Phoenix Metro Public Safety

[TRGNM]

Hello, I'm in Albuquerque but I visit Chandler and the North Phoenix, Deer Valley area regularly. Here in Albuquerque, Police and Fire are encrypted. I was wondering if that's the same situation in the Phx metro.

I currently have a Whistler WS1080 but a Uniden SDS100 might be in my future.

Any comments and or recommendations are appreciated.

 

[MEDIC135]

All of FD is in the clear
Some PD is encrypted I believe but don’t quote me on that
You can also look up all this info on your own in the database

 

[ChrisABQ]

AFR and BCFR are NOT enc in ABQ.

 

[KB7MIB]

Full Encryption in the Phoenix metro area:
El Mirage PD
Goodyear PD
Buckeye PD
Luke AFB Security Forces
Wickenburg PD (just outside to the northwest of the metro area)
Scottsdale PD
Tempe PD
Mesa PD
Queen Creek PD
Ft. McDowell Indian PD
Salt River Indian PD
Gila River Indian PD
Pinal County Sheriff's Office (just to the south and east of the metro area).

Other law enforcement agencies, their main dispatch is in the clear, but Tac/Hot/Chase, Car-to-Car, Info, detectives, etc are typically encrypted.

Phoenix FD RDC has a couple of encrypted talkgroups, but they are typically reserved for VIP visits, and assisting PD with SWAT ops, etc. (SWAT medics are typically FD medics.)

I don't know if Mesa FD RDC has the same.

Otherwise, Phoenix FD RDC and Mesa FD RDC have both VHF-High conventional channels, and 700 MHz P25 (with some P25 Phase II) talkgroups.

John
Peoria

 

[rdmcvicar]

Nice summary by John on encryption. Still plenty of clear patrol in the areas you mention as to PHXPD on RWC Simulcast A, Chandler on Simulcast C and fire/EMS on Simulcast B (plus that VHF conventional if you're in range).

Please feel free to DM. I'm also a regular visitor to north Phoenix and even with all the great knowledge here can find it pretty overwhelming. If your Whistler doesn't receive well I may have another idea (plus, I'd like to ask you something about ABQ.)

 

[GlobalNorth]

Much of Phoenix PD is encrypted. PFD has one channel - K Deck 4, that is encrypted. Some smaller PDs are totally encrypted.

If you visit Maricopa County, the one scanner to have is a SDS100 or a SDS200.

 

[KB7MIB]

As I understand it, K5 is also now encrypted, or there are plans to make it a second encrypted TG. (I've heard it clear in the past, but very rarely is it used.)
All of the E4 & E5 TG's for the various other departments under the PFDRDC umbrella are also supposed to be encrypted. I've seen an encrypted E4 or two pop up. E2 & E3 are in the clear, and I've heard a couple of them being used for baseball Spring training games, hydrant checks, training exercises, etc.
Then of course, there are the rest of the D/E/F-deck TG's that are encrypted, for investigators, medic-to-hospital, and various admin needs.
But, most of the action is in the clear.

John
Peoria

 

[TRGNM]

Thank you all for your replies. This was very helpful.

 

[KB7MIB]

I should add, ASU PD uses partial encryption. Their dispatcher is in the clear, but the officers are encrypted.
Also, I have only seen their ch 2 active, TG 18002, from the ASU West campus site.

John
Peoria