Is scanning still available

[mtc2713]

I use to own scanners many years ago . I ve been looking at new scanners but realized with all the changes im not sure what im doing anymore . Can I purchase scanners that will pick up police in Oakland county Michigan anymore? if so what do i need

 

[K4EET]

Hi @mtc2713 and welcome to Radio Reference!

Oakland County, MI is found here:

Oakland County, Michigan (MI) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Oakland County, Michigan (MI)

www.radioreference.com

which states:

Countywide Inter-Agency

Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) Project 25 Phase I	Late 2022 early 2023 and will be a 700/800 MHz 31-site simulcast system. This will be the first P25 Phase II site to go online in the state. It is anticipated encryption will be used extensively.
CLEMIS (OakWIN) Public Safety Communications OpenSky 9600 baud	Primary communications for most Police, Fire, and EMS agencies within Oakland County.

I may be wrong, but I believe OpenSky 9600 baud cannot be decoded by scanners. Then for the P25 upgrade, it looks like encryption will be used which will also prohibit monitoring by a scanner.

<edit> You may want to ask the moderators to move this thread to the Michigan Radio Discussion Forum at:

Michigan Radio Discussion Forum

Forum for discussing Radio Information in the State of Michigan.

forums.radioreference.com

There you may find some users that are following Public Safety in Michigan and may have additional information. Simply click the "Report" button in the lower-left corner to make the move request.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I may be wrong, but I believe OpenSky 9600 baud cannot be decoded by scanners.

Correct, this mode cannot be monitored by any non-affiliated radio

Then for the P25 upgrade, it looks like encryption will be used which will also prohibit monitoring by a scanner.

Focus on the Mode column here. Any talkgroup designated as "DE" will be encrypted full time. "De" indicates partial encryption. Mode "D" talkgroups are "in the clear" and should be able to be monitored at all times if the RR database is accurate

 

[K4EET]

Correct, this mode cannot be monitored by any non-affiliated radio <snip>

Thanks for confirming that OpenSky could not be received by a scanner. I was pretty sure that was the case but did not know if a Unication or other "non-standard" scanner might have found a way to do it. I guess not if affiliation with the system is required. I know very little about the OpenSky architecture and theory of operation.

 

[krokus]

Thanks for confirming that OpenSky could not be received by a scanner. I was pretty sure that was the case but did not know if a Unication or other "non-standard" scanner might have found a way to do it. I guess not if affiliation with the system is required. I know very little about the OpenSky architecture and theory of operation.

Very few people do know much about it, as the company has not been willing to release any information. Supposedly, the control channel is encrypted.

 

[krokus]

I use to own scanners many years ago . I ve been looking at new scanners but realized with all the changes im not sure what im doing anymore . Can I purchase scanners that will pick up police in Oakland county Michigan anymore? if so what do i need

Not most police, but you can listen to Southfield PD. If you buy a P25 capable scanner, you can listen to the state police, on the state radio system, called MPSCS. Many neighboring areas have police you can listen to on MPSCS, but that does take a little planning. There are some railroad police, and a little bit of military/federal law enforcement on MPSCS, too.

 

[smithken]

I would also consider P25 phase 2 for future proofing. I also read somewhere that when Oakland County switches to MPSCS they would be 100% encrypted and would not be able to be monitored.

 

[lu81fitter]

This is a bit off topic, but I heard Open Sky is nearing EOL. Supposedly will not be supported in a few years. Maybe I'm wrong. Just what I heard.

 

[krokus]

I would also consider P25 phase 2 for future proofing. I also read somewhere that when Oakland County switches to MPSCS they would be 100% encrypted and would not be able to be monitored.

The encryption is a rumor, and if true, does not apply to all the non-Oakland traffic that would be on the sites.

Phase 2 capability is a good idea, especially since Oakland is very likely to be the first Phase 2 implementation on MPSCS.