Other Mobile County Municipalities

[KV4PM]

There is usually enough here in way-too-fast-growing Baldwin County to keep me occupied but sometimes I will unlock and listen in on activity in Mobile. I got to wondering about other cities and towns over there, such as Prichard, Saraland, Dauphin Island, etc; are those PD's dispatched by the county and thus encrypted? Seems years ago DI and Prichard used to have their own dispatchers but maybe my memory is failing me .

 

[sadave]

Good morning!

I cannot monitor anything in Mobile County from home but sometimes travel over there and have compiled a list of unknown talkgroups on the MCCD system. These were all unencrypted and run the range from likely public works crew to transportation to public safety. Any assistance in identifying and updating the RRDB, I certain, would be appreciated.

Shep

Unknown 1	-	1012
Unknown 2	-	1014
Unknown 3	-	1048
Unknown 4	-	1057
Unknown PD 1	-	1064
Unknown PD 2	-	1066
Unknown PD 3	-	1068
Unknown PD 4	-	1070
Unknown PD 5	-	1071
Unknown PD 6	-	1092
Unknown PD 7	-	1108
Security	-	1130
Stop by Triage	-	1131
Unknown PD 8	-	1133
Unknown PD 9	-	1139
Unknown PD 10	-	1167
Unknown PD 11	-	1147
Unknown PD 12	-	1172
Unknown 5	-	1198
Unknown PD 13	-	1261
Unknown 6	-	1267
Unknown PD 14	-	1277
Mobile County Public Schools Bus	-	2019
Unknown 7	-	2021
Unknown 8	-	2057
Unknown Maintenance	-	2058
Unknown Transportation 1	-	2059
Unknown EMS Dispatch	-	2065
Unknown 9	-	2075
Unknown 10	-	2080
Unknown Transportation 2	-	2086
Unknown 11	-	2087
Unknown 12	-	2106
Unknown 13	-	2124
Animal Control	-	2125

 

[KV4PM]

Thanks, mate. I'll try to make some notes going forward. I have 1064, 1066, 1068, and 1070 as MPD Dispatch but can never find any rhyme or reason as to which precincts or areas go with what TGs.

As for my questions, I happened to look on what seems to be the Town of Dauphin Island website (it's a dot org vice a dot gov, which seems suspicious) and they show a job opening for a police dispatcher. But I also searched the FCC license database and see nothing listed for the town, at least not yet.

Can/do you monitor anything in Pensacola from your QTH? Also, what Nexedge towers can you receive on the Foley/Daphne/et. al. system?

 

[sadave]

Good afternoon!

Working backwards, on the NEXEDGE system, at home I receive Foley, Magnolia Springs, Orange Beach, Robertsdale, and Seminole. Driving around with my 436, I have received all of them and confirmed the LCNs for the entire system.

At home on the 200, I can really only receive the VHF High frequencies in Pensacola; i.e., Escambia County Fire. Driving around with my 436 in Escambia County, I hear lots of fire, EMS, hospitals and Coast Guard. All other law enforcement is encrypted.

Dauphin Island. I just don't know. Nothing in the FCC database and they've not been identified with MCCD or AIRS.

Thanks for the info on the MPD talkgroups. I was always suspicious of the statement on the Mobile County page that all law enforcement was encrypted. It clearly is not.

Shep

 

[KV4PM]

Re: the MCCD TG's above. Have you heard unencrypted voice coms on all of them? I have heard a few you do not have listed; 1058 (sounds like EMS), 2109 (sounds like public works or special events), 1208 (sounds like fire).

The RR database is wrong and you are right on TG 1068; it is MPD Dispatch, as are 1064, 1066, and 1070. These do not seem to be assigned to any area or precinct, so I list them as Dispatch 1, 2, 3, 4, for 1064, 1066, 1068, 1070 respectively. This seems right as I log the most hits on 1064, followed by 1066, etc. This makes me wonder how their system works in that, for example, a call may be dispatched on 1064 and the radio car acknowledgement may come back on 1066. Maybe someone with more insight will chime in on this.

