CLARK ENERGY COOPERATIVE INC

[wilyrose]

Can someone help me find the frequencies for this utility company. I've had a BC898T for a long time but I've only listened to local police, fire, and the school. I bought a Pro 18 handheld so that I'd have a battery operated scanner when the power goes out and also so I could listen to KSP. Clark Energy is my electric company and also my gas company. I'd like to be able to listen to the electric company when the power is out so I can decide whether to hook up the generator or not. I've loaded all the frequencies that I can find listed for Frenchburg (which is where I live) and also all the frequencies listed for Winchester which is where their corporate is located. That's about 20 freqs out of about 100 that's listed for Clark Energy. The others are for other counties. I've only been able to pick up a couple freqs but they sound like a engine running or something. Are these channels encrypted or something? The one that I hear most is 158.1600 but it's just that noise. I feel like there's a conversation under the noise but I don't know. I also have a Antennacraft ST2 Antenna. I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks

 

[wilyrose]

OK, I found out what the noise is. It's apparently a control channel. I found a reference (Control channel - The RadioReference Wiki ) that list .wav files of the major trunking systems. As near as I can tell it sounds like a Motorola Type II system. So I guess Clark Energy is a trunked system. Then why doesn't the database show it as one? Guess I'm what could be called an old newb. Even though I've had a scanner for a long time, I still don't know how to work it. I'm reading every thing I can on trunking and trying to figure out more about the database. Does this mean that my local fire, police, and EMS that I've listened to for so long could be trunked system as well. I guess it would explain why some conversations sound like parts are missing. I thought my scanner was just slow to pick them up. But how do I know if those frequencies are trunked if the database doesn't show it. Can someone check it out for me? It's Menifee County. Again, thanks for any help you can give.

 

[W8RMH]

Items in blue and underlined are links, click on them for more information.

The database does show it as a trunked system. You just have to know how to read it.

Clark Energy uses a MOTOTRBO system which can not be received by any scanner. (Note the emission code of 7K60FXD).

 

[wilyrose]

OK thanks so much. Sorry for not knowing how to read the database. Is it the emission code and/or mode that defines or equates to frequencies being in a trunked system. If so can you point me in the direction of where I can learn about emission codes and modes so I won't feel so illiterate in the future. Again...thank you so much and sorry for being so noobish.

 

[unitcharlie]

Hi wilyrose: Don't worry about asking questions... everyone here is at a different place on the knowledge curve.... As W8RMH points out, Clark Energy is a MOTOTRBO system.... To make things more confusing they also use their TRS freqs as Conventional; regardless, we can't monitor them. To help you along here are some links... Look here for the Radio Service Codes (from the Clark Energylicense WQNV580: Radio Service: IG: Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional)... 7K60FXE is explained here: Emission Designator...
To hear the sounds made by various radio flavors, trunked and conventional, go to W2SJW's nice collection of sounds. This is a start and, depending upon how deeply you want to delve, a good start. Go to the data base listing for your county and click on the blue FCC licenses, then go to the license info and figure the stuff out, the more you look at it the more sense it will make...

 

[wilyrose]

Thanks unitcharlie, yea I got some time on my hands so I'm going to delve and try to learn what I can. Things come much harder for me than they use to but I'm going to try. I've got to admit that it all looks pretty complicated.

 

[unitcharlie]

The trick is to take things slowly... what you understand is the base to build on. Get a handle on a few things at a time, as your mind can absorb them, then work on... I'd suggest that you might start with the radioreference.com WIKI the log in is on the left about half way down the page, the search box is just below... type in what you are curious about and start from there.... It takes a while to get back into this mes with all of the advances, but once you get the basics and feel comfortable it suddenly makes sense!