Iowa Statewide Interoperability Communication System (ISICS)

nd5y

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
11,228
Location
Wichita Falls, TX
Here is a list of tower locations from the FCC ASR web site.
You can copy it, save it as a .csv file and import it into a spreadsheet or Google Earth Pro.
This might help with some of the unknown ISICS site locations.
Some of the sites in the list might be for other uses instead of ISICS and some ISICS sites are probably on other towers under other owner names not on this list.
Code:
Registration No.,Status,File No.,Owner Name,Latitude,Longitude,Location,Height AGL
1301316,Constructed,A1064516,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 29 01.7N,094 11 34.5W,Fort Dodge,101.5
1301317,Constructed,A1085517,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 00 49.2N,092 48 51.8W,Albia,101.5
1301318,Constructed,A1071715,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 57 51.8N,091 44 27.7W,Cedar Rapids,110.9
1301319,Constructed,A1085520,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 19 04.3N,092 12 25.2W,Sigourney,116.7
1301320,Constructed,A1069428,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,40 59 00.4N,093 18 25.7W,Chariton,121.6
1302436,Constructed,A1093414,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 29 44.1N,094 38 22.7W,Adair,106.4
1302437,Constructed,A1085521,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 00 53.5N,094 44 05.3W,Corning,106.4
1302438,Constructed,A1086351,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,40 42 08.9N,092 52 20.5W,Centerville,101.5
1302439,Constructed,A1085115,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 04 35.2N,094 54 44.2W,Caroll,121.6
1302440,Constructed,A1086805,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 52 42.9N,091 21 41.6W,Elkader,136.6
1302441,Constructed,A1091950,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,43 24 51.1N,094 52 35.1W,Estherville,116.7
1302442,Constructed,A1090199,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 56 10.9N,091 48 56.5W,West Union,121.6
1302443,Constructed,A1085518,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,40 44 59.8N,095 38 18.8W,Sidney,106.4
1302444,Constructed,A1085116,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 38 59.6N,095 48 08.9W,Logan,121.6
1302445,Constructed,A1085519,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 42 09.5N,092 00 19.1W,Williamsburg,113.7
1302446,Constructed,A1096826,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,43 12 16.3N,094 14 11.2W,Burt,136.9
1302447,Constructed,A1087034,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 20 06.4N,094 02 31.6W,Winterset,101.5
1302448,Constructed,A1095288,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 00 18.7N,092 55 56.5W,Marshalltown,121.6
1302449,Constructed,A1086580,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 37 45.7N,093 03 15.7W,Newton,93.9
1302450,Constructed,A1085117,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,43 13 34.5N,095 38 37.1W,Sanborn,101.5
1302451,Constructed,A1092664,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 48 27.4N,096 22 07.5W,Le Mars,93.9
1302452,Constructed,A1082013,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,40 42 29.5N,094 15 00.8W,Mt. Ayr,102.1
1302453,Constructed,A1104256,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 15 05.3N,090 31 14.9W,Zwingle,128.9
1302998,Constructed,A1090751,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 58 01.6N,092 33 07.4W,Toledo,93.9
1302999,Constructed,A1090196,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 41 15.4N,092 32 55.1W,Malcom,124.4
1303000,Granted,A1076139,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 51 24.6N,090 55 51.5W,Lowden,107.6
1303001,Constructed,A1089999,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 19 08.0N,093 03 29.5W,Knoxville,121.6
1303043,Constructed,A1094424,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,43 22 17.7N,093 38 13.7W,Leland,121.6
1303342,Constructed,A1092663,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 48 01.6N,095 39 20.4W,MERIDAN,122.8
1303527,Constructed,A1094068,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 00 41.0N,093 33 32.4W,Ames,121.6
1303694,Constructed,A1096825,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 40 58.1N,093 20 12.5W,Mitchellville,116.7
1303695,Constructed,A1095325,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 03 54.1N,095 50 29.9W,Castana,91.4
1303696,Constructed,A1093926,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,43 06 36.8N,093 12 13.6W,Mason City,106.7
1303697,Constructed,A1101713,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 13 48.8N,091 10 09.0W,Wapello,128.9
1303698,Constructed,A1093925,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 42 55.1N,092 26 04.0W,Waverly,101.5
1303699,Constructed,A1101286,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,40 56 08.2N,091 10 02.5W,Sperry,134.1
1303700,Constructed,A1094715,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,41 55 15.7N,094 53 02.4W,Templeton,124.4
1304333,Constructed,A1101285,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 22 08.6N,092 46 48.8W,Grundy Center,125
1305723,Constructed,A1101372,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 59 30.8N,095 59 45.3W,Alton,116.7
1305775,Constructed,A1116779,Pyramid Network Services LLC State of Iowa,42 31 36.9N,093 16 50.3W,Iowa Falls,109.4
 

