Dumb New Guy Question - Baltimore County

[acardella]

Hey all, relatively new to scanning, just picked up a BCD325P2 in hopes of scanning some of the departments in the Baltimore metro area. Hopefully this is the right thread location. So far I've had good luck picking up some of the regional agencies (BPD, BCFD, BCoPD).

Using ProScan software to upload systems into my scanner. I seem to be having trouble with Baltimore County's P25 system. Their PD talkgroups seem to be coming through just fine, but for some reason I'm not picking up anything on the FD side. If anyone knows why I might be encountering that issue, I'd appreciate any guidance or information. Not sure if it's user error on my end, or if there's something missing from the database that I need to update when I enter it in.

Thanks!

 

[maus92]

The FD is on the same system, so you should be able to hear them (understanding that the 325 is not the ideal radio to use to monitor a P25 simulcast system.) If you can export the programming file you used, somebody could examine it to see if it is correct. You could post it as an attachment in this thread, although you would need to zip it, or change the file extension to .txt

 

[Bugkiller]

Don't expect to hear to much in Baltimore County. I lived there for 39 years. Reception is not very good there due to the simulcast problem. After I purchased my SDS 100 and 200 then I got great reception . Look to upgrade your scanner, or only hear half of the transmissions.

 

[hill]

Must be a programming issue, since I get Baltimore County Fire fine on a PRO197 in Middle River.

Simulcasts are sometimes hard to receive, but if you are getting Police should have no problem with Fire as they both on the same system.

Most fire activity takes part on the Divisional talkgroups Central, East and West along with Main 1 (fire dispatch). The fireboxes and rescues are on talkgroups 12 (central), 22 (west) and 32 (east).

Hope that helps you.

 

[tvengr]

First, make sure you save any files you want to keep. Here are 2 ARC-XT files for Baltimore County and City. Download and install Butel ARC-XT for the free trial period. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the 2 extracted files with ARC-XT and Upload to Scanner. Check the box to Delete All Systems First and then Send to Scanner. Once the files are in your scanner, you can download from the scanner into ProScan and save them as ProScan files. Baltimore County on system quick key 1 and Baltimore City on system quick key 3.