Port Police and 453.575

[TinEar]

I've been trying to make sense of the Baltimore area Port Police and exactly where they operate. I know we've got a Smartnet II system listed in the database but I've never heard anything there.

However, I do hear Port Police on 453.575. The mobile units are all identified with a P prefix and the control is called "Port" or "Port Communications" in their transmissions. They report such things as port dockings and patrols of the Dundalk and Locust Point facilities. I've also heard a unit designated as "Marine 4" on the freq talking with "Port." This frequency is part of the Department of Transportation so is this where they all operate?

The 453.575 freq is kind of confusing with all the traffic that uses it. I copy:
1. The Port Police mobiles with P prefixes and control called "Port" with a PL tone of 167.9
2. mobiles with L prefixes talking with "Bay Bridge" and a PL of 127.3
3. H units talking with Hatem Bridge using PL 173.8.
4. K units talking with "Communications" which sound like they do Route 895. I believe these are the units that used to use "Harbor" (as in Harbor Tunnel) as the control station. I haven't caught the PL tone yet.

Then there are units talking with Key Bridge. I have yet to recover the unit designators or the PL tone but will next time I can devote more time to it.

Can anyone add to this?

 

[ka3jjz]

If memory serves - I haven't listened to it in a while - the trunk system at the Port is only used by maintenance and service crews. As you say, there isn't much activity there.

Yeah, it's a real mess on .575. One wonders why they didn't migrate over to the trunk; each division could easily have their own set of talkgroups. As it is, if you don't have the PL turned on, it's a capture effect race to see which troop you will hear. I wonder how the heck they stand it.

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

$3000 versus $0 is probably why they haven't switched to the trunk. There were a ton of old radios that operated on the 453 mHz band when units such as Baltimore City went from 453 to trunked ops. No cost against very expensive Motorola radios might be an explanation. It doesn't appear the State considers public safety to be a priority over the welfare state mentality that permeates Annapolis. Oops...that's an editorial opinion.

 

[Metro174]

Double Post. Deleted

 

[Metro174]

453 was used by MDTA even when Baltimore City was still using it. From what I understand, the Port Police used to be on the trunked system but switched to 453 when they were merged into MDTA Police.

453.575 is used at several MDTA Detachments with different PL tones. Program them into your scanner and it should clear up the mess.

Marine 4 is one of MDTA marine units. (Police boat) It is assigned to the Port and FSK Bridge. They also have boats at the Bay Bridge, Nice Bridge and Hatem Bridge.

MDTA's MOU with Baltimore City Police actually gives them concurrent jusrisdiction with Baltimore City from the Key Bridge to the Inner Harbor and Middle Branch.

Below is how 453.575 is used by MDTA:


PL 167.9 Key Bridge and Port
127.3 Bay Bridge
173.8 Hatem Bridge

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Metro174. One minor point to clear up from what I wrote above. The K and the P prefix mobiles both work with "Port" or "Communications" or "Port Communications." The P units seem to be port police and the K units seem to be road units which seem to do nothing but write tickets along the road. They both use PL 167.9. Add that to what Metro174 filled in and we've got a pretty good picture. It still requires three entries in your scanner with the different tones if you want to hear it all - or just one and put up with everyone talking over the top of each other.

 

[Metro174]

With my old scanner, (Pro 94) and all previous scanners I had, I only ever heard FSK/Port on 453.575. Not that it would have mattered much anyway since I couldn't program PL's but I never heard any other detachment unless I was close to them.

Since I got the Pro96 I've had to use the PL tones to block stuff out. Not sure if it's just the reception that is that much better (far better than Pro94 though) or it's my moving from SE Baltimore City into NE Baltimore County.

Without PL tones I hear Hatem and FSK/Port talking over each other. On a good day Bay Bridge as well. With the PL's all come in clear on any day.

All units at the tunnels, Harbor and Fort McHenry, "should" be on 453.1 with a PL of 127.3. and should be identified by the prefix TC for tunnel command.

 

[fourwd1]

Thanks Metro174. One minor point to clear up from what I wrote above. The K and the P prefix mobiles both work with "Port" or "Communications" or "Port Communications." The P units seem to be port police and the K units seem to be road units which seem to do nothing but write tickets along the road. ..

"K" units patrol the Key Bridge