D/FW Texas area: P25 Phase 2 scanner

[N6GQ]

Hey there, I'm new here. Long time scanner user, ham, etc. but I've been away for a while. I recently moved to the D/FW area of Texas, and it seems that most everything here is P25 phase 2. I have a Pro106 and other analog scanners, but most aren't very useful. So I'm looking to upgrade. I'm most interested in police, DPS (troopers), fire, and medical public service. No interest in DMR. So I think just P25 is all I need. I'm looking for something that can go nicely in the car if I wanted, although I'm also sort of interested in the SDS100 for portability. So looking for suggestions. SDS200? I also like the ability of the 596 to do streaming but I understand the SDS200 can do LAN streaming so I think that would be fine...thanks much.

 

[hiegtx]

Hey there, I'm new here. Long time scanner user, ham, etc. but I've been away for a while. I recently moved to the D/FW area of Texas, and it seems that most everything here is P25 phase 2. I have a Pro106 and other analog scanners, but most aren't very useful. So I'm looking to upgrade. I'm most interested in police, DPS (troopers), fire, and medical public service. No interest in DMR. So I think just P25 is all I need. I'm looking for something that can go nicely in the car if I wanted, although I'm also sort of interested in the SDS100 for portability. So looking for suggestions. SDS200? I also like the ability of the 596 to do streaming but I understand the SDS200 can do LAN streaming so I think that would be fine...thanks much.

Welcome to RadioReference and the DFW Metro area.

While it is true that most of the newer systems in the area are capable of P25 Phase II operation, not all are using Phase II exclusively. If you are in Tarrant County, or the 'Mid-Cities' area (Hurst, Euless, Bedford), one system you will likely monitor is FWRRS. If you look at the system in the database, it is tagged as being a Phase II system. However, if you look at the talkgroups being used, you'll see that, for now, most of them are using Phase I, not Phase II. That's indicated by the D in the mode column. Fort Worth proper, as well as Tarrant County, and the smaller suburbs, are still P25 Phase I. Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Irving, however, are using Phase II. Phase II talkgroups are identified with a T in the mode column,

The new Denton County system is using Phase II. as is GMRS, the new system used by Garland, Mesquite, Rowlett, and Sachse. PAWN, used by Plano and several neighboring cities, is Phase II capable, but most activity, for now, is Phase I. However, it's been noted that Plano will be shifting their talkgroups to Phase II exclusively in stages. Dallas (both city and county) is building a new P25 Phase II system to replace their mostly conventional public safety radio systems. The new system is projected to go online late next year.

While the only public safety user at this time is Highland Park, if you have an interest in EMS, note that CareFlite, a major air medical provider, uses a DMR system. There are also four smaller Dallas County suburbs that use NXDN systems.

So, yes, you should look toward buying a P25 Phase II capable scanner. Besides the systems currently using that format, or are under construction, I would expect that many of those currently using P25 Phase I will transition to Phase II. The SDS series is a good choice, and for me, work well in areas with simulcast distortion. Depending on your exact location, and your system(s) of interest, that could be a deciding factor. Your Pro-106 would work on the systems and talkgroups that are currently Phase I, however, there are some simulcast issues with some ofe systems. Check the threads down in the Texas forum for more comments along that line.

 

[N6GQ]

Steve, thank you for an awesome post, really appreciated.

I am moving towards the SDS100. The one question I have is that for me, I would use this a lot in the car, and on my drives to/from Austin from the DFW area as one scenario. I read that the SDS radios are geographically-based for easy programming - how does this work when one is transitioning many zip codes, for example, between DFW and Austin?

Lastly, I'm in Haslet, which is north of Fort Worth. Tarrant County Sheriff, and local Fire and PD services would be of interest. I'm still getting acclimated to Texas geography so I'm not 100% sure where all of these different services are dispatched from, but I'm guessing that the geographical-based programming would take care of that? And if so, would that be for analog and digital? Or just digital? Phase 1 and 2?

I'll stop before my head explodes

Thanks again...

 

[hiegtx]

Steve, thank you for an awesome post, really appreciated.

I am moving towards the SDS100. The one question I have is that for me, I would use this a lot in the car, and on my drives to/from Austin from the DFW area as one scenario. I read that the SDS radios are geographically-based for easy programming - how does this work when one is transitioning many zip codes, for example, between DFW and Austin?

Lastly, I'm in Haslet, which is north of Fort Worth. Tarrant County Sheriff, and local Fire and PD services would be of interest. I'm still getting acclimated to Texas geography so I'm not 100% sure where all of these different services are dispatched from, but I'm guessing that the geographical-based programming would take care of that? And if so, would that be for analog and digital? Or just digital? Phase 1 and 2?

I'll stop before my head explodes

Thanks again...

If you are regularly traveling back and forth between Haslet and Austin, then your easiest solution would be to use a GPS unit. The systems, both conventional and trunked, in the database are tagged with their location and the systems range. The GPS will update your location as you drive, causing the scanner to enable systems as they come into range, and disable (turn them back off) as you pass out of range. With the GPS connected, and your range set. the scanner will use the main database to determine which systems to monitor.

For the SDS100, you can either get the Uniden GPS, or this one from Amazon (among other places): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AMAJFUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The cable that comes with the Uniden GPS is not the one you need for the SDS100. You actually need the BC-UTGC. That cable has a USB connector to power both the scanner and the GPS. To fully power the SDS100scanner, as well as allow it to charge the battery, you'd need either a USB port in your vehicle that supplied that much current, or else a cigarette lighter adapter with that much current available. I'm using one like this. The GPS cable above plugs into this adapter. Or, you can use the cord that's part of the adapter to just power the scanner if the GPS is not being used.

Haslet Fire uses a conventional Vhf-high frequency. Not sure, but they may use Tarrant County S.O. for law enforcement. Haslet partially straddles the Tarrant/Denton County line, so you may want to monitor both FWRRS as well as the Denton County system. You're also near Alliance Airport, which usually has an air show every year, and Texas Motor Speedway, with NASCAR and other races held there.

For more information on how location control works on Uniden scanners, see How it Works: Location, Location, Location

 

[N6GQ]

Awesome, thank you! I owe you a big cold beer (or coffee)!

 

[KevinC]

Awesome, thank you! I owe you a big cold beer (or coffee)!

Or iced tea since this IS Texas.

 

[N6GQ]

Or iced tea since this IS Texas.

Well, yes, good point

 

[hiegtx]

Awesome, thank you! I owe you a big cold beer (or coffee)!

You're welcome. There are a number of knowledgeable folks on this site, that can help with most any questions you have.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Sweet Tea.