What is the Minimum Scanner needed Vigo Co.

[jamesa53]

Hello All

Im going to use the old saw "I am just now getting back into scanning" and would like a recommendation on a scanner to get to monitor various agencies in Terre Haute, IN (Vigo County)

I realize that there are no scanners available to monitor Provoice Digital, Analog and Encrypted, so that leaves out the Terre Haute Police and Fire Departments (which is too bad because my dad was a Terre Haute Firefighter who first implemented radio dispatch of fire apparatus back in 1969 using tone alerts).

What is the minimum scanner required (either Uniden or Radio Shack) that can be used to monitor the below agencies?

The statewide Project Hoosier SAFE-T system (Has this been implemented yet in Vigo County-I think I read somewhere that ISP has implemented it and the Terre Haute Fire and Police may move away from the Provoice to this system).

Here is the info, it can also be found on this site.

Terre Haute utilizes an Ma/Comm EDACS Provoice Analog/Digital/Digital Encryption system.
The following agencies utilize this system:
- Terre Haute Police (Provoice Digital, Provoice Digital Encrypted, Analog)
- Terre Haute Fire (Provoice Digital, Analog)
- Terre Haute Street Department (Analog)
- Terre Haute Water Department (Analog)
- Terre Haute Environmental Enforcement (Analog)
- Terre Haute Transit Authority (Analog)
- Vigo County Emergency Management (Analog)

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[KD4YGG]

James

First, welcome back to scanning.

Second of all, you CAN hear THFD – they don’t use Provoice digital except for one channel.

As for scanner recommendations, to be able to fully monitor every agency except THPD and ISUPD, you really need to purchase a digital-capable scanner. All of these have the appropriate trunking modes for all the area systems down in ISP District 32 land.

With any of the models listed below, you will be able to listen to:
- All Terre Haute city agencies except for Terre Haute Police and Indiana State University Police.
- All Vigo County agencies. Sheriff and fire are on the statewide Project Hoosier SAFE-T.
- All state agencies: ISP, DNR, DOT, DHS, etc. are on the statewide Project Hoosier SAFE-T.
- Parke and Vermillion Counties are on the statewide Project Hoosier SAFE-T.
- Clay and Sullivan Counties do utilize the statewide Project Hoosier SAFE-T, but also are on conventional frequencies as well.
- Across the state line in Illinois, the Illinois State Police are using a trunked system known as STARCOM21. Edgar County Sheriff is using a trunked system, but other area agencies (Clark/Edgar) are on conventional frequencies.

You didn't mention handheld vs base, so here are some options:

Radio Shack: PRO-106 handheld or PRO-197 base
Uniden: BC396XT handheld or BC996T base
GRE: PSR-500 handheld or PSR-600 base

As for dealers, I would suggest The Ham Station in Evansville, IN. 1-800-PAY-HERE. Ask for Jeff.

And if you have any questions, post them here.
There are several of us from the area (or like me, used to live in the area).

 

[W9NES]

I would have to back up with what KD4YGG has said in his post.But The Uniden 396T will also work fine with the above as I own (2) and have had no problems with them.

 

[jamesa53]

Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to answer my query. I thought I read on one of the forums that THPD may be moving away from EDACS and on to the SAFE-T system, which would be great.

I decided to purchase a PRO-106. Its a fantastic radio, but it certainly doesnt work like my old Bearcat 100XLT did and is about 1000 times more complicated. I have gone the easy way and got software and subscribed to RR, and have actually gotten the thing to work on the TH and Vigo Co. frequencies you mentioned. You were right, I can hear THFD!!!! I know a few amateur radio operators in TH as well, their initials are GB and JO, cant remember their call signs. Anyway thanks very much!!!!!!

 

[drdiesel1]

Was just getting ready to ask this question when I found this post! I am also looking to buy a new scanner to add/replace my 9000XLT!

For the Terre Haute area any reason to wait for the BC996XLT?

James, what is available for Terre Haute PD?

 

[KD4YGG]

Nothing yet for THPD - they are still using Provoice digital.

If and when they switch to the statewide Hoosier SAFE-T system, any of the new digital scanners should work fine.

