Greater Cleveland Radio Communication Network

[SpaceForceCmdr]

OK, thanks. I think I was on MARCS yesterday when I was trying to listen. Although, this was around mid morning. I've got to spend more time with the scanner and get more used to it. It definitely seems to be working well, though. I'm picking up traffic from all over. I'm in the Kamm's area. Wasn't sure how busy each dept is, but I'm sure Cleveland is probably a lot busier than FV.

 

[W8KIC]

OK, thanks. I think I was on MARCS yesterday when I was trying to listen. Although, this was around mid morning. I've got to spend more time with the scanner and get more used to it. It definitely seems to be working well, though. I'm picking up traffic from all over. I'm in the Kamm's area. Wasn't sure how busy each dept is, but I'm sure Cleveland is probably a lot busier than FV.

You'll have plenty of law enforcement traffic to listen to on the county system (GCRCN) All five CPD districts will provide you with an abundance of opportunities to scratch your head and wonder just how and why human beings operate in the manner in which they do. Don't ask me for any specifics. Just sit back, listen and you'll earn that sociology degree you may have missed out on back in your high school days. Lol! The 4th and 5th districts are generally considered to be the most dangerous parts of the City of Cleveland, although the 3rd and 2nd have given them a run for their money in recent years. If I'm not mistaken, the Kamm's Corner area is in the 1st district but it's so close to the 2nd that I could be wrong. I live over in Shaker but I'm NOT in the high rent district. I have an apartment on Van Aken Blvd. and it's located three blocks North of the intersection of East 154th and Kinsman, which is kind of the gateway to the 4th district and I hear plenty of gunfire in the background to keep me entertained. You also have Euclid PD and East Cleveland PD on the GCRCN system which provide plenty of action as well. Garfield Heights PD, Maple Heights PD and Bedford PD provide their share of action and of course, operate on the county system too. At this point in time, none of the above mentioned departments have hinted at going the encryption route but like just about anything else in this world, there are no guarantees for what the future may hold. Have fun!

 

[Swipesy]

In addition to what W8KIC mentioned don't leave out Interop TG's. Plenty of action involving numerous agencies trying to civilize the 'Jungle".

 

[RT48]

Do you hear much from Fairview Park? I think they are in the Westshore group. I wasn't hearing much traffic, if any, on there yesterday when I tuned in. Maybe it was because I was using the stock antenna? I found the same group on Broadcastify, and I heard activity through there that was not coming in over my scanner.

Fairview Park is dispatched by North Olmsted. Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Westlake, Rocky River and Bay Village all use the same TG on MARCS for dispatching. Since 5 cities are using the same TG, traffic is pretty regular. I also listen to North Ridgeville, Lakewood and the Cleveland Metroparks on MARCS. That is my primary favorites list.

 

[RT48]

OK, thanks. I think I was on MARCS yesterday when I was trying to listen. Although, this was around mid morning. I've got to spend more time with the scanner and get more used to it. It definitely seems to be working well, though. I'm picking up traffic from all over. I'm in the Kamm's area. Wasn't sure how busy each dept is, but I'm sure Cleveland is probably a lot busier than FV.

Sounds like you are using the full database rather than using a favorites list.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Sounds like you are using the full database rather than using a favorites list.

Thanks. I was, but I am just not figuring out the favorites list thing. Definitely a better way to go than having is scan a ton of semi-useless things.

Fairview Park is dispatched by North Olmsted. Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Westlake, Rocky River and Bay Village all use the same TG on MARCS for dispatching. Since 5 cities are using the same TG, traffic is pretty regular. I also listen to North Ridgeville, Lakewood and the Cleveland Metroparks on MARCS. That is my primary favorites list.

I have the Ohio MARCS-IP system programmed in, but it was tricky because no matter what I did, it seemed to add all the counties in the state. I found an older post where it said to turn on location control so it would know not so scan through all the other counties, and I think that worked.

As far as Fairview, Lakewood, etc, they all seem to be in the 'Cuyahoga County Law' group. I am getting some traffic, so I guess it's working properly. Right now I'm listening, and some recent calls that came through were Lakewood PD, Metroparks and Beachwood.

I have it holding on MARCS-IP for the system and Cuya Co Law for the dept. One thing I've noticed is sometimes it'll seem to lock onto a channel like it's rx'ing traffic, but it won't play any audio. Is this because the signal is not strong enough? Wondering if the reason I'm not picking up as much traffic is due to my antenna? I have a Diamond RH77CA and also just got a REM 842B. I did notice that the Ohio MARCS systems uses freqs in the 700 Mhz range, which is not the strong point of either of these antennas.

Right now, I'm swapping back and forth between the 842 and the RH77, and it seems like the 77 is working better. After doing more reading, it sounds like I probably should've just gotten the REM 820 since it's for 700-900, and most of the police bands I'm interested in are using either 700 or 800 Mhz.

Is the MARCS traffic coming from multiple towers? I've noticed I'm getting Beachwood and Solon PD traffic, which is pretty far from here, so I wouldn't think I'd have any problem getting traffic from North Olmsted or Fairview. For example, I just got a call from Beachwood, which is 30+ miles from here, but I don't know where the actual tower is.

