Paducah/McCracken County System Upgrade

[alky1234]

Looks like Paducah/McCracken County is finally close to done with updating from the old Analog Type II systems...

 

[19-685]

The old Motorola Analog system has served the city and county well for 30+ years... definitely got their money's worth.

It was featured in December 1997 issue of Popular Communications, starting on page 8.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Popular-Communications/90s/Popular-Communications-1997-12.pdf

Can remember this was the very first trunked radio system I ever monitored using a trunking scanner, my old Uniden BC235XLT.

 

[myork]

Does anybody know the frequencies licensed for this system? I understand it’s not operational yet.

 

[unitdelta]

It is not operational yet, true. It is to be P25 Phase 2 system. I will put them in the database when available. I’ll copy them here also.

 

[catbird]

WPMA442 is in the RRDB. 5 sites

 

[unitdelta]

 

[unitdelta]

 

[myork]

Unless I’m doing something wrong, it looks like a lot of encrypted talk groups on this system.

 

[WSEY364]

Unless I’m doing something wrong, it looks like a lot of encrypted talk groups on this system.

Paducah PD and McCracken SO Talk Groups are not listed in RRDB. I have worked for two weeks close call scanning, etc., with no joy. I feel at this point, the Departments won't be listed and will be Encrypted. KSP Post 1, OPS 1 and OPS 2 are "DE", encrypted. Graves SO and Mayfield PD Talk Groups are listed in RRDB, not encrypted and do work. I hear them from Reidland.

 

[myork]

Paducah PD and McCracken SO Talk Groups are not listed in RRDB. I have worked for two weeks close call scanning, etc., with no joy. I feel at this point, the Departments won't be listed and will be Encrypted. KSP Post 1, OPS 1 and OPS 2 are "DE", encrypted. Graves SO and Mayfield PD Talk Groups are listed in RRDB, not encrypted and do work. I hear them from Reidland.

The talk groups you see listed for KSP and Graves County are on the statewide system. There are not any talk groups listed for the McCracken County system because it is brand new and just went on-line this month. For what it’s worth, most of the McCracken law enforcement talk groups are encrypted. There was some activity on a talk group carrying county sheriff traffic yesterday, but none so far today.

 

[19-685]

Anyone confirm the System ID, WACN, and NAC for the new system?

 

[19-685]

Anyone confirm the System ID, WACN, and NAC for the new system?

System ID = 0000A
WACN = 924D0
NAC = BB2

Frequencies
859.7375
859.2375
858.7375
858.2625
858.2375
857.7375
857.2625
856.7375
855.9875
854.7125

Note: As this is an L3Harris P-25 System, ALL frequencies need to be entered as L3Harris systems allow any frequency to be utilized as a control channel.

= = = = =

Per the local NBC Affiliate WPSD, here are some details which have been reported...

Key Dates
April 1, 2026: Law Enforcement Switchover
April 7, 2026: Fire Department Switchover


County Fire Departments are utilizing XL-400P (NFPA compliant) and XL-185P portables.


Each County Fire Department reportedly has two (2) operations talkgroups in addition to the main county dispatch talkgroup:
- Concord
- Hendron
- Lone Oak
- Melbourne
- Reidland Farley
- West McCracken


In addition, there are a reported six (6) countywide operations talkgroups.


The WPSD report had a couple of photos.... one showing their old VHF Motorola radios vs new L3Harris, another showing several new radios lined up ready for distribution.

= = = = =

TGID 129 is reported to be MCFD Dispatch (McCracken County Fire Dispatch)
TGID 201 is reported to be MCSO Dispatch (McCracken County SO Dispatch)

No other details known at this time - this data has been submitted to the database.

= = = = =

 

[kib669]

Are all the VFDs switching over? Heard many don't have money for the radios and the county was only providing a small number to each department.

Also, know Mercy EMS did not go on the system, was too expensive. They just switched to VHF NXDN. Seems to work great.

 

[19-685]

Per the WPSD report Reidland Farley Assistant Chief was quoted on April 7, 2026 (times are "AM"):

“We (Reidland-Farley) went on at 6, Hendron went on at 7, Lone Oak went on at 8. Paducah, they just went on between 9 and 11. Then...it's Concord, West McCracken and Melbourne that finishes up this afternoon. Then everybody's completely switched over.”

Not sure if the old 158.7600 VHF frequency (KTV627) for tone-out is still active or not.

 

[19-685]

Are all the VFDs switching over? Heard many don't have money for the radios and the county was only providing a small number to each department.

Also, know Mercy EMS did not go on the system, was too expensive. They just switched to VHF NXDN. Seems to work great.

What about Mercy EMS? Same 154.385 frequency being used? Any RAN code info?

Thank you
19-685

 

[catbird]

What about Mercy EMS? Same 154.385 frequency being used? Any RAN code info?

Thank you
19-685

154.8450 RAN 41