Dispatch Only (HOW)

[UpRiver]

Okay, I'm about as new to this scanning stuff as they come but one thing I notice immediately is all the stuff I'm NOT interested in hearing; I want to go where the ACTION is, i.e., where crimes are occurring and report on them.

Is there anything wrong with my logic of attempting to listen to Dispatch ONLY?

If so, how do I do that especially since I have to search (NOT SCAN) my systems in order to catch all the channel traffic, i.e., there are channels not programmed so scanning is inadequate.

 

[DaveNF2G]

It doesn't matter what kind of radio system you're monitoring (conventional or trunked) - if you don't know exactly where to find the action, then it won't be possible to target it when monitoring without hearing anything else. The only way to be able to "lock on" to the calls that are important to you is to identify the frequencies or talkgroups where that stuff will happen, then park your receiver there.

 

[Ricka71]

You can leave it on ID scan and not program in but the talkgroups that you want to listen to.
Use the main 5 JPD talkgroups, 2 Clinton, 1-2 Hinds SO, 1 Rankin SO....etc

That way you won't have to listen to the C/C traffic, private calls, etc...

 

[hankv]

I want to go where the ACTION is, i.e., where crimes are occurring and report on them.

Is there anything wrong with my logic of attempting to listen to Dispatch ONLY?

If so, how do I do that especially since I have to search (NOT SCAN) my systems in order to catch all the channel traffic, i.e., there are channels not programmed so scanning is inadequate.

I sort of expected that question would come soon!

It will take a lot of detective work (unless you have inside contacts at your local PD) but you have to define what you are interested in then:


1. Figure out which Talk groups carry that information (by listening and identifying TGID's that have the good stuff)!

2. Figure out which TG's carry information that you dont want (Water Works, Electric Company, Dog Catcher, etc) and lock them out.

Once you identify the TG's you want to follow, you can program them into your system and change back to ID SCAN but I caution you that there are some VERY interesting TG's that only go active once in a while. Each jurisdiction calls them by different names, but in my area they are referred to by names such as Special Ops, NARC, CID, EVENT#(1,2,3).

We have 2 "Dispatch" TG's (North & South) - 2 TAC TG's (again North & South) that are also used for "dispatch" if the main channel are dealing with an emergency so you can see that there are probably multiple "dispatch" TG's in your area too.


So how was the Dog Show?

 

[UpRiver]

So how was the Dog Show?

Not my kind of dogs but I did see a pretty woman who I think I'll go back tomorrow and flirt with.

Thank you for the education! I'm on it tomorrow after I rest up some; my tiny brain is overloaded with all this new information.

 

[hiegtx]

Not my kind of dogs but I did see a pretty woman who I think I'll go back tomorrow and flirt with.

Thank you for the education! I'm on it tomorrow after I rest up some; my tiny brain is overloaded with all this new information.

UpRiver,
You've got ARC396 Pro. Put it to work, even when you're not sitting there listening.

Connect the scanner to the PC, and start up ARC396.
Turn off all systems except Rankin.
Start the Virtual Control module & enable logging & recording. I haven't tried this yet, but it's covered in section 5 of the ARC996 Pro manual. For recording of the audio to take place, you'd need to run an audio patch cord from the speaker jack, or the record out jack, to the line input (or mic) jack of your computer's sound card.
Leave Rankin running in ID Search mode.
This way, you'd have a log file of the various talk groups that are active. The ones that you have stored will have text tags. The ones that are not identified (not entered with a text label) will only have a number. You'll also have a reording, in the form of a *.wav file (playable in Windows Media Player, Real Player, Winamp, etc) of whatever the transmission was.
Once you start getting a collection, play some of those *.wav files for the unidentified ones. After a bit, listening to them will begin to give clues as to usage: A specific dispatch area? Car-to-car? Detectives? A fireground frequency? EMS?
Listen for other clues: Chatter on a known group, "Go to Channel 7", followed by one of those voices turning up on one of your unknowns.
Sure it's a puzzle, but that's what makes it interesting.
The ones that you are seeing, but don't want (like the water works, as hankv mentioned), you can lockout as they appear, and the scanner will skip them even in ID Search mode.

