New to the Chicago area ...

[Acadnut]

Hi, all.

I'm a long time scanner enthusiast from the Milwaukee area. I've moved to the Loop area (basically, Randolph at the lake) and am looking for a starting point.

I have a Uniden BC785D, ARC250 and a premium sub here.

There's SO much info, I realistically don't know what to program the scanner with.

I enjoy Police, Fire, EMS ... maybe some state, federal and marine if they are active.

Part of the problem is knowing street names, districts, etc. I'm getting better with the area around where I live, but that's about all.

Anyone care to help ?

 

[Patch42]

I would suggest starting with the CARMA web site. Go to the database here, click on Cook county, and just a bit down on the resulting page will be a link to the CARMA site. (There's a link to the CARMA Yahoo group too. You want the web site.) There is a document there about the Chicago PD, including a precinct map. There's another document about the old trunk system used by the detectives. The information is quite extensive and very well laid out.

 

[werinshades]

Hi, all.

I'm a long time scanner enthusiast from the Milwaukee area. I've moved to the Loop area (basically, Randolph at the lake) and am looking for a starting point.

I have a Uniden BC785D, ARC250 and a premium sub here.

There's SO much info, I realistically don't know what to program the scanner with.

I enjoy Police, Fire, EMS ... maybe some state, federal and marine if they are active.

Part of the problem is knowing street names, districts, etc. I'm getting better with the area around where I live, but that's about all.

Anyone care to help ?[/QUOTE}Based upon your location and interest, I'd start with CPD Zone 4 (460.150..CTCSS 114.8)) which covers Districts 1 & 18. You are in the 18th District (We call them Districts in Chicago, not preceints). You're in the north side fire areas, so Main Fire (154.130..CTCSS 156.7) EMS North (460.600...CTCSS156.7). This should give you a good slow start to get a grasp of the lingo here. Go slow, maybe put the scanner in the Hold mode and maybe cover police, fire, EMS at different times. This site has some good information...feel free to ask away.
Based upon your location and interest

 

[KSJ745]

I would suggest starting with the CARMA web site. Go to the database here, click on Cook county, and just a bit down on the resulting page will be a link to the CARMA site. (There's a link to the CARMA Yahoo group too. You want the web site.) There is a document there about the Chicago PD, including a precinct map. There's another document about the old trunk system used by the detectives. The information is quite extensive and very well laid out.

Yes most of the CARMA's CPD information is quite extensive and very well laid out but unfortunately a lot of it's also outdated (2004) and wrong.

Stick with RR for frequently updated CPD postings. There are several members here (including myself) that have spent many years listening and taking notes on the CPD and CFD systems. Many of them have the "inside track" as they say...

 

[Acadnut]

Terrific information guys.

Thanks a lot. CARMA is fantastic.

Tons of information to digest there, too.

... start with CPD Zone 4 (460.150..CTCSS 114.8)) which covers Districts 1 & 18. You are in the 18th District. You're in the north side fire areas, so Main Fire (154.130..CTCSS 156.7) EMS North (460.600...CTCSS156.7). This should give you a good slow start to get a grasp of the lingo here. Go slow, maybe put the scanner in the Hold mode and maybe cover police, fire, EMS at different times.

I'm going to do exactly as described above. Literally just three frequencies ?

Stick with RR for frequently updated CPD postings. There are several members here (including myself) that have spent many years listening and taking notes on the CPD and CFD systems. Many of them have the "inside track" as they say...

I'm here and excited to learn. Anxious to hear the "inside track" too.

Again, thanks a lot.

 

[werinshades]

Their's more than the three frequencies I gave you, but you mentioned learning our address system, and other things, so I would keep it simple until you can get a good working knowledge. Due to the extensive amounts of radio traffic, many new listeners to CPD and CFD, get frustrated because they miss so much. Zone 4 is your "home zone", but many other CPD's zones and city-wides are good to listen to...enjoy the city.

 

[N9JIG]

As Dave points out, CPD and CFD have many freqs and operations to choose from. Some channels are so busy that it is difficult to actually scan them, you are better off parking on an interesting channel and listen to it than try to keep up with the high level of traffic on multiple channels.

As our other friend points out, the CARMA Profile, while extensive, is kind of old and needs to be updated. While most of the frequencies are still pretty accurate (for now at least) a lot of the assignments and unit numbers have changed in the last 5 years. It is amazing actually how much HASN'T changed in Chicago, when you have a system that works pretty good it tends to stay the same. While the equipment has seen better days and is really starting to show it's age, it still provides decent functionality.

