SC21 Talk groups and frequency

[ymichael]

Hello all, I am getting ready to purchase an sds100 and was wondering how starcom21 works. I kinda have an ideal. I would be mostly listening to troop 3 area and kind of stump which frequencies would be used to listed. I see site 049 simulcast and has other towers connected to that? The site the tower that I’m closes to is in Evanston. Of all of these frequencies which one would I use to listen along with the talk groups? 851.0875 851.5375c 851.7875c 851.8375c 852.3125 852.8875
853.075 853.750 853.9125 854.6125
855.4625855.7125856.7125857.2125859.2625859.7375859.9625860.2125

 

[N9JIG]

When you program a System and add a Site, using the freqs for Site 049 from the RadioReference database. You can enter all but really the only ones you need are the ones listed in red: 851.5375, 851.7875, 851.8375,

You can enter in the Talkgroups if you want or set it to ID Search and hear everything for now.

Since it is a simulcast system there are many sites that all use the same frequencies.

You can do this in Sentinel and import it from the database, just use Site 049 only for now as it covers the entire North Shore.

You can also use the ZIP Code method but that is more of a shotgun approach. If you do start out with a Range of 0 and move up from there. Be sure to use Sentinel to update the database and firmware!

 

[werinshades]

When you program a System and add a Site, using the freqs for Site 049 from the RadioReference database. You can enter all but really the only ones you need are the ones listed in red: 851.5375, 851.7875, 851.8375,

You can enter in the Talkgroups if you want or set it to ID Search and hear everything for now.

Since it is a simulcast system there are many sites that all use the same frequencies.

You can do this in Sentinel and import it from the database, just use Site 049 only for now as it covers the entire North Shore.

You can also use the ZIP Code method but that is more of a shotgun approach. If you do start out with a Range of 0 and move up from there. Be sure to use Sentinel to update the database and firmware!

In addition, I would add Sites 002 (Cook County) and 015 (Lake County) since the SDS scanners allow scanning of multiple sites.

 

[ymichael]

@N9JIG thank you for the information. I was saying to myself, how in the world does starcom21 works and which frequency to use. I hope in the near further, the local agency's will pop back up on the radar in you know what I mean.

 

[N9JIG]

While the local and county police are pretty much all encrypted on the Shore, the State Police are still open, at least for now. There is an amazing amount of other traffic to be heard on StarCom21 as well. That is why I set my radios to ID SEARCH even when I do program in my local talkgroups. I then lockout the stuff I have identified and am not interested in. Every week I come up with something new.

Sentinel actually works pretty well once you figure out how to create and edit Favorites Lists, FL's are really the best way to program the radio to tailor your listening.

 

[scanman1958]

Basically Starcom works by computer. It controls everything. Once someone keys a mic the radio signal is controlled by the computer and all the many things you will hear. It's not a simple talk back and forth on one frequency.

 

[ymichael]

Another quick question, will a Motorola H18UCH9PW7AN XTS 5000 Model III 700 / 800 MHz work to listen?

 

[belladog9651]

Another quick question, will a Motorola H18UCH9PW7AN XTS 5000 Model III 700 / 800 MHz work to listen?

Most agencies are upgrading and moving to Phase II technology. Hence the market has become flooded with old cheap radios that are Phase I only. The XTS series radio might work today or a short time, but Starcom management is pushing for users to upgrade. If your not sure about radio programming, it is best to stick to a radio scanner. There is risk of other issues that might happen if your radio is programmed wrong and accidentally does connect to the public safety network.

 

[N9JIG]

(Putting on my Moderator hat here):

The whole "Two-Way vs. Scanner" debate has been done to death in multiple threads all over RadioReference and elsewhere, please refer to those threads for that and let's not continue it here.

Thanks!

 

[ymichael]

Hello,
What tower site is closest to Evanston that will allow me to listen to State Police an other non encrypted talk groups ? 049 or 004

 

[N9JCQ]

I would use the cook county north Simulcast site.

 

[kevino]

Hello,
What tower site is closest to Evanston that will allow me to listen to State Police an other non encrypted talk groups ? 049 or 004

Site 149 STARCOM21 Statewide Illinois Site: Cook North / NWCD - Simulcast .