Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System

[BlueMonkey]

I am a newbie to scanning and just got a Uniden BC246T and was trying to program it for the new Sacramento system but so far I havent had any luck doing so. I know the basics, but I guess what I am confused about is the two different sites and if I have to program everything under one "system". Any help would be appreciated. I seem to get some transmissions but not nearly as many as there should be... Thanks.

 

[Sac916]

I am a newbie to scanning and just got a Uniden BC246T and was trying to program it for the new Sacramento system but so far I havent had any luck doing so. I know the basics, but I guess what I am confused about is the two different sites and if I have to program everything under one "system". Any help would be appreciated. I seem to get some transmissions but not nearly as many as there should be... Thanks.

basically

site 001 will be one system
site 002 will be another system

The talk groups contained in the database should be entered into each system.
So, if you want to listen to Sac Sheriff, program their talk groups into both systems ( site 001 and site 002 )

 

[thedoug]

RolnCode3 is correct.

As for what I heard over the scanner as of yesterday and seen on CAD at work, Folsom Fire is still dispatched on Fire A, A2/A3. They are a part of the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center system.

I'm trying to set up a talk group that only has Folsom traffic. If Folsom is dispatched on Fire A, A2/A3, where do they go for TAC? Will the Folsom traffic be the same as other county fire traffic?

 

[Sac916]

I'm trying to set up a talk group that only has Folsom traffic. If Folsom is dispatched on Fire A, A2/A3, where do they go for TAC? Will the Folsom traffic be the same as other county fire traffic?

Folsom Tacs are handled on Fire A6,A7,A8

 

[mkewman]

heres a question: is I-call used? or selective radio alerting used on the sac system?

 

[Sac916]

A few years ago, I heard I-Call being used A LOT by waste managment. Occassionally by SPD officers, and sometimes STAR. But it's been MONTHS since I've heard any I-CALL activity. As for SSD, none of the dispatchers use radio paging or private call. Very very few officers have that ability via their radios. Cell phones pretty much disolve any need.

 

[AA6KA]

Sacramento TRS To Go Digital ???

Per several sources within the county, Sacramento's Trunked system will be rebanding and will be going digital at the end of December 2006. Unkown if any encryption will be involved.

 

[califzeph]

Has any other area in the US re-banded yet? I keep hearing that folks won't know how to re-program their Pro-96's and Uniden 396's until some agency re-bands and they can examine what changes were made.

 

[servo_fan]

Per several sources within the county, Sacramento's Trunked system will be rebanding and will be going digital at the end of December 2006. Unkown if any encryption will be involved.

About a month ago Antfreq had said that digital was at least 1.5-2 years away and that rebanding is happening first.

I'm getting a bit of conflicting info, but it appears full digital isn't going to occur anytime soon. Not this year or next year. Rebanding will be the next significant change, outside of fleetmap reprogramming.

Antfreq, are you able to confirm, or corroborate badambu's information?

 

[KMA367]

Per several sources within the county, Sacramento's Trunked system will be rebanding and will be going digital at the end of December 2006. Unkown if any encryption will be involved.

Does this mean that Sacto has already gotten the Region 6 rebanding plan approved, completed their negotiations with Nextel, and obtained the frequencies? Wow. Now that is fast.

 

[Sac916]

Per several sources within the county, Sacramento's Trunked system will be rebanding and will be going digital at the end of December 2006. Unkown if any encryption will be involved.

I'm sorry, but this information is incorrect.

1. Rebanding will occur (maybe) in 2007. Remember folks, this is the federal government working with local governments.

2. The system is digital CAPABLE now. Los Rios uses digital now. It's all dependent on the users equipment. ( ie new radios ) SSD won't be FULLY digital for a long time. Los Rios has less equipment to upgrade/purchase, which means less money. SSD has 2000+ radios, that need to be purchased/upgraded.

 

[mkewman]

anyone know what the "media" tg is used for (if at all)?

 

[RolnCode3]

anyone know what the "media" tg is used for (if at all)?

Never heard a peep on the 4328 or C116 system. I know it's a valid TG on the system, just never heard it used.

 

[mkewman]

i'm hoping it's a "hot shots" multi select channel (dispatch multiselect it during hot calls) *hint*hint* media would lurve you guys!

 

[Sac916]

i'm hoping it's a "hot shots" multi select channel (dispatch multiselect it during hot calls) *hint*hint* media would lurve you guys!

HA! That's what scanners are used for !!

Long long ago - I know that media had some RX only radios, before Trunk Trackers hit the market.

The "media" TG has been around since the beginning and I'm not sure if it was intended as a "talk group" FOR the media. I have never heard anything on that particular talk group. Perhaps it was supposed to be a PIO talk group or some sort of mutual aid thing.

It's not programmed into any radios or consoles that I've seen.

 

[servo_fan]

Maybe it's like that talkgroup for Mercy American River Hospital which closed like 10 years ago.

 

[mkewman]

HA! That's what scanners are used for !!

Long long ago - I know that media had some RX only radios, before Trunk Trackers hit the market.

The "media" TG has been around since the beginning and I'm not sure if it was intended as a "talk group" FOR the media. I have never heard anything on that particular talk group. Perhaps it was supposed to be a PIO talk group or some sort of mutual aid thing.

It's not programmed into any radios or consoles that I've seen.

well maybe someone can hint it at the techs and dispatchers... imagine how many calls dispatchers get from the media asking "whats going on?". if they used the media tg, you'd reduce or eliminate it!

just an idea... heh.

 

[Scanman6]

I saw the media TG in the listings. I wouuld tend to agree with Antfreq. the tg is progagly for internal use. For PIOs. I know that PD has an AV department. I guessed it'd be something for them or a related dept. You are never going to stop the media from sniffing around. That's their job. I'm not sure I'd trust a channel that "lays it all out" for you. Besides. If you are a newshound, or someone who works in the media, you'd want to be right in the thick of it and listening to the actual stuff. I'd geuss that if you tried to compress just the main channels for the media onto that one TG. that during a hot sutiation, the channel would be unreadable due to Multiple units transmitting. I know when I have all my radios gooing, I have to group them so as to identify and specify the various transmittions. It's alot to keep track of and I don't see them making it easier for those in the media, or us for that matter.

P.S. for Antfreq, I sent you a PM about a soundbite I have for you if you want it. I may have not done it right cause I haven't got a reply. Don't want to speak off topic, just thought I'd mention it while I was here.

 

[scannerboy02]

The media TG is programmed as the home channel on all the media radios. I have been an assignment editor for the past 5 years and have yet to hear anything on the TG. I have been told by the county radio shop that the media TG is programmed into the radios for the PIO's and was supposed to be use for them to communicate directly with the media. Are station has 4 Spectra's and 6 MTS2000's and all of them are RX only so even if the media TG was used we could not talk on it.

 

[Scanman6]

Thanks for the info Scannerboy, No disrepect to the news community intended. I've bin in radio for 20 years, most in community, but did some commercial stuff too. I can see that the PIOs would need to have a direct outlet to communicated with the media for press releases and to give public safety. Maybe the reason is that with the Amber Alerts and other such EAS stuff, that function is provided elswhere. Look forward to chatting with you re: trade talk.