I95 Commute Montgomery to Harford

[zeno57]

Hi all newbie here and was looking for advice from fellow I-95 commuters out there.

I am planning out my programming on a BCD325P2 for my daily commute from Montgomery County to Harford County. I am interested in having the bulk of the frequencies in Montgomery and Prince Georges as this is my home base and want to monitor state police and highway frequencies along my route. I understand that I should get a GPS antenna but I am uncertain which frequencies outside of Montgomery and Prince Georges. What is "FIRST" and should I program only this for the sites and talk groups along my route?

Thank you!

 

[maus92]

Your route encompasses Montgomery, PG, Howard, Baltimore and Harford counties, plus Baltimore City. Each of these jurisdiction operate on trunked radio systems. FIRST is the state's trunked radio system which carries state police barracks and highway maintenance and assistance assets. Since all these systems are simulcast, you probably will not be getting optimal performance from your 325P2. Each of these systems utilize a set of frequencies that are shared by various talk groups used by the various county and state entities. I suggest that you start by programming Montgomery County's system first, and learn how trunking systems work, and what type of traffic you wish to hear.

 

[zeno57]

Got it. I have already programmed Montgomery and PG trunked and conventional. Is FIRST sufficient if I don't program all sites in the remaining counties? Or I guess maybe I just program them all I want and let GPS turn on and off for me (haven't purchased that unit yet). Roger on the simulcast issue with the 325P2. I hear the SDS100 \ 200 can deal with that headache.

 

[maus92]

If you don’t have the gps, program only the counties mentioned for FIRST. Conventional is a waste of time because every entity is primary on the trunking systems.

 

[tvengr]

Or I guess maybe I just program them all I want and let GPS turn on and off for me (haven't purchased that unit yet)

You can also assign system quick keys to the sites and turn the trunked systems on and off by pressing the site system quick key numbers on the scanner keypad. Here is a PDF file which will answer all of your questions about using quick keys. Print it out and save it for your reference.

 

[zeno57]

If you don’t have the gps, program only the counties mentioned for FIRST. Conventional is a waste of time because every entity is primary on the trunking systems.

Ah, I was always wondering about that. Thank you.

 

[1977addis]

FIRST system is definitely the major one to monitor. MDTA "PT/KEY" and "Central Command" are used a lot. Many officers to be heard along the way in the Baltimore/ Harford area. Not sure exactly how "wide" those talk groups usage area is but it's common to hear a unit conduct a traffic stop on say MD 195 near the BWI airport then hear another traffic stop at RT40 and Belvedere Road (Cecil County)

Harford operates on the CMARC system, their law enforcement just recently went encrypted but its always handy to have ears on Harford's Main fire dispatch talk group as well as their incident talk groups (B6,C6,D6 E6)

FMARS 154.280 is used a lot by jurisdictions requesting medic/ fire units from other counties.

 

[jkahn]

I program my HP-II for my trip from MoCo to the South Jersey beach every summer. I only program the FiRST sites that are on the route and talk groups for the areas passed through. Most (if not all) MSP talkgroups are encrypted now. The rest of the FiRST sites cover the rest of the state and if a unit from one area travels into an adjacent area the sites will follow him so you may hear him on multiple sites. The local counties and cities I monitor fire unless PD is not encrypted but usually not worth listening to. MoCo & PG I monitor only the PD talkgroups I am in/near and some of PG is encrypted in the past few months. Fire/EMS is in the clear in both counties.

I set up my file for GPS on/off at 50 mile radius from tower sites and let it make the changes as I travel.

 

[zeno57]

I program my HP-II for my trip from MoCo to the South Jersey beach every summer. I only program the FiRST sites that are on the route and talk groups for the areas passed through. Most (if not all) MSP talkgroups are encrypted now. The rest of the FiRST sites cover the rest of the state and if a unit from one area travels into an adjacent area the sites will follow him so you may hear him on multiple sites. The local counties and cities I monitor fire unless PD is not encrypted but usually not worth listening to. MoCo & PG I monitor only the PD talkgroups I am in/near and some of PG is encrypted in the past few months. Fire/EMS is in the clear in both counties.

I set up my file for GPS on/off at 50 mile radius from tower sites and let it make the changes as I travel.

Awesome thank you.

 

[hill]

Depending on your route would only program the MDTA police Central Command for I95 and around the Ft McHenry Tunnel.

If you cruise on ICC program the MDTA Police ICC , but will hear other radio traffic with think also has units on it from Nice Bridge in Southern Maryland.

Could also program the maintenance talkgroups for these two sections of tolll roads with motorist assistance being it.

If you use I495 in Mongomery would be State Police (MSP) Barrack N Rockville. For the Northern part of DC Beltway in PG and PG's part of I95 would be Barrack Q College Park. MSP on I95 in Howard Co Barrack A Waterloo. A small part of your travels may be patrolled by Barrack R Golden Ring in Baltimore County. I95 from North of city to Harford would be barrack M JFK Highway.

You could also program MSP Barrack D Bel Air for the happens in Harford Co.

Going for forward would only program the Barracks and dispatch talkgroups MDTAP that I have listed as not to program all and here stuff from Barracks not of interest to you. Plus the sites that cover the city/Counties you travel.

Wouldn't really program any local police departments in the counties you ride trough with them mainly handing stuff in the local area and they tend to tie up to radio with them have a lot of radio traffic being busy.

You could program the local trunked radio systems of the counties you ride in for fire departments them going handling accidents on the highways. I kind like the approach of just having the fire dispatch talkgroups enabled and if you here something of interest you turn on the response talkgroups.

Also why use multiple radios to scan when at home and in the car. In car one does state agencies and other does fire, plus another doing conventional stuff.

 

[Chris52]

I program my HP-II for my trip from MoCo to the South Jersey beach every summer. I only program the FiRST sites that are on the route and talk groups for the areas passed through. Most (if not all) MSP talkgroups are encrypted now. The rest of the FiRST sites cover the rest of the state and if a unit from one area travels into an adjacent area the sites will follow him so you may hear him on multiple sites. The local counties and cities I monitor fire unless PD is not encrypted but usually not worth listening to. MoCo & PG I monitor only the PD talkgroups I am in/near and some of PG is encrypted in the past few months. Fire/EMS is in the clear in both counties.

I set up my file for GPS on/off at 50 mile radius from tower sites and let it make the changes as I travel.

MSP dispatch talkgroups are not encrypted

What in PG other than SOME "certain" talkgroups are encrypted ?