MPSCS Range

[KingLeonidas]

So, I haven't been monitoring MPSCS for all that long now because I'm in Clinton and they just came online as many have stated recently. So here is my question and I apologize beforehand if it sounds dumb, but how far away can one listen on the MPSCS system? Can one listen to other departments across the state, or does it really depend on antennas line of sight to the tower. Hopefully I phrased that correctly. Thanks

 

[afera15]

Short answer is typically you will only be able to listen to your county and the counties you/the site border. This is to save resources, the sites/towers will typically only broadcast what radios connected to that site are set to. There are some exceptions like P25 Paging is forced across multiple sites even if no radio is listening for agencies that use pagers to activate.

 

[KingLeonidas]

Ok Thanks. I was hoping to get St Clare Co dispatch here in Clinton Co, but it sounds like that’s a no go. Unless I get a taller tower and pull in a county that neighborhoods St Clare.

 

[Ronaldski]

Yeah that distance is a LONG shot for even a taller tower as the higher in frequency, less distance it goes, would help too is if your in the northern part of the county.
Antenna your looking at a Yagi as its directional. While you may get Clare, don't expect it to come in very much even with using say RG6/RG8 cable. Dont use RG58/59, too much signal loss per foot.

County fire 154.265 you can likely get since they page out on VHF, I can usually get it here as well off a diamond discone about 20 feet up.

 

[iMONITOR]

Consider monitoring a feed for St. Clare County.

St. Clair County Michigan Live Audio Feeds

St. Clair County Michigan Live Audio Feeds

www.broadcastify.com

 

[smithken]

Are you asking about Clare County or Saint Clair County, big difference. Clare County is north of Clinton County, Saint Claire County is north of Detroit on the Canadian border.

 

[Forts]

Depends if you are referring to a particular site, or the system in general. I'm on Ontario (just west of London) and am listening to the St Clair site with an 800mhz yagi that's about 35' up. In the warmer months I can often pull that site in just using a rubber ducky. Using the yagi in the summertime (which is on a rotor) I can routinely receive Macomb, Detroit and well into Ohio. I've occasionally gotten as far west as Kent County but that's about it.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Are you asking about Clare County or Saint Clair County, big difference. Clare County is north of Clinton County, Saint Claire County is north of Detroit on the Canadian border.

Read post 3, he is in Clinton Co, wants to monitor St Clair Co.

What are your thoughts? Anything other than listening in on a feed?

 

[Forts]

That's a pretty long haul... Obviously topography and interference from other sites could be an issue. But... A good antenna and feedline might make it happen. My yagi is just a cheapo that I picked up on eBay and I'm using LMR-400 into the house.... But I'm only 50-60 miles from Pt Huron so I'm significantly closer.

 

[iMONITOR]

Some MPSCS sites can affiliate with others. I'm in Macomb County/Macomb Township, about 40 miles North of of Wayne County/Detroit. I can monitor numerous Talk Groups in Detroit on sites in Macomb Township, ETC. I can also monitor Talk Groups in the Upper Peninsula from Macomb. approximately 250+ miles! I can do all of this using an indoor antenna.

 

[smithken]

Read post 3, he is in Clinton Co, wants to monitor St Clair Co.

What are your thoughts? Anything other than listening in on a feed?

I know the OP said Saint Clair County, I was wondering if they are getting the counties confused. Saint Clair county is at least 100 miles from Clinton County so it is doubtful they can receive Saint Clair County. Clare County is 50 miles away so they have a better chance of hearing Clare County.

 

[freqs]

If you go to the Database click on the MPSCS go to a tower site it will show the range of that Tower .
Most Tower Range is 10 to 30 mile Coverage .
So here in South Macomb County I can Monitor the 3 Surrounding Counties System's and Talkgroups .
The way I understand it the only way you would be able to Monitor a user from say the UP from say Macomb Co a Radio from the UP would have to be near a Macomb Tower . Someone can chime in if iam incorrect

 

[Hit_Factor]

The way I understand it the only way you would be able to Monitor a user from say the UP from say Macomb Co a Radio from the UP would have to be near a Macomb Tower . Someone can chime in if iam incorrect

Agreed, but there are a few programming bugs in the system. I always run with allow unknown TGs enabled. That's the best way to hear SWAT coordinating with local Officers, if encryption is not an option, then obscure TGs seems to be the 2nd choice.

 

[iMONITOR]

If you go to the Database click on the MPSCS go to a tower site it will show the range of that Tower .
Most Tower Range is 10 to 30 mile Coverage .
So here in South Macomb County I can Monitor the 3 Surrounding Counties System's and Talkgroups .
The way I understand it the only way you would be able to Monitor a user from say the UP from say Macomb Co a Radio from the UP would have to be near a Macomb Tower . Someone can chime in if iam incorrect

As it was explained to me some of the tower sites on MPSCS are linked to others via microwave links that we can't monitor but they allow a site in one area in Michigan to link to other sites in Michigan regardless of distance. Then the programmers can set them up so the radio traffic can be shared between them which is controlled via talk groups which we can monitor. This allows the State Police in Lansing to communicate with the State Police in other cities.

When I monitor talk groups in Wayne County/Detroit, I'm not hearing their tower sites or control frequencies or on my scanner in Macomb, I am hearing their talk groups on Macomb's site.

 

[hruskacha]

Peer Sites share traffic Channels as the site they are connected to. Heres the peers for Muskegon County Simulcast.

 

[krokus]

As it was explained to me some of the tower sites on MPSCS are linked to others via microwave links that we can't monitor but they allow a site in one area in Michigan to link to other sites in Michigan regardless of distance. Then the programmers can set them up so the radio traffic can be shared between them which is controlled via talk groups which we can monitor. This allows the State Police in Lansing to communicate with the State Police in other cities.

When I monitor talk groups in Wayne County/Detroit, I'm not hearing their tower sites or control frequencies or on my scanner in Macomb, I am hearing their talk groups on Macomb's site.

That requires at least one radio be affiliated with the Macomb simulcast, and have one of those Wayne County TG selected as their primary. (Like a sheriff's office car being near a Macomb tower, is likely to lead to that agency's dispatch being carried on the Macomb sites.)

 

[hruskacha]

This map should be a great help...

 

[Forts]

That's a handy reference, thanks!!

 

[hruskacha]

Additional MPSCS Maps found via google search.

 

[iMONITOR]

None of these maps show who or what is affiliated to who.