Heading from Jersey to Maryland via 287, 78 and 81. What should I program in to listen to state police?

[askbarack]

I'm driving to western Maryland from Jersey, via 287, 78, and 81.
What frequencies / talk groups should I program into my SDS 200 to keep abreast on what might be going on on these routes?

Thanks

 

[PCPA]

Absolutely nothing.

PSP is fully encripted.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums. Yes, PA state police are fully encrypted but you should be able to pick up fire activity throughout your route which would inform you about crashes. PA turnpike ops (sans PSP) are primarily VHF & you may catch some chatter from PennDot in the clear on PA StarNet. NJ State Police are in the clear on NJICS . Maryland State Police dispatch talkgroups are clear on Maryland FIRST but tac channels are fully encrypted. You'll be traversing through many different systems' coverage areas so it will help tremendously to have a GPS for your SDS200

 

[hundeesport412]

You could put PENN DOT in to see if they are working. Global CMD, Game Commision (Dispatch ENC),DCNR.
PA-STARNet: Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network Trunking System, Statewide, Pennsylvania

You will not receive anything with (TE) Encrypted. Look at the mode coulum.

 

[hill]

I81 should be on MSP Hagerstown on First TRS.

 

[RichardKramer]

Don't forget close call.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Don't forget close call.

That can be as much of a detriment at times than an advantage. Choose CC bands with care while on the road

 

[RichardKramer]

That can be as much of a detriment at times than an advantage. Choose CC bands with care while on the road

The best bet in using close call would be to have a second scanner to use it with.

 

[kg4icg]

I would just put it on nationwide, if you have gps hooked up to it . Set range for 30 miles and get what pops up at the time. It is the way I do it.

 

[wtp]

like he said, let GPS do the driving...

 

[W3DMV]

When I’m wizzing down the interstate at 70MPH, I find I don’t have time to play
with s radio other than keep a ear on possible traffic problems.
On longer trips such as yours, I program a favorites list using just the various county
fire/EMS dispatch frequencies. Accidents & fire calls are always heard there. I don’t care
and Don’t have time to deal with speed traps and other distractions from all the chatter.
My list would look like this:
Northhampton Co. 154.340 136.5 (Dispatch 1)
154.055 186.2 (Dispatch 2)
Lehigh Co. 154.175 CSQ. (Dispatch)
Berks Co. 151.220 CSQ (Dispatch)
Lebanon Co. Edacs system (No conventional Disp) You would need
to program their system (In RRDB)
Dauphin Co. Uses “South Central Interoperability Network. (No
Conventional Disp) (Ok in RRDB)
Cumberland Co. 46.060 97.4 Dispatch)
460.350 71.9
Franklin Co. 46.160 182.6 (Dispatch)
453.550 CSQ (Dispatch)
Washington Co, Md 33.860 77.0 (Dispatch)
Allegheny Co Md. 33.780 82.5 (Dispatch)
460.550 151.4 (Dispatch)
Garrett Co Md. 158.755 186.2 (Dispatch)
———
Good luck & have a good trip…

 

[maus92]

The Maryland counties mentioned are all on TRS systems: either FIRST or Washington County's TRS. Their conventional channels are either mostly quiet or deprecated.