Bloomington-Normal McLean County (IL)

SCANNING IN BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL

McLean County Scanner - Quick Reference

AGENCY	SYSTEM	MODE
Bloomington Fire	VHF simplex	Analog
Bloomington Police	UHF (simulcast on Starcom21)	Analog
ISU Police	Starcom21 TRS	P25 digital
Normal Fire	Starcom21 TRS	P25 digital
Normal Police	Starcom21 TRS	P25 digital
McLean County Emergency Managment Agency (ESDA)	UHF	Analog
McLean County Rurual Fire	VHF simplex	Analog
McLean County Sheriff/Rural PDs	Starcom21 TRS	P25 digital

METCOM-911 Center dispatches for all the police and fire agencies in McLean County, except for Bloomington PD/FD, ISU PD, and the Illinois State Police who all self-dispatch.

IMPORTANT: If you want to listen to the following agencies, they are using the Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS. You will need a digital scanner capable of monitoring APCO25 trunked systems to monitor the following departments:

• Normal Police [TG 30366]
• Normal Fire [TG 30372]
• ISU PD [TG 4025]
• McLean County Sheriff and rural PD's (Bellflower PD, Chenoa PD, Colfax PD, Danvers PD, Downs PD, Ellsworth PD, Hudson PD, Heyworth PD, Lake Bloomington PD {"LB"}, Leroy PD, Lexington PD {“LX”} , Village of McLean PD {“MC”}, and Stanford PD) [TG 30358]
• County Animal Control [TG 3073]
• County Coroner [TG 30358] {"Edward units"}
• County Juvenile Detention Center [TG 30377] {"JDC units'}
• Illinois State Police [NOT CURRENTLY USING STARCOM21; but will migrate to it]

Bloomington PD and Bloomington Fire still use analog UHF and VHF frequencies respectively. County Fire and EMS are on VHF, while ALS Lifeline Ambulance uses their own UHF repeater.

No public safety activity remains on the McLean County (METCOM) EF Johnson Multi-Net II TRS {except for the simulcast of 453.700 (103.5) County EMA spotters}

Starcom21 in McLean County

• The majority of the talkgroups listed for McLean County will always be carried on Site 229 so if you are in range of that site, it's the best one to monitor. On the rural sites listed below, you will usually hear the McLean County Sheriff Dispatch TG, but Normal PD/FD, Bloomington PD, and ISU PD are generally only heard on Site 229

Starcom21 - Site 229 (Normal) frequencies:

Site	Name	Freqs
001 (1)	Primary	851.312500	851.887500	852.237500	852.412500	852.737500	852.812500	852.962500	853.462500
		855.037500	855.187500	855.687500	855.787500	855.887500	856.912500c	857.787500c	858.812500c
		859.787500c

Starcom21 - Site 202 (Leroy) frequencies:

Site	Name	Freqs

Starcom21 - Site 231 (Congerville) frequencies:

Site	Name	Freqs
001 (1)	Primary	407.012500a	407.412500a	408.612500	409.675000a	410.000000a	410.812500

Starcom21 - Site 207 (Pontiac) frequencies:

Site	Name	Freqs
002 (2)	Public Safety	866.037500	866.062500	866.287500	866.312500	866.562500	866.762500	866.812500	867.062500
		867.112500	867.362500	867.412500	867.562500	867.787500	867.812500	868.137500	868.162500
		868.387500	868.412500	868.637500	868.887500

McLean County Starcom21 Talkgroups:

Description

Bloomington PD

Bloomington PD is dispatched by Bloomington Dispatch. Ch1 453.150 (127.3) is the primary dispatch frequency. Ch2 453.925 (127.3) is used by the 'Paul units' (proactive units) and also is used during larger events such as the county fair, parades, etc. Ch3 460.125 (127.3) is used for dispatch if ch1 has emergency traffic. BPD units will sometimes use 'channel 2' 155.130 (CSQ) to communicate car-car while enroute to calls.

Bloomington PD UHF ch1 is simulcast on Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229 TG 30378. BPD proactive UHF channel is sometimes simulcast on Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229 TG 30375.

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
463.35000	468.35000	WPTX400	RM	107.2 PL	BPD MetroEx	Metro Explorers [*Expired, correct freq?/license?]	FMN	Law Tac

Bloomington PD radio unit identifiers

Bloomington PD Beat Map

Bloomington Fire

-dispatched by Bloomington Dispatch on 154.160 (97.4) simplex. Bloomington Fire is toned by DTMF tones so the Uniden Tone-Out feature isn't applicable.

