of the week deadline maybe let us know also.

Anything is Possible!

 

[ceb515]

I'll say this again, anything is possible. I only spoke to two people. No one else has contacted me. I guess we just find out. They do read RR. When the police went permanently encrypted even some dispatchers were not in the loop. At least there will be a few departments I imagine that have Harris radios?

If anyone can find out what will be done about dispatch and pagers Etc. If I hear anything more I'll let people know. Where did this money come from? So many questions. If there's any firefighters out there that have had technicians physically work on their radios to meet the end of the week deadline maybe let us know also.View attachment 104055

Anything is Possible!

We did have chief 114 come to our station for the reason quoted in the attached picture. I was not present so I don't know exactly what was done. I do know there aren't "I've been flashed!" Stickers on any of out portables.

 

[trentbob]

So I wonder if that is the program that has been approved for many months now to make fire radios capable of picking up police encryption for situational awareness. The Commissioners have to approve any money for any project and 1.2 million dollars was approved.

Should be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

[radio3353]

...The other issue that impacts this is that some fire departments purchased non Motorola radios and there's not a current solution available for these either...

Wait...what? How is it possible some companies did not purchase and are allowed to use non-standard radios? Is Bucks County radio room really that much out of control? I am surprised considering how well the switch from the old 500 MHz system to the new P25 ph. 2 system went a few years ago. Crazy.

 

[radio3353]

We did have chief 114 come to our station for the reason quoted in the attached picture. I was not present so I don't know exactly what was done. I do know there aren't "I've been flashed!" Stickers on any of out portables.

Wouldn't that (Chief 114 and Tri-Hampton) have to do with EMS, not fire? I thought the discussion here was about fire?

 

[trentbob]

radio3353, you are getting out of my wheelhouse here. Don't know the politics of the Radio Room other than I have spoken with some pretty nice people who are dispatchers.

Yes, I understand that responses here have been from EMS but I really lump it all together. Sources say that there was not enough money allotted to give situational awareness to everybody but I would think EMS certainly would be a priority to have their radios modified to be able to receive police encryption.

It is always been assumed that all of the new hospital notification talk groups would probably end up going encrypted and that might be starting to happen now. Maybe that is also what these modifications are going to be.

I can't confirm what EMS is doing but I'm comfortable with the source that says all fire Ops will continue to be in the clear for the foreseeable future but anything can happen. I know the 1.2 million dollars was to include situational awareness by monitoring encrypted police for fire also but that is not enough money to do every radio. Maybe just supervisors will have that capability in fire service. I can confirm that the county has given loaners for this purpose to some Fire Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs.

As indicated above, we will just get out the popcorn and wait and see... Bob.

 

[trentbob]

Well guys, like I said I thought I would be notified today. People are watching. I got a third confirmation today that Fire Ops will not be going encrypted in the foreseeable future, but anything can happen lol. I also got confirmation that some Fire Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs have already been modified and can receive police encrypted communications. Depending on Department policy, there might be others with that capability. For fire Ops to go completely encrypted every radio in the system would have to be encrypted. They don't have the funds to do that and the non Motorola radios would cause a problem also, pretty cut-and-dry but anything's possible

 

[ceb515]

Well guys, like I said I thought I would be notified today. People are watching. I got a third confirmation today that Fire Ops will not be going encrypted in the foreseeable future, but anything can happen lol. I also got confirmation that some Fire Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs have already been modified and can receive police encrypted communications. Depending on Department policy, there might be others with that capability. For fire Ops to go completely encrypted every radio in the system would have to be encrypted. They don't have the funds to do that and the non Motorola radios would cause a problem also, pretty cut-and-dry but anything's possible

Next time I get up to the station I'll check out the flashcode in the truck portables to see if they've been reflashed, also check the station mobile/base to see if it's got encryption now.

 

[trentbob]

Next time I get up to the station I'll check out the flashcode in the truck portables to see if they've been reflashed, also check the station mobile/base to see if it's got encryption now.

Yep, any information you can get is appreciated, thanks... Bob.