Chicago PD

[ScannerMan929]

I'm heading to chicago Saturday (9\4) and I've been there numerous times (I'm Originally from there), and am pretty accustomed to the UHF band that CPD uses for dispatch. I haven't been up since April and looks like things have changed a little bit. I was just curious if I should still stick to monitoring UHF or consider the other TG's on the EDACS system.

Thank you

P.S. The CC's for the EDACS system don't come in too clearly in the Hyde Park area. That's where I'll be.

 

[remedy44]

UHF is good to listen to the Citywides for all the hot call and catch the zones at the of each transmission then jump to that zone.The EDACS system north system is weird i have a hard time picking it up now the south site is much stronger i get it full scale here try that. Now the Chicago Public Safety is mostly tac work sting op's drugs vice. That's all from NON EXPERT SCANNER LISTENER (sarcasm) over 30 years in the hobby

 

[N9JIG]

CPD has changed very little in years. All dispatch operations are on the same UHF Zone and Citywide freqs as they have been for decades.

The EDACS system is actually the State Police. It has a couple TG's that simulcast CPD traffic, mainly just to build the traffic level up for channel retention rather than for any tactical or operational need.

CPD does use an 800 MHz Motorola Type II system that handles tactical, detective and narcotics traffic as well as some other specialized traffic (VIP security, Command Staff etc.)

Both airports have a UHF Astro trunked system for operations, but CPD and CFD are still on the ORD 800 system at O'Hare. MDW has CPD and CFD on the UHF system (no local 800 system there).

The biggest change in CPD radio operations in the last 20 years is the abandonment of most VHF operations in foavor of the 800 MHz. system.

Eventually there will be CFD traffic on more UHF T-Band channels, probably digital and probably not trunked.