Currently we are streaming Enid Police, Fire, EMS, Animal Control, EPD Ops1 and Garfield County Sheriff dispatch.
Here is the issue with this. EMS and EPD Ops1 are encrypted channels and legally, we can not (nor would we want to) unencrypt these channels. They are used for private transmissions of sensitive data. With this, you as a listener will hear garbled communications and possible miss dispatch traffic because scanner is tied up on an encrypted channel.
Q: Why can’t you auto skip encrypted channels?
A: Because the Garfield County Dispatch is on a different system. So in order for us to hear Enid channels AND Garfield channels, we have to monitor all of Enid’s talk groups (including encrypted.)
Our planned fix:
We currently are using one(1) frequancy monitor and actually using software to scan frequencies individually. So, to fix this issue we are going to go into phase updates
Phase 1:
We currently have 2 frequency monitors available. We will begin by putting monitor 1 on Enid control channel, this will allow us to block unwanted talkgroups, like EMS and Enid Ops1. This first monitor will also allow us to prioritize what we hear, example we can make all EPD dispatch calls override EFD dispatch and everything override Animal Control or Parking Compliance calls. At the same time we will install monitor 2 on a “floating” system, when monitor 1 sees a call coming in that we have chosen as a priority, it will tell monitor 2 to listen and decode that audio and play it to the online scanner. This will eliminate all missed transmissions we currently have and make for a much cleaner listening experience.
Phase 2
We have ordered a 3rd frequency monitor and it should be in the mail soon. Once Phase 1 is complete and working as intended we will install the 3rd monitor, which will be dedicated to Garfield County LE, they are on a single channel and therefore they do not need a control channel. This will allow our system to monitor all chosen Enid Channels and also all County channels.
Phase 2 Problems and Fixes
When we implement phase 2, this could become problematic for scanner listeners especially the newer listeners. Since Enid and County are on different systems which will be both running at the same time, into the same feed, you are going to hear County talking over Enid and vice versa. There is a simple fix for this. Our feed is broadcast in stereo. We will dedicate the Left channel to Enid communications and the Right channel to County communications. While you are listening to the scanner you will be able to move the slider farther to the left to hear more Enid and farther to the right to hear more County. It will work, I promise! Just hang in there and I will be here to support anyone as we work through this!
IMPORTANT:
With all the changes we have coming up, PLEASE sign-up so I can keep you updated as we work through the phases and update how to set up your app so you do not miss anything. I promise not to sell your information or use it for any purpose other than required by law or to facilitate updating you on this project.