Need some help finding a certain system in Chicago ...

[MarcInIllinois]

Hi all,

I'm trying to determine which system in Chicago (downtown) would be the Chicago Police. I see a trunked system then I see 400mhz system , then a 155.xx system too..

I'm going to the Taste of Chicago down by Grant Park and would like to listen in while I'm in the area.. Should I go with the trunked system at 800mhz or 400mhz or ? wow I'm just a bit new and confused at this..

thanks

 

[Chicagostretch02]

Taste of Chicago Frequencies

Go to yahoo groups....Carmachicago.groups.yahoo.com I believe it is.

All the accurate freqs in use will be posted there as the Taste draws near.
Forget the 800Mhz for the taste. That is for operations, not things like the Taste.
Police will operate on one of the 6 citywide channels. Usually citywide 6. Also look for use on "Channel 5" 460.525.
CFD will operate on their special events channels.

All the frequencies for Citywides and fire/ems personnel will be either posted in the message boards or you can look them up in the profiles section under pdf City of Chicago. You can e-mail me directly if you need additional information.

Chicagostretch
Brian

 

[JnglMassiv]

You're right. It does get confusing.

I did a bity of hunting and found a list someone compiled:
http://www.chicagoscanningclub.com/CSCAirWat.htm

I'd not expect much Taste activity on the trunked system but it's great listening at night. The EMS events channels are good picks.

It's pretty hard to narrow down any more than that. This is a huge event and there's going to be tons of radio activity.

 

[Chicagostretch02]

Taste of Chicago-CARMA confirmations

Still check the CARMACHICAGO Yahoo group message board. Members of CARMA will update all frequencies in use...those designated, actually used, and any new ones.

Enjoy the festivities but....Some CPD officers are not scanner fans. If you are blantenly listening to a big handheld you could feel some pain.

Chicagostretch
Brian

 

[MarcInIllinois]

You're right. It does get confusing.

I did a bity of hunting and found a list someone compiled:
http://www.chicagoscanningclub.com/CSCAirWat.htm

I'd not expect much Taste activity on the trunked system but it's great listening at night. The EMS events channels are good picks.

It's pretty hard to narrow down any more than that. This is a huge event and there's going to be tons of radio activity.

Hi there

I checked out that page and that is a lot of what appears to be great info. Those frequencies listed are in the 400 range, are they trunked at all or just conventional?

 

[Chicagostretch02]

TASTE FREQUENCIES ARE ALL CONVENTIONAL

All the Taste of Chicago frequencies are conventional. Only the Marine Units are on the 800Mhz trunked system and unless someone is chased from the taste and they dive into the lake a couple blocks away, the Marine Unit car to car channel won't have anything to do with the Taste.

Brian

 

[MarcInIllinois]

Re: Taste of Chicago-CARMA confirmations

Still check the CARMACHICAGO Yahoo group message board. Members of CARMA will update all frequencies in use...those designated, actually used, and any new ones.

Enjoy the festivities but....Some CPD officers are not scanner fans. If you are blantenly listening to a big handheld you could feel some pain.

Chicagostretch
Brian

Hi

Dumb question probably, but since scanners are legal in Illinois, what kind of problem could i run into? I'm in far downstate, town of about 8,000 people (very rural) and the police here don't really hassle people here because alot of times the scanner listeners call in and help out sometimes..

 

[Chicagostretch02]

What you could run into at the Taste

Some will ask to look at it and may check you out via patdown, run a warrant check, and "ask you" not to listen to them. Or, they could be looking at your scanner and accidentally drop it. I know people this has happened to. It hasn't happened to me because I have used an Icom R2 with an earpiece in the past. It looks like an FRS to them guys. This year it will be the 246 with the Closecall feature at work in addition to the regular stuff. But, if you are out in the open or right where they are with that thing blasting their frequencies, you could be subject to closer attention. They are good guys and gals but they are rough around the edges on some things....scanners being one of them. Yes, scanners are legal in Illinois but CPD has a very tough job and the criminals have made it harder by abusing our hobby in the past. Also, cop wannabe's and mopes have given some officers a negative perspective on us hobbyists. I have friends who are CPD and they raise an eyebrow when they see my scanners. All I am saying is.....be discreet. You could also get robbed very easily for your scanner if you stray into a group of thugs with it broadcasting police stuff and they realize you aren't the 5-0. I'm leaving work for now so if you need anything else I will reply tomorrow.

Brian

 

[JnglMassiv]

Brian probably makes it sound a bit worse than it is but overall message is correct.
Be discrete and use your head.

If you get pulled over, that's probably a good time to kill the power and toss the scanner under the seat. Or if you fall asleep and get lost on the Green Line (subway line), you might want to turn it off. Or if you look like Egon from Ghostbusters waving the thing around at the cops' command post looking for CloseCall hits...bad idea. An earpiece is probably best but I'll just have it low and keep it close at hand for quick volume knob access. If you're a ham, might not be a bad idea to bring a copy of your license, just in case.

 

[MarcInIllinois]

Interesting how different life can be in two places in the same state.. Guess there is always adv/disadv to everything.. I'm hoping it will be a good experience (Taste of ..). We've been to Chicago about 7 times seeing the sights and all, and were there last on the 6th I think it was. (free museum week). The other half has relatives that live near Kankakee so we hop on the train at University Park..

 

[N9JIG]

Here is the CARMA Chicago profile. It should have everything you need to know about CPD and other City operations.

 

[N9JIG]

It appears that Attaching files does not work tonight. Sometimes it gets flakey....