We are working on updates to the Chicago profile, it is by far the most extensive one we have and there are several CARMA members that participate in its production. We hope to have the next version out soon, but as always, as soon as you put it to bed something will change.

Both CPD and CFD will be undergoing extensive changes in the next year or two, even more should the Olympics come to Chicago. Either way it will be a dynamic time for scanner listeners in the area.

While CARMA has good info and good people, I will admit that there is a suburban tilt to it. It isn't that there is anything against Chicago itself, it just happens that the most interested participants in CARMA are suburban based. If we had more Chicago guys involved we would have more info on City operations, but there just seems to be more suburban participation.

Feel free to use the information included in the CARMA Profiles and let us know if there are any errors or omissions. There is an email link on every page of every profile for sending updates and corrections.

The RadioReference data is provided by many of the same people as the CARMA Profiles, and we happily share information between CARMA and RR. RR has the ability to be updated more frequently as it is a dynamic page versus a prepared document like the CARMA Profiles. The Profiles were designed to be a portable document that can be printed out and used in the field.

 

[werinshades]

Just to add a little footnote to Rich's commentary, alot of times websites like these are monitored too. Being a city employee, i'm cautious as to what I release on open forums. If you have any procedural questions that you have monitored, I or many others will probably be more likely to respond in private IM's. RR or CARMA forums should be able to point you in the right direction...enjoy your monitoring time and the city.

 

[Acadnut]

Wow. I'm thankful and impressed with the thoughtful replies.

This has been great information.

I'll work on keeping the dialog going and contributing.

One thing, anyone have a 10-code or other radio "shorthand" reference chart for the area ?

 

[2beers4me]

Hi, all.

I'm a long time scanner enthusiast from the Milwaukee area. I've moved to the Loop area (basically, Randolph at the lake) and am looking for a starting point.

I have a Uniden BC785D, ARC250 and a premium sub here.

There's SO much info, I realistically don't know what to program the scanner with.

I enjoy Police, Fire, EMS ... maybe some state, federal and marine if they are active.

Part of the problem is knowing street names, districts, etc. I'm getting better with the area around where I live, but that's about all.

Anyone care to help ?

You should check out the 800 mhz trunked system for the Tac units. There is some interesting listening there when active. The system is also shared with the marine units that patrol the lakefront, and river.

 

[werinshades]

The misconception on these forums is that system has "Tac Units". The Organized Crime Division (O.C.D.) primarily used it until recently. Nextels are more in use than that system. Stick with the basics until you can get a good grasp of Chicago, it's street numbering system, terminology etc. Zone 4 will give you plenty of hours of good listening, Hope you're enjoying your stay so far..

 

[Acadnut]

Thanks guys. I'm doing great.

I've got it locked on 460.150 and loving it so far !!

 

[2beers4me]

The misconception on these forums is that system has "Tac Units". The Organized Crime Division (O.C.D.) primarily used it until recently. Nextels are more in use than that system. Stick with the basics until you can get a good grasp of Chicago, it's street numbering system, terminology etc. Zone 4 will give you plenty of hours of good listening, Hope you're enjoying your stay so far..

I must have been listing to nothing on Thursday and Friday, I guess. There is still "Tac","Vice","Gang Unit", call it what you want, using that system.

 

[KC9NCF]

Ok, here's the skinny on the "unit terms". Yes, there are "Tac", "Vice", "Gang" and other units in the districts. Here's an easy way to remember it: There are 25 districts. Each unit is assigned a four number beat designator that starts with the district number.

Example: 0100 = District Commander, 1st district
101 / 102 = Station Desk
103 - 109 = 1st District marked units
110, 120, 130, 140, 150 are all Sergeants or "Supervisors" as they tend to be called on
the radio.

Units ending with 71/72/73/74 are the wagons.
Units ending with 95 tend to be traffic units
Units ending with certain letter designators (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, S, and X)
belong to teams that serve specific functions within the districts. Mostly, the tac and other units use these. However, "S" for a district unit will almost always mean that the car is assigned to public school enforcement matters. "X" always means the unit is in overtime (there are some exceptions).

Units 60 - 69 with or without a letter designator after the four numbers are always tactical or "Tac" / "Gang" / "Vice" / "Prostitution" and so on. Now, you will on occasion, hear a weird unit pop up on the zone that does not start with a district designator, and these cars will usually be canine, forensic services, citywide specialty units, and the like.