newsman04

Member
Joined
May 4, 2018
Messages
26
Local troopers on the new system tonight. Seems like 4D is in use for much of SE Iowa. It is in the clear phase 2 traffic. Dispatcher did report trouble hearing the trooper on a transmission and asked him to repeat traffic once because it was broken.
 

DMSSIOWA

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Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
22
Location
Des Moines, IA
For some reason, I'm having trouble with the control channel for SARA/RACOM in the Des Moines area. I used the one in the database but am only getting some voice and not the constant activity spike I should be seeing on that frequency. Is CC 770.04375 working for others? Or if you're using something else, what is it?
 

N0ZJT

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Messages
193
Location
Oelwein, Iowa
That frequency belongs to a simulcast site (multiple towers broadcasting all on the same frequencies at the same time).
Depending on what model scanner you are using, you are most likely experiencing what scanner listeners call "Simulcast Distortion"

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Simulcast_Distortion

The Uniden SDS-100 and SDS-200 are the only scanners that handle simulcast types better than older scanners. The Unication G4/G5 series pagers also handle it well.

If you have an older scanner, you might want to try the Polk City (Big Creek) frequencies. It's not a simulcast site, so your scanner might be able to hear that better. You won't hear all Polk County traffic, but you will hear most.
 

DMSSIOWA

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Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
22
Location
Des Moines, IA
I'm using 2 RTL-SDR dongles on my pc rather than a traditional scanner. I can see where the control channels are by spikes in my software, but the only 'spiky' areas don't seem to be bringing any voice in, so that's why I was wondering if I just had the wrong frequency somehow, even though I couldn't find an alternate that worked any better. I don't know where the tower is (other than the Polk City one), but I'm in Urbandale and wondered if it might be a distance thing. Or maybe I actually am getting everything and for some reason there just isn't a constant spike in the signal? Do you know if a simulcast site works differently than, say, Westcom, and that might be why I'm not seeing the 'normal' activity?

This all started because I'm not getting the channel names coming up and populating my activity window like they should. But, again, maybe this simulcast doesn't send info the way the others do. I'm just comparing my Westcom, which works as expected, to Racom. Maybe they're apples to oranges? They still show up on my log that they came through, I just can't see who is talking while a channel is active.
 

N0ZJT

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Messages
193
Location
Oelwein, Iowa
I'm not in the area so I can't tell for sure, but my remote scanner is showing 774.91875 as the control channel for it right now. Did you try that?
 

DMSSIOWA

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Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
22
Location
Des Moines, IA
Well, the good news is when I put 774.91875 in, the channels started popping and populating my channel activity window as they should. Yay! The bad news is every voice that comes across is garbled and I can only pick out bits and pieces of words. :cry: On the other frequency I was using, I could hear the words but there was no channel info to tell me who I was hearing. Now if I can figure out a how to bring these two worlds together, that would be great!
 

mws72

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Joined
Mar 30, 2002
Messages
805
Location
Quad-Cities (IA-IL) USA
I was out and about Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon. Plenty of radio traffic on LAW3D for the Post 12 area. Just can't raise a peep at my residence.
 

ISW376

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Messages
39
Location
Iowa City, IA
All DPS Law TG's are permenantly assigned to a IDPS District.

Example traffic on LAW 3D is only district 12.
Law call 1D is dispatched for all districts in Area D.