Normal PD

Normal PD currently uses Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229

• Talkgroups
  
  • 30366 Normal PD ch1 - Dispatch
    
  • 30367 Normal PD ch2 - Car-Car & alternate dispatch when ch1 has "10-33" traffic
    
  • 30368 Normal PD ch3
    

If you have pro96com check here for the radio id's used by Normal PD

• Normal PD started using the Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS on February 21, 2006. The old UHF channels are no longer used by NPD, but are included for historical purposes:
  
  • 460.025 (103.5) old Normal PD 1 (dispatch)
    
  • 453.950 (103.5) old Normal PD 2 (alternate, car-car, events)
    
  • 453.775 (103.5) old Normal PD 3 (car-car simplex, very rarely used)
    
  • 453.925 (127.3) old Normal PD 4 (Bloomington PD 2 {'proactive' gang unit})
    
  • 453.900 (103.5) old Normal PD 6 (old ISU PD dispatch)
    

Normal Fire

Normal Fire is paged by METCOM and operates on Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229
talkgroup 30372. If you are close to a fire and without a P25 capable scanner, you can monitor the Normal Fire mobile extender repeater on 159.0525 (100.0). Look for fireground communication to be on either Starcom21 TG 30372 or on 153.830 MABAS Fireground Red.

• Normal has three fire stations (see this link for station addresses and equipment inventory).

McLean County Sheriff

McLean County Sheriff ("Paul units") is dispatched by METCOM on Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229, Site 202, and Site 231 talkgroup 30358 (often TG 30358 can be heard on Site 207 Pontiac). Rural PD's occasionally use 30362 "ch5" for car-car communications.

Other departments using Starcom21 TG 30358 include: Bellflower PD, Chenoa PD, Colfax PD, Danvers PD, Downs PD, Ellsworth PD, Hudson PD, Heyworth PD, Lake Bloomington PD {"LB"}, Leroy PD, Lexington PD {“LX”}, Village of McLean PD {“MC”}, Stanford PD, and McLean County Coroner ("Edward").

McLean County Fire

All fire departments (except for Bloomington and Normal Fire) are paged by METCOM on 156.210 (94.8). All responses and fire operations are on 154.190 (173.8). Some fireground operations may be done on MABAS IFERN 154.265 or County Fireground 154.235 (CSQ).

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
154.19000		KDQ349	BM	173.8 PL	METCOM Fire	Fire/EMS: Countywide Dispatch (En Route, etc) (except Bloomington and Normal FDs) [Ch 1]	FMN	Fire Dispatch
154.81500	159.03000	KCW420	RM	173.8 PL	METCOM EMS	EMS: Countywide Dispatch (en route, etc) (except Bloomington FD)	FMN	EMS Dispatch
154.23500		KDQ349	BM	CSQ	METC FD FG-S	Fireground: South County Rural (South of Route 9)	FMN	Fire-Tac
155.16000		KLS630	BM	173.8 PL	McLn Rescue	McLean County Rescue Squad [Expired]	FMN	Fire-Tac
156.21000		KCW420	B	94.8 PL	METC Fire PG	Fire/EMS: Countywide Paging (no reciever) (except Bloomington, Normal FD)	FMN	Fire Dispatch
856.48750	811.48750	WQGC851	RM	CSQ	METC Sirens	Outdoor Warning Sirens (*see notes)	FMN	Data
460.20000		WQBJ611	F	91.5 PL	METC FD RFA	Fire/EMS: Link (to 156.21 West Tower - Bloomington)	FMN	Fire Dispatch
460.20000		WQBJ611	F	82.5 PL	METC FD RFB	Fire/EMS: Link (to 156.21 South Tower - Downs)	FMN	Fire Dispatch
460.20000		WQBJ611	F	67.0 PL	METC FD RFC	Fire/EMS: Link (to 156.21 South-East Tower - Arrowsmith)	FMN	Fire Dispatch
460.20000		WQBJ611	F	74.4 PL	METC FD RFD	Fire/EMS: Link (to 156.21 North Tower - Lexington)	FMN	Fire Dispatch

McLean County EMS radio identifiers

McLean County Fire radio identifiers

Some Uniden Fire Tone Outs for McLean County Rural Fire can be found at the CARMAchicago Yahoo!Group's Database section

McLean County EMA

The main frequency to monitor when storms approach is the 453.700 (103.5) repeater. McLean County EMA does have a talkgroup on Starcom21 but 453.700 (103.5) is not simulcast on Starcom21. 453.700 (103.5) is still simulcast on the McLean County (METCOM) EF Johnson Multi-Net II TRS at last check.

