Sacramento area CHP

[74596]

Hello,
I have a Bearcat BCD396T and I usually stick to listening to County action.
But, I recently programmed in the local CHP frequencies (42.46000 & 42.12000).
I have yet to hear anything on 42.12000, but I occasionally hear stuff on 42.46000 and when I do it's usually not very clear.

What's the best way to effectively listen to the local CHP frequencies??
Does it have to do with the antenna??

 

[pfish]

It has a lot to do with your antenna. Lowband frequencies require rather large antennas...I usually can't hear anything on the 42.xx frequencies on my handhelds unless I'm using an outdoor antenna..even then, its not a lowband antenna, so I don't get the best preformance out of it. I usually listen to the mobile extender frequency (154.905), which the CHP cars retransmit on VHF-hi. Distance is limited there too.

Speaking of which, does anyone know how much power the extenders put out?

 

[scannerboy02]

Good info on CHP two way radio systems

http://www.mbay.net/~wb6nvh/chpradio.htm


I get very spotty reception on 42.120 but I almost always get 42.460 and 42.540. I also have 154.905 programmed and on a priority so if an officer is close I will pick them up. (also makes a good "CHP" detector)

 

[P-3_Radio_Guy]

Sacrament Area CHP

The newer Unidens are very deaf on Low Band. I have a Motorola Maxctrac low band radio installed in my vehicle to listen to the CHP. You might want to try a Uniden BC780.

Ed T

Hello,
I have a Bearcat BCD396T and I usually stick to listening to County action.
But, I recently programmed in the local CHP frequencies (42.46000 & 42.12000).
I have yet to hear anything on 42.12000, but I occasionally hear stuff on 42.46000 and when I do it's usually not very clear.

What's the best way to effectively listen to the local CHP frequencies??
Does it have to do with the antenna??

 

[gmclam]

Sacramento CHP

I have every CHP channel in the state programmed into each of my scanners. I am currently hearing stuff from Contra Costa and East Bay inside on a stock rubber duckie antenna. However, when I go mobile and use an antenna mounted on my truck, I get even clearer better reception.

Each CHP channel has 2 frequencies; one for the dispatcher (a "base" frequency) and one for the mobiles. You have to be either fairly close, high in the air or have a good (VHF low band) antenna to receive the mobiles. The areas I am receiving above are all base freqs. Many of the frequencies are "recycled", paired differently, to create new channels used in various areas of the state.

For Sacramento there are two basic channels; Gold & Black. Generally speaking Gold is north of the river and Black is south of the river. Although Blue is designated as a statewide channel, I often hear them doing speed enforcement on that channel (as recently as 2/11).

Another active channel in the Sacramento area is the Green channel. The most traffic I hear there is on I-80 east of Sacramento county, on the west side of the Sierras. Don't forget to program the VHF high extender channel, as you'll often hear vehicles more easily than on their native freq (but they still have to be close by).


Good luck,
George

 

[ScannerDude244]

Does Sac have any 70mhz links?

 

[RolnCode3]

Does Sac have any 70mhz links?

North Sac does for the Gold. 72.46

 

[74596]

Thanks for all the informative responses!

Each CHP channel has 2 frequencies; one for the dispatcher (a "base" frequency) and one for the mobiles.

Are the base frequencies listed as the "Input" frequencies in the database??
Should I have both the frequencies programmed in my scanner??

I'm also going to program in the Mobile Extender, BLUE channel, the 70mhz GOLD channel, and GREEN channel frequencies and monitor them for a while...

Don't forget to program the VHF high extender channel

What's this frequency?? I couldn't find it in the database, I'm probably looking in the wrong section...

Eventually I'll probably test the waters with a low band antenna. Can anyone recommend any good antennas for low band scanning??

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[RolnCode3]

Extender is 154.905 statewide (with the exception of Plumas according to various sources).

Input will be the mobile (what the officers talk on), and output will be the base.

Yes, you should put both of them into your scanner, unless it's an area that repeats the mobile across the base frequency (Golden Gate division does this, but Sac does not...listen to a Bay Area frequency and you'll quickly tell the difference...you can hear the officers).

It's a decent idea to put the black and gold in with the 179.9 PL, but make sure you have the blue programmed without it (or one with it, and a second one without it) because you can have pursuits that move from division to division, and you don't want to miss out.

As for antennas - a CB antenna will work OK, but the main issue is that if it requires a ground plane (such as a magmount) that you do this. Lowband reception seems to be very dependent on a properly grounded antenna (I've had pretty good success with the wrong antenna, i.e. 1/4wave VHF uncut, but a HUGE ground plane).

BTW - 74596, if you fill out your location info it'll help everyone know what info is best for you.

 

[sacscan]

The newer Unidens are very deaf on Low Band. I have a Motorola Maxctrac low band radio installed in my vehicle to listen to the CHP. You might want to try a Uniden BC780.

Ed T

Actually, I found my BC246T and BC898T to be more sensitive than my old Pro-2067. I use the 246T hooked up to AC power and the Radio Shack mag-mount scanner antenna for CHP reception. I put the antenna on the metal ducting that runs from the wall heater/AC unit to the wall.

The BC898T just has the Radio Shack telescoping back-of-set scanner antenna with the center load. It works great on low band when fully extended.

I used to have the Pro-2067 hooked up to the same antenna as the 246T, so I know it isn't as sensitive as the Uniden.

 

[74596]

It's a decent idea to put the black and gold in with the 179.9 PL

Is there a good Wiki page that explains the PL "Tone" channels? I'm not familiar with these. But I'm still taking your advice on how I should be programming them into my scanner.

Thanks for all the other info. too!

 

[sacscan]

Is there a good Wiki page that explains the PL "Tone" channels? I'm not familiar with these. But I'm still taking your advice on how I should be programming them into my scanner.

Thanks for all the other info. too!

Right here on RR:

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=995

 

[74596]

Right here on RR:

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=995

Thanks, already know about that page. I meant a Wiki page that describes the use and what the PL channels do...

Thanks

 

[RolnCode3]

Thanks, already know about that page. I meant a Wiki page that describes the use and what the PL channels do...

Thanks

Also referred to as CTCSS (Continuous Tone Code Squelch System or something to that effect...I believe PL and DPL are Motorola names for them)

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/DCS

 

[74596]

Excellent! Thanks!

 

[mkewman]

for AGES i couldn't get the 70mhz channel, (my p97 doesn't do 70mhz) but when i got my 396 now i can HEAR CHP! even inside with a rubber duck!

i lurve it!

 

[ScannerDude244]

for AGES i couldn't get the 70mhz channel, (my p97 doesn't do 70mhz) but when i got my 396 now i can HEAR CHP! even inside with a rubber duck!

i lurve it!

yeah I love it I live 9miles away for one the sites and stock runner duck picks it up like I live on the hill next to it.