Lancaster County - P25 System (Was OpenSky System Dumped)

[chankel]

There is no public information about talk group ID numbers on the LCWC website, and the information they have posted about planned talk group assignments to radio channels does not cover all users.

In addition some of the "EMA" ID's are actually turning out to be public works crews.

The available information so far, based on what I have monitored myself and composited from other users who post here, is on the Wiki page for the LCWC trunked system.

 

[NodrogCop]

There is no public information about talk group ID numbers on the LCWC website, and the information they have posted about planned talk group assignments to radio channels does not cover all users.

In addition some of the "EMA" ID's are actually turning out to be public works crews.

The available information so far, based on what I have monitored myself and composited from other users who post here, is on the Wiki page for the LCWC trunked system.

1. I have been told that if you email LCWC directly, they may provide talkgroup IDs for the dispatch channels.

2. Conversations I've had indicated a lot of municipalities got radios for both P/W and EMA employees and use them interchangeably. I don't think the talkgroups make a distinction between the two unless an emergency develops, but I haven't been listening to know for sure.

 

[chankel]

I sent a polite, carefully worded request for information to LCWC, explaining exactly what information I was looking for and that it would end up on a public website. It is never good to be deceptive about such things as that damages or destroys a good working relationship that can be developed.

 

[Subliminal87]

I sent a polite, carefully worded request for information to LCWC, explaining exactly what information I was looking for and that it would end up on a public website. It is never good to be deceptive about such things as that damages or destroys a good working relationship that can be developed.

I didn't get a direct response for the stuff I posted.

If you don't either, PM me and I will tell you how to get everything you ask for, it's what I had to do.

Please share what you get.

 

[tower512ladder]

Radio Testing today

performing what sounds like grid tests on TG1130 currently.

 

[chankel]

I didn't get a direct response for the stuff I posted.

If you don't either, PM me and I will tell you how to get everything you ask for, it's what I had to do.

Please share what you get.

Thank you for the information. I was very specific when I wrote to LCWC that any information they sent would be made public on the RR DB. I pointed out that shouldn't deter the release of information because (1) it would be helpful to volunteers who monitor with P25 scanners (I didn't mention the price comparison between a P25 scanner and a high-speed Unication trunked pager), (2) we'll figure it out eventually, and (3) they've got strapped encrypted talk groups for secret squirrel stuff.

I know well enough not to ask for the system key

I expect that if LCWC doesn't know about / watch RR already someone from there will look at the website, discuss among the key decision makers, and then send the information out, but it may be a few weeks.

 

[Subliminal87]

Thank you for the information. I was very specific when I wrote to LCWC that any information they sent would be made public on the RR DB. I pointed out that shouldn't deter the release of information because (1) it would be helpful to volunteers who monitor with P25 scanners (I didn't mention the price comparison between a P25 scanner and a high-speed Unication trunked pager), (2) we'll figure it out eventually, and (3) they've got strapped encrypted talk groups for secret squirrel stuff.

I know well enough not to ask for the system key

I expect that if LCWC doesn't know about / watch RR already someone from there will look at the website, discuss among the key decision makers, and then send the information out, but it may be a few weeks.

I am pretty sure someone from LCWC atleast knows about the forums, or is a member. I'd be surprised. Be nice if they had a presence like Berks does on here. I got a chance to sit with a radio yesterday but didn't go through it, some police sounded garbled so I assume it was their radio because county didn't copy them either. The same persons radio I was toying with said that county probably wouldn't give out the actual Talk Group ID's because of "Safety"....But I don't believe that because eventually we'll figure it out.

One thing on their radio i took notice to, there are talk groups missing that were put up earlier, there are local municipal channels missing. And apparently each agency will have their own TG. Not sure if that is true though.

Keep us updated with what they tell you.

 

[Subliminal87]

Ok, so on the fleet map posted before. There is a "Muni" for municipal TG's. I am not sure how many there are. On my sheet there are 4, and two extra which are encrypted.

Agencies get one private TG, it is NOT listed as encrypted. Just simply "(AGENCY) Private".

This is what this sheet says, it has a bit more detail.

CO-Wide PS, is Co-Wide Public Safety TG allows communications between municipal police fire and ems and public works.

Muni PS are for comms between pretty much everyone.


UTAC and UCALL
Allows for comms between dispatch and out of county responders.

