Sioux City going digital

[Pro92]

Sioux City

I know that E.F. Johnson, M/A-COM, Motorola, and RACOM are all bidding on the new system, but last I heard no final vendor has been chosen as of this time. That being said, the state of Iowa is currently looking at implementing a statewide radio system to greatly enhance interoperability among all public safety first responders.

Iowa DPS, and Homeland Security Officials have been examining wide-area two-way radio systems currently in place in neighboring states and in Michigan. So far, they have liked the systems currently being implemented in Illinois and Minnesota. Moreover, the goal is to select the vendor that offers the best advantages in equipment and technology. Therefore, it's hoped that any future system installed in Sioux Falls will be fully compatible the rest of the state.

73's

Ron

Hey Ron, Sioux Cty has been digital for a few months now & Woodbury County is just now joing the system from what i heard on the news a few weeks back. I belive it's RACOM system like Yankton SD PD.
Rob.

 

[mws72]

So we all can delete the Sioux City Talkgroup information from the RACOM information?

 

[iaradioguy]

Woodbury Counyt has been switched over to the new system since early December. Sioux City just switched over here this month. Union County and Dakota County has switched over as well. SPI has also made the switch. The new system is not RACOM, It's a Motorola P25.

As far as I know, Sioux City's old RACOM is still active, in the event that something went wrong on the changeover. However, last I heard is everthing is working great so I assume they will take it offline here shortly.

The next phase of the project is to revamp the VHF for Woodbury County Fire. They will be changing out some frequencies and adding additional VHF channels.

 

[funtimeguy]

Sioux City can't take the RACOM system down, unless they make some of changes. Lots of people still use that system, like the city buses, vending companies, wheelchair services, at least one tv station (KMEG) not to mention Mercy's MAC 1 helicopter and others.

 

[jasonwes]

Hi guys I'm new to this site but not new to the scanner thing. I am glad I found this site and the info it contains.

I have yet to buy a new scanner for the 800Mhz system, but have a site you all may want to peak at. http://www.starcomm.org/index.html this kinda gives a little info on the new system and the time line.

I really hated to see them do this because it left many of us scanner people in the dark really fast, but I guess we can look forward to hearing more counties than before with the old system.

I'm looking at getting a BC796D with APco 25 card installed and am wondering if any one on here has one up in running in the area. I looked at the database on the site and the jargon for programming is all new to me. Also I would like to use trunkstarpro with it and am wondering if anyone has experience with that also.

Thanks

 

[jasonwes]

Does anyone know the talk group numbers for sioux city and the surrounding area? P.S. the County board is signing off on the project saying everyone is converted and switched to the new system.

 

[funtimeguy]

Take a look in the database here for talk group IDs.

 

[jasonwes]

Take a look in the database here for talk group IDs.

Thanks for answering. I looked at the database and am unsure of what is what?? Is the DEC the talkgroup #, and what is the HEX and Mode for?? I am new to this huge BC796D thing and a bit lost

 

[funtimeguy]

Dec is the talkgroup ID number in Decimal and Hex is the same number in Hexidecimal you can enter ID numbers either way, I use Decimal. The D under mode shows that it's digital. Programming the scanner with software is much easier and much faster than doing it by hand. I use ARC250 for my BC296D and Win96 for my Pro-96.

 

[EMT1]

I have my pro 96 up and running, please visit my Siouxland Digital Scanning website to post comments/additions/questions, please provide any additional info. if you have any!!! my website - http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/SIDS3151

 

[EMT1]

Also, I have a problem getting a good signal where I live, does anyone have any advice?? Siouxland Digital Scanning - http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/SIDS3151

 

[scanthis]

BCD396T vs Pro-96 for Siouxland area...

Has anybody out there compared these two radios when it comes to decoding this area's new APCO 25 digital system? Any thoughts or opinions? Which is best?

We have a BCD396T and live just east of Sergeant Bluff. I am not happy with the BCD396T's audio quality (sounds cheap). We have progressed from using the stock rubber ducky to a small Celwave 800 mhz yagi antenna (http://www.rfsworld.com/RFSglobal/datasheet.asp?PN=10212-1&FAM=BaseStationAntennas

Reception is improved somewhat but is still not the best (it varies). I am close to a cellphone tower (in my neighbor's pasture, approx 1/3 mile away). Could that be the cause of choppy, garbled reception?

Am thinking about trying a Pro-96...I am very disappointed at spending $500+ for the BCD396T and not having consistently good reception, even with a Yagi antenna.

What do you all think?

Thanks, Pat

 

[N0ZQR]

Pat, Which site do you have the antenna pointed at? There are three you know.

Ron

 

[scanthis]

It's pointed at the one on Stone Ave, up by WIT. That's the closest one to me and also has the most direct line-of-sight.

 

[N0ZQR]

What is your decode rate? I have found ( I have both a PRO96 and POR2096) that I need to have 90% or better.

Ron

 

[scanthis]

Oh boy, ya got me. I'm not sure how to check that...looked in the manual and didn't see any info on how to do that. Any suggestions?

Pat

 

[iaradioguy]

Does anyone know what frequency Mercy Air Care (MAC) is using? Did they switch over to 800 system? What frequency are they using to talk to the hospital? Paging Frequency?

 

[pm1072]

Does anyone know what frequency Mercy Air Care (MAC) is using? Did they switch over to 800 system? What frequency are they using to talk to the hospital? Paging Frequency?

I believe all EMS helicopters in Iowa are on the RACOM 800 EDACS for communications with LifeCom, particularly the ones going to the UIHC.

Only one that I know of in the area that communicates with LifeCom on a 155 freq upon arrival at UIHC is the AirEvac from SE Iowa and also Med-Force from QC and Burlington. Though Med-Force has EDACS capability, it appears that they don't have the LifeCom calling talkgroup in their EDACS radios or choose to not use it.

 

[FrankM]

Sioux City updat info ??

Does anyone have any more updated info on what Sioux City PD and FD will be or is using now ? Any word if they will be going to P-25 for sure ?

 

[scanthis]

Sioux City PD has been APCO 25 for about 2 1/2 years now. Woodbury County Sheriff is also APCO 25. Check out http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4417 and scroll down for the freqs.