I am SO in need of advice

[aircatheavy]

Friends,
I haven't used my old BC246T scanner in about 8 years. Back when I did, I never really learned how to use it. Only this evening did I learn I have an Analog scanner :-(
I've also learned that it's not really suitable for scanning in today's digital world.

Now I find I would like to scan a particular set of frequencies, namely, Broward County Florida, Broward Sheriff Fire-Rescue Frequencies.

Sadly I don't even know if this BC246T, a digital or ANY scanner would be able to scan those frequencies these days given all the trending towards encryption.

Could someone take a look at those frequencies and tell me if they are scannable and if so, what scanner I should consider for scanning them?

I appreciate any help here.

 

[bkantor]

Looks like you are in luck - those frequencies are not trunked or encrypted according to the database and you should be able to use your old scanner to listen
:
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
154.89000 KIG937 M CSQ BCFR Arson Arson Investigation FM Fire-Tac
460.51250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-1 Technical Rescue Team 1 FM Fire-Tac
460.53750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-2 Technical Rescue Team 2 FM Fire-Tac
460.56250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-3 Technical Rescue Team 3 FM Fire-Tac
460.58750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-4 Technical Rescue Team 4 FM Fire-Tac
460.61250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-5 Technical Rescue Team 5 FM Fire-Tac
460.63750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-6 Technical Rescue Team 6 FM Fire-Tac

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Actually there is still a lot of analog conventional and trunking systems to listen to in that county.
You should be able to listen any conventional system that lists the Mode as "FM" (or FMN) in the following database entry, assuming you are within range.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=321

The BC246T can also listen to the type of analog trunking systems listed on the RR BC246T reference page below. There are still a few of these analog trunking systems listed on the above page for this county.
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BC246T

To hear more in this county, you will need a scanner capable of receiving the P25 (Phase I and II), DMR (aka MOTOTRBO) and maybe NXDN digital formats.

 

[aircatheavy]

Looks like you are in luck - those frequencies are not trunked or encrypted according to the database and you should be able to use your old scanner to listen
:
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
154.89000 KIG937 M CSQ BCFR Arson Arson Investigation FM Fire-Tac
460.51250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-1 Technical Rescue Team 1 FM Fire-Tac
460.53750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-2 Technical Rescue Team 2 FM Fire-Tac
460.56250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-3 Technical Rescue Team 3 FM Fire-Tac
460.58750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-4 Technical Rescue Team 4 FM Fire-Tac
460.61250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-5 Technical Rescue Team 5 FM Fire-Tac
460.63750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-6 Technical Rescue Team 6 FM Fire-Tac

Thanks for this info Bkantor.
What's odd is that I programmed all those into my scanner yet I never get anything when scanning them. It's as if they're dead. That's why I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong.

 

[aircatheavy]

Actually there is still a lot of analog conventional and trunking systems to listen to in that county.
You should be able to listen any conventional system that lists the Mode as "FM" (or FMN) in the following database entry, assuming you are within range.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=321

The BC246T can also listen to the type of analog trunking systems listed on the RR BC246T reference page below. There are still a few of these analog trunking systems listed on the above page for this county.
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BC246T

To hear more in this county, you will need a scanner capable of receiving the P25 (Phase I and II), DMR (aka MOTOTRBO) and maybe NXDN digital formats.

Thanks Steve.

There are Police frequencies that have active conversations I can hear but those frequencies are not listed in the RR database so is there something I'm not understanding?

For example, 853.0625 is a very active Police Channel that sounds like Sorth East Broward County yet I do not see that frequency listed in the RR database?

I only find them by scanning the built in Public Safety range of frequencies.

 

[jonwienke]

853.0625 is listed for Broward County:
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?freq=853.0625&action=cf&ctid=321

If you're hearing police-type traffic on that frequency, it's probably school resource officers practicing how to hide behind bushes.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks Steve.

There are Police frequencies that have active conversations I can hear but those frequencies are not listed in the RR database so is there something I'm not understanding?

For example, 853.0625 is a very active Police Channel that sounds like Sorth East Broward County yet I do not see that frequency listed in the RR database?

I only find them by scanning the built in Public Safety range of frequencies.

Frequency 853.0625 is part of the Primary site on this trunked system. Look at the system, which is in the database, and you'll see it. Entering it directly, as you seem to have done, will pick up transmissions when that voice channel is used, but you'll miss more than you hear, unless you program the system itself into your scanner. That is a Motorola Type II system, which the 246T can receive if set up correctly, but some of the talkgroups are used in digital mode, which the 246T cannot handle.