When a CPD unit says "switch to 5"....and you go to 460.525 and IF YOU can hear them, you're their target! I have tons more if you PM me. I will say that what I have is for the most part somewhat old because unit numbers have been added, but if you listen, you'll figure them out. The next thing I will say is that UCR numbers are NOT a secret to anyone.

If you go to Google and search for "UCR Numbers" or "Uniform Crime Index Reporting System" you'll get everything you need to understand what's happening when you hear a unit say "Squad, gimme an RD Number for UCR 6012"!

 

[werinshades]

Ok, here's the skinny on the "unit terms". Yes, there are "Tac", "Vice", "Gang" and other units in the districts. Here's an easy way to remember it: There are 25 districts. Each unit is assigned a four number beat designator that starts with the district number.

Example: 0100 = District Commander, 1st district
101 / 102 = Station Desk
103 - 109 = 1st District marked units
110, 120, 130, 140, 150 are all Sergeants or "Supervisors" as they tend to be called on
the radio.

Units ending with 71/72/73/74 are the wagons.
Units ending with 95 tend to be traffic units
Units ending with certain letter designators (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, S, and X)
belong to teams that serve specific functions within the districts. Mostly, the tac and other units use these. However, "S" for a district unit will almost always mean that the car is assigned to public school enforcement matters. "X" always means the unit is in overtime (there are some exceptions).

Units 60 - 69 with or without a letter designator after the four numbers are always tactical or "Tac" / "Gang" / "Vice" / "Prostitution" and so on. Now, you will on occasion, hear a weird unit pop up on the zone that does not start with a district designator, and these cars will usually be canine, forensic services, citywide specialty units, and the like.

When a CPD unit says "switch to 5"....and you go to 460.525 and IF YOU can hear them, you're their target! I have tons more if you PM me. I will say that what I have is for the most part somewhat old because unit numbers have been added, but if you listen, you'll figure them out. The next thing I will say is that UCR numbers are NOT a secret to anyone.

If you go to Google and search for "UCR Numbers" or "Uniform Crime Index Reporting System" you'll get everything you need to understand what's happening when you hear a unit say "Squad, gimme an RD Number for UCR 6012"!

OP listens to Zone 4 which has plenty of "letter designated Units" that don't fall into any pattern the rest of us normally here. 18th District has quite a few foot units that use the letters. If you're listening enough, their are certain ones for Water Tower Place, State Street details, and the 1st District has quite a few too. I have given that Zone a listen, and it's quite a challenge, but can be fun.
As far as the OCD system (800 Mhz. Trunking), their is sporadic activity, not as often as it used to be prior to Nextel usage. OP has Zone 4 locked on and i'm sure he's enjoying it.
The CPD UCR guide has a few that are not on the ones that are on the internet. I've seen some omissions, but it's close.

 

[KC9NCF]

Hey Shades...you are right on the money!

Zone 4 is an active one! Here's a few hints for the OP beyond the basic stuff I gave above:

When listening to Zone 4, as Shades said, you'll hear quite a few letter designators at the end of the unit identifier. The most often heard are "L" which is a CTA Unit, "H" which is a housing unit, "F" and "I" are usually either foot patrols or "quality of life" units dedicated to picking up the homeless and essentially "relocating" them.

Now, you'll hear 96XX alot on that Zone, and you'll hear 69XX units. the 96XX are Evidence Techs AKA "Forensic Services" and they work under the command of the Detective divisions. There are 5 Detective divisions, and there will likely be less after the honorable Daley gets done.

On Zone 4, you'll hear these Detectives pop up here and there using mostly 51XX and 53XX, but during the prime tourist hours, you'll also get luckey enough to hear the pick pocket unit on Michigan Ave and also State St. Most of these guys and gals are district people, but they also work with other units during the heavier times. So, you may hear a different unit designator for that detail.

It is sadly true, the 800Mhz system is not so active anymore. Though there is some traffic, it isn't nearly as interesting as it used to be.

 

[Acadnut]

Great information here guys.

Thank you so much. I'm loving zone 4 !

 

[KC9NCF]

If you love Zone 4 now, wait until the nice weather gets here and the special events kick off all season long! You'll have to listen to Zone 4, Citywide 1, 6, and then 460.525 also referred to as "5". Make sure you also have CFD Main, EMS North, and EMS Command also known as Med-10 programmed in.

 

[grem467]

Who maintains the radio system for CPD etc, or does teh city/county self maintain it?

 

[FFPM571]

city has their own techs