 

[UpRiver]

UpRiver,
You've got ARC396 Pro. Put it to work, even when you're not sitting there listening.

Connect the scanner to the PC, and start up ARC396.
Turn off all systems except Rankin.
Start the Virtual Control module & enable logging & recording. I haven't tried this yet, but it's covered in section 5 of the ARC996 Pro manual. For recording of the audio to take place, you'd need to run an audio patch cord from the speaker jack, or the record out jack, to the line input (or mic) jack of your computer's sound card.
Leave Rankin running in ID Search mode.
This way, you'd have a log file of the various talk groups that are active. The ones that you have stored will have text tags. The ones that are not identified (not entered with a text label) will only have a number. You'll also have a reording, in the form of a *.wav file (playable in Windows Media Player, Real Player, Winamp, etc) of whatever the transmission was.
Once you start getting a collection, play some of those *.wav files for the unidentified ones. After a bit, listening to them will begin to give clues as to usage: A specific dispatch area? Car-to-car? Detectives? A fireground frequency? EMS?
Listen for other clues: Chatter on a known group, "Go to Channel 7", followed by one of those voices turning up on one of your unknowns.
Sure it's a puzzle, but that's what makes it interesting.
The ones that you are seeing, but don't want (like the water works, as hankv mentioned), you can lockout as they appear, and the scanner will skip them even in ID Search mode.

Man alive is this some good information; I'll do as you suggest; I've also been reading the manual and there is a lot there to digest; this forum, my scanner, my software and manual are a powerful combination!

I spent most of yesterday working on my mixer; re: I want to stream my scanner's broadcast over the Internet.

hiegtx, your advice above merits very close scrutiny and application; I'm on it!

Thank you!!

 

[UpRiver]

Okay, I've locked out all systems except Rankin County; when my scanner starts searching (not scanning) it has stopped now on a frequency, 851.425, ID 62256 and stops and I hear nothing but static; what causes this and how do I avoid it?

 

[UpRiver]

Let me answer my own question; when your scanner is set to scan, it stops for X amount of time and then starts scanning again; whereas, when your scanner is set to search, when it locates a frequency it stops and does not start searching again unless you hit search again.

Is that right?

Also, I've had to resort to search because many of the active frequencies in Ranking county's system are not programmed; what should I do about this? Program them in and then scan only?

 

[hankv]

Okay, I've locked out all systems except Rankin County; when my scanner starts searching (not scanning) it has stopped now on a frequency, 851.425, ID 62256 and stops and I hear nothing but static; what causes this and how do I avoid it?

Push Lockout and it wont stop on that TG (62256) again. Something may have been stuck at a transmitter

 

[hiegtx]

Let me answer my own question; when your scanner is set to scan, it stops for X amount of time and then starts scanning again; whereas, when your scanner is set to search, when it locates a frequency it stops and does not start searching again unless you hit search again.

Is that right?

Also, I've had to resort to search because many of the active frequencies in Ranking county's system are not programmed; what should I do about this? Program them in and then scan only?

The one's you obviously don't want (water, parks, etc), you can make note of and lock that talkgroup out it, even if you are in ID Search mode. You can enter it, temporaily, in your talkgroup ID list, so that you can lock it out. The scanner will no longer stop on it in ID Search, or ID Scan, modes, then delete it once your system identification process is complete. (You could also lock it out when the scanner stopped on an unwanted group in ID Search mode, but you'd have to be sitting there to hit the L/O button to do that.) While you may not want to actively scan some of the non-public safety groups, like streets, you may want to make note of any not listed in the database & submit them.

As you identify other desirable talkgroups, "refresh" your program file for Rankin, adding the new ID's with the text tags. If you download the revised file to the scanner, the newly identified groups will be reflected in your log in ARC996. You'll be finding more groups identified with tags, and less with only the number.

At some point, you'll reach the point of diminishing return, as long as you lock out the unwanted ones, and enter identification on the ones you do want. When you've reached that point, finding no more new ones, make sure that all your "good" ones are programmed in your Rankin file. Delete any unwanted talkgroups temporarily entered in your file for lockout purposes, and switch back to ID Scan mode. Submit any additions to the database.