Possible assignments?
Area A
LAW 2A Dist 1
LAW 3A Dist 2

Area B
LAW 2B Dist 3
LAW 3B Dist 4
LAW 4B Dist 5
LAW 5B Dist 6

Area C
LAW 2C Dist 7
LAW 3C Dist 8
LAW 4C Dist 9
LAW 5C Dist 10

Area D confirmed
LAW 2D Dist 11
LAW 3D Dist 12
LAW 4D Dist 13
 

newsman04

Member
Joined
May 4, 2018
Messages
26
All DPS Law TG's are permenantly assigned to a IDPS District.

Example traffic on LAW 3D is only district 12.
Law call 1D is dispatched for all districts in Area D.

Possible assignments?
Area A
LAW 2A Dist 1
LAW 3A Dist 2

Area B
LAW 2B Dist 3
LAW 3B Dist 4
LAW 4B Dist 5
LAW 5B Dist 6

Area C
LAW 2C Dist 7
LAW 3C Dist 8
LAW 4C Dist 9
LAW 5C Dist 10

Area D confirmed
LAW 2D Dist 11
LAW 3D Dist 12
LAW 4D Dist 13
Law 5A is used a ton on the Centerville tower going as far west as I35. I also hear 4D occasionally on the Centerville tower but not always.
 

ISW376

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Messages
39
Location
Iowa City, IA
Law 5A is used a ton on the Centerville tower going as far west as I35. I also hear 4D occasionally on the Centerville tower but not always.

I can't confirm any of the Area A assignments from the Johnson Site not enough traffic to get mile markers for the district use.

The Centerville site is one county away from Area D so it makes since that you can hear 4D also district 13 is one county over from that site as well.

I believe any talk group can be heard on ISICS at random times.
I recently heard page county Law dispatch from the Johnson site.

At this time all I can confirm is how Area D has set up their TG's use for Dispatch.
 

N0ZJT

Member
Database Admin
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Messages
193
Location
Oelwein, Iowa
I have the following confirmed from monitoring:

District #1 (Des Moines) - Law 2A
District #2 (Osceola) - Law 5A
District #3-7 unknown
District #8 (Mason City) - Law 3C
District #9 (Cedar Falls) - not running on ISICS yet, still on VHF
District #10 (Oelwein) - Law 5C
District #11 (Cedar Rapids) - Law 2D
District #12 (Stockton) - Law 3D
District #13 (Mount Pleasant) - Law 4D

I have added these to the description in the database.
 

mws72

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Mar 30, 2002
Messages
805
Location
Quad-Cities (IA-IL) USA
AirCare (TG4227) has left RACOM, last known usage was Sunday at 1245pm. Heard them on ISICS monday night.
RIDs I saw were 1500009 for Aircom and AC1 was 1500011. If I got the middle zeros right. :)
 

owenmcc1

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Feed Provider
Joined
Jun 22, 2005
Messages
138
Location
Muscatine, Iowa
I have the following confirmed from monitoring:

District #1 (Des Moines) - Law 2A
District #2 (Osceola) - Law 5A
District #3-7 unknown
District #8 (Mason City) - Law 3C
District #9 (Cedar Falls) - not running on ISICS yet, still on VHF
District #10 (Oelwein) - Law 5C
District #11 (Cedar Rapids) - Law 2D
District #12 (Stockton) - Law 3D
District #13 (Mount Pleasant) - Law 4D

I have added these to the description in the database.
Note that there may be some jumping between TGs at times. Post 11 and Post 12 troopers will bounce between 2D and 3D sometimes.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

Bhawk27

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
55
Location
Moline, IL
Heard a lot of traffic on LAW 3D off the Dewitt tower last night. They were coordinating on a search for a motorcyclist who had run at 125 mph.
 

newsman04

Member
Joined
May 4, 2018
Messages
26
Heard a lot of traffic on LAW 3D off the Dewitt tower last night. They were coordinating on a search for a motorcyclist who had run at 125 mph.
I was hearing it on IA TAC 6, they patched in the local LEA channel, but responding troopers said they were struggling to hear non-state troopers (I assume the outside agencies were using the LEA channel).
 
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