Toronto Question

[mbstone99]

I am just sitting here programming/updating my scanner and got a few questions that someone can answer hopefully.

Does Toronto Ambulance use their backup/subway frequencies?
Does Toronto Fire use talk around channels?
Does Toronto Police use their conventional investigative frequencies anymore?

I am continplating if I should put them in or not. If they are hardly use then I won't put them in as I don't go into Toronto that often.

Matt

 

[mciupa]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=4326

Does Toronto Ambulance use their backup/subway frequencies?

I have not seen them used ... but maybe others have ,and will respond with a confirmation.

Does Toronto Fire use talk around channels?

Yes

Does Toronto Police use their conventional investigative frequencies anymore?

I still hear the ones tagged as MSS 150 to 1050 used occaisonally.

 

[mbstone99]

Toronto

Thanks Mike for the reply.

Matt

 

[mciupa]

I still hear the ones tagged as MSS 150 to 1050 used occaisonally.

Matt, even these MSS conventional are endangered species as people have reported testing of new talkgroups (digital) on TPS.

I still like to keep things in place if space permits , I used to clear banks to tidy things up and sure enough , some will post " Did you hear ... on ..." after I zeroed out that freq.

 

[mbstone99]

Toronto

Ya I have seen the posts on ScanOnt regarding that. It looks like Toronto is slowly rolling out some digital talkgroups. I think someone said there was like 20 digital talkgroups for Investigative Services is I am not mistaken.

Matt

 

[bluesman905]

Matt, even these MSS conventional are endangered species as people have reported testing of new talkgroups (digital) on TPS.

I've been hearing testing on a daily basis now for a month or more, including P25. T/G is usually 8000.

 

[pathalogical]

I just bought my 246 (with firmware 1.4) last Wednesday and programmed it manually with 8 systems so far. This is one neat little radio. I like everything about it so far, especially the bright backlight even when the battery is low. So far so good. Yeah, it took some nimble thumbs to enter the info, but who cares. I've chosen the ID Search mode for now and may program individual TG's in the future. I too have heard TG 8000 on TPS on one day last week. Oddly enough, the most frequently heard TG seems to be 5232 Parking Enforcement East. Why ??? Any one else notice this ? The individual Divisions seem to be less active that I thought.

 

[bluesman905]

Oddly enough, the most frequently heard TG seems to be 5232 Parking Enforcement East. Why ??? Any one else notice this ? The individual Divisions seem to be less active that I thought.

Some calls would be going out on MDT's I would imagine.

 

[EJB]

Patalogical: You gotta live in the city to understand why 5232 is the busiest.
People constantly call in and complain about 3 hr vilations, the parking cops have quotas to fill, and
parking ticket revenue is a big money maker for the city.

 

[pathalogical]

Patalogical: You gotta live in the city to understand why 5232 is the busiest.
People constantly call in and complain about 3 hr vilations, the parking cops have quotas to fill, and
parking ticket revenue is a big money maker for the city.

I do live in the city. I got my 246 less than a week ago and now know "who" I'm listening to. With my Pro 46 I didn't know who was who, and was surprised to "see" that 5232 was very active. And you're right about parking complaints, hearing some of the calls going out, I say to myself "People actually call the police for that !"

 

[mbstone99]

246

I just bought my 246 (with firmware 1.4) last Wednesday and programmed it manually with 8 systems so far. This is one neat little radio. I like everything about it so far, especially the bright backlight even when the battery is low. So far so good. Yeah, it took some nimble thumbs to enter the info, but who cares. I've chosen the ID Search mode for now and may program individual TG's in the future. I too have heard TG 8000 on TPS on one day last week. Oddly enough, the most frequently heard TG seems to be 5232 Parking Enforcement East. Why ??? Any one else notice this ? The individual Divisions seem to be less active that I thought.

Hey pathalogical, I know how much of a pain doing the programming for the 246 is by hand, I have the same radio. May I suggest getting ARC246 for Butel, www.butel.nl. It's an exception little program that makes programming really easy. You have to pay for the "full" version of it but believe me it is very well worth it. Also i would suggest updating your firmware to the lastest one, 2.05. The update and the instructions on how to update it are located up on the Uniden, www.uniden.com web page.

Matt

 

[bluesman905]

I got a 246 last week and agree that the arc software is the only way to go. I also use Butels sofware for my 250D, I would never go back to programming by hand (and I've done lots that way) It's well worth the money.

 

[pathalogical]

Programming by hand was quite simple. The only tedious thing was scrolling through the alphabet to tag the System names. I didn't tag every single channel. Besides, on my Pro 46, do you know how many times I entered and deleted freqs over the past twelve years that I've had that radio ? For some of you, the 246 may be your first venture into scanning, and for some of us, direct entry programming is second nature. My computer is outdated (Windows 95) so I can't run the software anyways. I have nine systems so far, Conventional, 800's and 900's. I have not tried an LTR or EDACS yet. The stock antenna is good, but I'm already looking for a stubby, ideal for pocketing the scanner. I'm also interested a leather carrying case, I'll have to start searching for one. And also for a small extension speaker. I have a Radio Shack 5W and would like something in the 5-10W range.

 

[dsandor]

Toronto Conventional Channels

I am hearing a lot of regular traffic on the channels identified as:

HQ/SUBWAY Channel 1,2,3,4 and 5 which are frequencies: 861.687, 861.487, 861.937, 861.662 and 861.437. It seems to be re-broadcasts of certain divisions. For example, tonight on channel 3 (861.937) it seems to be 32 Division and neighbouring divisions.

Not sure what this is, but I will have to assume it is used at times that officers have details in the subway and these "channels" (frequencies) are using repeaters underground.

Any ideas, info?

Dan

 

[mbstone99]

Toronto question

Those are the conventional frequencies for District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 headquarters. They are always busy with traffic.

Matt

 

[dsandor]

Those are the conventional frequencies for District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 headquarters. They are always busy with traffic.

Matt

What are their official uses, any idea? I assume for times when officers are in the subway, but anything else?

Also, would you advise monitoring those conventional freqs over the trunk to ensure you get "all the action" etc?

 

[dbs911]

What are their official uses, any idea? I assume for times when officers are in the subway, but anything else?

Also, would you advise monitoring those conventional freqs over the trunk to ensure you get "all the action" etc?[/QUOTE]

 

[pathalogical]

What are their official uses, any idea? I assume for times when officers are in the subway, but anything else?

Also, would you advise monitoring those conventional freqs over the trunk to ensure you get "all the action" etc?

Since these are refered to as conventional, I would not put these in as part of the trunked system since they also have a CTCSS tone. I haven't programmed these yet, but when I do they will be part of my conventional system in their own group. For TTC/Subway, I've been monitoring the five channels in the 412.xxxx and they are very active with comms very similar to the police. However I think these are shared with other TTC services because it also sounds like WheelTrans picking people up. Try these:

TTC Inspectors
F1 412.0375 w/136.5 tone
F2 412.0625 w/136.5 tone
F3 412.1125 w/136.5 tone
F4 412.5875 w/136.5 tone
F5 412.6125 w/136.5 tone

If you listen to TPS and hear incidents on TTC subway, buses, streetcars, chances are it will be broadcast on one of these five channels first. As I am writing this, there is an active call on the Downsview platform, POL/EMS attending. These freqs are taken from my old Haruteq book !