Johnson County P25 System

[MadSpleen85]

It really sucks everyone has switched to this monster of a system. I am unable to monitor any of them now at home or out in the car at work. I really hoped it would be monitored from a distance but it''s a mess once you get anywhere near the edges.

I think this is more of a scanner issue. The agencies using the radio's do not seem to be having the same problems. I have heard Shawnee talking back and forth from the center of Shawnee to a unit that is going through Downtown KCMO and another that was up at the WyCo Jail.

The more I listen while mobile, the more I am thinking I will need to invest in a mobile antenna for the car. The system really comes in poorly while in the car under the roof. If I am at a point where I can stick the antenna out the window or have a passenger that will, the reception improves greatly. Anyone using any mobile antenna's on their vehicles with this system that you would recommend or have any suggestions for better reception?

 

[Jack007]

Well, it seems that I may have to bite the bullet and eventually upgrade to the XT.

As far as mobile reception, I really have had good reception. For example, I'm over in KCMO a lot and from midtown (39th Broadway) I can pick up most of JOCO 25 quite well. I actually get better reception in my SUV than I get on my nightstand. (I'm in the 75th & Nieman area)

The fire and buses come in like gangbusters. Lenexa and Olathe are decent. Shawnee is so so, which is bad as that's what I want to monitor most.

I'm still hoping that someone will chime in about the encryption issue. It would really suck if I spring for new scanner and they start encrypting more, or all. Anyone care to hazard a guess or prediction? Why would they NOT use encryption all the time if they have the option?

Thanks,
Jack007

 

[jgorman]

Pro 197

If you are looking to upgrade from a 996 T to a 996 XT, I would also consider the Radio Shack PRO 197. We tested both side by side and so far the Radio Shack runs circles around the Uniden....at least while scanning the JOCO 700 systems. Contact KA-Com Inc, in Olathe (KA Comm Inc.) They sell the same scanner as the Radio Shack 197 but manufactured by GRE America for a better price. I loved the 996 T for scanning 800 and other conventional stuff but not real happy with the digital or Uniden's Tech Support.
Just my two cents..

 

[Jack007]

Hmmmm... Plenty of food for thought.
Too bad, as I think the 396 is by far the most awesome scanner I've ever owned. And I've owned a ton of them over the last 30 years.


I will check out the GRE, especially given that its cheaper than the RS. I admit that I'm not thrilled with the size. Seems kinda large compared to the 396.

Thanks.

Jack007

 

[MadSpleen85]

Well, it seems that I may have to bite the bullet and eventually upgrade to the XT.

As far as mobile reception, I really have had good reception. For example, I'm over in KCMO a lot and from midtown (39th Broadway) I can pick up most of JOCO 25 quite well. I actually get better reception in my SUV than I get on my nightstand. (I'm in the 75th & Nieman area)

The fire and buses come in like gangbusters. Lenexa and Olathe are decent. Shawnee is so so, which is bad as that's what I want to monitor most.

I'm still hoping that someone will chime in about the encryption issue. It would really suck if I spring for new scanner and they start encrypting more, or all. Anyone care to hazard a guess or prediction? Why would they NOT use encryption all the time if they have the option?

Thanks,
Jack007

I am right around 67th Street and Pflumm Road, also in Shawnee. I currently have my Radio Shack Pro-106 doing all my digital work, Johnson County and KSICS. I am having problems with KSICS right now, still tweaking my programming. The Johnson County system is received clearly 98% of the time. The other 2% is motorboating or just very choppy, in and out, transmissions. I always have the ECC and Shawnee PD on. Usually also listening to Lenexa and Northzone of the Sheriff's Office on this system. I plan on adding a Radio Shack Pro-197 (or the comparable GRE) within the month of November.

All of my current scanners are Radio Shack, never had a problem that I could not fix myself or that was not an error in my programming. I have heard nothing but good things for the GRE and Radio Shack Scanners on this radio system.

I do have a non Radio Shack 800Mhz antenna that I use constantly. Cannot tell much of a difference between it and the stock antenna when I am stationary. As soon as I go mobile in the car the 800Mhz seems to be able to pull in the signal more constantly then the stock antenna.

Everyone that I have talked to about encryption has told me the same thing, basically what is currently in use is here to stay until the system is reevaluated mid 2011. The agencies that are using encryption right now plan on keeping it and the agencies that are switched to this system but not using it plan on staying away from it. As for Overland Park and Leawood, who are yet to switch to the system, it remains to be seen how much, if any, encryption they will elect to use.

The encryption on the secondary channels seems to be more of a public privacy issue, more then one of officer safety. All the agencies have ways to communicate without using the radio's if it is an officer safety concern.. Nextel's. The Sheriff's Office encryption is pretty self explanatory, in my opinion at least. They do not want to give out any information that is going to compromise their investigation while still having the ease of use and communication that the radio system provides them with.

