Prison/Psychiatric Facility-Bastrop

[Ensnared]

I see that the former trunked system for the Federal prison near Bastrop is no more. However, the RR DB shows: a) FCI frequencies, for the prison; and b) FCI frequencies for the FCI Mental Health Facility, both are listed as FM without any tones.

Does anyone know more information about these facilities? Also, I am curious if anyone has used Trunktracker to see if another trunking system is being used.

For example, I have heard nothing from the Federal Prison in Big Spring. Furthermore, since these are Federal Facilities, or they appear to be, they no license is needed., particularly if they have outsourced to private prison companies. Since some prisons in Texas use FRS/GMRS, I wonder if this facility is using them as well.

Any help?

 

[hiegtx]

I see that the former trunked system for the Federal prison near Bastrop is no more. However, the RR DB shows: a) FCI frequencies, for the prison; and b) FCI frequencies for the FCI Mental Health Facility, both are listed as FM without any tones.

Does anyone know more information about these facilities? Also, I am curious if anyone has used Trunktracker to see if another trunking system is being used.

For example, I have heard nothing from the Federal Prison in Big Spring. Furthermore, since these are Federal Facilities, or they appear to be, they no license is needed., particularly if they have outsourced to private prison companies. Since some prisons in Texas use FRS/GMRS, I wonder if this facility is using them as well.

Any help?

See this older thread. Is that what you are referring to?

Unknown Motorola EF32 in central Texas

I'm getting a scratchy signal at Austin-Bergstrom Airport. Connect tone is 138.46

forums.radioreference.com

 

[GTR8000]

The updated system is listed in Bastrop County, perhaps you overlooked that.

 

[ecps92]

Federal Agencies are thru the NTIA which keeps controlled access to the license [Generally not released to the General Public]

I see that the former trunked system for the Federal prison near Bastrop is no more. However, the RR DB shows: a) FCI frequencies, for the prison; and b) FCI frequencies for the FCI Mental Health Facility, both are listed as FM without any tones.

Does anyone know more information about these facilities? Also, I am curious if anyone has used Trunktracker to see if another trunking system is being used.

For example, I have heard nothing from the Federal Prison in Big Spring. Furthermore, since these are Federal Facilities, or they appear to be, they no license is needed., particularly if they have outsourced to private prison companies. Since some prisons in Texas use FRS/GMRS, I wonder if this facility is using them as well.

Any help?

 

[Ensnared]

The next time I am in Big Spring, I am going to "attempt" to use Discovery mode to see if the talk groups are accurate. The FCI in Big Spring has a trunking system listed. I don't know if Discovery ignores encrypted talk groups or not. The FCI in Big Spring used to be minimum custody; however, the security level was increased, not "Super Max."

I am seeing a Phase I trunking system with two talk groups for FCI in Big Spring. I don't know if these are low power like TDCJ-ID building frequencies, where I used to work. The Hilltop Unit used to use FRS/GMRS radios despite not having a license.

I guess I can attempt to search for active frequencies near the prison near Bastrop.

 

[jhooten]

Federal Correctional Institution Bastrop Trunking System, Bastrop, Texas

Federal Correctional Institution Bastrop Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

I'm still hearing it. I live about six air miles from it and can copy it in the truck all the way to ABIA with no problems.

 

[hiegtx]

The next time I am in Big Spring, I am going to "attempt" to use Discovery mode to see if the talk groups are accurate. The FCI in Big Spring has a trunking system listed. I don't know if Discovery ignores encrypted talk groups or not. The FCI in Big Spring used to be minimum custody; however, the security level was increased, not "Super Max."

I am seeing a Phase I trunking system with two talk groups for FCI in Big Spring. I don't know if these are low power like TDCJ-ID building frequencies, where I used to work. The Hilltop Unit used to use FRS/GMRS radios despite not having a license.

I guess I can attempt to search for active frequencies near the prison near Bastrop.

Discovery will log hits on encrypted talkgroups, though it will not record audio,

In the log, you may see a line for a TGID labeled as "Digital", with a length (in seconds) for audio recorded.
You may also see the same TGID labeled as "All"/ This would be transmissions that the scanner treated as encrypted. While they may be an entry for the length of audio, no actual audio was recorded.


if you look at the folders for audio files, you'll see some labeled as "E" (encrypted). While the folder is there, it's empty of recorded audio.

 

[Ensnared]

Thanks Steve. I will attempt to do that. Onward through the fog.

 

[Ensnared]

After reading all of the comments, I am wanting to know if anyone: A) has ever worked inside a Federal Prison, A) has known someone has worked there, or has knowledge a FCI jargon; B) has known a person who has heard "building talk groups" specific to prisoner movement. I have looked at other FCI prisons listed in the RR DB to see if similar talk groups are similar to TDCJ. Hopefully, these terms could help increase alpha tag specificity for the Bastrop facility.

