Txdps

[gaguilar]

Hello to everyone,

Just programmed the TXDPS to my PRO-96. Every once and while I will pick up the dispatch, but will never pick up the Trooper. Programmed the scanner with both the APCO-25 and analog. Even used the input frequency. Is there something I am doing wrong or missing something? Areas where I will be scanning will be the Corpus Christi and Rio Grande Valley. Please Help........

 

[ke5fgc]

you are not doing anything wrong.. Most Communications are Duplex meaning the Base Transmits on one frequency and the Mobiles transmit on another. The Mobiles are not going through a repeater (though the equipment is in place for a repeater) so you would need to be pretty close to the car (5-10 miles) to hear the troopers..

hope that helps

 

[TXEMT]

Most of the time in most areas DPS will operate in duplex mode, where it basiclly simplex on the input freq and the output..to hear a trooper you have to be monitoring the input freq. somtimes they will turn the repeater on and in some areas they leave it on, then you will hear both dispatcher and trooper on the output freq. for example on the old band plan Ch. 8 RX/base freq. is 155.445 and the mobile/TX freq. is 154.695 you would have to be monitoring both to hear both sides of the conversation, dispatcher on the RX freq and troopers transmitting on the TX

 

[tunnelmot]

True
When I relied on radios for my living (tow truck), I had separate radios for base and mobile freqs. (I used Mot. Maxtracs...insanely good reception)

One idea: Try having your DPS in a dedicated list. Have both channels in, and set delay to 0, so the radio will immediately resume after one or the other quits transmitting.

And, also that is how the actual DPS radios are set up: The units can only hear their base. When they key up, their radio TXs on one, and as soon as they un-key the radio goes back to RX on the other.(Same as a conventional repeater setup, sans repeater) The units can't hear each other, and on busy nights, we would hear them key up over each other, not knowing that another unit was also calling dispatch.

Some troopers actually read their Spectra manuals and knew how to set up priority scan so they could hear other nearby troopers' traffic.

For car to car chatter, they move to a dedicated car to car channel, or locally, use the local 800 county system, where they have both dispatch simulcast(saves me $500 for digital radio...for now) and car to car TG.

One thing that will help TREMENDOUSLY is a 5/8 wave VHF whip. That will work MIRACLES for hearing the mobiles. Especially if you're used to a ducky.

Rich

 

[gaguilar]

Thanks for all the information.

 

[davidbond21]

I don't think I've heard anything but troopers and dispatch on the same channel(I only have output frequencies programmed in). It seems the way that tunnelmot is describing their system is pretty risky that you can't hear others traffic. And like he said they have car to car channels, but how do you contact another trooper to switch over if they can't hear other units? Dispatch could relay but that seems unnecessary.

I noticed that my DPS reception was sub-par with the stock duck antenna, my diamond RH77CA did wonders for that, and even better would be a vhf whip like tunnelmot suggested.

 

[gaguilar]

Thanks for the information. I have search the internet for a whip antenna, but to say the truth; don't exactly know what am looking for. Any suggestions or best type of antenna. Would like to get the best out of my PRO-96.

Thanks,
George

 

[tunnelmot]

Either from a local radio shop or online(through dealer searches). Even E bay has some dealers carrying those brands.

From my personal experience i can recommend:

Maxrad brand 5/8 wave VHF or

Larsen/Radiall brand 5/8 wave VHF

Antennex brand 5/8 wave VHF

These all use the industry standard NMO mounting system. You can then get a magnetic base, trunk or hood-lip base, or the 'ole through the roof.

it's a two-partsystem. First you select your antenna (many choices-bands/brands/appearance/gain) then you select the base you prefer. Magnet mount would probably be a good start, and if you decide to change mounting styles later on, the antenna itself is still usable.

Try calling local Ameteur Radio shops or a 2 way radio shop and see if they carry one or any of the brands. If you find a local shop, this would allow you to inspect and compare as opposed to buying an item you unfamiliar with.

If you have more ?, feel free to ask. Upgrading antennas will greatly expand your listening area and enjoyment.

