ISP/ISPERN for Chicago PO

[IrishSheepdog54]

Hi all,

I am currently a Police Officer in the Chicago area, working a patrol area that includes multiple expressways. We have a lot of ISP Troopers in the area, but currently with our radio setup we have no way to monitor them or ISPERN. I'm planning on purchasing a Uniden BCD396XT digital scanner to stuff in my patrol bag, so I can monitor both D-Chicago and ISPERN for ISP activity in the area, just as a "heads up" for myself and other officers.

Thing is, I've never really used a scanner in my life. I had a scanner program in my iPhone for a bit, but that was just a novelty thing to see how other departments conducted their radio traffic while I was in the academy. I know next to nothing about scanners. I did some research here, and found this Uniden scanner was probably what I'll need to monitor the Starcom21 frequencies.

Is that a decent scanner for my use? How do I program these frequencies? I see frequencies like 774.33152, then I see stuff like DEC, HEX, Mode, etc. Is that what I'll need to program to listen in?

For instance, from this page: StarCom21 Statewide Illinois P25 Trunking System, Statewide, Illinois - Scanner Frequencies

I'd like to monitor Chicago Priority, North, South, ISPERN, and maybe Chicago Local. I think that should cover what I'd need.

Any help and direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[VASCAR2]

The Uniden BC396XT is a good scanner. The DEC and Hex describes the method by which the talk groups are identified by the scanner. I've manually programmed the hand held BC396XT and table top model BC996XT. You can program either scanner from available software or manually program the scanner using the key pad. If your computer literate you shouldn't have much trouble down loading the programming. Some if the Starcom 21 may already be per-loaded in the scanner. If you get the scanner and run into trouble PM me. I'm a retired LEO and can probably talk you through programming the scanner.

 

[gewecke]

Welcome to RR! All LEO's are welcome here. Keep in mind that in most areas of Ill. the tone on ISPERN was changed from 67.0pl to a DPL 0f 156 if I'm not mistaken.


73,
n9zas

 

[RADIOGUY2002]

response

IrishSheepdog54,

Carma hosts groups that will be more then happy to help you out. I can even help you out, but you need to arrange time for me to walk you threw it.

 

[N9JIG]

Come out to Willowbrook and the next CARMA Meeting on Saturday, September 1. One of us will be happy to program your scanner for you and show you how to do it.

See Home Page for more details.

 

[IrishSheepdog54]

Thanks for the replies all. I'll let you know when I get a scanner and if I need any help figuring it out.

 

[MikeyC]

Welcome to RR! All LEO's are welcome here. Keep in mind that in most areas of Ill. the tone on ISPERN was changed from 67.0pl to a DPL 0f 156 if I'm not mistaken.


73,
n9zas

It will be changed to D156 at some point, but at least in Northern IL ISP is still using 67.0

 

[JT-112]

Be forewarned - any scanner available today will do a pretty poor job monitoring the SC21 system.

I'm surprised no one brought this up already.

To be sure, I'm not saying it won't work at all, but the audio is typically going to be fairly poor. Will it give you a good idea of what's going on? Sure. Should you actually depend on it? I'd say no.

If you want to learn more, search for "P25 Simulcast."

 

[usswood]

Be forewarned - any scanner available today will do a pretty poor job monitoring the SC21 system.

I'm surprised no one brought this up already.

To be sure, I'm not saying it won't work at all, but the audio is typically going to be fairly poor. Will it give you a good idea of what's going on? Sure. Should you actually depend on it? I'd say no.

If you want to learn more, search for "P25 Simulcast."

lets clear his point up a little....The Starcomm P25 simulcast sites are a little tricky and the PSR-800 works great on the simulcast sites, also it is very easy to program, the stand alone sites are easily monitored by any of the digital scanners out their today!

 

[gewecke]

Be forewarned - any scanner available today will do a pretty poor job monitoring the SC21 system.

I'm surprised no one brought this up already.

To be sure, I'm not saying it won't work at all, but the audio is typically going to be fairly poor. Will it give you a good idea of what's going on? Sure. Should you actually depend on it? I'd say no.

If you want to learn more, search for "P25 Simulcast."

Umm....not true! :roll:

I have a pro-106 and a pro-197 and they both receive the SC21 system just great! The audio quality I hear is excellent, nearly as good as analog.
It mostly depends on what area you're in compared to where your towers are. I'm 3 miles away from the tower in my area so a inside stock antenna gives me a full signal.
Is it as good as a motorola apx7000 ? No, but it's good enough!


73,
n9zas

 

[gewecke]

lets clear his point up a little....The Starcomm P25 simulcast sites are a little tricky and the PSR-800 works great on the simulcast sites, also it is very easy to program, the stand alone sites are easily monitored by any of the digital scanners out their today!

Agreed.

73,
n9zas

 

[MikeyC]

The "issue" is with simulcast sites like Cook N, Cook S, Will, DuPage, etc ... In those cases it depends on where you are and how much signal you're getting Out of all of the simulcast sites I've been through, Will County is the WORST. Even with the XT model Unidens (which are VERY good with simulcast sites), I get spotty coverage in Will County. DuPage is almost perfect countywide ... Same with Rockford. Cook N and Cook S work well too until you get close to downtown. In that case there's probably too much signal coming in with the Maxrad MAX7603S on the trunk.

 

[RoninJoliet]

Here in Joliet as mentioned i have alot of trouble receiving T113-Will Co at my location, but when i get near PLFD or Romeoville where towers are located its 100%...Here at my location west side i hear T102-So.Cook 99% and T125-Grundy Co 100%....Also here i cannot receive T101-Dupage at all...I had to goto Central Dupage Hospital to pick up a friend, sat outside waiting and using my 396XT with a new rubber duck "EXE806SMA purchased from ScannerMaster was able to copy all T101 traffic 100%....This rubber duck in my opinion is better than the RS800 duck ....

 

[Tx4]

Chicago's ISPERN radio transmitter have already been programmed to DPL 156 but are still running wideband until the state of Illinois is ready on there end.
Don

 

[melvin1987]

Also try using ISPERN UHF patch 470.43750mhz 146.2 PL out of Dupage County. Very strong repeater!

 

[scraech]

save some money $$ ISPERN is simulcasted on analog and the starcom21 I have more than one scanner going and the analog sounds more clear the DIGITAL to be honest and I'm getting four bars of signal from site 108 Lake County and the ERROR code is relativity low.