Systems occasionally add new groups. Departments sometimes request that a new "channel" (actually a talkgroup ID) be made available for a specific operation or project, or to better manage their operations. Any number of reasons. If you start hearing units having a conversation that may started on another 'channel' (like you came in on the middle of the transmissions, even though you had been listening all along), or hear one tell another to switch to a channel you've never heard mentioned before, pay attention. It might be time to run ID Search for a bit & see if there's been a new ID created.

 

[UpRiver]

To simplify things I have deleted all systems from my scanner and then I sent Rankin County's system back to my scanner. (Jackson's system is a big distraction right now given all the activity over there; and Rankin County is a big county anyway with a lot of police departments.)

But with only Rankin County's system programmed in my scanner it will not stop anywhere; on my scanner's panel two frequencies flash alternatively from one to the other 859.9625 to 853.3125; if I press hold, I can sometimes hear traffic; note that I have my scanner set to SEARCH MODE; I did switch it back to scan mode just to see if it would stop on any frequency and it will not.

Note: I assume someone from Rankin County law enforcement is watching my posts in this forum and they DO NOT want me to listen in on them. (I know this comment will generate a lot of curiosity and I do not think it is appropriate for me to go into the details as to why; I will simply say that me and them have political differences.)

IOW, they might be switching things around with their system to trip me up; then again maybe not; in any event I anticipate they will switch things around in the future to trip me up even if they aren't doing it now.

This muddies the waters but I'm surrounded by 'muddy water.'

Thank you.

 

[hankv]

To simplify things I have deleted all systems from my scanner and then I sent Rankin County's system back to my scanner. (Jackson's system is a big distraction right now given all the activity over there; and Rankin County is a big county anyway with a lot of police departments.)

But with only Rankin County's system programmed in my scanner it will not stop anywhere; on my scanner's panel two frequencies flash alternatively from one to the other 859.9625 to 853.3125; if I press hold, I can sometimes hear traffic; note that I have my scanner set to SEARCH MODE; I did switch it back to scan mode just to see if it would stop on any frequency and it will not.

Do you have all 11 frequencies programmed into your system? Sounds like they have switched control channels - some places do that on a routine basis - but if you have all frequencies programmed, the scanner should find the new one.

 

[UpRiver]

Do you have all 11 frequencies programmed into your system?

No sir, only two:

859.9625
853.3125

What are the other nine (9) frequencies?

Thank you.

 

[hankv]

No sir, only two:

859.9625
853.3125

What are the other nine (9) frequencies?

Thank you.

You can find them here:

http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=772

 

[UpRiver]

I now have all eleven (11) frequencies inputed and my scanner is picking up everything again.

Thank you!

 

[hankv]

I now have all eleven (11) frequencies inputed and my scanner is picking up everything again.

Rankin County appears to be a location where the Control Channel Only option won't work very well because they change their CC. With all frequencies programmed in, the 996 just finds the new CC and you will probably not even notice.

New subject - You can have the Jackson system loaded and not listen to it if you give it a different Quick Key (QK) and leave it turned off until you need it. Beats having to load it if you need to scan it suddenly. Here's how mine are set up:
QK0 - CB-19, EMS, Airport Control tower - all Conventional
QK1 - My local county - one Type II System
QK2 - The rest of Georgia - Multiple individual systems, both Trunked and Conventional *
QK3 - South Carolina Statewide - Multiple individual systems, Trunked and Conventional *
* Turned off unless I travel in that direction

 

[UpRiver]

Rankin County appears to be a location where the Control Channel Only option won't work very well because they change their CC. With all frequencies programmed in, the 996 just finds the new CC and you will probably not even notice.

New subject - You can have the Jackson system loaded and not listen to it if you give it a different Quick Key (QK) and leave it turned off until you need it. Beats having to load it if you need to scan it suddenly. Here's how mine are set up:
QK0 - CB-19, EMS, Airport Control tower - all Conventional
QK1 - My local county - one Type II System
QK2 - The rest of Georgia - Multiple individual systems, both Trunked and Conventional *
QK3 - South Carolina Statewide - Multiple individual systems, Trunked and Conventional *
* Turned off unless I travel in that direction

Excellent. Thank you.