Rich

***Edit to add: once you get a mount, you can get different antennas tuned to whatever particular band you feel up to monitoring that day. I.E. If you have a magnetic mount, you can have a VHF "whip" for DPS, and if you monitor any 800 mhz systems, you can also purchase a 3db 800, which will also increase your received signals. Simply unscrew one antenna, and screw on another. There are multi-bans antennas available, and that my fit your bill, but for DPS, I highly recommend the band specific 5/8 wave.

 

[rattlerbb01]

I don't think I've heard anything but troopers and dispatch on the same channel(I only have output frequencies programmed in). It seems the way that tunnelmot is describing their system is pretty risky that you can't hear others traffic. And like he said they have car to car channels, but how do you contact another trooper to switch over if they can't hear other units? Dispatch could relay but that seems unnecessary.

I noticed that my DPS reception was sub-par with the stock duck antenna, my diamond RH77CA did wonders for that, and even better would be a vhf whip like tunnelmot suggested.

It is possible that you are near a station that is repeated. Here is a good rule of thumb for repeaters in DPS:
If the output frequency is:
155.505
155.5125
159.090
159.0975
159.210
159.2175
It will always be in repeater mode, allowing everyone to hear both sides of the conversation through the tower.
If the output frequency is:
155.445
155.4525
155.460
155.4675
It will generally be base-mobile half duplex. A repeater may be used in some locations, but expect to only hear the dispatchers on these frequencies.

Some locations do have the channel tied or patched to the local trunk system, 700 or 800 Mhz. In Montgomery County, the troopers that talk using the 800 radios are heard repeated by the trunk system, and the dispatcher is heard both there and on 155.445.

I think we need a sticky on listening to Texas DPS. I don't mind answering questions, but this is such a common question that pops up every month or so.

 

[davidbond21]

Ok, I just checked the hit counts on my DPS frequencies I have entered, and the majority of what I hear in New Braunfels is 159.0975 NAC 162(repeater 21 on the digital plan) and far less on 155.445 NAC 123 (Base B1) and it shows that I have a few hit on 154.695 which is the input to Base B1. In NB though I only hear troopers calling into San Antonio dispatch, KKI413, though once or twice I've heard New Braunfels' KKR920.

I agree with you a DPS sticky would be warranted, its a pretty popular issue and one of the reasons I got a digital scanner. I wasn't trying to be condescending in my above post, but I was just suprised that there might be a lack of immediate communication between troopers in some areas, thinking this would be a disadvantage, mostly safety-wise.

 

[hiegtx]

I agree with you a DPS sticky would be warranted, its a pretty popular issue and one of the reasons I got a digital scanner. I wasn't trying to be condescending in my above post, but I was just suprised that there might be a lack of immediate communication between troopers in some areas, thinking this would be a disadvantage, mostly safety-wise.

David,
I know that the DPS units have, in the past, had their vehicle radios programmed so that one unit could call another directly. In effect, the radio would be switched so that it would be transmitting directly on the output frequency of the base for that area. If I recall, they referred to that as "Ch 2", at least in this area. You'd hear (example) '5194 to 5195 on Ch 2', or whatever unit #s. Don't know if this continued with the new digital units, but it should have for officer safety, as you note. Of course, so many of them work mostly off their assigned counties frequencies, they just converse on those channels, or talkgroups if it's a county with a TRS.

 

[rattlerbb01]

David,
I know that the DPS units have, in the past, had their vehicle radios programmed so that one unit could call another directly. In effect, the radio would be switched so that it would be transmitting directly on the output frequency of the base for that area. If I recall, they referred to that as "Ch 2", at least in this area. You'd hear (example) '5194 to 5195 on Ch 2', or whatever unit #s. Don't know if this continued with the new digital units, but it should have for officer safety, as you note. Of course, so many of them work mostly off their assigned counties frequencies, they just converse on those channels, or talkgroups if it's a county with a TRS.

