A visit to Radio World in Boulder City, NV revealed copies of the newest edition of the Southern Nevada Radio Scanner Book dated July 2005. I acquired a copy and compared it with the first edition (May 2004) and the second edition (Dec 2004). The size of the book has increased to 58 pages up from 51 in the 2nd ed. A database table format is used for the Las Vegas Metro frequencies and some new ones are displayed along with the well known ones. PL tones are now provided for repeaters so that those located in areas subjected to intermod can hopefully deal with the problem. For security purposes tones are not provided for simplex frequencies the book explains. The 400 radio code that Metro PD uses follows along with incident disposition codes, the phonetic alphabet, unit identifiers, a beat and area command map, a second map showing the area commands and other emergency related facilities such as fire stations and hospitals. Next is the North Las Vegas Trunking System which covers the PD, Detention Center, and various city departments including public works. A notation advises that sometime in the near future the NLVPD will migrate to the Clark County SNACC system. A basic NLVPD beat map follows. Boulder City PD, FD, and local government radio services follow with their newer frequencies also noted which often do not appear on the internet. Mesquite PD, FD, and local government follows. The first and only advertisement I have ever seen in the book appears next from Radio World which basically announces scanner programming services for the local area for those who are frustrated in programming their radio. The Clark County trunking radio system follows which includes 160 talk groups and it is presented first by agency and then in order of ID number which is most useful if one is searching and comes upon an ID and has no clue as to which agency it is. Those that are used very little or have never been heard are also noted with that advisory. If a talk group has not been confirmed it is noted also. Simplex channels that system users can utilize are also presented along with system expansion plans (specific additional sites). A fire station listing for Las Vegas City follows along with additional listings for Henderson, Clark County, and North Las Vegas showing address and equipment for each station.
Emergency Medical Services comes next with the frequencies used by AMR and Southwest Ambulance. UHF medical freqs. follow along with medical and special incident codes that some agencies use in dispatching medical calls which tells you the type of medical or other problem. The alpha, bravo, charlie, and delta level response codes are explained and these are NOT patient conditions as some internet sites suggest. This section also advises that most medical traffic (hospital to ambulance traffic) is carried on the SNACC radio system.
A database table format is used to present the non-trunked radio frequencies used by the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, the Clark County School District, and Henderson. Frequency, entity name, channel use and tone is also noted.
A nice color beat map for Henderson PD follows along with their version of the 400 radio code and other information.
Page 24 begins a very detailed section of the Nevada Shared Radio System (NSRS) which includes the various divisions of the State Dept. of Public Safety and other entities. Updated and verified site information for Southern Nevada is presented and many changes have been noted since the last book came out (all sites changed but Sunrise Mtn. in terms of frequencies and/or LCN). Next is a detailed table showing 313 talk groups for users, first in order of agency and then a second table in order of ID number, useful for searching and determining just who the ID is associated with. Many more IDs' are showing now than in the previous book. Wonder how long it will take for someone to copy it without verification of the IDs' and publish it on an internet web site. Maybe one or more of them are in reality coded items designed to detect copyright infringement. Anyway the table of IDs' is twelve pages long and appears to be statewide IDs'. Page 37 explains DPS radio call IDs' in some detail and then the DPS radio codes follow along with the criminal history codes, incident disposition codes, radio call designators for system users (DPS and outside of DPS), and lastly, DPS patrol beat codes for Southern Nevada.
The next section has non-trunked frequencies for other State Agencies.
Page 41 begins with Selected U.S. Government frequencies and a very good list is provided for the BLM and Dept. of Interior National Park Service for Lake Mead. The TSA is also included (yes, they are digital but usually not encrypted). A repeater is used and is easily heard in the greater Las Vegas valley. The next section provides much more information than the last edition for the Nellis AFB Digital Motorola Trunking system. It is Motorola and not EDACS as Radio Reference states. Basic talk group IDs' are also presented along with the frequencies used for two very easily monitorable sites within the Las Vegas valley. The base frequency, step, and offset are provided and this writer has verified that they are correct. UHF and VHF aircraft frequencies used by Nellis AFB are presented next along with the last airshow information and of course the AF Thunderbirds. A reminder is also provided giving the dates for the next LV airshow (Nov. 12th and 13th 2005).
Commercial & general aviation frequencies follow for all the local airports along with air traffic control center frequencies for LA Center, Oakland Center, and Salt Lake Center. Other notes for aviation as applicable for Southern Nevada follow.
Page 45 starts off with Ground Transportation radio frequencies and this includes railroads, the LV Monorail (which is actually running once again), the CAT bus system which features drivers who are poorly educated and lack radio discipline which equates for some real entertainment at times, and a long list of cab and limo companies.
Motor-sports which includes teams licensed to transmit in the Southern Nevada area, some teams which appear unlicensed but having been heard in Southern Nevada, and a long list of Las Vegas Motor Speedway frequencies used for track operation with the type of operation or activity provided along with the channel number (this is new).
Next includes radio frequencies for airlines (non-aviation but ground use) followed by a section for golf courses and country clubs.
Page 47 begins a section for hotels and casinos and more trunking systems are showing especially those with LTR systems. 115 hotels and casinos are listed and detailed trunking is showing for about 35 properties. Many of them are still using conventional systems. This writer listens to various properties at random and has found the book to be very accurate in this area and others but changes and additions can happen at any time and because of this the publisher often puts out an update sheet every 30-45 days which I have found useful.
