Cook County Sheriff VHF

[Premises2972]

Recently (within the last few weeks), I have been hearing very frequent and slightly weak traffic on 155.535 and 155.595. NACs are 293 and all traffic is ENC. These are both licensed to the sheriffs (listed as Backups and no ENC on the DB, but its very active for backup use), and I think they might be simplex, but I don't know. Also it might be simulcast across both of those freqs, but I can't confirm that. Anyone have any idea if the sheriffs got some new channels?

 

[ILjim]

All the activity I've received on 155.595 (old North CCS Patrol) has been encrypted so far. Though, for a couple of years now, I've occasionally heard what sounds like Cook County Sheriff's dispatchers on 155.535 (old South Patrol) in the clear.

 

[Premises2972]

All the activity I've received on 155.595 (old North CCS Patrol) has been encrypted so far. Though, for a couple of years now, I've occasionally heard what sounds like Cook County Sheriff's dispatchers on 155.535 (old South Patrol) in the clear.

How strong are they by you? If they are coming out of LGH repeater they should be stronger for me, but the signals can't be received on a handheld antenna. Any RIDs?
Might just have to submit that this frequency is atleast partial enc, and unknown if it's a tac channel for them or not.

 

[Premises2972]

All the activity I've received on 155.595 (old North CCS Patrol) has been encrypted so far. Though, for a couple of years now, I've occasionally heard what sounds like Cook County Sheriff's dispatchers on 155.535 (old South Patrol) in the clear.

Also are those 2 frequencies patched, and did you notice if those frequencies are patched to any CCS SC21 TGs?

 

[ILjim]

How strong are they by you? If they are coming out of LGH repeater they should be stronger for me, but the signals can't be received on a handheld antenna. Any RIDs?
Might just have to submit that this frequency is atleast partial enc, and unknown if it's a tac channel for them or not.

I received 155.535 pretty well throughout the southern half of Cook County. 155.595 seems to come in pretty weak even with an external antenna.

Also are those 2 frequencies patched, and did you notice if those frequencies are patched to any CCS SC21 TGs?

I am not sure. I've always spectated that they're patched to either the Sheriff's Police TGs or the Metro TGs used by the local PDs they dispatch. I do know for a fact that it isn't a patch to Metra PD since they're the only non-encrypted dept that they dispatch.

 

[Premises2972]

I received 155.535 pretty well throughout the southern half of Cook County. 155.595 seems to come in pretty weak even with an external antenna.

I am not sure. I've always spectated that they're patched to either the Sheriff's Police TGs or the Metro TGs used by the local PDs they dispatch. I do know for a fact that it isn't a patch to Metra PD since they're the only non-encrypted dept that they dispatch.

So this leads me to think its out of one of the southern radio transmitters, not the Park Ridge/LGH tower, Maybe someone with a SDR can correlate the frequency with a SC21 TG.

 

[RBMTS]

Both 155.535 & 155.595 are full strength here in the Lisle area with an inside antenna. P25 ENC.

 

[Premises2972]

Both 155.535 & 155.595 are full strength here in the Lisle area with an inside antenna. P25 ENC.

Are they multicast?

 

[RBMTS]

Negative.

 

[Premises2972]

Nearly 24hrs of SDR monitoring later
The 2 frequencies aren't multicast, surprisingly active, and there was 100% encryption. The interesting thing is that the From RID was 0, calling TG1. I think this means its patched to something on SC21, otherwise the RID wouldn't be 0?

 

[vest2208]

Permanent patches to Patrol N & Patrol S TG's respectively. Allows the use of existing mobiles in the cars for better range/connection.

 

[Premises2972]

Permanent patches to Patrol N & Patrol S TG's respectively. Allows the use of existing mobiles in the cars for better range/connection.

oh wow, is this a recent patch they put up?

 

[kevino]

155.595 is being multicast with STARCOM21 talkgroup 25086 (Cook County Sheriff Patrol North) and 155.535 is being multicast with STARCOM21 talkgroup 25087 (Cook County Sheriff Patrol South). All transmissions are encrypted, and the database has been updated.

Thanks to Jerry for the update!

 

[ChicagoRadio736]

Permanent patches to Patrol N & Patrol S TG's respectively. Allows the use of existing mobiles in the cars for better range/connection.

What about VHF Band 5? Ia that still in use? ENC?

 

[ILjim]

Wow, I'm surprised it took them so long to fully encrypt the VHF freqs. For several years, I remember hearing only the dispatcher side of conversations on 155.535 when in southern Cook Co. Also, I've received 155.640 and 154.995 in P25 mode in the past as well.

 

[vest2208]

What about VHF Band 5? Ia that still in use? ENC?

Not really. Only 1 & 2 are enc at the moment because of the mobile use.