Comal & Hays Emergency Services

[Cfhebertjr]

Recent purchase of WS1040. Figured out programming frequencies but the ones I’m using get NO hits. I’m specifically looking for those frequencies for EMS, Fire Department, etc that are public.

I realize law enforcement is or may be encrypted. I’m most interested, listening in, to avoid areas requiring emergency services

 

[hiegtx]

Recent purchase of WS1040. Figured out programming frequencies but the ones I’m using get NO hits. I’m specifically looking for those frequencies for EMS, Fire Department, etc that are public.

I realize law enforcement is or may be encrypted. I’m most interested, listening in, to avoid areas requiring emergency services

Please either provide a link to the database page that includes your agency of interest, or advise of the location for the agency. Also, knowing your location would help get you a usable answer. City, or county, and state would be helpful.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

Please either provide a link to the database page that includes your agency of interest, or advise of the location for the agency. Also, knowing your location would help get you a usable answer. City, or county, and state would be helpful.

Hays and Comal County are in Texas. San Marcos and New Braunfels Texas

 

[hiegtx]

Hays and Comal County are in Texas. San Marcos and New Braunfels Texas

Hays County is using the LCRA trunked system for much of the public safety agencies. For the S.O., some of their talkgroups are P25 Phase II, indicated by the T in the mode column, with which indicated Phase II. our scanner cannot receive P25 Phase II, so those are out of reach for your WS1040.. Some of them are also encrypted. An upper case E indicates full time encryption. A lower case e indicates full time encrypted. New Braunfels, which is in both Comal & Hays counties, is on the LCRA system, with all of the law enforcement talkgroups being encrypted full time. For other Comal County agencies, as long as they show a D in the mode column, indicating P25 Phase I (which your scanner can handle) should be accessible for your scanner as long as encryption is not in use.

For Comal County, there are some conventional (non-trunked) channels listed, but notes on the database page indicate that they are migrating to the GATRRS trunked system. The Comal County related talkgroups are all P25 Phase I, with a D in the mode column. Some law enforcement talkgroups are tagged as encrypted, which, of course, you cannot hear.

To receive the non-encrypted, P25 Phase I, talkgroups be sure that you program the sites in your area for each of the two systems. Are you programming manually, via the scanner's keypad? Or using software; if software, which program. Win500, ARC500, & PSREdit are the three software packages you can use to program your scanner. None are free, requiring a license to be purchased, though some do have a limited time, usually 30 days, free trial period before you have to purchase the license.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

Hays County is using the LCRA trunked system for much of the public safety agencies. For the S.O., some of their talkgroups are P25 Phase II, indicated by the T in the mode column, with which indicated Phase II. our scanner cannot receive P25 Phase II, so those are out of reach for your WS1040.. Some of them are also encrypted. An upper case E indicates full time encryption. A lower case e indicates full time encrypted. New Braunfels, which is in both Comal & Hays counties, is on the LCRA system, with all of the law enforcement talkgroups being encrypted full time. For other Comal County agencies, as long as they show a D in the mode column, indicating P25 Phase I (which your scanner can handle) should be accessible for your scanner as long as encryption is not in use.

For Comal County, there are some conventional (non-trunked) channels listed, but notes on the database page indicate that they are migrating to the GATRRS trunked system. The Comal County related talkgroups are all P25 Phase I, with a D in the mode column. Some law enforcement talkgroups are tagged as encrypted, which, of course, you cannot hear.

To receive the non-encrypted, P25 Phase I, talkgroups be sure that you program the sites in your area for each of the two systems. Are you programming manually, via the scanner's keypad? Or using software; if software, which program. Win500, ARC500, & PSREdit are the three software packages you can use to program your scanner. None are free, requiring a license to be purchased, though some do have a limited time, usually 30 days, free trial period before you have to purchase the license.

Very detailed thanks. I am programming manually at the moment. I can manage to add the frequencies, tags, LED, colors but other parameters such as search setting are beyond my understanding. I know nothing mostly. I’ve read about Trunking systems, LCRA, P25 but comprehension is minimal. Happy to learn by reading but no idea where to find material. I’m not into YouTube but I did find one channel by Kendal Myers to be helpful but sub-basic.

How to set up-use the Whistler WS1040 scanner

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[hiegtx]

Very detailed thanks. I am programming manually at the moment. I can manage to add the frequencies, tags, LED, colors but other parameters such as search setting are beyond my understanding. I know nothing mostly. I’ve read about Trunking systems, LCRA, P25 but comprehension is minimal. Happy to learn by reading but no idea where to find material. I’m not into YouTube but I did find one channel by Kendal Myers to be helpful but sub-basic.

