New CHP Extender Channel Assignments

[officer_415]

CHP has begun rolling out vehicles with a new radio/lighting/computer system called EV-20. These vehicles will gradually replace the older vehicles, which are equipped with a system called CPVE. The 700 MHz extenders associated with the EV-20 system are using the same VRS channels 1-16 as the older CPVE extenders, but they are using a new NAC lineup.

For each area office, the CPVE extenders will use the "primary" extender frequency listed in the database. For most areas (but not all), the EV-20 extenders will probably be using the "alternate" extender frequency listed in the the database, but with a different NAC. For my local area office, I also noted one NAC for voice traffic, another NAC for a data burst which was occurring every 11 seconds, and a third NAC associated with an audible beep, possibly from the extender being activated.

I'd like to ask everyone to scan the VRS channels in NAC search mode, and report back here with your findings. Which (non-primary) extender frequency is in use for your area, and what NAC is displayed (preferably during voice traffic).

 

[officer_415]

I've updated the database, replacing "primary/alternate" with "CPVE/EV-20". I've also removed the NAC for the EV-20 listings so that scanners will open squelch for any NAC.

I still encourage everyone to report their local NAC findings here for the EV-20 extenders, so we can figure out if there is a standard NAC for each VRS channel, or if each area has its own unique NAC.

 

[jland138]

Here's a video from 2021 about the California Highway Patrol’s Fleet Operations Section where they do the build-out of the patrol vehicles. There are some shots of the new EV-20 stack.

 

[scannerboy02]

CHP has begun rolling out vehicles with a new radio/lighting/computer system called EV-20. These vehicles will gradually replace the older vehicles, which are equipped with a system called CPVE. The 700 MHz extenders associated with the EV-20 system are using the same VRS channels 1-16 as the older CPVE extenders, but they are using a new NAC lineup.

For each area office, the CPVE extenders will use the "primary" extender frequency listed in the database. For most areas (but not all), the EV-20 extenders will probably be using the "alternate" extender frequency listed in the the database, but with a different NAC. For my local area office, I also noted one NAC for voice traffic, another NAC for a data burst which was occurring every 11 seconds, and a third NAC associated with an audible beep, possibly from the extender being activated.

I'd like to ask everyone to scan the VRS channels in NAC search mode, and report back here with your findings. Which (non-primary) extender frequency is in use for your area, and what NAC is displayed (preferably during voice traffic).

I have a question, based on what you have heard so far do you think they may be using the data burst to control the extenders? Perhaps if an extender is already sending the data burst other extenders won't activate, or using it like a vote scan so if one channel is already active the later arriving extender(s) will switch to another channel, or using it as an out of range system for the portable?

 

[officer_415]

I have a question, based on what you have heard so far do you think they may be using the data burst to control the extenders? Perhaps if an extender is already sending the data burst other extenders won't activate, or using it like a vote scan so if one channel is already active the later arriving extender(s) will switch to another channel, or using it as an out of range system for the portable?

They definitely won't switch to a new channel, but yes my understanding is when there are multiple patrol cars at one location, the extenders communicate with each other via data to ensure only one is active at a time.

 

[Randyk4661]

Might be beneficial to program each frequency as a OFT to get the unit ID's to compare to each of the multiple NAC's you hear.

 

[scannerboy02]

I would be interested in knowing how the 700 MHz extender radio will interact with the 700 MHz (CRIS) radio, especially if they are transmitting a "beacon" signal. I wonder if that would interfere with reception of the trunking control channel at all. I also wonder if they are the same radio, although I would think not.

I know when Ohio added 700 MHz sites to MARCS the Ohio State Highway Patrol had all kinds of issues with the 700 MHz extenders and ultimately switched back to UHF analog extenders.

 

[officer_415]

I would be interested in knowing how the 700 MHz extender radio will interact with the 700 MHz (CRIS) radio, especially if they are transmitting a "beacon" signal. I wonder if that would interfere with reception of the trunking control channel at all. I also wonder if they are the same radio, although I would think not.

