MONITORING APCO 25??

BNN123 · Post by **BNN123** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:45 pm

is it possible to monitor for example LAPD on a xts radio

they are using apco 25 in the clear,

how does one set up the radio to monitor this type of conventional system in LA???

Post by **RadShop** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:22 pm

If you're not authorized for the system... Plain and simple.. Get a scanner.

If you don't know how to do it, then you don't need to.

BNN123 · Post by **BNN123** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:35 pm

i used lapd as a example, wanted to know if it was possible to monitor apco 25 transmissions on a xts, i use a two way for my disaster group and the other half we monitor varies depts in the area. it is anaolg. curious as to the digital mode if it was the same just diffent mode and if it was possible

thanks

MTS2000des · Post by **MTS2000des** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:04 pm

if you program a conventional digital radio to digital carrier squelch, than yes, you can monitor that conventional channel and you will hear all unencrypted digital (P25) transmissions on those conventional personalities where system type is set to Astro and unmute rule is digital carrier squelch.

Assuming the LAPD is conventional, RX only would be the way to go.

If they are trunked...well it's time to buy a scanner.

Pardon me, I don't live anywhere near LA, so someone closer in correct me on this, but I don't think it's a prudent idea to stroll around town with LAPD traffic blasting out of your Astro...I hear it's against the law to fart in public in California, and I'm sure they have some laws regarding the posession of radios programmed CONVENTIONALLY to monitor police radio..even if it is set to RX only.

If it's trunking system access your fishing for...well let's not even go there. That IS illegal.

BNN123 · Post by **BNN123** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:35 pm

thanks for the info, i am in nyc, we are not digital yet just wanted to know for future reference

i was using lapd as a example. that is one agency i thought of.

nypd is using vertex radios here!!!!!!!!!!!!!! non-digital!!!!!!!!!!!!

MTS2000des · Post by **MTS2000des** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:53 am

yeah so I heard. my girl is in the bronx and she snapped a pic with her camera phone of a beat cop...and lo and behold he was toting a VX-520/530.
I thought the NYPD was going P25 UHF T-Band along with FDNY and buying those ovepriced SSE5000's they had SP'ed? I guess the horror stories about Mexico scared em off..and the fact that they can buy three Kenwood's or Vertex's for the price of one Mototrash portable. Vertex has the VX-900 in P25 now...I bet they'll start buying those.

Monitoring P25 conventional is no biggie. Just be sure to set your squelch type to "digital carrier squelch" and of course disable transmit on any channels you aren't authorized and you're good to go.

Post by Pj » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:16 pm

Last I heard, they are still buying the SSE5000's and the cops have been complaining about the Vertex's self destructing. There are a few NYPD officers here on the board and I think a couple have seen the same self destruct observations.

mikegilbert · Post by **mikegilbert** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:02 pm

RadShop_Intern wrote:If you're not authorized for the system... Plain and simple.. Get a scanner.

If you don't know how to do it, then you don't need to.

Why don't you take 5 minutes to actually learn something from this board before you play scanner police.

Maybe then you'd know LAPD is conventional T-Band [that's 470-512]

BNN123: I would get a yellow case for your radio, just to set it apart from a "department radio". You can't beat a real Motorola radio for CONVENTIONAL P25 monitoring.

-Mike

ScannerDan · Post by **ScannerDan** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:54 pm

RadShop_Intern wrote:If you're not authorized for the system... Plain and simple.. Get a scanner.

If you don't know how to do it, then you don't need to.

DAMN!!! someone asks a simple question and they get a BS answer like this. He didn't ask if it was legal he asked can it be done. And yes it can it's easy you don't even need the NAC to hear P-25. However, you'll need the proper NAC in order to use some of the radio flash features such as soft ID decode and ID display.

Dan..

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:48 pm

There is a nice explaination on the main site on how to program the lapd. Listening to conventional with a motorola radio is totally legit. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is an idiot.

Post by Pj » Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:27 am

(Even though he is in NY) Its illegal to use a device to monitor LA traffic while inside the city limits or something like that. Some city law about that (in the vehicle). I believe NYC has a similar law above the state one as well.

Then again, do you want to carry an astro saber around a city in which there are a few thousand being carried by cops at any given moment?

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:03 am

Good point!

fubb26 · Post by **fubb26** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:12 pm

the Vertex's are real POS's horrible audio with the aftermarket MDC1200 board. knobs are constantly getting broken. PTT switch covers falling off. display's going bad. we had them in my past command and after about 2 weeks we had 50 radio's out of 250 out for repair and about 50 on the fringe of repair. horrible decision. some retired chief must have been working for Vertex and pushed them.