scanster305
Member
I’ve been researching the possibility of using an SDR to monitor the Miami-Dade P25 system and wanted to ask if anyone has had success with this and what hardware / software was used. Any and all input welcome. Thank you!
SDR on Miami-Dade P25 system
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While it might work technically, most of the interesting talkgroups are encrypted so it's probably not worth the effort.
scanster305
Member
What interesting talkgroups? I wasn’t aware that any of the talkgroups are encrypted other than Aventura PD, which doesnt reqlly interest me anyway. I hear a lot of very interesting traffic on many talkgroups on my scanner every day. I just wanted to try an SDR to see if I can improve reception in certain talkgroups.
All talkgroups come out of the same set of transmitters, so if you can receive the signals well you can listen to anything that is not encrypted. Moving the antenna around to optimize a particular site and null out an interfering simulcast site will help, depending on where you are located in Dade County. As a rule, you have a lot more flexibility with SDR than a consumer-grade scanner so SDR should be a win.
As for what's interesting I have no idea for anybody but myself. From what I've read since they switched to the new P25 system only some interop talkgroups are in the clear, most of the police activity is encrypted. The dog catcher, parking meter maids, and such don't interest me, for example.
scanster305
Member
I can tell you from personal experience that aside from Aventura PD, all of the police talk groups, dispatch, car to car etc. are all in the clear.
Bad information.
Law enforcement abandoned nearly all of the encrypted talkgroups and went back to clear. As @scanster305 indicates, only Aventura PD remains secure full-time.
Why are you posting inaccurate information ? The current agencies that are encrypted are:
Miami Gardens
Miami Springs
Medley
ALL of Miami-Dade PD runs in CLEAR in addition to:
Opa-Locka
West Miami
Virginia Gardens
FIU
Homestead
South Miami
Sunny Isles
Golden Beach
N Miami
Miami Shores
Key Biscayne
Bal Harbour
Surfside
Biscayne Park
North Bay Village
Bay Harbor Islands
Doral
Sweetwater
Hialeah Gardens
Pinecrest
And I probably forgot a few. I believe that’s a big more than the dog catcher....
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Not specific to that system, but P25 trunking in general. I have several NooElec NESDR SMArt dongles, which I use along with DSD+ Fast Lane. This is a solid combination, as the dongles feature a temperature compensated crystal oscillator so they don't drift off-frequency, and they're under $30 even if you want to get the kit with the antennas. To get DSD+ Fast Lane you make a donation of $10 for 1 year of updates, or $25 for lifetime updates.
The most recent versions of DSD+ Fast Lane feature single-dongle trunk tracking, which means you no longer need to use two dongles to decode voice transmissions.
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And FYI, Aventura is on their own P25 Phase I system, not the County.
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scanster305
Member
I can hear Miami Gardens PD. They’re on the ‘India’ TG 15028
scanster305
Member
I did not know that. On RR, they’re on the MD P25 list. When did they move to their own system?
Miami-Dade Police site 102 was in the clear yesterday with nonstop action while I was in Miami for Doctors appointments. I also listen to Miami-Dade Police site 102 here at my Florida Keys home when scanning gets slow down here.
scanster305
Member
I listen to it all day every day and even run a feed on that system. But there are some talk groups that do not decode well and I am looking for a better solution to improve my feed. Seems like SDR is the way to go.
There are places in Miami where my BCD436HP is 100% deaf while my SDS100 is receiving continuous transmissions. There is definitely an advantage to SDR technology in these high simulcast environments.
scanster305
Member
Instead of messing with an SDR, should I just bite the bullet and get an SDS100? I’ve heard conflicting reports for that scanner for this area in particular. It’s a really tricky system.
Incorrect. Miami Gardens is on 30088. Miami Gardens “50”, which is their dispatch, come up on MUN PD 2 when they need to talk to the County.
MDPD 6, which you are referring to as “India” (TG 10528) is MDPD Intracoastal “India” units, Sunny Isles, Golden Beach, NMB 50, Miami Shores.
Unless they decided to unencrypt and give their dispatch to County.....
Aventura and Coral Gables both built their own systems.
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Instead of messing with an SDR, should I just bite the bullet and get an SDS100? I’ve heard conflicting reports for that scanner for this area in particular. It’s a really tricky system.
Up to you but I never knew all the transmissions I was missing on my 436 until I bought my SDS100 last year. It's the ole YMMV routine but I am glad I purchased mine.
Up to you but I never knew all the transmissions I was missing on my 436 until I bought my SDS100 last year. It's the ole YMMV routine but I am glad I purchased mine.
So let me understand this...
You comment on the thread and post information that is completely inaccurate to get people like me to come on and correct you ?
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You comment on the thread and post information that is completely inaccurate to get people like me to come on and correct you ?
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scanster305
Member
I could be wrong about the TG but I definitely hear Miami Gardens often
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