In TDCJ, a "searchers desk" is used to call offenders who are not housed in Administrative or Punitive Segregation. When called, they are supposed to go straight to the searcher's desk.

So, I don't know whether to start another thread about thread in the Federal Forum, or start another one for general sharing of information for those attempting to identify various talk groups in FCI.

When I was in Big Spring last weekend, I found a new talk group that sounded like a "searcher's desk." Among the various FCI talk groups, I found several called, "prisoner movement." I will likely submit this new talk group, four digits, when I fully review my recordings. For now, I don't know if it is proper to refer this as a talk channel. Later, I suppose the alpha tag could be refined with increased monitoring.

I would appreciate feedback.

 

[rattlerbb01]

After reading all of the comments, I am wanting to know if anyone: A) has ever worked inside a Federal Prison, A) has known someone has worked there, or has knowledge a FCI jargon; B) has known a person who has heard "building talk groups" specific to prisoner movement. I have looked at other FCI prisons listed in the RR DB to see if similar talk groups are similar to TDCJ. Hopefully, these terms could help increase alpha tag specificity for the Bastrop facility.

In TDCJ, a "searchers desk" is used to call offenders who are not housed in Administrative or Punitive Segregation. When called, they are supposed to go straight to the searcher's desk.

So, I don't know whether to start another thread about thread in the Federal Forum, or start another one for general sharing of information for those attempting to identify various talk groups in FCI.

When I was in Big Spring last weekend, I found a new talk group that sounded like a "searcher's desk." Among the various FCI talk groups, I found several called, "prisoner movement." I will likely submit this new talk group, four digits, when I fully review my recordings. For now, I don't know if it is proper to refer this as a talk channel. Later, I suppose the alpha tag could be refined with increased monitoring.

I would appreciate feedback.

Although I worked at TDCJ years ago, I have heard talkgroup 1 at the FCI Bryan facility and it is pretty similar in nature to a main building channel. Movements for chow, medical, commissary, phone calls and education.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I'm still hearing it. I live about six air miles from it and can copy it in the truck all the way to ABIA with no problems.

Are you confirming this is still using the freqs in the database? I'd like to mark it confirmed in the Wiki if this is the case.

After reading all of the comments, I am wanting to know if anyone: A) has ever worked inside a Federal Prison, A) has known someone has worked there, or has knowledge a FCI jargon; B) has known a person who has heard "building talk groups" specific to prisoner movement. I have looked at other FCI prisons listed in the RR DB to see if similar talk groups are similar to TDCJ. Hopefully, these terms could help increase alpha tag specificity for the Bastrop facility.

So, I don't know whether to start another thread about thread in the Federal Forum, or start another one for general sharing of information for those attempting to identify various talk groups in FCI.

@Ensnared you might want to look through the wiki and at different systems to get an idea of frequencies, TGs and their labels that are being used. At least in NC/SC the systems are set up similar, but with different freqs and modes in the 400 MHz range. I can promise you no federal prison is using FRS/GMRS/MURS. I have done a lot of monitoring of these systems and the labels are pretty uniform such as Compound, Operations, SHU, Food Service, Medical, CMS (maintenance shops), UNICOR (prison factory) and EMERGENCY CH (where you hear radio tests during switch change). You also might get better responses from across the nation starting another thread in the Fed Forum.

Federal Bureau of Prisons - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Ensnared]

Are you confirming this is still using the freqs in the database? I'd like to mark it confirmed in the Wiki if this is the case.




@Ensnared you might want to look through the wiki and at different systems to get an idea of frequencies, TGs and their labels that are being used. At least in NC/SC the systems are set up similar, but with different freqs and modes in the 400 MHz range. I can promise you no federal prison is using FRS/GMRS/MURS. I have done a lot of monitoring of these systems and the labels are pretty uniform such as Compound, Operations, SHU, Food Service, Medical, CMS (maintenance shops), UNICOR (prison factory) and EMERGENCY CH (where you hear radio tests during switch change). You also might get better responses from across the nation starting another thread in the Fed Forum.

Federal Bureau of Prisons - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

At the Big Spring Facility, I heard something I have never heard. I believe I heard the word "riot." This time, the talk groups were quite active. Since I worked in TDCJ for around 22 years, I have heard similar transmission. I am going to have to listen to these recordings at a greater volume.

At the FCI in Big Spring, I discovered two talk groups: 1) one which was different than the control command and main talk group. This talk group transmissions entailed finding an offender within the facility; 2) 2nd talk group, traffic about sharpshooters/shooter patrol. I will have to listen to this again to see if the the transmissions sound like active training or not.

I believe it was a riot since the custody level pf FCI in Big Spring has changed significantly. Originally, the facility had no perimeter fence and offenders were required/allowed to use public/private transportation to get to the unit. I know there was no fence. My father and I were friends with the Warden.