Events, Self explained.

The County appears to be split into THREE ZONES. Northwest is Dispatch A, South/Central Dispatch B, Northeast Dispatch B.

Here is a list of agencies by which zone/dispatch.

That's pretty much all I have for now, waiting on a few more things.

Sorry that the PDF is sideways.

 

[chankel]

It looks to me like there will be "company" channels for individual organizations. I like that idea. Harford County did the same thing when they set up their system. At some point we will probably see some "mutual aid" channels that link to console-selectable patches, and / or mutual aid talk groups similar to what York County has to state users.

The primary focus right now is probably, and understandably, getting all public safety users on the system and making sure it works correctly, and then adding additional features.

I got a polite message from the Deputy Director of LCWC, Tim Baldwin, today while I was at work. I'll call him back when I get a chance and see what information he is comfortable sharing.

 

[Subliminal87]

It looks to me like there will be "company" channels for individual organizations. I like that idea. Harford County did the same thing when they set up their system. At some point we will probably see some "mutual aid" channels that link to console-selectable patches, and / or mutual aid talk groups similar to what York County has to state users.

The primary focus right now is probably, and understandably, getting all public safety users on the system and making sure it works correctly, and then adding additional features.

I got a polite message from the Deputy Director of LCWC, Tim Baldwin, today while I was at work. I'll call him back when I get a chance and see what information he is comfortable sharing.

Did he sound like he was going to give some information out? They really have no reason to hide it, as it will be found when scanning.

 

[Tommahawk]

From someone I spoke to in the know from LCWC earlier tonight, information will be made available as time permits. Right now scanner listeners aren't on their priority list. Just give them a month or so to make the information available. They have a lot bigger things to worry about right now.

As I understand it they are still making adjustments as well, along with ongoing training over the next couple of months with public safety folks. On November 21 & 22nd I believe they will still be holding a "train the trainer" session or members of area public safety organizations.

Before they give out information they want to make sure it is accurate.

 

[Tommahawk]

Not sure if this was posted or not before, but I have this spreadsheet available..

It gives a breakdown of units assigned to which operational group. As there will only be (at this time) three dispatchers working the board, , and 1 dispatcher paging.

This is just the screen images. Unfortunately Radio Reference has the file size for zip files set waaay too low and won't allow a spreadsheet to be uploaded.....

 

[chankel]

Did he sound like he was going to give some information out? They really have no reason to hide it, as it will be found when scanning.

I agree that there is nothing to hide. He did not give any more specific information though. As Tommyhawk said, there may be some downtime for information as adjustments are made.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

Was in northern Lancaster County along the Turnpike yesterday to and from a visit to Lebanon. Noticed lots of activity on TG 3003 which was identified as Police NE. Also activity on TG 3001 which I believe was identified as Police NW. Did not monitor any activity on either respective VHF channel though I may not have been in the range for the NW channel. Other VHF channels were active. Dispatcher radio ID on both channels was coming up as 0. Didn't get any mobile ID's on 3001.

Also picked up encrypted activity on 3180 and activity in the clear on 1120. Wondering if 3180 is a radio tech talkgroup as shortly after picking up activity on that ID I picked up a call going out on 3003 for an officer to meet a radio tech somewhere in relation to something from the previous night.

 

[thecanman]

County just switched over NorthWest Police Channel B to TG 3002.

 

[markandjere]

Base. Offset. Spacing amyone?

 

[MisterPixel]

Base. Offset. Spacing amyone?

I have the bcd436hp and it doesn't have base, offset and spacing as far as I can tell. I had the threshold on manual at 7 but I switched it back to auto.

I don't imagine that'll help you though.

 

[chankel]

I don't think a Project 25 Phase I (Lancaster, York) or Phase II system needs that information programmed, as the signal includes control data. The GRE PSR-500, -600, and -800 and the BCD-996XT don't need offset, base, etc.

If I am reading your scanner model numbers correctly I don't think any of them are P25 capable, but I am just going by memory, so you would not be able to monitor LCWC on the trunked system.

 

[markandjere]

I was going to enter the info on my Pro96 manually today while in the county.

 

[chankel]

My bad. It looks the like the PRO-96 does support the LCWC system voice.

Determining Base/Step/Offset for VHF/UHF Motorola Systems - The RadioReference Wiki