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Used to receive local law enforcement here in Oceana County,Michigan,but lately it is garbled! Still receive EMS and Fire and State Police! Time to start looking for a newer model? Thanks!
Time to upgrade Pro197?
- Thread starter garmar1962
- Start date
Are you sure the "garbled" sound isn't a digital signal? A quick look at the RR database shows Oceana County is on a Phase II P25 digital system. The 197 can decode a Phase I digital signal but not a Phase II signal. So, yes, it may be time to replace the 197.
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Yeah, beginning to think that! Gonna start looking for a new digital scanner! Seems like it's always something! Its only money, right?
Yep. I'm keeping my 197 until one of two things happen...the local system goes encrypted or they move to Phase 2. I did buy a second scanner for the hamshack...a Uniden 536 (the 197 is in the home office). I like the 536 and like my 197 they both handle my local simulcast system.
scanlist
Scanning since the 70's to today.
If everything else sounds normal and only law enforcement talkgroups sound garbled I'm thinking they are now encrypted.
A PRO197 attempting to receive a phase II talkgroup ends up jumping to odd frequencies not tied to the radio system being monitored. This happened when one agency group in my area switched to phase II.
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A PRO197 attempting to receive a phase II talkgroup ends up jumping to odd frequencies not tied to the radio system being monitored. This happened when one agency group in my area switched to phase II.
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Been kind of eyeballing the 536 also! The 200 has too many bells & whistles, not to mention price for me!
Better to have asked in the Michigan forum.
Assuming your hearing garbled on talkgroup channel 23498. Its encrypted, no scanner will work on encrypteds.
In the database we have the description as -
64P911 was last heard per calls platform 2:29:45 PM 7/29/2025
www.broadcastify.com
Everything else will work in Oceana on the Pro197 as is since its Phase I.
FYI State Police "only" talkgroups are supposed to go encrypted in a year or so statewide.
Frustrating that people keep saying for sometime they see MPSCS is listed as Phase II and think everything is. Under the MODE column on radioreference, if it shows a T, its Phase II, a D means Phase I. ONLY county that is Phase II on MPSCS is Oakland.
I put a disclaimer note there a couple years ago:
Assuming your hearing garbled on talkgroup channel 23498. Its encrypted, no scanner will work on encrypteds.
In the database we have the description as -
If it sounds like this, its encrypted. Press FUNC L/Out to permanently lock it out or dont program it in.
64P911 was last heard per calls platform 2:29:45 PM 7/29/2025
Police Dispatch/Oceana County (64) Law Enforcement Group Calls Live
3203 Group Calls Live
www.broadcastify.com
Everything else will work in Oceana on the Pro197 as is since its Phase I.
FYI State Police "only" talkgroups are supposed to go encrypted in a year or so statewide.
Frustrating that people keep saying for sometime they see MPSCS is listed as Phase II and think everything is. Under the MODE column on radioreference, if it shows a T, its Phase II, a D means Phase I. ONLY county that is Phase II on MPSCS is Oakland.
I put a disclaimer note there a couple years ago:
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Interesting! Now not sure what I should do, keep my pro197 or still upgrade!Better to have asked in the Michigan forum.
Assuming your hearing garbled on talkgroup channel 23498. Its encrypted, no scanner will work on encrypteds.
In the database we have the description as -
If it sounds like this, its encrypted. Press FUNC L/Out to permanently lock it out or dont program it in.
64P911 was last heard per calls platform 2:29:45 PM 7/29/2025
Police Dispatch/Oceana County (64) Law Enforcement Group Calls Live
3203 Group Calls Live
Everything else will work in Oceana on the Pro197 as is since its Phase I.
FYI State Police "only" talkgroups are supposed to go encrypted in a year or so statewide.
Frustrating that people keep saying for sometime they see MPSCS is listed as Phase II and think everything is. Under the MODE column on radioreference, if it shows a T, its Phase II, a D means Phase I. ONLY county that is Phase II on MPSCS is Oakland.
I put a disclaimer note there a couple years ago:
You can keep the 197, to reiterate it will work as is and no scanner will ever de-encrypt.
536HP will ive you ability to replay back audio.
It would come in handy if you travel and can just in a zipcode.
One thing is the zipcode scanners come with SEVERAL years old databases/firmware and its VERY prudent to update via the free sentinel software. See youtube on how as well as look how it works.
Other thing is with the 536 with paid upgrades can tune in DMR or NXDN Modes. Oceana I dont see any agencies using that on the database.
I do see the Road Commission show in their license 7K emissions and that means DMR aa Mototrbo. We just havent had anyone verify if they use that. My gut feeling is that they are digital.
If they sound like this, then its mototrbo.
536HP will ive you ability to replay back audio.
It would come in handy if you travel and can just in a zipcode.
One thing is the zipcode scanners come with SEVERAL years old databases/firmware and its VERY prudent to update via the free sentinel software. See youtube on how as well as look how it works.
Other thing is with the 536 with paid upgrades can tune in DMR or NXDN Modes. Oceana I dont see any agencies using that on the database.
I do see the Road Commission show in their license 7K emissions and that means DMR aa Mototrbo. We just havent had anyone verify if they use that. My gut feeling is that they are digital.
If they sound like this, then its mototrbo.
Ahh but hold on a sec. Even though the system is Phase-II, all talkgroups in the OP's county are FDMA (mode "D") so in theory the Pro-197 should be able to pick them up, minus fully encrypted of course. Do note that the OP said they can pick up some talkgroups without garbling but not others...
Is this the "garbled" talkgroup in question?
| 23498 | 5bca | DE | 64LAW | Police Dispatch - Encrypted | Law Dispatch |
If so, that talkgroup is fully encrypted (mode "DE" which would likely explaining the "garbling". Fully encrypted talkgroups cannot be picked up by any scanner. You need not waste money on a replacement if this is the case.
Now if you're hearing garbling on THIS talkgroup, it's listed as clear (Mode D) but it could have changed to full (or partial) encryption without anyone submitting an RRDB update to get the mode changed
| 3203 | c83 | D | 64P911 | Police Dispatch | Law Dispatch |
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Thanks All! Bummer on the encryption! Sure, miss my local sheriff and city police! Yeah, still keeping the old pro197 until a unit comes along that will encrypt digital!
Whiskey3jmc...I explained all the mpscs phase 1/2 in my reply in message 7.
A few earlier replies before that gave erroneous info regarding phase 2 and threw this thread way off track. I saw the need to correct that.
Its not an "in theory" as mentioned at all, only one county in Michigan on mpscs is phase 2, all others are phase 1.
In this case and others that went encryption route is to create a new encrypted talkgroup. Easier to get the radios programmed.
I did leave a link for 3203 as well... no encryption on it, remains a D. Since that time I see it was used, but unfortunately it wont be like before for general police dispatches though.
A few earlier replies before that gave erroneous info regarding phase 2 and threw this thread way off track. I saw the need to correct that.
Its not an "in theory" as mentioned at all, only one county in Michigan on mpscs is phase 2, all others are phase 1.
In this case and others that went encryption route is to create a new encrypted talkgroup. Easier to get the radios programmed.
I did leave a link for 3203 as well... no encryption on it, remains a D. Since that time I see it was used, but unfortunately it wont be like before for general police dispatches though.