Other frequencies are listed below for your reference.

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
153.24500		WPMH871	BM	173.8 PL	Gridley ESDA1	Gridley ESDA	FMN	Emergency Ops
153.86000		KNFR854	BM	CSQ	McLn City EMA	McLean (city) EMA: ESDA [Expired 4/02]	FMN	Emergency Ops
154.05500		KFK864	BM	131.8 PL	Eureka ESDA	Eureka ESDA (West Township)	FMN	Emergency Ops
154.08500		KSO911	BM	CSQ	Carlk/Danvr ESDA	Carlock, Danvers ESDA	FMN	Emergency Ops
154.96500		WPRR691	BM	CSQ	McLean Co ESDA	ESDA: Colfax, Anchor, Cooksville	FMN	Emergency Ops
155.10000			BM	CSQ	Hudson ESDA	Hudson ESDA [No License?]	FMN	Emergency Ops
155.70000		WNMF611	BM	CSQ	Stanford ESDA	Stanford ESDA [Expired 8/03]	FMN	Emergency Ops
155.79000	153.87500	WQOT809	RM	306 DPL	Leroy ESDA	Leroy ESDA	FMN	Emergency Ops
157.62000			BM	103.5 PL	McL EMA Maint	EMA: Maintenance [No License?]	FMN	Emergency Ops
159.10500		WPCR931	BM	186.2 PL	Gridley ESDA2	Gridley ESDA	FMN	Emergency Ops
453.45000		KZV881	BM	103.5 PL	Lexington ESDA	Lexington ESDA	FMN	Emergency Ops
453.57500	458.57500	KNJC767	RM	103.5 PL	McLn County-Wide	ESDA (also used by Building Services; Sheriff: Mutual Aid)	FMN	Multi-Tac
453.70000	458.70000	KWB763	RM	103.5 PL	McLean EMA 1	EMA: Main Operations (Normal)	FMN	Emergency Ops

Lifeline EMS

Paged by METCOM on 156.210 (94.8) or for calls in Bloomington on 154.160 (97.4) by Bloomington Dispatch. '"`UNIQ--freqsubcat-00000008-QINU`"'

Illinois State Police

Bloomington-Normal is located within ISP District 6. Pontiac, IL is the district HQ. Patrol units are 600's, matching their patrol car's license plate in most cases.

Statewide ISP frequencies commonly used around Bloomington-Normal.

• 155.475 HF-1 ISPERN - Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network
  
• 155.055 HF-3 I-REACH -- Statewide Interagency Mutual Aid
  
• 155.460 HF-4 Used extensively in Bloomington-Normal area for base->car and car->base as an alternate to 42.520 / 42.720
  
• 42.500 LF-2 Statewide car-car (ex. radar details)
  
• 154.905 ISP DCI HF-2 occasionally troopers will make traffic stops on this channel (mobiles tx PL 110.9)
  
• 155.505 ISP Mobile Extenders
  

ISP District 6 Pontiac Conventional Frequencies:

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
154.68000	KSA776	BM	CSQ	ISP D6 HF-2	Dispatch (Old)	FMN	Law Dispatch
764.16875	WPTZ798	M	155 DPL	ISP D6 MX-O	Vehicular Repeater/Mobile Extender - Out (to SC21)	FMN	Law Dispatch
794.16875	WPTZ798	M	412 DPL	ISP D6 MX-I	Vehicular Repeater/Mobile Extender - In (to SC21)	FMN	Law Dispatch

ISP District 6 Starcom21 Trunked System (future use):
(ISP District 6 currently uses the conventional frequencies listed above. Below are believed to be the Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS talkgroups that will be used when ISP District 6 leaves their conventional frequencies.)

Sites

Site	Name	Freqs

Site	Name	Freqs
002 (2)	Public Safety	866.037500	866.062500	866.287500	866.312500	866.562500	866.762500	866.812500	867.062500
		867.112500	867.362500	867.412500	867.562500	867.787500	867.812500	868.137500	868.162500
		868.387500	868.412500	868.637500	868.887500

Site	Name	Freqs
001 (1)	Primary	851.312500	851.887500	852.237500	852.412500	852.737500	852.812500	852.962500	853.462500
		855.037500	855.187500	855.687500	855.787500	855.887500	856.912500c	857.787500c	858.812500c
		859.787500c

Talkgroups

Description

ISU - Illinois State University

ISU Police

As of October 2006, ISU PD now uses Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229 for dispatch and operations.

