Omaha area

[N8SWG]

I have a family member that lives in the Omaha area interested in getting a handheld scanner. I know a lot of encryption has happened in that area recently. Are there still agencies worth listening too to warrant purchasing one? TIA.

 

[W8KIC]

I have a family member that lives in the Omaha area interested in getting a handheld scanner. I know a lot of encryption has happened in that area recently. Are there still agencies worth listening too to warrant purchasing one? TIA.

I took a quick look at the Omaha area and it looks like most of the LEO agencies within Douglas County are pretty much encrypted, although NSP dispatch within Douglas Co. and pretty much throughout the state appear to be in the clear. Law enforcement dispatch in Washington County (Blair) to the north and Dodge County (Fremont) to the northwest also appears to be in the clear. Fire dispatch for Douglas Co. itself appears to be in the clear but the city of Omaha FD shows encrypted. Fremont and Dodge Co. fire dispatch also show as being in the clear. Please DON'T consider me to be the final word as I'm back east in the Buckeye State and simply posted from what I found on the RRDB.

 

[N8SWG]

Thanks for the info. I believe they’d mostly be interested in listening to OFD - dispatch is not encrypted (yet), although TAC channels are - some surrounding county agencies, rail and SkyWarn/RACES.

 

[wtp]

don't forget that there is federal stuff and military air.

Nebraska Federal (Nebraska) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Nebraska Federal (Nebraska)

www.radioreference.com

 

[westondc]

I have a family member that lives in the Omaha area interested in getting a handheld scanner. I know a lot of encryption has happened in that area recently. Are there still agencies worth listening too to warrant purchasing one? TIA.

I live and work in Omaha. My digital scanners have become paperweights since OPD, OFD and Douglas County Sheriff went encrypted. I took my Whistler WS-1080 to work the last few days and scanned all systems and frequencies in the RR database for the area. All I've heard are trash services, bus services, Hospital security and some local business operations. It's not worth buying a scanner for the Omaha area anymore.

 

[red8]

Cass County to the south is also clear,according to the DB..
Sad to say Encryption is becoming the order on Public Saftety radio. I know here in Louisiana where I live, NOPD is 100% encrypted, Lafayette to the west of where I live the entire system is encrypted , even the dog catcher and garbage trucks are encrypted.. In Baton Rouge there is some encryption on the PD and SO talk groups.
State Police has bunch of clear groups. A lot of Parishes ( Counties)have either full or partial

 

[jmp883]

Westondc wrote:

It's not worth buying a scanner for the Omaha area anymore.

I don’t know about that. So public safety went encrypted but there is still a lot to listen to in the Omaha area.

I don’t visit Omaha anymore but when I still had family there I always brought a scanner with me. Even though I am an emergency services dispatcher I rarely listened to OPD or OFD. I am a railfan and aviation fan and Omaha has plenty to offer.

UP and BNSF have a big presence in Omaha. Eppley Field and Offutt AFB provide plenty for the aviation and military listeners. Additionally, there are several ARTCC’s that you can monitor.

There will always be something to listen to!

 

[morfis]

I have a family member that lives in the Omaha area interested in getting a handheld scanner. I know a lot of encryption has happened in that area recently.

So they are interested in buying a scanner...WHAT are they interested in listening to? They clearly have an idea or else why consider buying something?

The answer to that is a lot more help than blanket statements about whether it is 'worth' buying something. It will lead to which equipment would be suitable, if any.