Toronto Public Safety -- Setup in PRO-95

[Mr44]

I noticed that there are 4 sites in the TPS system, and now have them programmed them into four separate banks in my brand new (used) PRO-95. Setting up the trunking mode was painless enough and I was listening for about an two hours last night, scanning all four banks and manually saving any talk group IDs that were identified.

However, I guess I am a little ignorant of how this is supposed to work (this is my first trunking scanner). I had ASSuMEd that I would need all four sites programmed in and that I would hear different sets of talk groups based on what site I was monitoring (i.e. from police divisions in different parts of the city), but upon reviewing my work it seems that after all that scanning I essentially ended up with the same talk group IDs in each bank. Hell, sometimes I would hear a conversation on one site, hit scan and see the same talk group come up on a different site with the same conversation continuing. Are the four sites simply simulcasting all activity on the system?

If so, then I guess I just need to pick the ONE site closest to me and monitor it exclusively, leaving the others locked out? Or do I still need to scan all four banks (sites) in order to be sure that I am hearing all the action?

Thanks,
PM

 

[EJB]

I couldn't tell you if each zone is rebroadcasted or not but I do know that most if not all of the action is scannable on south zone. Whereabouts do you live in the city?

 

[JoeyC]

The reason you have 4 sites on a Smartzone system is to provide an expanded coverage area throughout the region. Often, the talkgroups are simulcasted across the sites. Sometimes you might find one agency that is only on one site if they don't require wide-area coverage. For instance, security at the airport may be on the site nearest the airport only because the radios remain at the airport. Simulcasting their talkgroups across the system would be a waste of resources. Talkgroups that the cop on the beat may use as he traverses the entire region would of course be simulcasted.

 

[Mr44]

Thanks for the replies...

EJB:
I live in the Dufferin/Bloor area, and the south zone seems to come in really well and have lots of activity. In fact, I initially had all four sites in the first bank, and I thought that there was a problem since it would only lock on to the first control channel (south zone) and never bother with the rest. I think what I'll end up doing is put them all back into one bank, lock out all except the south zone and be happy.

JoeyC:
That makes sense.

PM

 

[EJB]

Mr:
I am just south of ya, College and Dufferin. I get the south zone perfectly here. True what u say about putting four zones in, as long as you can hear the first one you put in it dominates, annoying.

Do you scan fleetnet? If so, can u get King City from your local?

Eric