P25

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I live here in Iowa and I have an old scanner and ISP has went to the p25 system I dont know much about it and what I need to do to be able to pick up the frequencies and I was told that linn and Johnson county have a updated system that scanners can't pick up either any help would be great.
 

sparklehorse

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I don't live in Iowa, but I took a quick look at the Radioreference database and it tells me that what you were told appears to be true. There appears to be two statewide radio systems in your area, both p25 phase II digital. The state patrol is on the ISICS system, and has some encrypted tac channels but I think most dispatch stuff is in the clear:

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=8734

Then your local towns and county stuff is on the SARA Network. Most of the law stuff for Linn and Johnson is encrypted, so no scanner can receive those. Linn fire is in the clear, but Johnson fire is encrypted.

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6673

So with a p25 phase II scanner you could monitor ISP and some fire. Both p25 systems employ simulcast in your area, so you would get the best results with one of the newer Uniden scanners, the SDS100 or SDS200, which are designed to work well with simulcast.

You might want to ask a moderator to move this thread to the Iowa forum where folks with local knowledge might be able to give you more information.

Hope that helps.
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WebsterCoFire

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i am using a unication G5 and am able to pick up ISP with no problem. The key is looking at the ISCIS sites and finding out which one is the closest to you. Using the control channels and programming the TGID's for ISP you will have no problem hearing them. I travel the state quite abit and have all counties covered. So I am able to hear all of the districts. You will find the information that you need below:

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=8734
 

sparklehorse

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Just to expand on that last post, on that ICICS system page, on the next line below "System Frequencies", if you click on "RR Locations" you'll be taken to a nice map of Iowa showing where all those transmitter sites are located. Very helpful when you're trying to figure out which sites you want to program. Here's a direct link to it:

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?action=siteMap&sid=8734&type=rr
,
 
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