Couple of Sac area freq questions

[NWtoSFO]

Over the last couple of weeks I've been listening to airline traffic around the area and keep noticing Sac Fire Dispatch coming up on 134.8 (NorCal Tracon), which I have programmed in my Pro-97 and my Pro-162 receiving modes as "am". Just last night there were three or four calls in 2 minutes and then nothing but air traffic the rest of the hour (that was on my 97). Last weekend I was sitting at McClellen and found the same thing happen (on my 162). Curious as to why I'm hearing them on this frequency.

Also, I know that not long ago, under Placer County Sheriff, 155.52/ PL 131.8 was in the database, but is no longer there. I still hear it. I'm not up the mountain much, but I can follow all the radio traffic in the south county and at my home in Citrus Heights, albeit much scratchier than the same traffic on 160.545. Again, it's just curiosity.

 

[clanusb]

Ive been noticing a lot of whacky things like that too.

things like my 246 showing tag "FT D6" with traffic that is suppose to be on A2/3.
other things like sheriff on FT A8, etc. its only for a second or so aswell.

but i have noticed what you mentioned about fire on 134.8

 

[Duster]

Also, I know that not long ago, under Placer County Sheriff, 155.52/ PL 131.8 was in the database, but is no longer there. I still hear it. I'm not up the mountain much, but I can follow all the radio traffic in the south county and at my home in Citrus Heights, albeit much scratchier than the same traffic on 160.545. Again, it's just curiosity.

I've been working this for a couple of weeks trying to fill out my info before posting. 155.520 CTCSS 131.8 is a new repeater at the new Roseville Court complex on Industrial Ave. It is repeating their primary traffic from 160.545. I confirmed that from the parking lot of the courthouse, but cannot locate the input frequency or input CTCSS. I've tried CloseCalling it with my PRO-97, but the deputies at the complex weren't on the radio much the day I had available to sit there. PCSO has also added a new Auburn Jail repeater and a new Auburn Tactical repeater that I have not been able to confirm the proper codes to. Still working on it...

 

[scannerboy02]

PCSO has also added a new Auburn Jail repeater and a new Auburn Tactical repeater that I have not been able to confirm the proper codes to. Still working on it...

I heard them make reference to a "Auburn Tactical" the other day and was not sure what that was all about. Dispatch told a unit to switch to the Auburn Tactical but when the unit said he was on Auburn Tactical I was able to hear him on 160.545. From what they were saying I kind of got the feeling that they were doing some test and that it may have been some kind of portable system.

 

[scannerboy02]

155.520 CTCSS 131.8 is a new repeater at the new Roseville Court complex on Industrial Ave.

PCSO has also added a new Auburn Jail repeater and a new Auburn Tactical repeater that I have not been able to confirm the proper codes to. Still working on it...

I see a "Jail (Auburn)" and a "Sheriff Tactical - Auburn" frequency in the database, not sure if they are related or not. I do not see the 155.520 frequency listed.

 

[Duster]

I see a "Jail (Auburn)" and a "Sheriff Tactical - Auburn" frequencyin the database, not sure if they are related or not. I do not see the 155.520 frequency listed.

It's not listed. It IS on their FCC license, and it IS in use in Roseville as described (confirmed multiple days from my house and from the site). The two Auburn frequency sets must be low-powered or low antenna height, because I cannot pick them up from my house in Lincoln, while I CAN pick up Auburn PD and PCSO's input transmission from their Auburn dispatch center. When I get time to go sit in Auburn for a while, I will verify those two sets and get CTCSS's for them.

FYI, they have some other freqs on their license that I don't see listed as being in use. Perhaps they are working towards expanding their system. I'd heard rumors they were talking about a VHF trunked P25 system, but haven't heard that in a while.

 

[Duster]

I heard them make reference to a "Auburn Tactical" the other day and was not sure what that was all about. Dispatch told a unit to switch to the Auburn Tactical but when the unit said he was on Auburn Tactical I was able to hear him on 160.545. From what they were saying I kind of got the feeling that they were doing some test and that it may have been some kind of portable system.

That would make sense. I have those two new channels in my radio and my scanner and am getting no traffic on them. If it is a new portable or tactical repeater, I would probably not receive it here. Knowing PCSO and our terrain up here, if it is a tactical repeater, it would very possibly be set to (or be capable of) feeding into the primary net, especially down in some of the canyons or remote communities in the hills.

 

[Duster]

I can follow all the radio traffic in the south county and at my home in Citrus Heights, albeit much scratchier than the same traffic on 160.545.

It scratchier than 160.545 from my house too, and I only live 4 miles from the site (courthouse). I would guess it is a lower powered transmitter, or the antenna is optimized for interior coverage for the buildings on the site. There are two antennas on the roof of the court building, and nothing on the office building next door. My best educated guess would be that the repeater is being used to provide emergency comms for the deputies in the courthouse. They probably have trouble hitting a repeater from inside those buildings, especially if there is a jail or holding cell in the basement. The transmissions are loud and clear when I'm in the parking lot or passing it on 65 or Industrial.

 

[NWtoSFO]

Thanks for the reply on Placer County.

I was again monitoring airline traffic today and, while I didn't hear Sac Metro Fire on the freq I mentioned above, I did pick up Solano Sheriff on 134.1, which is a frequency for ANG out at Mather. Not just for a minute or so, but off and on all day. This was on a handheld with an RH77CA, so it wasn't very clear. But it was clear enough that I heard a BOLO on a Dodge pickup, authority CHP, finished by "Solano clear, 14:xx". I was listening on a non-text scanner, so I couldn't tell if it was picking it up in AM or FM, but I'd guess it was on AM, much like the 134.8 I mentioned earlier.