DPS8504
Member
No don't take KW5KW's word as Gospel. We are not using talk groups on our system yet. It will be a few years before the trunk system is up.
Texas DPS Troopers
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No don't take KW5KW's word as Gospel. We are not using talk groups on our system yet. It will be a few years before the trunk system is up.
texasemt13
CenTex DBA
As seen in post #38, he was stating they don't use talkgroups either, so ya'll are in agreement.
DPS8504
Member
Your right, that did not come out right, I have too many things running on the laptop.
We are using conventional P25. The trunked system is several years away. It will probably be a hybred type system, with 700/800 east of I-35 and a VHF trunked system west of I-35 to cover the large rual areas we cover in west texas. It will also be an all agency system more than likely will all state agencies with individual talk groups for each.
I heard Childress DPS the other morning using P25 on 159.210 and 158.820. Dispatcher confirmed it was Childress. Guess they are the last to change.
Jim
Jim
TexasBigEars
Member
I live in Center, Texas and all I can receive from 159.2100 is static...no voices when keyed up. Haven't heard any traffic from 159.2175 at all. I do however, hear the Shelby County Sheriff's Office answer their calls. But we cannot get anything from Lufkin...I have a 30 foot antenna and it shouldn't be a problem receiving.
I am new here and want to thank you all for your very helpful info.
Bill
Bill, welcome to the Texas Forum
Which scanner are you using? Just taking a guess here, but if you're hearing "static", when a DPS unit is 'keyed up', are you using an analog scanner, like a Pro-97, or BC-246T? A digital transmission, on an analog scanner, can sound like "static". If you are using a digital scanner, but not getting any reception, then could be a signal strength problem. I would think you'd be able to hear the dispatch repeater, listed for Center, on 159.2100, NAC 137.
Are you receiving surrounding county S.O.'s, at about the same distance as DPS-Lufkin? What sort of antenna do you have up? Also, how long has it been since you've checked the connections up at the antenna itself? The big killer, other than damage to the antenna from wind or ice storms, is water getting into the coax itself. That will degrade your reception as well.
TexasBigEars
Member
Steve,
I have a BCT8 scanner. I am receiving transmissions from many miles further than Lufkin is from me. I do not have anything programmed into the trunking section of the scanner; I just entered the Center Dispatch frequency numerals manually (did not enter NAC 137) The antenna was put up today and seems to be working great!!!! (Spider Antenna). Futhermore, if this needs to be entered into the trunking mode, I am lost...new to this stuff...any help will be greatly appreciated.
Bill
I have a BCT8 scanner. I am receiving transmissions from many miles further than Lufkin is from me. I do not have anything programmed into the trunking section of the scanner; I just entered the Center Dispatch frequency numerals manually (did not enter NAC 137) The antenna was put up today and seems to be working great!!!! (Spider Antenna). Futhermore, if this needs to be entered into the trunking mode, I am lost...new to this stuff...any help will be greatly appreciated.
Bill
Bill,
The BCT-8 is an analog scanner, so you would not be able to hear Texas DPS on any of their frequencies that are labeled as P25 in the 'mode' column, or where it shows a "NAC" in the "Tone" column, instead of a "PL" or a "DCS". The P25 and NAC indicate that this channel is being used with digital transmissions. While there are a few analog (non-digital) channels shown, these are no longer in active use, with only a couple of exceptions. Here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the troopers working the tollways (under contract to the tollway authority) are still using analog for now. There may be one or two others that occasionally pop up, elsewhere, but statewide, digital is the specified method in use for troopers in the field.
Sounds like you have a good antenna setup. Vhf-high 'travels' pretty well, so you should have a number of agencies in range, even without DPS. In many areas, the troopers will work more with the county S.O. they are in, than with their own dispatcher.
If you haven't already, you might take a look at the Texas Forest Service, to add some of their channels. Wildfire season, unfortunately, is in full swing here in north Texas & the counties to our west.
texasemt13
CenTex DBA
BigEars,
You very well could be hearing the local DPS traffic on the SO's frequencies as well. Looking at the Texas DPS Database Page, we see Angelina County is in Region 2. But, Shelby County is in Region 1. If you listen to the Shelby Cty SO, there might be some 1000 unit numbers (I'd further bet that the second digit is even). On Angelina SO frequencies they'd be in the 2000s (Region 2). DPS likes to be in touch with the local SO, and around my neck of the woods, I hear them more on the SO freqs than the DPS Repeaters.