There are articles in the Wiki, among other places, that can help you to understand trunked systems and how to program them.

Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki .

Common Trunking Programming Questions - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Programming Shortcut PSR-500/600 RS Pro-106/197 - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Don't overlook the "Easier to Read Manual" that covers your scanner model.

Certainly, you can program your scanner manually, via the keypad. It's tedious, but can be done. However, there are several advantages to, instead, use software:

First, it's much quicker to program, by using your PC's keyboard to enter the needed information. Typing the names and channel descriptions, letters are on your keyboard. Without software, you'll need to step through fields manually to get to the specific letter needed. For those who upgraded to a Premium Subscriber, here on RadioReference, using software means that you can download what you want to set up directly from the online database to the scanner.

The other advantage is that, if something is wrong, using software you can navigate to the problem area and review your entries, making it easier, and much quicker, to spot errors or missing data and correct them. Programming manually, you'll have to step through various fields & try to determine what went wrong, either an incorrect entry, or omission of needed details. It's easier to spot errors when you are looking t a page in the software, whereas entering manually, you only see one piece of the puzzle at a time.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

There are articles in the Wiki, among other places, that can help you to understand trunked systems and how to program them.

Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki .

Common Trunking Programming Questions - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Programming Shortcut PSR-500/600 RS Pro-106/197 - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Don't overlook the "Easier to Read Manual" that covers your scanner model.

Certainly, you can program your scanner manually, via the keypad. It's tedious, but can be done. However, there are several advantages to, instead, use software:

First, it's much quicker to program, by using your PC's keyboard to enter the needed information. Typing the names and channel descriptions, letters are on your keyboard. Without software, you'll need to step through fields manually to get to the specific letter needed. For those who upgraded to a Premium Subscriber, here on RadioReference, using software means that you can download what you want to set up directly from the online database to the scanner.

The other advantage is that, if something is wrong, using software you can navigate to the problem area and review your entries, making it easier, and much quicker, to spot errors or missing data and correct them. Programming manually, you'll have to step through various fields & try to determine what went wrong, either an incorrect entry, or omission of needed details. It's easier to spot errors when you are looking t a page in the software, whereas entering manually, you only see one piece of the puzzle at a time.

Many thanks. I no longer have a PC and my PC geek son only has a proprietary business computer. I’m stuck manually entering at the moment. Yes I have read most of the manual. Perhaps half. I will certainly review the links you’ve provided.

 

[hiegtx]

Many thanks. I no longer have a PC and my PC geek son only has a proprietary business computer. I’m stuck manually entering at the moment. Yes I have read most of the manual. Perhaps half. I will certainly review the links you’ve provided.

If, at some point, you want to switch to using software, you don't need a PC with tons of memory & a blazing fast processor. The software available for both the Whistler scanners, like yours, and Uniden scanners needs to have Windows 7 or later, and be able to connect to the internet. The available software for any of these will run on the most basic of machines. You may be able to find a used laptop for less than $200, or even lower, at a pawnshop or perhaps on eBay.

In the meantime, you can program manually to get up & scanning,

Just remember that you can't "kill" the scanner if you make a mistake in programming. Just follow the instructions and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

 

[rattlerbb01]

As hiegtx mentioned above, here’s who is where:

LCRA P25 Phase 2:
Hays SO
San Marcos/Hays County EMS
San Marcos PD (fully encrypted)
San Marcos Fire
Hays County Fire Department
New Braunfels PD (fully encrypted)
New Braunfels Fire/EMS
Live Oak, Universal City, Schertz, Cibolo, Selma (all public safety)
Guadalupe County (all cities and public safety)

Those agencies use the following towers:
Hays North Simulcast (Dripping Springs and Cedar Valley)
Hays South Simulcast (Creedmore and Kyle)
San Marcos Simulcast
Wimberley
West Hays
New Braunfels
Smithson Valley
Live Oak Simulcast
Cibolo
Seguin
Kingsbury
Hickory Forest

GATRRS is used by the following agencies:
Travis County (all public safety, Austin PD fully encrypted)
Bastrop County (all public safety)
Comal County SO
Comal County VFDS and their EMS services
New Braunfels Utilities

Comal County can be found pretty much exclusively on their 6 site simulcast

I did include more than you asked for because honestly from San Marcos you can be in six different counties in 15 minutes on a light traffic day.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

As hiegtx mentioned above, here’s who is where:

LCRA P25 Phase 2:
Hays SO
San Marcos/Hays County EMS
San Marcos PD (fully encrypted)
San Marcos Fire
Hays County Fire Department
New Braunfels PD (fully encrypted)
New Braunfels Fire/EMS
Live Oak, Universal City, Schertz, Cibolo, Selma (all public safety)
Guadalupe County (all cities and public safety)

