Fairfield P.D

[ELITEscanner]

So, I have the Fairfield frequency programmed in on my SDS100 scanner. Fairfield is a slow town (in respect to places like Newark, JC etc) but usually has a good amount of radio traffic. However, for the past 2 days, I have heard nothing. I took it in my vehicle and rode around town...saw several traffic stops and the fire department even went out during my travels but the police frequency did not transmit anything. The frequency I have programmed (and it has been working since I got the scanner a year ago) is NJICS-ESSEX COUNTY-FAIRFIELD POLICE DISPATCH. I also have FAIRFIELD POLICE - TACTICAL under that same pathway. I have West Orange Simulacast as well (which I needed to start getting it to work initailly) Does anyone know if perhaps it changed and Sentinel software just hasn't updated yet? Any other suggestions?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

My first suggestion would be to ensure the Law Dispatch & Law Tac service types are turned on otherwise the scanner will omit these talkgroups

DEC	HEX	Mode	Alpha Tag	Description	Tag
2599	a27	D	Fairfield 1	Fairfield Police - Dispatch	Law Dispatch
2601	a29	D	Fairfield 2	Fairfield Police - Tactical	Law Tac

 

[ELITEscanner]

OK...so, how do I make sure that is right? Is it in the software or on the scanner itself?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Click the link entitled "service types" I provided above. It gives you the steps how to do it on the scanner itself. If you prefer using Sentinel then see the directions here

 

[ELITEscanner]

OK...they were turned on already.

 

[markjrenna]

Listening to Fairfield on my G4. All good here on Site 1.

 

[ELITEscanner]

Listening to Fairfield on my G4. All good here on Site 1.

So then what do you think I have wrong? I mean, it WAS transmitting 2 days ago

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

So then what do you think I have wrong? I mean, it WAS transmitting 2 days ago

You didn't make any programming changes via Sentinel since then did you? Neither talkgroup is avoided? Try reviewing scanner avoids, make sure neither talkgroup appears there. Another thing to try while monitoring the system is press Channel (soft key on very bottom right of LCD & above #3), key in 2599 and press channel again. Do you hear traffic coming through if held on the talkgroup?

 

[ELITEscanner]

You didn't make any programming changes via Sentinel since then did you? Neither talkgroup is avoided? Try reviewing scanner avoids, make sure neither talkgroup appears there. Another thing to try while monitoring the system is press Channel (soft key on very bottom right of LCD & above #3), key in 2599 and press channel again. Do you hear traffic coming through if held on the talkgroup?

I hadn't changed anything. I added a few frequencies and rewrote the database back to the scanner but that was about 1 week ago.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

OK, let me know about this when you can...

Another thing to try while monitoring the system is press Channel (soft key on very bottom right of LCD & above #3), key in 2599 and press channel again. Do you hear traffic coming through if held on the talkgroup?

 

[ELITEscanner]

OK, let me know about this when you can...

I will try this in a little bit and let you know..thanks for helping!

 

[ELITEscanner]

OH...yeah...I did "lock" it on Fairfield Dispatch all of yesterday and got nothing. I did what you said to do above, and it didn't change anything. The way to check avoids is a little different on mine...I have an AVOID button under the * on keypad. I selected Fairfield. I pressed avoid until I saw "stop avoiding" come up again. Not sure if that worked. I have time to listen now so I can let you know. I really appreciate it.

 

[ELITEscanner]

OK, let me know about this when you can...

Well, it seems to be working a little bit. Some transmissions are coming through from time to time. It seems to come through only if I have it "locked" on the frequency...but I want to listen to other departments as well. I get all of the other departments (Caldwell, West Caldwell, WEFAS and NJSP Troop B) when scanning but not Fairfield. Also, I notice that when it is scanning it doesn't show all of the stations that are being scanned in the NJICS system. When I see ESSEX system or MORRIS system while scanning, I can see all the departments on that system quickly displayed on the screen as the scan goes through it but when it gets to the NJICS system, I see the system displayed and "ID Scanning" for the channel but nothing in the DEPT part.
Not sure what is going on...perhaps a hard reset or something?

 

[markjrenna]

I have no idea where you live. But since you have and SDS100 you can take a drive with it to Fairfield and ensure you are getting Site 1.

I would also create an Essex and Passaic NJICS group and only load Site 1 and Site 17. That will ensure you are getting traffic because I am assuming your issue may be because Garrett Mountain transitioned from Site 1 to Site 17. But and the big but is that not all the traffic went to Site 17. Some is on both 1 and 17 such as Little Falls. A week or so ago I was hearing Bloomfield on Site 17.

Unfortunately NJICS was not setup for us to monitor (easily) but seems to work well (enough) for those agencies it was designed for.

 

[ELITEscanner]

I have no idea where you live. But since you have and SDS100 you can take a drive with it to Fairfield and ensure you are getting Site 1.

I would also create an Essex and Passaic NJICS group and only load Site 1 and Site 17. That will ensure you are getting traffic because I am assuming your issue may be because Garrett Mountain transitioned from Site 1 to Site 17. But and the big but is that not all the traffic went to Site 17. Some is on both 1 and 17 such as Little Falls. A week or so ago I was hearing Bloomfield on Site 17.

Unfortunately NJICS was not setup for us to monitor (easily) but seems to work well (enough) for those agencies it was designed for.

