Springfield PD on PSR500?

[timmer]

Anyone know why I would no longer be receiving Springfield pd on my GRE PSR500? Have they switched talkgroups or gone back to their old system? Or perhaps I need to update my conrtol frequencies. Any help is greatly appreciated. I seem to still be receiving the county just fine.

 

[cheld18]

for some reason they are only on the new simulcast site... which would require a scanner that would support TDMA.

 

[wtp]

and simulcast.

 

[timmer]

Thank you for that. I kind of thought that was going to happen sooner or later.

 

[timmer]

If I'm not mistaken I think Springfield fire also went with them.....

 

[wtp]

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[timmer]

Does anyone happen to know or have experience with one of the less expensive scanners such as the BCD325 or BCD436 scanners for this area or should I just bite the bullet and get one of the SDS scanners and be done with it?

 

[adt1982]

Since they have moved to a simulcast site, you'll want an SDS model.

 

[timmer]

Thanks for your input. I was kind of figuring that was the way to go...

 

[VASCAR2]

I’m in Springfield and the only difference I can determine is the Control Channel for the StarCom 21 site 230, Springfield site located on top of the old Hilton Hotel now Wyndom Hotel has changed to CC 852.8500, Sid:0140h-0230. I’m still hearing traffic on the Springfield, Chatham, and Sangmon County simulcast similar to what I was hearing the last time I was in Springfield. I’m using a Uniden BDC325P2 and the traffic on Springfield and Chatham site are mostly phase 1.

I suggest the OP (timmer) program all the frequencies listed in the data base for the StarCom Springfield Site 230. That way if this Control Channel is a temporary change you will likely still have all the frequencies if they don’t use one of the listed control chnnels.


Here is the info I copied off the three StarCom Sangamon County sites today.


Springfield StarCom site 230 (Hilton roof) CC 852.8500, Sid:0140h-0230



Chatham StarCom site 217 ISP Academy, CC 851.92500 SID:0140h-0217



Sangamon County (Simulcast) StarCom site 263, CC 773.98125 SID:0140h-0263

 

[tvengr]

for some reason they are only on the new simulcast site... which would require a scanner that would support TDMA.

If Springfield talkgroups are now TDMA, the database still shows Phase 1 and should be updated.
timmer, please attach your PSR-500 programming file for whatever software you are using so I can take a look at it.

 

[VASCAR2]

From the amount I’ve been listening the last few days all the traffic I’ve seen on LE TG’s, Springfield PD, Sangamon Co. SO and Fire Talk Groups have been P25 phase I. The only time I’ve noticed Phase II traffic has not been on any of the common Talk Groups for LE or fire.

It has been a few months ago where I noticed any traffic that showed P25 Phase II. I can’t remember the specific TG where I noticed Phase II TDMA on StarCom 21 sites in the Springfield area. All the ISP Troop dispatch Talk Groups I‘ve seen were still P25 Phase I. Still a lot of traffic on P25 Phase I capable scanner.

 

[timmer]

Thanks Vascar and all for your input. I went ahead and bit the bullet and bought a SDS100 scanner, which, either way I have been intending to do for some time. With that said, I'm still going to try and put the 852.85 control channel frequency into my old PSR500 and see if I can get the city pd on it. I'm a little technically challenged so I do all my programming by hand on the actual scanner. (at least to this point I have) but that could change soon......

 

[VASCAR2]

I’m the same way on programming scanners as I always program them from the key pad. I have the user manuals saved in my iBooks for the scanners I’ve programmed. I’ve programmed more Uniden scanners over the years but I have programmed multiple Radio Shack/Pro Series (GRE) and Whistler scanners over the years.

 

[Pi_User5]

The Hilton site is no more, it has been moved to the ISP HQ on 801 S 7th St, Springfield, IL 62703

And yes, Springfield PD bailed on using the Hilton/ISP HQ site and are using the simulcast system. That's the only site I scan anymore. It would appear they have a bridge of some sorts between the simulcast, downtown site and the Chatham site as I can listen to Chatham PD on the simulcast system.

 

[VASCAR2]

Thanks for the info on the site being moved to the ISP HQ, makes sense but I didn’t notice the location change in the database. I visit family in Springfield but only bring a scanner occasionally. Surprisingly my BDC325P2 works pretty good on the Sangamon County simulcast site at my relatives house.

 

[timmer]

All good info, guys, thank you. That's good to know about the BCD325p2 because I was thinking about picking up a second scanner, preferably one without the proprietary battery pack and something fairly small such as the BCD325. Personally I find the old GRE scanners to be easy to program as that is what I have been most accustomed to so I was thinking perhaps a TRX1, however I have read some negatives on that particular scanner in regards to handling simulcast systems.

 

[VASCAR2]

It really boils down to your location as to whether a BCD325P2 will receive simulcast systems. My relatives house is significantly closer to one site than the other sites in the Sangamon County simulcast system. My experience in other areas of Illinois with StarCom simulcast systems has not been reliable with the BCD325P2. I just happened to get lucky in that I’m unusually close to just one site when visiting Springfield. The actual construction of any structure can affect how RF can be received. Metal roofs and metal interior/exterior construction all tend to reduce RF reception.

The few times I ventured away from the house with the BCD325P2 the reception reliability on Sangamon simulcast system was poor.

I like the BCD325P2 but the nickel metal hydride batteries I use only last about 4 hours. I usually use a external rechargeable battery pack that has USB ports for use with other electronic devices.

I have Friends who own the SDS100 and SDS200. The SDS series really work well in simulcast systems what little bit I’ve used them. As usual they are expensive as there really isn’t any competing scanners for simulcast systems.