I know when Ohio added 700 MHz sites to MARCS the Ohio State Highway Patrol had all kinds of issues with the 700 MHz extenders and ultimately switched back to UHF analog extenders.

CHP has APX portables, so no reason why they can't have CRIS and the VRS in the same radio. They just wouldn't be able to use both at the same time.

 

[scannerboy02]

CHP has APX portables, so no reason why they can't have CRIS and the VRS in the same radio. They just wouldn't be able to use both at the same time.

OSHP is the same way, they have 700/800 MARCS and the extender channels in the portables so they can use either. The interference was occuring between the in-car MARCS radio on 700 MHz and the in-car extender radio on 700 MHz. The "work around" was for the officers to use MARCS directly on the portables but that wasn't always doable in areas with low portable coverage so they ended up switching back to UHF extenders.

Being that we know CHP will be on CRIS at some point that's probably something they should anticipate as a possible issue, at some point. OSHP didn't notice it until they started using it during day-to-day operations.

 

[officer_415]

I don't think that would be an issue for CHP since their mobile radios are on low band. They wouldn't be using CRIS and the extenders (both 700 MHz) at the same time, it would be one or the other.

 

[Randyk4661]

Channel 16 of the extender list is a CRIS frequency for Mt. Lukens, so I would think the other channels could also be used on the CRIS system around the state. Would be helpful to the officer in an emergency to access the CRIS system.

 

[kg6nlw]

Channel 16 of the extender list is a CRIS frequency for Mt. Lukens, so I would think the other channels could also be used on the CRIS system around the state. Would be helpful to the officer in an emergency to access the CRIS system.

It's also a frequency for Mt. Oso (Stanislaus Co), Round Mt (Kern Co), Tuscan Butte (Tehama Co), English Hill (Sonoma Co), Banner Mt (Nevada Co), Mt Lukens (Los Angeles Co), Rocky Butte (San Luis Obispo Co), Mt. Woodson (San Diego Co) and all of them are Control Channels! I'm sure there is some coordination going on for all that to happen right.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[scannerboy02]

I don't think that would be an issue for CHP since their mobile radios are on low band.

If things are still on schedule Valley Division (or parts of it) is supposed to be moving to CRIS soon.

 

[LAflyer]

We should start seeing a large number of EV-20-configured vehicles being deployed soon.

After more than a year of various supplier and technical problems, they are finally rolling out EV-20 builds again and will have 400 Ford Interceptors and 500 Dodge Chargers being deployed in the coming months.

With the new fleet hitting the road, the older CPVE configured vehicles will start to be phased out.

 

[ScannerDude244]

Are there rolling the APX next with the new ev 20? Anyone is Sac area hear anything on the CRIS testing yet? they said around July

 

[officer_415]

Are there rolling the APX next with the new ev 20?

There's a lot of APX portables and EV-20 vehicles already in the field.

 

[LAflyer]

Atleast here in the Los Angeles area, only radio I have seen with officers are the APX series ones.

 

[ScannerDude244]

There's a lot of APX portables and EV-20 vehicles already in the field.

I meant APX Next smart phone raidos.

 

[Ravenfalls]

My trip to CHP Central with my AZ radio. I was given the freqs & PL to turn extender on. Inside I'd enable the extender on my radio. Only 1 vehicle enabled same time. It'll turn off & they said, enable another extender.

 

[seleong]

I've updated the database, replacing "primary/alternate" with "CPVE/EV-20". I've also removed the NAC for the EV-20 listings so that scanners will open squelch for any NAC.

I still encourage everyone to report their local NAC findings here for the EV-20 extenders, so we can figure out if there is a standard NAC for each VRS channel, or if each area has its own unique NAC.

Ventura County - Purple EV-20, NAC: EE6