ISU Starcom21 Talkgroups
4025 - ISU PD (dispatch)
4026 - ISU PD alternate? [heard ISU PD officers on here 4/6/07]

• Previously, ch1 453.900 (103.5) was ISU PD and ch2 453.650 (103.5) was Parking Services/Housing. Housing appears to have inherited the old ISU PD 453.900 repeater [4/7/07].

• ISU PD units are in the "100's" series and are self dispatched. Post is "Illinois". Along with the standard 10-codes, ISU PD uses its own radio code system which is outlined here

• Fire Department response to ISU is from Normal Fire Department's Fire Station #2 604 N Adelaide St (see 'Normal Fire' on this page). ALS ambulance response is handled by Lifeline EMS (see 'Lifeline EMS' on this page)

• ISU Environmental Health/Safety officers use 453.200 (103.5). This repeater is not usually very active except for emergencies (ex. science lab chemical spill).

ISU Facilities

ISU Facilities use UHF repeaters and simplex frequencies as follows:

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
453.65000	458.65000	KWB766	RM	103.5 PL	ISU G4s Sec	G4s Wackenhut Security	FMN	Security
169.45000			M	CSQ	ISU WrlsMic	Wireless Mic	FMN	Schools

ISU does use the ClearTalk Motorola Type II TRS for some functions:

Normal ClearTalk frequencies:

Site	Name	Freqs
007 (7)	Rusk	856.462500	857.462500	858.462500	859.462500a	860.462500c

ISU ClearTalk Talkgroups:

Description

ISU Redbirds Athletics/Events

Go Redbirds! While attending Illinois State University Redbirds sporting events, consider monitoring:

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
453.90000	458.90000	KSQ528	RM	103.5 PL	ISU AthTrainers	Athletic Trainers	FMN	Schools
464.33750			M	413 DPL	Sodexo Conc A	Sodexo Concessions	FMN	Business
464.33750			M	67.0 PL	Sodexo Conc B	Sodexo Concessions	FMN	Business

ISU PD uses Starcom21 Motorola P25 TRS Site 229 TG 4025 while at sporting events. Parking Services uses 453.650 (103.5). When needed, the Heating Plant/Facilities Managment would use the 453.600 (131.8) repeater.

Bone Student Center/Braden Auditorium has two channels

• 453.300 (151.4) simplex
• 458.300 (CSQ) simplex

Events

US Cellular Coliseum - Bloomington, IL

Home of the Bloomington Prairie Thunder hockey team and the Bloomington Extreme indoor football team

US Cellular Coliseum radioreference.com forum thread

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
464.55000		M	174 DPL	GMA GstSvc	Guest Services	FM	Business
467.90000	WPAM358	M	271 DPL	GMA Scoreb	Scoreboard/Contests (Hill Radio) [Expired 9/12]	FMN	Business
467.92500	WPAM358	M	143 DPL	GMA Maint	Building Maintenance (Hill Radio) [Expired 9/12]	FMN	Business
462.56250		M	67.0 PL	GMA LuxSuit	Luxury Suite Staff?	FM	Business
462.63750		M	67.0 PL	GMA IceAren	Pepsi Ice Arena?	FMN	Business
464.50000		M	311 DPL	GMA Concess	Concessions	FM	Business
461.11250		M	331 DPL	GMA Ops	Stadium Ops	FMN	Business

BPD units at the Coliseum often use the "Baker" radio ids, such as "Baker 1", and most often use the 453.150 repeater. When I go to games, I listen to the following for BPD:

• 458.150 (127.3) BPD 1 - dispatch (input)
• 458.925 (127.3) BPD 2 - pro-active units (input)
• 465.125 (127.3) BPD 3 - alternate (input)
• 155.130 (CSQ) BPD car-car channel 2 (simplex)

ISU Sporting Events - Normal, IL

For scanner frequencies for ISU Redbirds sporting events, see the ISU section of this webpage

Fourth of July Fireworks - Bloomington-Normal, IL

Bloomington Miller Park

• 453.925 (127.3) Bloomington PD 2/Proactive channel
• 453.100 (118.8) Miller Park [repeater]

Taste of Country Fair - Lexington, IL

• 853.4875 DCS703 Fair Ops (simplex)
• Lexington PD uses the Starcom21 TRS
• 156.210 (94.8) Lexington FD/Ambulance paging
• 154.190 (173.8) Lexington Fire Response
• 154.815 (173.8) Lexington Ambulance Response, En-Route (input is 159.030)

Hearts at Home Conference - Normal, IL (ISU)

Hearts at Home has a yearly national conference held at ISU in the spring.

