Pittsburgh area law enforcement / federal

[PittsburghPoPo]

I am new to the forums. I run a basic analog scanner, Trident TRX-200. I have a couple of question for anyone who might have greater experience in the Pittsburgh area frequencies. I did review the RR forums/RR Database/K3FS web page prior to posting these questions.

I've monitored a number of federal frequencies with no luck. Are they (FBI/DEA/USMS/etc) using digital units in Pittsburgh? If so what percentage of transmissions are encrypted vs. in the clear?

Are any local PD's using digital? I don't think they are as I am able to monitor pretty much everything that I know of.

Local Pittsburgh undercover operations tend to use Channel 7 (453.4500). Sometimes they use Channel 8 (453.9500). However Channel 8 seems to be primarily the talk around. Are there any other surveillance/special operations channels you have found?

Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to provide!

 

[n3obl]

Here is the zones per channel.
police 1 zone 1/2
police 2 zone 3/6
policr 3 zone 4/5

city police uses 7 for some citywide incidents, swat etc. can also use it in t/a mode. off repeater.

Also uses ch 12. 458.3625 .. hear car to car chitchat.

Frank

 

[PittsburghPoPo]

Thank you for the reply. I'm in Mt Washington. This morning they had the bomb squad on my street for some pipe bombs. Good amount of activity on Channel 7.

Not sure if you moniter these freq's regularly. Channel 7 has been active most weekday afternoons with a couple surveillance cars (units SR-1 and SR-2) monitoring drug buys on the North Side. They run a tail for a mile or so and use a marked car to pull them over. Then they try to flip them and nab the dealer. Been a couple car chases and a nice multi-pound pot bust.

Kinda like the show "DEA" from Spike without the video.

I picked up a surveillance team (3 vehicles/teams) on a stakeout in Mt.Washington two days ago on Channel 12. Kinda crazy how they broadcast in the clear.

Thanks again!

 

[Fast1eddie]

Hey Po Po, you sworn????

 

[PittsburghPoPo]

Fast1Eddie - Am I sworn? If you are asking me if I am LE, I am not.

You still in the Rocks? I am a little confused on the freqs there (Stowe & Rocks). The standard goto web pages don't seem to give me good freqs. I have the following:

45.4800
460.0250

I need to stalk for signals this week.

Generally go through Rocks daily between 8pm to 4am. My girl works at Erotica, and I play cards at the local games. I just missed the raid at the game with Jeff's girls.

McKees Rocks cars with lights flashing pass me by regularly with no air traffic. Never been pulled over there, but always strike up conversations in the two gas stations (Rocks Bridge) with the local LE. Given my travel through time, and that my vehicle is tinted out, I make sure I politic with 'em to keep it smooth. Putting time in on the front end to avoid issues on the back end is always best.

Also, how do you like the AOR 8200? I went with the Trident TRX-200 given the wider band coverage (unblocked Euro model), it has voice inversion built in and is small enough to fit in my inside jacket pocket. Haven't had the opportunity to use the inversion capability yet. Just prefer to have it, and the continuous band coverage, just in case. I also purchased a tuned 455Mhz antenna from Smiley Antennas. Oh what a signal!

I use Ipod earphones when driving. If I get pulled over, no eyebrows are raised as the scanner is out of sight and can't be heard. I make sure the Ipod earphone with the feed is in my right ear. I pull the left ear piece out before the officer gets to the car. That way I can listen to the traffic on the primary channel and Index, as well as 7,8, and 12. I also keep my registration/insurance/license folded together above my visor, my car is always clean/non-descript, hair short, and I never drink a drop before driving. The cleaner you make the stop, the easier it is for LE to go on their way without fusing over you. While it hasn't happened to me, a Code 4 stop that turns into a Code 1 would not be a fun time. As I said, I've never been pulled over in the Rocks, which is somewhat of a feat since I am usually only one of a few cars on the road that late at night/early morning on a daily basis.

No disrespect, but my girl calls the units seagulls. You know, how a thousand gulls descend on one scrap of food. I make sure I'm not that scrap of food. I understand the saftey issue, but if every unit goes to one stop, the rest of the zone is free game. I can't complain, it works for me - I like it when they're busy elsewhere. Just from a potential traffic violation/ticket perspective of course. I prefer to stay point free on my OLN.

You didn't happen to be the uniformed officer in the Rocks UC car that flew out of Locust, across Chartiers, toward Union around 8:30 last night? I did my usual and mosied along at 20mph I like it when you're busy elsewhere - lol

 

[n3obl]

3SR1 AND 3SR2 ARE STREET RESPONSE UNITS.

3SW ARE WEED AND SEED UNITS.

I worked briefly at 911. Ended up in city zone i wanted north boros.

Like i said some of the comms on 7 are t/a not on repeater. So sometimes you only hear one side.

Frank

 

[PittsburghPoPo]

This morning has been insane with the Stanton Heights Incident. Horrid day for local law enforcement. Still not sure how many on each side are wounded or deceased. Apparently actor was just taken into custody.