Most of TDCJ have guard towers while others only have perimeter patrol (i.e., Jester IV unit, one of the units where I worked), At each unit with guard towers, has one that stores all weapons excluding their own. For instance, if sheriff's/police departments, even Secret Service and FBI, they had to put their weapons in one of the designated towers that stored weapons.

At the former Ramsey II, where I started, I was allowed to bring my scanner into the unit. In fact, I had one of those 18/48 inch coax dipole makeup outside my office. I did hear about riots there, from rank and building frequencies. I found some of the building frequencies by asking guards to press the radio key with my frequency counter nearby.

I think I finally caught a fish in Big Spring, but I am going to forward these transmissions to my buddy in Dallas, Steve, to let him hear them. I am "stone cold deaf", reference Motorhead. LOL. I am also still sleeping a concussion off, will do this Thursday.

 

[Ensnared]

Although I worked at TDCJ years ago, I have heard talkgroup 1 at the FCI Bryan facility and it is pretty similar in nature to a main building channel. Movements for chow, medical, commissary, phone calls and education.

Sorry, I just read your reply. I am glad to know a fellow TDCJ employee who understands, LOL.

 

[Ensnared]

Sorry, I just read your reply. I am glad to know a fellow TDCJ employee who understands, LOL.

I don't recall, but I believe I once sent you recordings the ProVoice transmissions I monitored in Temple, Texas, not listed. This was right after ProVoice was available for download on my 436HP.

If you like, I can forward the Big Spring FCI recordings to you. They are limited, not long ones.

 

[RaleighGuy]

At the FCI in Big Spring, I discovered two talk groups: 1) one which was different than the control command and main talk group. This talk group transmissions entailed finding an offender within the facility; 2) 2nd talk group, traffic about sharpshooters/shooter patrol.

Sounds like #1 was the Ops Lt TG and #2 was Perimeter (and Tower if they have them) TG.

@Ensnared So you are saying FCI Big Springs TX is still using the system in the database? If so I am going to mark the wiki entry confirmed.

Likewise @rattlerbb01 for FCI Bryan?

 

[Ensnared]

Sounds like #1 was the Ops Lt TG and #2 was Perimeter (and Tower if they have them) TG.

@Ensnared So you are saying FCI Big Springs TX is still using the system in the database? If so I am going to mark the wiki entry confirmed.

Likewise @rattlerbb01 for FCI Bryan?

Definitely sir. I tried running Discovery to check the system frequencies, but the talk groups were not very active. I was hearing full transmissions at the time I heard the new talk groups. Let me take a picture of my screen on my 436HP.

 

[jhooten]

Are you confirming this is still using the freqs in the database? I'd like to mark it confirmed in the Wiki if this is the case.

Yes, BUT, it is now ten years old. BOP has a ten year replacement schedule, unless it gets pushed back due to budgetary issues.


The three main talk groups used daily at FCI Bastrop are Correctional Services, Mechanical Services, Unicor/Federal Prison Industries. 80% of all radio traffic is on the Correctional Services channel.

 

[Ensnared]

Yes, BUT, it is now ten years old. BOP has a ten year replacement schedule, unless it gets pushed back due to budgetary issues.

I have been listening to this for several years, but have never heard these two talk groups. I thought the system frequencies were changed back then. I am confirming that I heard radio these talk groups on the ones listed in the RR FB. I know how to find the system frequencies on my dead PSR 500, easy. But, I don't know how to do this on my 436.

I don't know if hearing these might shed some more light on this. Based on what you or others hear, maybe they can help out. I am doing my best to figure this out. Again, when I ran "Discovery" on my 436HP the other day, but no transmissions were recorded.

However, what I recorded was the most activity I've ever heard at Big Spring FCI.

I have a better idea. I will either make a video of my 436HP playing these recordings or make a You Tube with only MP3 like I did for the Waco Twin Peaks biker shootout. I don't know if I can shoot these files to other listeners who own a 436/536 HP and/or SDS 100/200 so they can load them into the radio and watch the scanner behavior. The picture I made was a strange talk group. I thought that looked like "i162."

 

[RaleighGuy]

Yes, BUT, it is now ten years old. BOP has a ten year replacement schedule, unless it gets pushed back due to budgetary issues.

Thanks, they have been switching the Motorola Type II to P25 systems slowly.

 

[Ensnared]

Thanks, they have been switching the Motorola Type II to P25 systems slowly.

All transmissions were P25. Yes, that jogged my memory. In fact, I did indeed monitor the MOT system.

When someone later identified the P25 trunking system, I was able to listen. But, eventually I did not hear anything until the system frequencies were changed to green on my Howard county watch. However, all transmissions were brief, unlike what I recorded the other day. I will be making more trips in the near future since my father is fading from old age. Maybe I can run Discovery and get more information. I found these by parking the hold button on the talk groups. I got frustrated believing I was screwing up my Discovery session. I just noticed the last change occurred on May 26, 2021.