Those agencies use the following towers:
Hays North Simulcast (Dripping Springs and Cedar Valley)
Hays South Simulcast (Creedmore and Kyle)
San Marcos Simulcast
Wimberley
West Hays
New Braunfels
Smithson Valley
Live Oak Simulcast
Cibolo
Seguin
Kingsbury
Hickory Forest

GATRRS is used by the following agencies:
Travis County (all public safety, Austin PD fully encrypted)
Bastrop County (all public safety)
Comal County SO
Comal County VFDS and their EMS services
New Braunfels Utilities

Comal County can be found pretty much exclusively on their 6 site simulcast

I did include more than you asked for because honestly from San Marcos you can be in six different counties in 15 minutes on a light traffic day.

Thanks for the input. I’ve purchased an inexpensive PC as suggested by @hiegtx. Still a long way to go before I fully understand all the lingo and such.

 

[clementrw]

Another issues with the WS1040 is that Hays County sites are mostly simulcast. Non-simulcast capable scanners have problems listening to the system. I see a huge difference in what I hear from my SDS200 and my BCD536HP with everything else being equal.

 

[garys]

What's a light traffic day?

I did include more than you asked for because honestly from San Marcos you can be in six different counties in 15 minutes on a light traffic day.

 

[rattlerbb01]

What's a light traffic day?

3 am

 

[Cfhebertjr]

Hays County is using the LCRA trunked system for much of the public safety agencies. For the S.O., some of their talkgroups are P25 Phase II, indicated by the T in the mode column, with which indicated Phase II. our scanner cannot receive P25 Phase II, so those are out of reach for your WS1040.. Some of them are also encrypted. An upper case E indicates full time encryption. A lower case e indicates full time encrypted. New Braunfels, which is in both Comal & Hays counties, is on the LCRA system, with all of the law enforcement talkgroups being encrypted full time. For other Comal County agencies, as long as they show a D in the mode column, indicating P25 Phase I (which your scanner can handle) should be accessible for your scanner as long as encryption is not in use.

For Comal County, there are some conventional (non-trunked) channels listed, but notes on the database page indicate that they are migrating to the GATRRS trunked system. The Comal County related talkgroups are all P25 Phase I, with a D in the mode column. Some law enforcement talkgroups are tagged as encrypted, which, of course, you cannot hear.

To receive the non-encrypted, P25 Phase I, talkgroups be sure that you program the sites in your area for each of the two systems. Are you programming manually, via the scanner's keypad? Or using software; if software, which program. Win500, ARC500, & PSREdit are the three software packages you can use to program your scanner. None are free, requiring a license to be purchased, though some do have a limited time, usually 30 days, free trial period before you have to purchase the license.

okay sir, i'm back. win500 installed. uploaded my first set of channels to a trunked lcra p25 TG. Scanner exhibits 'nothing enabled'. what am i missing. the walk thru on win500 .pdf fails to mention this bit.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

okay sir, i'm back. win500 installed. uploaded my first set of channels to a trunked lcra p25 TG. Scanner exhibits 'nothing enabled'. what am i missing. the walk thru on win500 .pdf fails to mention this bit.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

okay sir, i'm back. win500 installed. uploaded my first set of channels to a trunked lcra p25 TG. Scanner exhibits 'nothing enabled'. what am i missing. the walk thru on win500 .pdf fails to mention this bit.

 

[Cfhebertjr]

okay sir, i'm back. win500 installed. uploaded my first set of channels to a trunked lcra p25 TG. Scanner exhibits 'nothing enabled'. what am i missing. the walk thru on win500 .pdf fails to mention this bit.

the scan list 02 disappeared after an unexpected crash of the program. guess i needed to save it

 

[Cfhebertjr]

apparently i did something right. i failed to add actual channels after adding talk groups. now receiving garbled transmissions from NBPD

 

[Cfhebertjr]

apparently i did something right. i failed to add actual channels after adding talk groups. now receiving garbled transmissions from NBPDView attachment 192601

 

[hiegtx]

apparently i did something right. i failed to add actual channels after adding talk groups. now receiving garbled transmissions from NBPD

For a trunked system to work, you need both the frequencies used at the site, as well as talkgroups programmed for that system.

Looking at your initial screenshot in this post, you only have Scanlist 1 enabled. But in this later post, showing your talkgroups programmed, they are flagged for Scanlist 2. Be sure and enable the scanlist that you set for trunked system talkgroups, as well as conventional channels.