 

[RT48]

Here is the favorite list that I listen to 99% of the time. If you unzip this and import the hpe file into Sentinel you can see how I have things set up.

There are three systems in the list although 90% of the time I only listen to MARCS. In my scanner, this is favorite list #2. So if I want to turn on GCRN, I enter 2.2 E on the scanner to turn it on (or off). The first number is the favorite list Quick Key number you assign and the second number is the system quick key number I assigned. I also have quick key numbers assigned to the departments so if I wanted to turn off Lakewood PD I would enter 2.1.1 E.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Here is the favorite list that I listen to 99% of the time. If you unzip this and import the hpe file into Sentinel you can see how I have things set up.

There are three systems in the list although 90% of the time I only listen to MARCS. In my scanner, this is favorite list #2. So if I want to turn on GCRN, I enter 2.2 E on the scanner to turn it on (or off). The first number is the favorite list Quick Key number you assign and the second number is the system quick key number I assigned. I also have quick key numbers assigned to the departments so if I wanted to turn off Lakewood PD I would enter 2.1.1 E.

Cool, thanks for that! I will definitely check it out!

Got my REM 820S today, and it seems like a really good antenna. I noticed the signal strength is definitely better than what I was getting with my other antennas.

 

[W8KIC]

Cool, thanks for that! I will definitely check it out!

Got my REM 820S today, and it seems like a really good antenna. I noticed the signal strength is definitely better than what I was getting with my other antennas.

The REM 820S is definitely better for the 700-900 MHz range. Not so good for 440 MHz and below. The stock antenna will work just fine for the lower end of the UHF portion of the spectrum. Some guys actually keep a small variety of antennas nearby and choose the one that’s most optimal for a specific frequency or range they want to monitor. Be careful as these accessories begin to add up. Lol!

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Thanks! Haha, I know what you mean about accessories piling up

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Fairview Park is dispatched by North Olmsted. Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Westlake, Rocky River and Bay Village all use the same TG on MARCS for dispatching. Since 5 cities are using the same TG, traffic is pretty regular. I also listen to North Ridgeville, Lakewood and the Cleveland Metroparks on MARCS. That is my primary favorites list.

Still not 100% sure if I'm doing this right. When I monitor the GCRCN group, I get all kinds of traffic, lots of stuff from Cleveland PD and other depts. However, when I switch to Ohio MARCS and monitor 'cuyahoga co law', there's not much going on. Maybe there's not much activity at the moment? Just want to make sure I'm not missing some important setting or something.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Another thing, I see in the database there is a "Cuyahoga" under "county systems, and then there is also the GCRCN. I'm mainly interested in law/fire/ems, and GCRCN seems great for that, but I also see some of those in the "cuyahoga" group. Is there some overlap between those two groups, or should I program them both in my scanner (maybe each one in a diff fave list). I have the GCRCN all set up, but wasn't sure if I should add "cuyahoga" if I was already getting some of that.

 

[RT48]

Still not 100% sure if I'm doing this right. When I monitor the GCRCN group, I get all kinds of traffic, lots of stuff from Cleveland PD and other depts. However, when I switch to Ohio MARCS and monitor 'cuyahoga co law', there's not much going on. Maybe there's not much activity at the moment? Just want to make sure I'm not missing some important setting or something.

Notice in my favorites list that I only have one site listed under MARCS: Cuyahoga Co Simulcast. If you have other sites active that could be part of the problem. Other than that, I am out of ideas.

 

[tweiss3]

Well, the SDS series is really great when you are moving, dealing with a ton of systems/locations and encounter simulcast. I have a 200 in the wife's car using the GPS and the 100 in my truck with the GPS. If you are staying in a fixed spot, they do make it easier to get stared based on location, but if you start messing with favorite lists, you should disable location. Then you click the star for edit favorite list, open the favorite list, and you will see MARCS (or other system). Click on the sites tab, then avoid all but Cuyahoga Co Simul. Then click the plus button next to MARCS, and go to each department, and avoid anything you don't want to listen to. Repeat for every favorite. Don't forget to do a full overwrite when you reload it on the scanner.

 

[SpaceForceCmdr]

Cool, thanks! Sounds like I'm on the right track. I'm stationary for now, but maybe will get the GPS and take it along for some rides at some point.

 

[rcid1971]

Sounds like MARCS RTA Red Line Traffic on GCRCN TG 56043 (REG 15 I/O)

 

[mrlightfoot]

The Cleveland system goes down today for about 1hr 1/2 and nobody posted anything, WOW you guys are slipping LOL

 

[Swipesy]

mrlightfoot I checked my scanner log for 6/5/24 for GCRCN. From 8:44:43 to 18:25:48 I had 2,341 hits without one break in hourly coverage. Do you mean the City of Cleveland proper and not the entire GCRCN System?

 

[an39511]

The Cuyahoga County site was down for approximately 45 minutes. The control channel was offline but there was radio traffic coming through. I don't know if that was because the system falls back into a limp mode, or the transmissions were coming from the Lake county site. I only have the Cuyahoga County control channel programmed.

 

[mrlightfoot]

https://fox8.com/news/i-team-radio-system-crashes-for-cleveland-police-fire-and-ems/