I also see this system in your area. It's a P25 (digital) Phase II system, but most talkgroups appear to be using Phase I. If more agencies in your area are moving to this system, then you'd need a digital scanner to monitor them.

 

[wbswetnam]

Sadly I don't even know if this BC246T, a digital or ANY scanner would be able to scan those frequencies these days given all the trending towards encryption.

I appreciate any help here.

Consider yourself lucky that you can scan many police agencies in your county. Florida is a very scanner-unfriendly state, and in many areas of Florida there is practically nothing to listen to, especially police. I have family who live in Pensacola, and other than Fire tone outs and EMS dispatch, everything is encrypted.

 

[W4KRR]

The Broward County system is Motorola analog trunking. All sheriff and Fire/Rescue is on the system.



https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=212


Your scanner will work on this system. Broward county will be building a P25 digital system, but the analog system should be in service for another year or two.

 

[aircatheavy]

Thanks again for all the assistance. This forum is friendlier and more helpful than many.

If Broward County is going digital in the next year or two, that probably means scanning will come to a halt as well for Police and Fires rescue services, correct?

But I should still be able to scan aircraft frequencies?

 

[W4KRR]

If Broward County is going digital in the next year or two, that probably means scanning will come to a halt as well for Police and Fires rescue services, correct?

Not necessarily. You will be able to monitor any talkgroups that aren't encrypted. However you will need a scanner capable of monitoring P25 Phase 2 transmissions. If they encrypt every talkgroup, then you're out of luck. No way to know how it will end up.


You could still scan aircraft, railroads, marine, business, anything that isn't encrypted.

 

[KD9KSO]

Thanks again for all the assistance. This forum is friendlier and more helpful than many.

If Broward County is going digital in the next year or two, that probably means scanning will come to a halt as well for Police and Fires rescue services, correct?

But I should still be able to scan aircraft frequencies?

AM aircraft is still scanable and is un-encrypted analog and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

 

[Rred]

Aircraft pilots, and traffic controllers, all have good reason to WANT anyone else near them to be able to hear their radio traffic, so they know there are other aircraft, what those aircraft are doing, and sometimes how to avoid colliding with them. They are motivated to have UNencrypted traffic.

Very different with police, who don't want anyone else knowing "We're entering the building where the burglars are". Burglars and worse are smart enough to use scanners, and these days they don't have to buy them, they can just tune in Broadcastify or other smart phone apps and as soon as police are dispatched--the bad guys know it is time to go.

So the police have a very valid reason to want to prevent everyone from hearing what they are doing. Arguable, but certainly valid. One could argue that the police might actually be negligent if they did NOT encrypt communications.

 

[KB7MIB]

Looks like you are in luck - those frequencies are not trunked or encrypted according to the database and you should be able to use your old scanner to listen
:
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
154.89000 KIG937 M CSQ BCFR Arson Arson Investigation FM Fire-Tac
460.51250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-1 Technical Rescue Team 1 FM Fire-Tac
460.53750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-2 Technical Rescue Team 2 FM Fire-Tac
460.56250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-3 Technical Rescue Team 3 FM Fire-Tac
460.58750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-4 Technical Rescue Team 4 FM Fire-Tac
460.61250 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-5 Technical Rescue Team 5 FM Fire-Tac
460.63750 WPKT964 M BCFR TRT-6 Technical Rescue Team 6 FM Fire-Tac

These frequencies may not get much use.

The arson investigation channel may be a backup to cell phones, or only used occassionally.

The technical rescue team channels will probably only get used on technical rescue assignments, such as water rescues, high angle rescues (rescuing window washers off the side of a high-rise), confined space and collapse rescues. They won't be used on every call.

John
Peoria, AZ

 

[jonwienke]

There's valid reason to encrypt SWAT comms like "we're getting ready to kick in the door and take out the guy with the hostages". Routine dispatch calls, not so much. There's demonstrable benefit to broadcasting BOLOs and similar traffic in the clear, as it increases the number of people who can look for the target of the BOLO.

 

[wbswetnam]

There's valid reason to encrypt SWAT comms like "we're getting ready to kick in the door and take out the guy with the hostages". Routine dispatch calls, not so much. There's demonstrable benefit to broadcasting BOLOs and similar traffic in the clear, as it increases the number of people who can look for the target of the BOLO.

Some (smart) police agencies still retain their vestige VHF/UHF system for community BOLOs. My local sheriffs department still broadcasts BOLOs on their old VHF analog frequencies while 99% of their regular traffic is on the statewide digital system.

Many police departments also issue public BOLOs on their Facebook pages and via Twitter. When there is a child abduction, for example, you want as many people to be aware as possible.