 

[Jack007]

Very informative post!
I plan on programming in the Shawnee IDs as soon as I figure out a way to do it easily. Right now I have the scanner (396T) "searching " IDs so I have to listen to everything. It can be somewhat annoying; especially during the day.
Can you give me YOUR version of the Shawnee IDs? They are obviously a little different than the ones published. "51" seems to be dispatch, while "55" seems to be the old CH 3. I could swear I saw "56" pop up once as well. (last two digits of IDs)

I hope you're right about the encryption. It still makes zero sense to me why agencies wouldn't use 100 % encryption if its available?

Thanks again,
Jack

 

[MadSpleen85]

I have submitted the Shawnee ID's to the RR Database so they should be added at any time.

• TG 31451 is channel 1 (Dispatch)
• TG 31455 is channel 2 (car-to-car and information)
• TG 31456 is channel 3 (car-to-car and tactical)

 

[jgorman]

Agencies don't use 100% encryption because they rely on scanner traffic to respond to calls from outside agencies just like we monitor scanners to find out what is going on. If an officer is out on the street and they hear a hot call come out over the scanner, they will respond (if they are able or very pro active) minutes ahead of being dispatched to the call. Officers who monitor a scanner from their cruisers will most definitely be the first to respond to wobbles and other calls for service in their areas. If agencies want to encrypt all of their channels, then they will be giving up these very important and possibly lifesaving response times for "public privacy"....that is mostly open to the public knowledge anyways. Encryption is a Johnson County response to liability driven politics. If you follow other agencies in the area, you will see that not everyone is liability driven. Lenexa, Shawnee, PV, Leawood, and others chose not to encrypt any of their channels and as a result I feel their officers are safer because they can now be monitored by surrounding agencies. Just my two cents......

 

[Jack007]

I hope you're right about that.
For now, I think I'm going to hold off on a replacement for my 396T for a bit. While I really like the style and format of the Uniden, I have taken notice of the replies touting the GRE/RS Pro. Monitoring JOCO 25 will be my main thing. The other agency I monitor, a LOT, is KCMO PD. I work there a lot and listen in my vehicle. The 396 does a pretty fair job.

Now, those who have mentioned PV, Olathe and Leawood...are the RR database freq/channels correct, or are there any channels to add?

Thanks again,
Jack007

 

[olathetyler]

Does anyone know what talkgroup's these are?
31022
31170
31482
31490
31491
31493
30992

 

[olathetyler]

Does anyone know what talkgroup's these are?
31022
30037
31482
31490
31491
31493
30992

 

[madmike10]

Getting no Johnson County Sheriffs on Unidens Homepatrol

I recently purchased the new Uniden Homepatrol and locked in my zip code of 66061 and haven't been able to pickup any calls from the Johnson County Sheriffs Dept for some reason. KHP comes in great, OP, Leawood, etc. It will show up on the screen but continues to scan through the channels.

I'm new to this and if anybody could help out, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Mike (Olathe, KS)

 

[KCoax]

re: Getting no Johnson County Sheriffs on Unidens Homepatrol

If you are just getting KHP then you probably are on the old 800 mhz system. Someone deleted it from the RR database. KHP uses the old JOCO 800mhz system, along with the statewide digital system. Otherwise, you might be scanning the statewide digital system. Try changing the setting to another JOCO zip code. Sounds like the Home Patrol isn't downloading the JOCO 700mhz digital system. When this is loaded you will hear Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee Mission, PV and the Sheriff Department.

 

[KCoax]

31022 Sounds like Merriam Public Works
30037 Private JO Transit (there is already one in database - listened to 5mins, defiantly a private bus)
31482 "Radio Man to Dispatch" Maybe techs?
31490 "Radio Man to Dispatch" Maybe techs?
31491 Sounds like Supervisor for Parks Rech and radio tech supervisor installing radio
31493 ?
30992 ?

 

[olathetyler]

Thanks Kcoax for the help

 

[MadSpleen85]

For anyone still in the market for a Radio Shack Pro-197 or Pro-106.

Radio Reference Thread about the sale:
http://forums.radioreference.com/radio-shack-scanners/195326-radio-shack-black-friday-sales.html

-OR-

Just the Black Friday ad:
Black Friday Ads - Desktop Police Scanner (for Digital Markets) at RadioShack


Figured I would share with the Johnson County scanners that are looking to expand their shack to the digital side.

 

[dgruver911]

Already got permission from the boss to get one for work! Be my luck the local store won't have one in stock but Wichita isn't that far!

 

[n0lqt]

Actually the newton store has both models in stock. I was just out there night before last. They've gotten them out to the stores on a regular basis now that there are more P-25 systems around the country.....

 

[olathetyler]

Question about Black Friday sale.

I got the Radio Shack Pro-106 on 10-29. they said you have 30 days to come back and get a refunds if it goes on sale. Would the Black Friday sale count?

 

[n0lqt]

Sure, just take it back into the store with you along with your receipt. If they balk, just say, "OK, I want to return it for a refund, in-store credit." Then buy it back at the new price...... Or if they are REALLY pissy about it, return that one and ask to buy one that hasn't been "used!"