Mark
I actually live in Fairfield. When it was radio silent for a few days, I did drive around for a bit. I saw police in the middle of traffic stops and the FD took a run (the PD would have had dispatched patrol.) I didn't get any of it on my scanner. I didn't get Fairfield when I first set it up and was told to add West Orange Simulcast...which made it work.
I only had this scanner less than a year. I had the old fashioned one that you could only type in the frequencies you wanted LOL. So, because of my novice status, what is Site 1 and Site 17 and how do I load it? Is it on Sentinel and I just add it to that favorites channel? Sorry to be such a PITA

 

[markjrenna]

This will show you all the Sites. New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies You will want Site 1 West Orange and Site 17 Passaic. When you use Sentinel and create a Favorite list you can add Fairfield and any other agency in Essex or Passaic that are in the clear (not encrypted). Go to the Favorite list and remove (delete) all sites other than West Orange and Passaic. Once you hear West Caldwell (They are on Site 1) and Little Falls (They are on Site 1 and Site 2) you will now you have it working. If Fairfield transmits you will hear them. I am not sure if Fairfield is on Site 2 but it will at least show you that you are receiving and may be receiving better than Site 1 due to your location. If Fairfield is never on Site 17 (Passaic) then you can delete Site 17.

My guess is you are in a low signal area for Site1. Yes NJICS has many in this area and now that Garrett Mountain is no longer part of Site 1, you may be experiencing weak signal and not hearing Fairfield as you once did. And yes even within Fairfield there can be dead spots.

You can try a better antenna than the SDS100 comes with but many of the better antennas are longer and may defeat some of the portability. You can also try to move the SDS100 to another place in your home that may have better signal.

Keep in mind that I am closer to Site 1 so I have no issues hearing Fairfield but I also use Unication G4 and G5. My SDS200 does get Fairfield but I am not happy how my SDS200 sounds with NJICS so I don't use it for that.

BTW... Fairfield is active now...

 

[ELITEscanner]

This will show you all the Sites. New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies You will want Site 1 West Orange and Site 17 Passaic. When you use Sentinel and create a Favorite list you can add Fairfield and any other agency in Essex or Passaic that are in the clear (not encrypted). Go to the Favorite list and remove (delete) all sites other than West Orange and Passaic. Once you hear West Caldwell (They are on Site 1) and Little Falls (They are on Site 1 and Site 2) you will now you have it working. If Fairfield transmits you will hear them. I am not sure if Fairfield is on Site 2 but it will at least show you that you are receiving and may be receiving better than Site 1 due to your location. If Fairfield is never on Site 17 (Passaic) then you can delete Site 17.

My guess is you are in a low signal area for Site1. Yes NJICS has many in this area and now that Garrett Mountain is no longer part of Site 1, you may be experiencing weak signal and not hearing Fairfield as you once did. And yes even within Fairfield there can be dead spots.

You can try a better antenna than the SDS100 comes with but many of the better antennas are longer and may defeat some of the portability. You can also try to move the SDS100 to another place in your home that may have better signal.

Keep in mind that I am closer to Site 1 so I have no issues hearing Fairfield but I also use Unication G4 and G5. My SDS200 does get Fairfield but I am not happy how my SDS200 sounds with NJICS so I don't use it for that.

BTW... Fairfield is active now...

Oh my God..I am so lost. I don't see a Passaic Simulcast or site 17 Passaic. I will have some time to really look into this tomorrow and will let you know. Thanks for all the help!

 

[markjrenna]

Oh my God..I am so lost. I don't see a Passaic Simulcast or site 17 Passaic. I will have some time to really look into this tomorrow and will let you know. Thanks for all the help!

It is confusing. Also I meant Site 17 and not Site 2. My bad on adding to the confusion.

I fixed it...

Once you hear West Caldwell (They are on Site 1) and Little Falls (They are on Site 1 and Site 2 17) you will now you have it working. If Fairfield transmits you will hear them. I am not sure if Fairfield is on Site 2 17 but it will at least show you that you are receiving and may be receiving better than Site 1 due to your location. If Fairfield is never on Site 17 (Passaic) then you can delete Site 17.

 

[NParkNJ]

It is confusing. Also I meant Site 17 and not Site 2. My bad on adding to the confusion.

I fixed it...

Once you hear West Caldwell (They are on Site 1) and Little Falls (They are on Site 1 and Site 2 17) you will now you have it working. If Fairfield transmits you will hear them. I am not sure if Fairfield is on Site 2 17 but it will at least show you that you are receiving and may be receiving better than Site 1 due to your location. If Fairfield is never on Site 17 (Passaic) then you can delete Site 17.

if it helps Mark, I’m out right now and am holding on Fairfield. I have Passaic County will full bars on my 996p2 where I am. Idk if Fairfield is usually active this late. I’ll see what I hear.

 

[ELITEscanner]

OK. So, I made an error...West Caldwell PD is NOT on NJICS...it is North Caldwell and Essex Fells and I do hear them. I deleted everything from my Favorites list except for West Orange Simulcast. I am going to NEW JERSEY - - ESSEX - - NJICS - - PASSAIC; but, not sure what I need to add to get Site 17 (or if I am even in the right place). Am I just highlighting the PASSAIC category in NJICS and adding the whole thing?