Can my GRE-500 pickup anything in Bell County?

[StatuSChecKa]

Sorry for the elementary post, but during the past few years we have seen the migration to the P25 System. Is there anything still simulcasting to a system that my GRE 500 can pickup? During the storms I figured I would have been able to atleast hear some Public Works or something. Not Scott & White either.
Here is the link to the Bell County Database: Bell County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference.
Is there anything I can tune to? Even a school bus or garbage truck?
Thank You.

 

[hazrat8990]

I looked around on the link you posted, and it seems there's some conflicting info. The system shows P25 Phase II, but all of the TG's listed below are showing D as the mode, which usually indicates a P25 Phase I system. I see only a couple with T as the mode.

I suppose you could program the control channels and a few TGID's to see if you can pick up anything. Perhaps you'll get lucky, but if it is indeed a P25 Phase II system, you'll have to upgrade equipment. Plenty of options out there with scanners or SDR.

 

[mwjones]

Scott & White is part of the Baylor hospital network now and is on a NEXEDGE system (I was recently through Temple and picked it up, just haven't had a chance to finish writing the updates for submission yet), which would explain why you didn't hear them. Sadly, the GRE 500 won't be able to monitor the NEXEDGE system.

 

[StatuSChecKa]

I suppose you could program the control channels and a few TGID's to see if you can pick up anything.

I have the 24 Control Frequencies in my program. As for the TGID's do you think I should use the HEX or DEC? I am using WIN500 which accepts either.

 

[hazrat8990]

Definitely decimal, unless you wish to punish yourself!

 

[StatuSChecKa]

Has anyone heard skywarn or weather groups working lately?

 

[Eirik]

Bell County, Texas has moved to encrypted for law enforcement. As far as I know all other services are unecrypted.

 

[Ensnared]

Bell County, Texas has moved to encrypted for law enforcement. As far as I know all other services are unecrypted.

"Some" of Bell County has employed encryption on Bell P25, not all. I hear Bell SO on a frequent basis, in the clear.

I "had" a PSR 500 until I smashed it into little pieces due to a life circumstance issue. It worked fine beforehand. If the mode column on the RR page shows "D" you can monitor. If it is marked with Phase II talk groups, you won't be able to monitor those talk groups.

I preferred using the PSR 500 for analog. I also preferred my deceased PSR 500 specific to the natural sounding digital voice as opposed to the pinched turd sound of the Uniden 436HP or SDS 100.

 

[Ensnared]

I returned to Bell County yesterday hoping to hear the talk groups that are not marked with "E" in the mode column. I only heard Bell SO keying up. I heard a few transmissions on S&W NXDN. That was it. So, I don't know if this page is current. I would appreciate hearing from those who monitor this system.

 

[ecps92]

I looked around on the link you posted, and it seems there's some conflicting info. The system shows P25 Phase II, but all of the TG's listed below are showing D as the mode, which usually indicates a P25 Phase I system. I see only a couple with T as the mode.

I suppose you could program the control channels and a few TGID's to see if you can pick up anything. Perhaps you'll get lucky, but if it is indeed a P25 Phase II system, you'll have to upgrade equipment. Plenty of options out there with scanners or SDR.

IT is a Phase II system, but as listed is only running Phase I TG's, so the GRE should still work, outside of any simulcast reception issues.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I looked around on the link you posted, and it seems there's some conflicting info. The system shows P25 Phase II, but all of the TG's listed below are showing D as the mode, which usually indicates a P25 Phase I system.

Not "conflicting info" at all. More often than not you'll come across a Phase-II capable systems which includes primarily FDMA (mode "D") talkgroups and few TDMA (mode "T"). "Non-Phase-II" scanners can track mode "D" talkgroups on Phase-II capable systems.

So to answer the OP's question, a PSR-500 can pick up most talkgroups on this system minus mode "DE" which are fully encrypted or mode "T" which are TDMA, although simulcast distortion may be a hindrance depending on the OP's location relative to two or more towers on the Bell Simulcast