If you want the entire CARMA Chicago profile send me an email at rich@n9jig.com and I will send it to you.

Meanwhile, a quick rundown on CPD:

There are 13 "Zones". Each Zone (except for Zone 7) handles 2 Districts. There are also 8 "Citywides". 7 as repeaters and then Citywide 8, a simplex, low power portables only channel (460.525). If you hear this look around you for a guy with a radio...

The 800 MHz. TRS is used mostly by surveilance teams and special service units like the Executuve Security details, Marine Unit, IAD and others. There is occasional enctryption, but 99% of the traffic is in the clear.

There used to be a few VHF freqs but these are pretty much gone now. Some units use unoffical radios such as business, MURS or GMRS for chit-chat.

I copied and pasted the following from the CARMA Chicago Profile:

CITYWIDE RADIO CHANNELS
CW# FREQ TONE USE
1 460.125 (173.8)
MAJOR AUTO ACCIDENT, TRAFFIC, GANGS, PUBLIC HOUSING, CTA
2 460.175 (123.0)
DETECTIVES, CANINE, MOUNTED, DEPUTIES, IAD, VICE, ET'S
3 460.275 (141.3)
WANTED FLASHES, MAINTENANCE, FILMS, ADMIN
4 460.325 (192.8)
HUMAN RELATIONS, SCHOOLS, YOUTH, MARINE
5 460.350 (097.4)
SUBWAY COMM SYSTEM / EMER OR EVENT SECONDARY
6 460.250 (162.2)
EMER OR EVENT PRIMARY / ALTERNATE ZONE DISPATCH
7 460.300 (131.8)
COMMAND, PHONE PATCH, PAGERS, BEEPERS
8 460.525 (179.9)
CHANNEL "FIVE" SIMPLEX UNIT TO UNIT SHORT RANGE

ZONE DISPATCH CHANNELS
ZONE FREQ TONE DISTRICTS
1 460.475 (107.2) 16TH / 17TH DISTRICTS
2 460.050 (127.3) 19TH / 23RD DISTRICTS
3 460.225 (110.9) 13TH / 14TH DISTRICTS
4 460.150 (114.8) 1ST / 18TH DISTRICTS
5 460.500 (167.9) 2ND / 21ST DISTRICTS
6 460.400 (156.7) 7TH / 8TH DISTRICTS
7 460.075 (146.2) 3RD DISTRICT
8 460.200 (136.5) 4TH / 6TH DISTRICTS
9 460.025 (091.5) 5TH / 22ND DISTRICTS
10 460.100 (151.4) 10TH / 11TH DISTRICTS
11 460.375 (186.2) 20TH / 24TH DISTRICTS
12 460.425 (094.8) 15TH / 25TH DISTRICTS
13 460.450 (103.5) 9TH / 12TH DISTRICTS

 

[N9JIG]

Guess I should have disabled Smilies as well...

CITYWIDE RADIO CHANNELS
CW# FREQ TONE USE
1 460.125 (173.8) MAJOR AUTO ACCIDENT, TRAFFIC, GANGS, PUBLIC HOUSING, CTA
2 460.175 (123.0) DETECTIVES, CANINE, MOUNTED, DEPUTIES, IAD, VICE, ET'S
3 460.275 (141.3) WANTED FLASHES, MAINTENANCE, FILMS, ADMIN
4 460.325 (192.8) HUMAN RELATIONS, SCHOOLS, YOUTH, MARINE
5 460.350 (097.4) SUBWAY COMM SYSTEM / EMER OR EVENT SECONDARY
6 460.250 (162.2) EMER OR EVENT PRIMARY / ALTERNATE ZONE DISPATCH
7 460.300 (131.8) COMMAND, PHONE PATCH, PAGERS, BEEPERS
8 460.525 (179.9) CHANNEL "FIVE" SIMPLEX UNIT TO UNIT SHORT RANGE

ZONE DISPATCH CHANNELS
ZONE FREQ TONE DISTRICTS
1 460.475 (107.2) 16TH / 17TH DISTRICTS
2 460.050 (127.3) 19TH / 23RD DISTRICTS
3 460.225 (110.9) 13TH / 14TH DISTRICTS
4 460.150 (114.8) 1ST / 18TH DISTRICTS
5 460.500 (167.9) 2ND / 21ST DISTRICTS
6 460.400 (156.7) 7TH / 8TH DISTRICTS
7 460.075 (146.2) 3RD DISTRICT
8 460.200 (136.5) 4TH / 6TH DISTRICTS
9 460.025 (091.5) 5TH / 22ND DISTRICTS
10 460.100 (151.4) 10TH / 11TH DISTRICTS
11 460.375 (186.2) 20TH / 24TH DISTRICTS
12 460.425 (094.8) 15TH / 25TH DISTRICTS
13 460.450 (103.5) 9TH / 12TH DISTRICTS

 

[MarcInIllinois]

Rich,

I just checked into the carma group earlier this afternoon on the advice of another member, it looks very helpful. I had originally wondered if the 800mhz TRS was the best one to monitor or the ones you have listed. It seems like advice says these are better than the TRS, or is it a case where everything from the 4xx mhz is mirrored to the TRS system?

thank you for the pasting, smilies and all

 

[N9JIG]

No,, there is no simulcast or mirror from 460 to 800, they are all seperate.

Enjoy!

 

[MarcInIllinois]

ok I re-read your post, the 800 is for special ops and details and the 4xx mhz are the meat and potatoes (everyday) stuff.

thank you!