Washoe County Question

[Superlucky1]

Greetings!

I looked and could not find an answer so forgive me if I was too stupid to locate it.

I live in Washoe County and was interested in monitoring Washoe County Sheriff and Truckee Meadows Fire. I have looked at various scanners on the market and it looks like the best hand-held model is the SDS100. My big questions is...... Are these agencies encrypted? Will the SDS100 let me listen to them? I don't care if the S/O has encryted tactical channels, I would just like to hear dispatch. It would also be nice to listen to Reno PD, but less so than Washoe SO.
I am especially interested in the fire channels. After the Davis Fire last year I was unhappy with the slow release of info. The local news here didn't help at all.

Thanks for the help
Bill

 

[markclark]

Greetings!

I looked and could not find an answer so forgive me if I was too stupid to locate it.

I live in Washoe County and was interested in monitoring Washoe County Sheriff and Truckee Meadows Fire. I have looked at various scanners on the market and it looks like the best hand-held model is the SDS100. My big questions is...... Are these agencies encrypted? Will the SDS100 let me listen to them? I don't care if the S/O has encryted tactical channels, I would just like to hear dispatch. It would also be nice to listen to Reno PD, but less so than Washoe SO.
I am especially interested in the fire channels. After the Davis Fire last year I was unhappy with the slow release of info. The local news here didn't help at all.

Thanks for the help
Bill

No, the agencies are not now encrypted. There are two trunked systems now, the EDACS system which should be around for a couple of years or so, and a newer digital P25 system in limited use now. So, pick your poison.

Fire season is a big deal around here, so I have programmed in a separate bank all the local National forests, the Tahoe Basin NF system, all state forestry departments in both Nevada and California, and all county fire such as Truckee Meadows FPD, and Reno and Sparks FD. Any incident could end up on any radio system depending on location, the agencies involved, and size of the fire. Be sure to include the Truckee Meadows VHF channels as they are frequently used. You might want to plug in Search and Rescue too.

Good luck !

 

[Superlucky1]

MarkClark

Thanks for the reply. Your comment "Pick your poison" has me confused.... a little The SDS100 literature indicates that it can scan both EDACS and P25, not just one or the other. If that is correct, then I should be able to listen to both fire and sheriff. (?)

I have asked Zipscanners.com for guidance, yet I have not been able to determine if the SDS100 will truly work. I'd hate to dump money into the scanner and then find that I can only monitor Paul Blart mall cop or a local homeless shelter.

Thanks for your help

Bill

 

[markclark]

MarkClark

Thanks for the reply. Your comment "Pick your poison" has me confused.... a little The SDS100 literature indicates that it can scan both EDACS and P25, not just one or the other. If that is correct, then I should be able to listen to both fire and sheriff. (?)

I have asked Zipscanners.com for guidance, yet I have not been able to determine if the SDS100 will truly work. I'd hate to dump money into the scanner and then find that I can only monitor Paul Blart mall cop or a local homeless shelter.

Thanks for your help

Bill

Pick your poison is an old saying which means it's your choice. You don;t need to program both systems, choose one or the other. All the agencies can be heard on EDACS, but I'm not sure all are on the P25 system yet. I'm sure the SDS is P25 and EDACS capable, both types have been around for a long time.

Go to the database and start off with the Washoe Metro System to get started.

 

[Superlucky1]

Thanks!
I appreciate the education. The info out there can be overwhelming!
Bill

 

[gmclam]

I'd have the P25 system largely programmed and "on deck" so you can switch to it if need be. When I've witnessed these new systems come into operation, it is not all at once. It typically happens user by user.

 

[tvengr]

The Washoe County EDACS system is all analog. Both he SDS100 and SDS200 will receive the EDACS and new P25 systems without any upgrades. You can scan both systems at the same time. Don't let anyone try to sell you the ProVoice upgrade. That is used only for digital talkgroups on EDACS systems. The new P25 system uses a simulcast site for Washoe County. The SDS scanners are the only ones specifically designed to receive simulcast sites. Any other P25 Phase 2 capable scanner may or may not work depending upon your location. Simulcast distortion results in missed transmissions, garbled audio, or possibly no reception at all. Currently, there are very few encrypted talkgroups in Washoe County. That doesn't mean that it couldn't change in the future. In the Mode column of the database, "T" is in the clear to receive. "TE" is fully encrypted. "Te" is encrypted part of the time. Nevada Shared Radio System (P25) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State

 

[Mikeyb101]

Currently R.P.D. is on the P25ll system full time (as well as EDACS). Occasionally the WCSO will "flip the switch". N.H.P. Currently is not on P25ll