Also, don't forget to plug in the local Medevac frequencies, PHI comes to mind. You might want to gaze into Lousy-ania also since you're so close.
Sorry you can't monitor DPS, they're a good one, but a lot more quite than they used to be since getting MDTs.
You very well could be hearing the local DPS traffic on the SO's frequencies as well. Looking at the Texas DPS Database Page, we see Angelina County is in Region 2. But, Shelby County is in Region 1. If you listen to the Shelby Cty SO, there might be some 1000 unit numbers (I'd further bet that the second digit is even). On Angelina SO frequencies they'd be in the 2000s (Region 2). DPS likes to be in touch with the local SO, and around my neck of the woods, I hear them more on the SO freqs than the DPS Repeaters.
Also, don't forget to plug in the local Medevac frequencies, PHI comes to mind. You might want to gaze into Lousy-ania also since you're so close.
Sorry you can't monitor DPS, they're a good one, but a lot more quite than they used to be since getting MDTs.
TexasBigEars
Member
Hey fellas, I appreciate all the good info. I did enter Texas Forest Service...DPS-Angelina County..and Sabine Parish in Lousy-ania...Medivac also!!! I just can't understand why the BCT 8, for the price I paid, is an analog scanner (sucks)!!!
Now I need to figure out the easiest way to ground my antenna and my unit. Any help is also appreciated. Ya all have a good day!!!
Bill
Now I need to figure out the easiest way to ground my antenna and my unit. Any help is also appreciated. Ya all have a good day!!!
Bill
You don't need to ground the radio. Yea, but what you paid for the BCT8 is still less than a scanner that is digital capable! Maybe snoop around the classifieds here, some of the auction sites, etc. and if a digital capable pops up try to sell the BCT 8! But honestly, after decades of listening to the DPS, a year or so not hearing them, because I was not digital equipped, and now being able to hear them again, they ain't what they used to be. The analog sheriffs, med freq., and others are just as interesting.
I have a DPS friend who works in the Gatesville area who told me that they are using MDT's more than in the past. I don't know how the state budget cuts will affect this transition to digital, particularly trunking. I still hear DPS transmissions here in Waco. But, from what I understand, the dispatch will eventually be moved to regional dispatch.
TexasBigEars
Member
I heard 2 troopers transmissions last night thru the sheriff's office here in Shelby County...1201 was the unit number...he seemed to be very busy running between counties...I guess he was the only trooper in the area. Kind of thin support if ya ask me. I guess that budget crunch is bad for the state boys.
Bill
Bill
It may have been just the weekend staffing! I often drive to Marfa from Dallas, and in the past five or so years, it has gone from NO troopers west of Odessa to now they are everywhere! At least the speed limit out there is 80, so get to blow out the carbon!!!!
If I were a betting man, I would have to say they are looking for drugs west of Odessa. 80 mph, wow. How wonderful.
texasemt13
CenTex DBA
I'd bet that a lot of DPS offices have sent some troopers to South Padre Island to help quell spring break uprisings. In my younger years I used to work at the Schlitterbahn SPI during spring breaks (effin' craziness). DPS had a huge presence, as did TABC. Most of these guys do about a week's stint down there, and rotate out through most of March, with a large concentration during Texas Week, when most of the state's public universities let out.
I heard a 663X heading to El Paso this morning for "EPIC training." (El Paso Intelligence Center). I wonder what that entails for troopers?
Ensnared, as far as I know, the "digital transition" has already completed. I don't know of any comm center in the state who relies solely on analog anymore. They've been using MDTs for a few years, and as you indicated, it has pushed radio traffic to the wayside. About 3 years ago, they were going through an MDT mess, with computer systems crashing for hours and even full days. That seems to have stopped about 2 years ago in this area.
I heard a 663X heading to El Paso this morning for "EPIC training." (El Paso Intelligence Center). I wonder what that entails for troopers?
Ensnared, as far as I know, the "digital transition" has already completed. I don't know of any comm center in the state who relies solely on analog anymore. They've been using MDTs for a few years, and as you indicated, it has pushed radio traffic to the wayside. About 3 years ago, they were going through an MDT mess, with computer systems crashing for hours and even full days. That seems to have stopped about 2 years ago in this area.
al95
Member
Texas DPS was here in South Texas. They where patrolling Highway 100 from Los Fresnos to SPI. On highway 48 from Brownsville,texas to SPI. I also heard alot of them doing traffic stops on the Expressway 77/83. In one day I counted 10 different callsigns, but where alot more then 10, I wrote down only 3 different callsign while stop on a red light.
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