 

[sadave]

Re: the MCCD TG's above. Have you heard unencrypted voice coms on all of them? I have heard a few you do not have listed; 1058 (sounds like EMS), 2109 (sounds like public works or special events), 1208 (sounds like fire).

The RR database is wrong and you are right on TG 1068; it is MPD Dispatch, as are 1064, 1066, and 1070. These do not seem to be assigned to any area or precinct, so I list them as Dispatch 1, 2, 3, 4, for 1064, 1066, 1068, 1070 respectively. This seems right as I log the most hits on 1064, followed by 1066, etc. This makes me wonder how their system works in that, for example, a call may be dispatched on 1064 and the radio car acknowledgement may come back on 1066. Maybe someone with more insight will chime in on this.

Good morning!

I've heard unencrypted traffic on all four of those MPD talkgroups. Until actual channel names can be identified, I think your naming protocol is in accordance with the RRBD protocols. The best way to figure out channel names and usage is continue monitoring. Someone always says, "Switch to channel..."

Shep

 

[KV4PM]

BTW, a couple of times, including today, I have heard in-the-clear traffic on 1268 that clearly was law enforcement but didn't seem to be MPD. Ideas?

 

[KV4PM]

Update: maybe it is MPD after all, as I see the Dispatch UID showing up. Do they dispatch for Prichard, I wonder? I'll check my recordings and see if I can figure out locations.

Update #2: So much for that theory. They dispatched someone to Dawes Road in an area shown as in Precinct 2.

 

[garys]

When my son lived in Fairhope (2012-2017) there was a lot to listen to in Baldwin County. I haven't been there since, but I know that much if it has become encrypted since then. Mobile was testing the P25 system and still on the EDACS ProVoice system when he moved.

I spent a fair amount of time using DSD+ to figure out the LCNs and Talk Groups for Daphne and other cities using NXDN. That was before Uniden released NXDN and DMR in their scanners.

 

[kf4ald]

I have tentatively identified a few talkgroups that may be of interest.
TG 1260 - St. Elmo Fire
TG 1265 - Wilmer Fire
TG 1045 - Mobile Fire "Business"
TG 1058 - Mobile Fire Special Events

 

[kf4ald]

I'm working on identifying volunteer fire department response talkgroups on the MCCD system. It seems like the initial fire dispatch occurs on the county Fire Alarm TG, and then the responding department coordinates response on its own fire tac TG.
If anyone else is catching and identifying these, I would love to hear what you're coming up with!

 

[LeSueurC]

Re: the MCCD TG's above. Have you heard unencrypted voice coms on all of them? I have heard a few you do not have listed; 1058 (sounds like EMS), 2109 (sounds like public works or special events), 1208 (sounds like fire).

The RR database is wrong and you are right on TG 1068; it is MPD Dispatch, as are 1064, 1066, and 1070. These do not seem to be assigned to any area or precinct, so I list them as Dispatch 1, 2, 3, 4, for 1064, 1066, 1068, 1070 respectively. This seems right as I log the most hits on 1064, followed by 1066, etc. This makes me wonder how their system works in that, for example, a call may be dispatched on 1064 and the radio car acknowledgement may come back on 1066. Maybe someone with more insight will chime in on this.

So out of towner here but last time I was down 2021, I remember seeing the same ranges for Mobile PD unencrypted. I also remember seeing the dynamic patch TG’s popping up too. Now just by observation, I’m willing to bet that in between those 1064,1066,1068, and 1071 that there are either Precinct channels or “Talk channels” for each precinct, so 1065,1067,1069 and 1071 maybe, if the TG ranges are lined up the way. DSD plus is also a big help because that seems to aide a lot in mapping systems and and finding encrypted TG’s better than a scanner in some cases. Has anyone identified any county sheriff TG’s? Also seeing this thread come about, the big question is encryption still being used on LE channels? I’m hoping to make a visit down in the summer to see family and hope to be able to help out ID some channels

 

[kf4ald]

