New Chicago OEMC Public Safety - 800 MHz P25

[That_Radio_Geek]

Listening to CFD EMS North today, I heard main call what sounds like an ambulance with the callsign "5 Zebra 19" Do we have new ambulance/fire calls on the air?

 

[KEVINWSFF819]

Not that I heard. But now I gotta start listening closer see if I catch it.

 

[werinshades]

Two new Community CARE Teams went up in service today: 5-Z-04 (5-Zebra 04) which covers the 4th CPD District, and 5-Z-12 (5-Zebra 12) which covers the CPD 12th District. By adding these two teams, that corresponds with the 6 CPD Districts serviced on the map. I'm not sure if 5-Z-78 (5-Zebra 78) which covers the CPD 7th & 8th Districts, will be broken up into two teams or will remain as one?

All heard on CFD EMS talk groups 1023, 1024.

CARE Coverage Area

CARE is currently made up of 4 Alternate Response Teams made up of a CDPH Mental Health Crisis Clinician and a CDPH Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Teams respond to low-risk 911 calls with a mental health component in select police districts across the city. The CARE teams currently...

www.chicago.gov

An update through Region 11 EMS with a detailed map included:

efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://chicagoems.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CARE-Program-

Listening to CFD EMS North today, I heard main call what sounds like an ambulance with the callsign "5 Zebra 19" Do we have new ambulance/fire calls on the air?

Not that I heard. But now I gotta start listening closer see if I catch it.

Started on Post #672,

 

[werinshades]

A couple of additional posts:

Information on 5-Z (Zebra) Teams that started back up on CFD EMS talk groups today:

Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Dashboard

www.chicago.gov

Removed CFD paramedics, replaced with EMT-B's hired by the Chicago Department of Public Health and trained is the change and reason why they haven't been heard for awhile.

If anyone is wondering how the radio signatures correspond with the area of service is they follow along CPD District boundaries. For example 5-Z-78 is assigned to the 7th and 8th District CPD districts, 5-Z-01 is assigned to the 1st District CPD District etc. The map link I posted shows the current service areas...your all welcome...LOL!

 

[werinshades]

I heard some testing on talk groups 1025-1038 this morning by radio ID 1190031/1190032. This would fall under the "CFD block" and the radio ID's would be assigned to Fire District 1 spare pool.

In addition to those talk groups, testing by the same radio ID's heard on "previously identified" O'Hare talk groups 2501-2514. Also talk group 7013 was keyed up, but didn't hear any voice (possibly encrypted CPD Incident3?)

All talk groups were in Phase 2 on Site-1. I'm not sure what these talk groups will be used for yet and will wait for further self-identified testing.

 

[That_Radio_Geek]

Heads-up for those who don't know, as I just found this out myself last night while listening to the Christmas Tree Lighting event:

CPD was heard on the OEMC P25 system on Event-1, but no traffic heard on CW-6. Dispatch on Event-1 was in the clear, and field units were encrypted. I'm assuming tonight will be more of the same: Event-1 for the Mag Mile Lights Festival.

I didn't hear any traffic on Command 1, Event 2, Event 3, or Incident 1 or 2. No traffic heard on any of the three operations TGs. This being said with the disclaimer that it's hard to monitor it all at the same time. I easily could have missed traffic on those other TGs I listed.

I reviewed OpenMhz, and found there was a little traffic on Incident-1, but nothing meaningful. The review showed dispatch announced on Event-2 that the event last night was on Event-1.

Looks like whoever the dispatcher/dispatchers were on Event-1 last night really had a busy night:

At least 5 shot in the Loop, alderman says; at least 2 shot on State Street, sources say

 

[KEVINWSFF819]

Heads-up for those who don't know, as I just found this out myself last night while listening to the Christmas Tree Lighting event:

CPD was heard on the OEMC P25 system on Event-1, but no traffic heard on CW-6. Dispatch on Event-1 was in the clear, and field units were encrypted. I'm assuming tonight will be more of the same: Event-1 for the Mag Mile Lights Festival.

I didn't hear any traffic on Command 1, Event 2, Event 3, or Incident 1 or 2. No traffic heard on any of the three operations TGs. This being said with the disclaimer that it's hard to monitor it all at the same time. I easily could have missed traffic on those other TGs I listed.

I reviewed OpenMhz, and found there was a little traffic on Incident-1, but nothing meaningful. The review showed dispatch announced on Event-2 that the event last night was on Event-1.

Looks like whoever the dispatcher/dispatchers were on Event-1 last night really had a busy night:

At least 5 shot in the Loop, alderman says; at least 2 shot on State Street, sources say

Well that's unfortunate to know as I'm sure dispatchers will be encrypted today and tonight.

 

[werinshades]

It would appear, based on the last couple weekend's large events, the 800 mhz. system is being used primarily for these details. CPD Event-1/Event-2 as well as CFD JHAT/FD Event-1/FD Event-2 were in use. CPD's Event talk groups were partially encrypted with the dispatcher in the clear,

I did see TGID 5413/Phase 2/Enc come up regularly during the event. Based on 5411 being Event-1 and 5412 being Event-2, it wouldn't be a reach to think it could be Event-3.

Heads-up for those who don't know, as I just found this out myself last night while listening to the Christmas Tree Lighting event:

CPD was heard on the OEMC P25 system on Event-1, but no traffic heard on CW-6. Dispatch on Event-1 was in the clear, and field units were encrypted. I'm assuming tonight will be more of the same: Event-1 for the Mag Mile Lights Festival.

A little research on this thread, and the answers you seek are probably there. This is from July 2024 FYI.

 

[That_Radio_Geek]

Well that's unfortunate to know as I'm sure dispatchers will be encrypted today and tonight.

Your prediction was correct. I have Event 1 on right now at 3:37PM and EVERYTHING is encrypted. No traffic on CW-6, and no other citywide carrying traffic. I think the best bet for listening to things happening "on the ground" at the event will be CFD, CTA Supervisor North, Metra Police, Amtrak Police, and if you're anywhere close to Union Station I would listen to the Metra NXDN Customer Service frequencies. If you live near any of the Metra lines, you may hear conductors and other railroad folks talking about event related things.

 

[That_Radio_Geek]

CFD is being heard in the clear at tonight's event on TG1017 - Fire Event 1

 

[KEVINWSFF819]

Your prediction was correct. I have Event 1 on right now at 3:37PM and EVERYTHING is encrypted. No traffic on CW-6, and no other citywide carrying traffic. I think the best bet for listening to things happening "on the ground" at the event will be CFD, CTA Supervisor North, Metra Police, Amtrak Police, and if you're anywhere close to Union Station I would listen to the Metra NXDN Customer Service frequencies. If you live near any of the Metra lines, you may hear conductors and other railroad folks talking about event related things.

Cw1 has beenhavingtheir normal traffic. But all the Christmas parade/lighting is supposed to be on event 1 according to a buddy of mine

 

[KEVINWSFF819]

CFD is being heard in the clear at tonight's event on TG1017 - Fire Event 1

Is any of Fire encrypted? Thought all of fire was in the clear?

 

[That_Radio_Geek]

Is any of Fire encrypted? Thought all of fire was in the clear?

All of CFD is in the clear except for the secure TGs. I think EMS Command and Fire Command may be partially/part-time encrypted at times. CFD seems to be using encryption cautiously so as to meet the requirements of the Illinois FOIA statute as found in 5 ILCS 140. I say this because admin radio traffic would be considered deliberative most times, and it's that deliberative process that's exempt from public knowledge and disclosure under that statute.