Monitoring CHP aircraft Channels

[stingray327]

Used to be able to monitor both CHP planes and cars doing speed enforcement in the Red Top Fairfield area in Contra Costa County I-80 Eastbound.

What happened? I don't hear them anymore?

 

[kma371]

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Used to be able to monitor both CHP planes and cars doing speed enforcement in the Red Top Fairfield area in Contra Costa County I-80 Eastbound.

What happened? I don't hear them anymore?

Maybe they just aren't up? When's the last time you heard them?

 

[gmclam]

They have a lot of channels to choose from; I most often find them on a Blue channel, but not always.

 

[stingray327]

They have a lot of channels to choose from; I most often find them on a Blue channel, but not always.

I have all of their frequencies programmed.

 

[stingray327]

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Maybe they just aren't up? When's the last time you heard them?

Years ago as I used to also pick them up on my Channel Master and Scantenna.
I do pick them up on 42.340 in the Meridian exit on I-80 East and in Sac. when I'm mobile.

 

[RolnCode3]

Did you update your frequency lists after they changed all of them? As stated, they have many channels to choose from. They can go to the Blue/Blue2, or stay direct on the local area base. I often hear them here in Sacramento running speed, but haven't listened for that area.

 

[stingray327]

Did you update your frequency lists after they changed all of them? As stated, they have many channels to choose from. They can go to the Blue/Blue2, or stay direct on the local area base. I often hear them here in Sacramento running speed, but haven't listened for that area.

Yes I have.

 

[gmclam]

I have all of their frequencies programmed.

If you are not using CT values, you most likely have to set your squelch fairly high to avoid the atmospheric noise out there right now. This effectively makes your receiver less sensitive.

If you do use CT values, there are quite a few for each frequency, and nothing says they have to use them when doing speed enforcement.

I used to have the channels for the CHP statewide programmed in my scanners, because they fit into one bank. They don't any more. It used to be that the Blue channel was the same pair of frequencies everywhere, with only the CT value changing. Blue2 does not work that way; it is a different pair of frequencies as well as different CT value for each division. In other words, it is quite a task to program every possible CHP "channel" statewide.

 

[stingray327]

What is clear tones (CT)?

 

[kma371]

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What is clear tones (CT)?

PL tones

 

[inigo88]

They can go to the Blue/Blue2, or stay direct on the local area base.

Spot on. I had no idea how frequently CHP units talk Car-to-Car on the base frequency until I started taking the scanner on big road trips. The Tactical channels are another possibility, and I've heard of "TAC 6 TAC" being used for aerial speed enforcement ops in the Golden Gate Region, but have never been able to personally confirm it.