Every trooper radio has several zones nowadays. There is one zone with the analog channel plan (until analog is gone), one zone with the digital channel plan, and one zone for statewide interop/ema frequencies (TF1, TL1, VTAC, etc..). There is also one zone per county. That zone will have a DPS dispatch channel, a DPS car-car channel, or two of each if needed, plus the local SO, PDs, Fire Depts., EMS, or county car-car channels if there is still room. A DPS zone in my county would look like this:

BASE A1 (DPS Bryan)
GR CO SO (Grimes SO)
NAVAS PD (Navasota PD)
TEX LAW1 (Intercity Mobile)
BASE B1 (DPS Conroe)
MOBILE A (DPS Car-Car)
MOBILE C (DPS Car-Car)
GR CO FD (Grimes Co. Fire)
NAVAS FD (Navasota Fire)
STJO EMS (St. Joseph EMS)
TEX FIR1 (Fire Mutual Aid)
TEX MED1 (HAHERN)
TXDT GRI (TexDOT Grimes County)
RPT 19B (DPS Huntsville)

 

[scanaholic]

I don't think I've heard anything but troopers and dispatch on the same channel(I only have output frequencies programmed in). It seems the way that tunnelmot is describing their system is pretty risky that you can't hear others traffic. And like he said they have car to car channels, but how do you contact another trooper to switch over if they can't hear other units? Dispatch could relay but that seems unnecessary.

I noticed that my DPS reception was sub-par with the stock duck antenna, my diamond RH77CA did wonders for that, and even better would be a vhf whip like tunnelmot suggested.

I see that the post recommending the Diamond antenna is gone now, but that sure looks like a great one. I'm going to see if I can get one for my RS Pro-433!

 

[scanaholic]

Well, I had a talk with the folks at Universal Radio and am ordering that hot antenna! (Lou may ship this post to the antenna forum-lol!)

 

[texasemt13]

I second the motion to form a TX DPS sticky in the Texas forum... especially since this statewide switch to digital has been such a long transition (and it also seems that different regions utilize their systems differently)...

 

[scanaholic]

I see that the post recommending the Diamond antenna is gone now, but that sure looks like a great one. I'm going to see if I can get one for my RS Pro-433!

Well, I ordered that antenna, but by the time it gets here, I doubt it's going to help. There is more and more interference from "something" that is blocking out many of my high band channels. That's the price you pay for having to live in an apartment complex!

 

[JRR4607]

Freq's

Could some one help me with Waco Tx DPS Car to Car Freq's.I have all of them PGM in for the waco area but never here car to car. All i here is Disp and DPS Officer talking back.

 

[rattlerbb01]

You'll can try the following:
DPS MOB A - 155.46000
DPS MOB B - 155.44500
DPS MOB C - 159.21000

They are in digital mode, and are simplex (not through a tower, but line of sight). You may hear dispatchers on these frequencies since they are also used from towers, but that is just how DPS' system is set up, unfortunately. You can also check the Waco/McLennan County Trunk system, as they may have a talkgroup for chit-chat. Good luck.

 

[JRR4607]

You'll can try the following:
DPS MOB A - 155.46000
DPS MOB B - 155.44500
DPS MOB C - 159.21000

They are in digital mode, and are simplex (not through a tower, but line of sight). You may hear dispatchers on these frequencies since they are also used from towers, but that is just how DPS' system is set up, unfortunately. You can also check the Waco/McLennan County Trunk system, as they may have a talkgroup for chit-chat. Good luck.

I do have all of them never here car to car only DISP.For
McLennan County Trunk system they dont have a DPS chit-chat.but thanks for the info.

 

[mfn002]

One word about the repeaters: they tend not to cover all traffic. I noticed this is particularly true for RPT19B (Conroe-WPTY931). I only hear units in the Huntsville/Walker County area come up on this channel. The majority of the traffic is simply simulcasts of the base channel. Also, for a while or so after DPS Bryan went to P25 last November, they actually had the base channel set up as a repeater system. Then, for some reason, they went back to duplex again (with the exception of the occasional Brazos County unit). I don't really know what the benefit of duplex is compared with repeaters.