• 462.075 (218.1) Hearts at Home ops (2007) [repeater]
• 461.250 (91.5) Hearts at Home ops (2005 and 2006 conferences, not used in 2007) [repeater]
• For other possible frequencies, check the ISU section of this webpage

Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games - Normal, IL (ISU)

Confirmed in 2007:

• ISU PD: Starcom21 TG 4025
• ISP D6: Starcom21 TG 13044 and TG 13063
• ISU Facilities Management: 453.600 (131.8)
• NPD: TG 30367 (parade on Friday)

Unconfirmed:

• 453.8125 (151.4) ISU Athletics Department
• 453.650 (103.5) ISU Parking

IG WQBL564
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS - BECKY LIPP
NORMAL, IL
[radios will be used by the staff to organize, maintain and provide security of olympic games for the physically challenged throughout the state of illinois.]
ctrl pt 1 - 605 E. WILLOW NORMAL IL 309-888-2551
11/01/04 License Issued
1 - IL Statewide
464.5 MOI 95x4e
464.55 MOI 95x4e
2 - IL Statewide
461.1 MO 95x4e
462.125 MO 95x4e
462.375 MO 95x4e
462.4 MO 95x4e
464.6 MO 95x4e
464.65 MO 95x4e
464.7 MO 95x4e
464.75 MO 95x4e

Neighboring Counties:

Piatt County:
[southeast of McLean County]
155.595 Sheriff Dispatch (131.8 PL)
154.400 Fire Departments (103.5 PL)
155.325 Piatt County EMS (127.3 PL)
453.500 Piatt County Highway/ESDA (151.4 PL)

Champaign County:
[southeast of McLean Co]
453.150 Sheriff Dispatch/Urbana PD/U of I PD (118.8 PL)
453.400 Champaign Police (118.8 PL)
154.250 County Fire Departments (131.8 PL)
154.070 Champaign/Urbana City FD (131.8 PL)

Woodford County:
[northwest of McLean County]
453.500 Sheriff's Dispatch (100.0 PL)
155.145 County Alternate (203.5 PL)
154.430 Congerville/Secor/Eureka/Minonk/Roanoke FD (CSQ)
153.980 El Paso Fire Dispatch (CSQ)
156.120 County ESDA Dispatch/Highway Dept (114.8 PL)
155.055 IREACH (CSQ)

Livingston County:
[north of McLean County]
460.100 LIVCOM Sheriff (192.8 PL)
460.600 LIVCOM FIRE/EMS (110.9 PL)
453.750 County Alternate (186.2 PL)
462.950 County ESDA (103.5 PL)

DeWitt County:
[south of McLean County]
155.865 Sheriff Dispatch (141.3 PL)
158.775 Farmer City PD and Ambulance (141.3 PL)
155.430 Fire Departments (141.3 PL)

Ford County:
[east of McLean County]
156.225 Sheriff Dispatch (179.9 PL)
460.475 Gibson City PD (DCS 155)
154.190 Rural Fire Departments (151.4 PL)
154.415 Gibson City Fire Department (151.4 PL)
155.415 Gibson Area Ambulance (DCS 343)

Tazewell County:
[west of McLean County]
800 MHz EDACS Sheriff's Dispatch
154.205 Tazewell County Fire
154.250 Tazewell County Fire
154.370 Tazewell Couny Fire
155.070 Tazewell County ESDA (131.8 PL)

Logan County:
[southwest of McLean County]
155.565 Sheiff Dispatch (186.2 PL)
158.760 County Fire/ESDA Net (110.9 PL)

Related links:

• CARMA Chicago McLean County Profile - Excellent Resource!!
  
• Starcom21 Yahoo!Group - discuss scanning the new Statwide P25 TRS
  
• McLean County Radiorefence.com page
  
• CARMA Chicago Yahoo!Group - scanner listeners from Chicago and northern IL report their findings here
  
• ScanIllinois Yahoo!Group - another great resource for Illinois scanner listeners
  
• IL Radioreference.com forum
• Landofzoz.com/McLean County EMA frequency database - long before Radioreference.com, this page was the best resource for Bloomington-Normal and McLean County scanner frequencies. It still has the best collection of business, government, and public safety frequencies in McLean County.