So out of towner here but last time I was down 2021, I remember seeing the same ranges for Mobile PD unencrypted. I also remember seeing the dynamic patch TG’s popping up too. Now just by observation, I’m willing to bet that in between those 1064,1066,1068, and 1071 that there are either Precinct channels or “Talk channels” for each precinct, so 1065,1067,1069 and 1071 maybe, if the TG ranges are lined up the way. DSD plus is also a big help because that seems to aide a lot in mapping systems and and finding encrypted TG’s better than a scanner in some cases. Has anyone identified any county sheriff TG’s? Also seeing this thread come about, the big question is encryption still being used on LE channels? I’m hoping to make a visit down in the summer to see family and hope to be able to help out ID some channels

Mobile PD dispatches in the clear. Most TAC traffic seems to be encrypted. SO must be encrypted.

 

[mike36507]

I was at the Mardi Gras parade in Dauphin Island and had my SDS100 recording. It looks like Dauphin Island PD is 1001. Heard officers being dispatched to various calls and then later talking about the parade. And I've included a bunch of other ID's I picked up that I'm not sure who they are.

1009 - Fire?
1014 - Unknown
1044 - Fire?
1046 - Unknown Fire Tac 1
1049 - Unknown fire or EMS
1063 - Unknown and encrypted
1070 - Found later this is Mobile PD
1076 - Unknown and encrypted
1082 - Unknown
1116 - Unknown and encrypted
1130 - Fire?
1167 - Unknown and encrypted
1172 - Unknown and encrypted
1196 - Fire?
1225 - Fire?
1233 - Unknown
1265 - Fire?
1267 - Unknown and encrypted
1268 - Unknown
1269 - Unknown
2020 - Unknown
2037 - Unknown. Maybe transportation. Said Unit 8 to base
2075 - Unknown
4012 - EMS?
4118 - Unknown and encrypted
4122 - Fire?
65103 - Unknown
65120, 65130, 65140, 65175, 65191 and 65194 all sound like Mobile PD maybe
i2180020, which is an odd TGID sounds like transportation

Wish I lived closer to pick up this system better to maybe identify some of these.

 

[mike36507]

I was at the Mardi Gras parade in Dauphin Island and had my SDS100 recording. It looks like Dauphin Island PD is 1001. Heard officers being dispatched to various calls and then later talking about the parade. And I've included a bunch of other ID's I picked up that I'm not sure who they are.

1009 - Fire?
1014 - Unknown
1044 - Fire?
1046 - Unknown Fire Tac 1
1049 - Unknown fire or EMS
1063 - Unknown and encrypted
1070 - Found later this is Mobile PD
1076 - Unknown and encrypted
1082 - Unknown
1116 - Unknown and encrypted
1130 - Fire?
1167 - Unknown and encrypted
1172 - Unknown and encrypted
1196 - Fire?
1225 - Fire?
1233 - Unknown
1265 - Fire?
1267 - Unknown and encrypted
1268 - Unknown
1269 - Unknown
2020 - Unknown
2037 - Unknown. Maybe transportation. Said Unit 8 to base
2075 - Unknown
4012 - EMS?
4118 - Unknown and encrypted
4122 - Fire?
65103 - Unknown
65120, 65130, 65140, 65175, 65191 and 65194 all sound like Mobile PD maybe
i2180020, which is an odd TGID sounds like transportation

Wish I lived closer to pick up this system better to maybe identify some of these.

And actually has I dove further in to the recordings, on 1001 I heard police and fire. So maybe it's a special events channel for Dauphin Island, but they were dispatching out to normal calls like a dog bite and you would think that would be on a normal channel.

 

[kf4ald]

Interesting observations on TG 1001. I'm going to keep an ear tuned!
On the i2180020, that's a Private Call ID for an individual radio. The Wave bus operators like to use Private Call a lot, talking one on one. They seem to be the the only users who do so.
The 65--- talkgroups are Dynamic Patches . They appear on an adhoc basis when console operators patch different talkgroups together.