Washoe County Question

Superlucky1

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Jan 2, 2025
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South Reno
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

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Nevada Range
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

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South Reno
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

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Nevada Range
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.
 

gmclam

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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

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Baltimore County, MD
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

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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
 

markclark

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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
I just wanted to point out, that if you go mobile with your scanner, you will need to program in additional sites to get coverage outside the Reno basin. Let me know, I have programming files for the Butel programming software.

Mark Clark
 

Superlucky1

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Jan 2, 2025
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Location
South Reno
Thanks

I was able to order an SDS100 for a reasonable price, with programming. My guess is that the programming will be limited and then I will be really bothering everyone with more newbie questions.

I sure don't learn things as fast as I did in my youth!

6079smithw. Is that the truck from Dual in your signature? That makes me feel old.

Thanks

Bill
 

Superlucky1

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Jan 2, 2025
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South Reno
I got the SDS100 this afternoon and it was programmed and ready to go. (Scannermasters)

Although the manual seems to be somewhat lacking, YouTube has a lot of user info. It is a lot to absorb.

Thanks for those that posted

Bill
 

6079smithw

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6079smithw. Is that the truck from Dual in your signature? That makes me feel old.
It is. Last of the original 3 used in 'Duel'. 1960 Peterbilt 281. Got to sit in it in North Carolina some years back. You feel old, I am old. lol
The SDS platform was preceded by the 436-536 units and yes it's a totally different learning curve and will take time getting the hang of it.
(And believe me when I say you will want to program it with a 5-ton arbor press from time to time) Don't hesitate to ask questions; we were
all Padawans at one time. Good luck and have fun with your new unit!
 

es93546

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It is. Last of the original 3 used in 'Duel'. 1960 Peterbilt 281. Got to sit in it in North Carolina some years back. You feel old, I am old. lol
The SDS platform was preceded by the 436-536 units and yes it's a totally different learning curve and will take time getting the hang of it.
(And believe me when I say you will want to program it with a 5-ton arbor press from time to time) Don't hesitate to ask questions; we were
all Padawans at one time. Good luck and have fun with your new unit!

You guys think you are old, try this on for size. I had to highlight and Google search "Padawans" as I had no idea what it meant. Being in my mid 70's and more of a Star Trek fan and not a Star Wars fan contributed to the need to look up the term.

EDIT: I'm old enough and grew up in southern California as well, that I recognize where a lot of the movie was filmed. I don't think I saw it in the theater when it was first out. It was a scary movie to me as I wasn't that far along in my driving alone career.
 
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