Page 56 begins a list of selected business frequencies and will most likely have some listings that will please most any monitor radio listener.
Page 57 and 58 include ham radio repeaters used largely in the Southern Nevada area along with PL tone information, offet, callsign, and linking information.
Radio World's suggested price is $15 but as many of his customers will tell you, he will bargain with you as appropriate. Trader Dave he is often called. He mails them out or you can visit the shop. His contact number is 702-294-2666 and he is usually open six days a week.
I do not know if the book is currently in AES or not in Las Vegas but it does show in their catalog.
I'm tired of typing so please excuse any typos that you see. Hope this helps anyone who may be debating if they wish to acquire this book. Personally, I would not be without it as it saves listeners from a lot of research and time. I have heard that the book is put together by a small staff of people one of whom is retired from the public safety profession and just sits and monitors for many hours of the day. Once again, a job well done by the staff of Cat Comm.
Emergency Medical Services comes next with the frequencies used by AMR and Southwest Ambulance. UHF medical freqs. follow along with medical and special incident codes that some agencies use in dispatching medical calls which tells you the type of medical or other problem. The alpha, bravo, charlie, and delta level response codes are explained and these are NOT patient conditions as some internet sites suggest. This section also advises that most medical traffic (hospital to ambulance traffic) is carried on the SNACC radio system.
A database table format is used to present the non-trunked radio frequencies used by the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, the Clark County School District, and Henderson. Frequency, entity name, channel use and tone is also noted.
A nice color beat map for Henderson PD follows along with their version of the 400 radio code and other information.
Page 24 begins a very detailed section of the Nevada Shared Radio System (NSRS) which includes the various divisions of the State Dept. of Public Safety and other entities. Updated and verified site information for Southern Nevada is presented and many changes have been noted since the last book came out (all sites changed but Sunrise Mtn. in terms of frequencies and/or LCN). Next is a detailed table showing 313 talk groups for users, first in order of agency and then a second table in order of ID number, useful for searching and determining just who the ID is associated with. Many more IDs' are showing now than in the previous book. Wonder how long it will take for someone to copy it without verification of the IDs' and publish it on an internet web site. Maybe one or more of them are in reality coded items designed to detect copyright infringement. Anyway the table of IDs' is twelve pages long and appears to be statewide IDs'. Page 37 explains DPS radio call IDs' in some detail and then the DPS radio codes follow along with the criminal history codes, incident disposition codes, radio call designators for system users (DPS and outside of DPS), and lastly, DPS patrol beat codes for Southern Nevada.
The next section has non-trunked frequencies for other State Agencies.
Page 41 begins with Selected U.S. Government frequencies and a very good list is provided for the BLM and Dept. of Interior National Park Service for Lake Mead. The TSA is also included (yes, they are digital but usually not encrypted). A repeater is used and is easily heard in the greater Las Vegas valley. The next section provides much more information than the last edition for the Nellis AFB Digital Motorola Trunking system. It is Motorola and not EDACS as Radio Reference states. Basic talk group IDs' are also presented along with the frequencies used for two very easily monitorable sites within the Las Vegas valley. The base frequency, step, and offset are provided and this writer has verified that they are correct. UHF and VHF aircraft frequencies used by Nellis AFB are presented next along with the last airshow information and of course the AF Thunderbirds. A reminder is also provided giving the dates for the next LV airshow (Nov. 12th and 13th 2005).
Commercial & general aviation frequencies follow for all the local airports along with air traffic control center frequencies for LA Center, Oakland Center, and Salt Lake Center. Other notes for aviation as applicable for Southern Nevada follow.
Page 45 starts off with Ground Transportation radio frequencies and this includes railroads, the LV Monorail (which is actually running once again), the CAT bus system which features drivers who are poorly educated and lack radio discipline which equates for some real entertainment at times, and a long list of cab and limo companies.
Motor-sports which includes teams licensed to transmit in the Southern Nevada area, some teams which appear unlicensed but having been heard in Southern Nevada, and a long list of Las Vegas Motor Speedway frequencies used for track operation with the type of operation or activity provided along with the channel number (this is new).
Next includes radio frequencies for airlines (non-aviation but ground use) followed by a section for golf courses and country clubs.
Page 47 begins a section for hotels and casinos and more trunking systems are showing especially those with LTR systems. 115 hotels and casinos are listed and detailed trunking is showing for about 35 properties. Many of them are still using conventional systems. This writer listens to various properties at random and has found the book to be very accurate in this area and others but changes and additions can happen at any time and because of this the publisher often puts out an update sheet every 30-45 days which I have found useful.
Page 56 begins a list of selected business frequencies and will most likely have some listings that will please most any monitor radio listener.
Page 57 and 58 include ham radio repeaters used largely in the Southern Nevada area along with PL tone information, offet, callsign, and linking information.
Radio World's suggested price is $15 but as many of his customers will tell you, he will bargain with you as appropriate. Trader Dave he is often called. He mails them out or you can visit the shop. His contact number is 702-294-2666 and he is usually open six days a week.
I do not know if the book is currently in AES or not in Las Vegas but it does show in their catalog.
I'm tired of typing so please excuse any typos that you see. Hope this helps anyone who may be debating if they wish to acquire this book. Personally, I would not be without it as it saves listeners from a lot of research and time. I have heard that the book is put together by a small staff of people one of whom is retired from the public safety profession and just sits and monitors for many hours of the day. Once again, a job well done by the staff of Cat Comm.
