From Web Site: www.baycountyscanner.org
Big Changes as of December 12th, and more to come after the first of the year. As of December 12th, Bay City Police join in the rest of the agencies on board the 800Mhz Digital MPSCS. Unless you have a scanner capable of decoding the P25 digital stream, you will be unable to hear Bay City Police Dispatch, LEIN, or Bay County Police Dispatch.
Some frequency changes are on the horizon in 2013. Stay tuned!
SEE BELOW:
800Mhz and MPSCS Information
800 Mhz Update - Dec, 2011
Sunday, 04 December 2011 13:01
Insiders at Bay County Central Dispatch/911 suggest that the 800Mhz transition will occur near the end of this year.
While it's likely the communications will continue on the current VHF system during the transition, once it's proven that the digital system is operating properly, expect to see more agencies phasing out the old VHF System.
What does this mean for the stream?
Our current scanner, a Uniden Bearcat BC142XL, is a 10-channel analog scanner, capable only of receiving analog VHF and UHF broadcasts. Manufactured and purchased in 1991, it's been a great little radio for the past 20 years.
The MPSCS (Michigan Public Service Communications System), is an APCO-25 700/800Mhz Digital Trunking Radio system; currently the largest in North America, which covers over 58,000 square miles across its network. Since the MPSCS broadcasts a digital stream of data, the receivier (scanner) must be capable of receiving a digital stream, decoding it, and converting the audio portions of the stream to audio that can be heard. That said, the BC142XL a'int gonna cut it.
What's required to receive the MPSCS?
A scanner capable of decoding the P25 (APCO-25, or Project 25) protocol is required. These radios do not come cheap! Ron Sujkowski's Mid-Michigan Scanner Frequency List Site lists the following scanners as fully capable of reciving the MPSCS:
Radio Shack Pro 197 - A desktop scanner which is actually manufacured by GRE for Radio Shack. Retail price is about $400, online price around $300. It's capable of scanning 39,000 channels throughout various digital systems including APCO-25, Motorola type I/II systems, LTR and EDACS trunking systems. It is very similar to the GRE PSR-600.
Radio Shack Pro 106 - A handheld scanner, also manufactured by GRE but branded and firmwared for Radio Shack. The Pro 106 boasts many of the features of the Pro 197 desktop model, and can decode the same digital systems. Cost is comparible to the 197 as well, with retail prices ~$400, and online for $250 to $350. For baycounyscanner.org purposes, we're leaning toward a desktop model as cables connecting to a handheld make them difficult to stand up.
Radio Shack Pro 107 - The iScan Pro 107 relys on the radioreference.com database to update its frequencies. Apparently the only power cord it comes with is a USB cable, as its mostly designed to be ultra-portable. Still, it offers the features of decoding all Motorola, LTR and EDACS trunking systems. Truly not suited for a permanent, external antenna, external audio connected system such as ours.
Radio Shack Pro 18 - Also manufactured by GRE, it also tracks frequencies using the radioreference.com database. It is similar to the GRE PSR-800, though lacks some of the features. (100 scan banks on the Pro 18 vs. 200 on the PSR-800). It's a bit pricey, too. New units run about $450.
Uniden BCD396XT - Uniden's APCO-25 Capable portable Trunktracker scanner with Dynamic Memory Architecture.
Uniden BCD996XT
GRE PSR 500
GRE PSR 600
GRE PSR 800