Almost all of the PennDOT trucks on I-80 run CB's. I haven't seen a PSP vehicle with a CB antenna for years, although there are still quite a few Ohio troopers using them.
PennDOT state farm safety patrol
- Thread starter PGHSCANNERWACKER1
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Are you certain they are CB and not just long VHF whips for the statewide system?
PENNDot uses 1/4 wave VHF antennas as far as I've seen. They're kind of hard to mistake for a CB antenna.
Yeah, we talk to them regularly on ch 19. They don't use long 1/4 wave whips on cb anyway. Mostly mirror or mag mounts, 48" or less.
About 5 years ago near Dallas PA I spotted a magnet mount antenna that looked the right size for CB on a marked State Police car.
My guess is it might have been to assist in an escort of an oversized load.
Must be mostly west part of the state as @Whiskey3JMC said, I've also never seen CB antennas on state vehicles ranging from the NJ state line to the north Lehigh valley and west past Lancaster. I do know I've heard of site issues on the 7/8 in western part of the state that may be cover up for some areas but all state radios also have simplex frequencies for short range comms.
Yea PENNdot uses their simplex frequencies alot for traffic control.
Shockingly enough they even have MURS frequencies some with TDMA capabilities
Here in Berks Co PennDot uses P25 on 851.4375 simplex a lot.
They use their VHF P25 simplex channels in Northumberland, Lycoming and Union.
For the Philly area patrols, this is what I have for coverage areas. The RTMC has settled on the TOW 6 talkgroup for primary comms with the numerous other talkgroups available for RTMC District 6 as alternate talk channels.
I've not really monitored the other operations on the radio. We know Pittsburgh area is using the District 11 Parkway Patrol talkgroup for I-79, 279, and 376. Harrisburg area is using the main District 8 talkgroup for I-83, 81, 581. What is District 5 using for the Lehigh Valley and Berks patrols? I-78, 22, 33, and 309 are patrolled in the Valley and Rts 12/222/422 around Reading in Berks. I have not seen anyone mention hearing comms related to the District 5 patrols.
| Unit | Milemarkers | Route |
| 95 1 | 0 to 10 | DE line to Exit 10 Bartram Ave |
| 95 2 | 10 to 23 | Exit 10 to Exit 23 Girard/Lehigh |
| 95 3 | 23 to 36 | Exit 23 to Exit 36 PA Rt 63 (also PA 63 to Evans) |
| 95 4 | 36 to 40/0 | Exit 36 to Turnpike |
| 95 4 | 0-10, I-295 | Turnpike to Yardley |
| 476 1 | 0 to 13 | 95 to Rt 30 |
| 476 2 | 13 to 20 | Rt 30 to Turnpike |
| 422 1 | 173 to 184 | Stowe to Route 29 |
| 422 2 | 184 to 196 | Route 29 to 76 |
| 76 1 | 326 to 339 | Turnpike to US 1 |
| 76 2 | 339 to 348 | US 1 to Passyunk |
| US 30 | 269 to 285 | Airport Rd to 202 |
| PA 309 | 0 to 10 | Easton Rd to Welsh Rd |
| US 202 | 8 to 25 | Matlack St to Devon Park Dr |
| US 1 Bucks | ?? | ?? |
I've not really monitored the other operations on the radio. We know Pittsburgh area is using the District 11 Parkway Patrol talkgroup for I-79, 279, and 376. Harrisburg area is using the main District 8 talkgroup for I-83, 81, 581. What is District 5 using for the Lehigh Valley and Berks patrols? I-78, 22, 33, and 309 are patrolled in the Valley and Rts 12/222/422 around Reading in Berks. I have not seen anyone mention hearing comms related to the District 5 patrols.
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The Pgh Parkway Patrol appears to be using the Pgh Tunnel Common TG 100% of the time. I have not hear them on the Patrol TG 11697 for quite sometime now. Just to clarify which TG were you referring to when you say "Parkway Patrol TG" ??
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I had monitored TG 11358 as being the D11 Parkway Patrol channel several months ago but have not listened to STARNet in some time to confirm its use.
Yep, I heard them on 11358 during what sounded like training on their patrol areas. For the past few months they are only on 11696, nothing on 11358 at all.
Those are some busy tunnels in Pittsburgh: PennDOT explains how it tries to keep Liberty, Squirrel Hill Tunnels safe
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