 

[firefighter213]

Ya ,
I work with the Terre Haute Fire Department . They said , they won't go digital at all and they are saying analog , but I talk with the Terre Haute Police Department , they said they may go to Hoosier SAFE-T system .
They said no can get them at all on police scanner , but you can get Terre Haute Fire Department on scanners .

 

[drdiesel1]

...but I talk with the Terre Haute Police Department , they said they may go to Hoosier SAFE-T system .

We can only hope!

 

[firefighter213]

Indiana Hoosier SAFE-T System

I hope they do , but I cant get an digital scanner right don't have the money to get one , to listen to indiana hoosier safe-t system . But I use to have an digital scanner untill it blow up on me . I wish THPD could be with the other West Terre Haute / Vigo County Sheriff Dispatcher Channels , but who knows someday it will happen . I wish all of Terre Haute area to go over to indiana hoosier safe-t system side , that would be cool .

 

[jamesa53]

You can monitor THFD with an analog trunking scanner that supports EDACS except for their one encrypted channel. ISP Dist 32 and VCSD can also be monitored with an analog scanner that supports EDACS, as the Terre Haute EDACS system rebroadcasts those in analog. County Fire is analog Project SAFE-T also which can be monitored with an analog trunking scanner. Also VCSD rebroadcasts on 155.565 Dispatch conventional but you cant hear the cars. Clark Co. Sheriff is still on 155.535 and they have a powerful repeater. I bought a RS PRO 162 for $115 (they are discontinued but might still be available) that will do this job nicely. You wont be able to get the digital transmissions from Project SAFE-T, though, which includes the "other" VCSD and ISP channels, as well as DNR, if you are into that. But IMHO the PRO-162 will let you hear a lot of stuff amd you won't pay over 300 dollars either.

Maybe TH will see the light and go to Project SAFE-T for THPD. Ra-Comm has gotten a lot of money from them as well as THFD. A while back on this forum I heard money was allocated for what seemed to be a total replacement of the TH EDACS system. No scanner on the market supports EDACS encrypted, and I believe its illegal to monitor encrypted transmissions, even if you could. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Hope you didnt get hurt in the big fire this week, my PRO-106 was locked on THFD. Saw TAC 2 used for the first time.

 

[firefighter213]

The Big Fire

Ya ,
I was down their helping and our department got could out on it and it was so crazy . But no body got hurt at .

 

[jamesa53]

RS PRO-160 is now 99. at RS, its an analog triple trunking desktop scanner, will let you hear most of the traffic as I mentioned in my previous post. You can hear THFD with it.

PRO-160 1000-Channel Trunking Desktop Scanner - RadioShack.com

 

[drdiesel1]

James, that is really tempting, thanks for the heads up!

 

[W9NES]

You need to look at a Radio Shack Pro-106 or a Uniden 396T that is digital becuase of Safe-t.ISP, IDOT,SEMA,along with others have gone to Safe-t and the old VHF channels are being used for backup communications only if the safe-t system goes down.The Radio Shack pro-160 might has a nice price of $99.00 but If I was going to buy a scanner I would look down the road to a scanner that is Digital.Something to think about.

 

[jamesa53]

Being a 106 owner, I agree with you, however if you dont have the 5 hundred right now and want to hear County Fire, THFD, and ISP 32 dispatch and VCSD dispatch (which are all analog) you can at least hear most of the important traffic in Terre Haute and Vigo County for about a hundred bucks. Of course for the future, a digital scanner is the way to go, just depends on how deep your pockets are and how serious you are about scanning.

Right now the PRO-106 is 499.99.

 

[usswood]

You need to look at a Radio Shack Pro-106 or a Uniden 396T that is digital becuase of Safe-t.ISP, IDOT,SEMA,along with others have gone to Safe-t and the old VHF channels are being used for backup communications only if the safe-t system goes down.The Radio Shack pro-160 might has a nice price of $99.00 but If I was going to buy a scanner I would look down the road to a scanner that is Digital.Something to think about.

you guys bash ppl on ur Indy postings bout not being in the area...U R NOT IN TERRE HAUTE...stop posting on things you dont know like you tell others posting bout the Indianapolis Area