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When monitoring the WSP --- do NOT use any PL tone. Until the entire system is fully built for Tone only use --- you will miss part of some transmissions. For OSP and CHP -- use PL codes. The WSP mobiles only transmit (encode) tones -- not receive (decode) them.

you mean the sytem is still under development? hasnt it been around for a bit

I thought they were going to IP why put the cash into the tone work?

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

Even if the WSP went to P25 Digital tomorrow, they would still use NAC codes in place of PL tones. Kelso, Hoquiam and Olympia have yet to go duplex. And P25 brings adjacent channel problems. Lots of changes for the WSP to be made until the system is complete and running fine. Expect some inputs to change as well as maybe a few output frequencies. But at this time -- most of the system and not each and every station operates with both encode and decode PL tones. Unitil that day comes -- if it does -- using a PL tone on the WSP channels - on your scanner -- may mean that you will not hear all of the stations and units.

You're pretty much right on. We do run into occasional gaffes where a troop will give the wrong area, or the right one and the comm officer will key on another, but the system actually works pretty well.

Simulcast has been suggested. However, the necessary hardware to implement it is, apparently, not that cheap and there is also the increased risk of interference to adjacent channels and other services to consider.

The most popular future-proofing I've heard talked about to date is twofold: First, shifting to narrow-band operation. Second, shifting to VHF trunking.

There are no plans that I know of to abandon VHF operation. It just works too well in the terrain we've got.

Happy listening.

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Bruce Lane, KC7GR
Owner, Blue Feather Technologies
Motorola programming and conversion service available. See http://www.bluefeathertech.com/rf.html
"Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."

Does anyone have unit identifiers or unit numbers for WSP? I hear dispatch and Patrol using numbers and I would like to become familiar with the unit #'s in certain areas..As a way to know who's who without constantly looking at the radio.. :D

Cowboy,

While WSP units are typically assigned to an area, you will notice they shift around as well. I don't know of a list, but I do know that unit numbers below 200 are ranking officers (I think the 100 - 200)

In most cases, when you pass a Trooper on the road, the number in his/her license plate is their on-air call sign. (549 WSP = 549)

If you see a plate that is 4 digits and "SP" (Usually a 9xxx SP) these are WSP fleet vehicles and non-LE staff (techs, support staff etc...) I have occasionally seen those plates on Troopers who are using loaner vehicles.

When you hear "Mary xxx" that is a motorcycle unit, so look out! If you hear "TOM xxxx" or "Transportation xxxx" that is a DOT vehicle assigned to do motorist assists and traffic control at scenes.

They still have Sgt's in the 100 category, they started creeping in the 200's during the last couple of decades. One of the cadets assigned to Capitol Campus uses 7xxx numbers. X700-800 are CVO's.
I believe Radio Techs are X-single and double digit . Ocean is off-duty or extra hour assignment. I've seen some marked cars with 7xxx series plates, but using their badge radio number.

Twice while driving to Portland recently, I've seen CVO's stopping trucks evading the scales, or "port running" It's interesting to hear them say "I'm escorting this scale evader back to the scales" They have a few of those Dodge Intrepid's standing by... I heard it's a hefty fine.

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

In general, the license plate number is used as the radio unit number. Units 1 to 100 are Admin Officers, (WSP Chief, Colonels, Majors, Captains, and Lieutenants), 101 to 199 are Sergeants, and 200 to 999 are Patrol Troopers.

[quote="MTM"]In general, the license plate number is used as the radio unit number. Units 1 to 100 are Admin Officers, (WSP Chief, Colonels, Majors, Captains, and Lieutenants), 101 to 199 are Sergeants, and 200 to 999 are Patrol Troopers.[/quote

there are troopers with 1200 series badge #

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

OK. So units 200 through 1300 are Patrol Trooper units.

How long have they been doing the plate thing? I seem to remember not that long ago most of the patrol cars had XMT plates.

Rich, all this looks like good info to be added here.

They've been doing the plates for as long as I can remember.
Been driving 30 years.
Been getting tickets for...

They've done it at least that long.
They are exempt plates, but not like the other agencies that use:

C=County agencies
D=City agencies
E=Assorted state agencies, UW etc...
K=DOT

What did I miss guys?

Ah, that makes more sense. I wonder what the original idea was going that route.

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Mt Wave SAR member
Support Search & Rescue: Get Lost!
http://www.mwave.org

Not necessarily true! Late last year, I overheard two troopers around Ellensburg, talking on car to car (5.460). One of them said he had a friend who had had a 300's number for over 20 yrs., and was losing it as the Sergeants numbers were encroaching into that segment. I don't know how far up they went as I still hear some of the 300's doing drivers checks etc. as I run back and forth across the state, but that doesn't mean they aren't "working" Sergeants!

Also, this past summer while in Spokane (Cheney) there were two female employees of the State Fire Marshal's office staying at a hotel there, who were working on a project fire in the area and based out of the Cheney High School. They were both driving Ford Expeditions and their license plates were "95xx-SP".

On another note: I was going to get a pic of the Comm trailer from Skagit County that was there for [this] same fire, but didn't have my camera. When I went back the next day to get the pic, they had already packed up and departed. I did talk to one of the Skagit guys and he said they had set up a UHF/VHF link system to talk back into to Cheney from the Rock Lake area, where the fire was. I asked him what freqs they were using but he wasn't up on what they were exactly.

Apropos of nothing at all, WSP air unit is up on 155.445 doing air/ground speed enforcement around Tacoma tonight.

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President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
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