Sacramento - Mobile repeat & what is "Metro" unit

[RolnCode3]

I'm a non-CHP Officer in Sacramento. Usually have a scanner in my patrol vehicle, and try to listen to you guys. The Black, Gold, and Green mobiles are not repeated on the base here. Are there any plans to do that? It would help TONS to be able to keep tabs on pursuits and assistance calls. Why is it not done, like the bay area?

Second half - What is a "Metro" unit? Is it a non-freeway assignment?

Thanks.
Bill

(first trip here, was directed from a radio oriented forum...)

[Darth Choke]

Hi there. Welcome.

I work in So. Cal sooooo I am of no help to you.

Glad to be of assisstance!

:biggrin:

[dw]

I'm a non-CHP Officer in Sacramento. Usually have a scanner in my patrol vehicle, and try to listen to you guys. The Black, Gold, and Green mobiles are not repeated on the base here. Are there any plans to do that? It would help TONS to be able to keep tabs on pursuits and assistance calls. Why is it not done, like the bay area?

Second half - What is a "Metro" unit? Is it a non-freeway assignment?

Thanks.
Bill

(first trip here, was directed from a radio oriented forum...)

My understanding is the ability to repeat is a feature of some new back-end hardware we're slowly moving the State over to. Not sure when Valley will be getting the new equipment.

[RolnCode3]

Fair enough. I doubt Arnie is stumbling over himself to throw money to your guys' radio system. Guess I just have to keep trying to hear the mobiles when possible. Anyone know about the "Metro" part? Thanks for the welcome...very informative! :biggrin:

[SB 405]

Rolin I see you took my suggestion to join us,welcome. The people here are a great bunch and have years of knowledge about the CHP.

[Mac]

Welcome aboard, Rolin. I don't know what the timetable is for making all the Comm Centers "repeated" - I know Border Division Comm Center has it, and it works great - reception is very good and you can hear all the car units very clearly. Southern Division doesn't have it, and there's a huge difference in the reception up there - it's absolutely horrible compared to Border. As far as the "Metro" call signs, I don't work in Sac, so have no idea. My best guess would be that it has something to do with the units who work at the Capitol, but I don't know that for sure. Hopefully somebody who works up that way will jump in and clear it up at some point.

[RolnCode3]

The Capitol guys are "300" units. I usually hear "300Paul", but I think the Paul can vary.

The non-repeating dispatch seems to be holding your communications to a certain degree (although I know MDCs are used in some area...step in the right direction), so hopefully you guys will some day get rid of that (and figure out a way around extenders too...). Thanks for the responses.

[RolnCode3]

The Capitol guys are "300" units. I usually hear "300Paul", but I think the Paul can vary.
Correction. I *think* they're 300 units. Don't listen to them all the time, but I think that's correct.

[john2190]

Metro units are those assigned to work the highways (there are county and rural beats too).

[dw]

Metro units are those assigned to work the highways (there are county and rural beats too).

Are you sure about that? It's been a while since I was in the Sac Area, but the freeway units never used to be called metro units. Never had metro units anywhere I worked, so I'm curious as well.

[Mac]

Doesn't sound right to me either - I'm wondering if maybe they're some kind of SEU detail or some such.....

Rolin - do you hear them on the radio pretty regularly (like every shift), or just at certain times (i.e. weekends, certain hours, etc.)?

[KingFrankSam]

I believe they are the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) trucks. See here: http://www.chp.net/fsp.htm

[SB 405]

I think he's hearing these metro units on the CHP freq. FSP doesn't use the same freq as the CHP....at least I've never heard FSP units on a CHP freq.

[dw]

I think he's hearing these metro units on the CHP freq. FSP doesn't use the same freq as the CHP....at least I've never heard FSP units on a CHP freq.

Although a different Freq, we occasionally simulcast (usually at night) with the same dispatcher. You'll hear dispatch broadcast to them, but not the FSP response. We prefaced them with 6, so the FSP unit in Hayward's Area was 625-184, or whatever.

[RolnCode3]

About 99% sure it's not FSP, as they're on the Sacramento County trunked radio system. Usually what I'll hear is "I need a Metro unit for an 11-82, 11-25"...she'll get a response that I can't hear (on the mobile), and then it'll be dispatched. This is on the normal CHP freqs (around here the gold and black...mostly hear the Metro reference on the black (South Sacto)).

[RolnCode3]

Doesn't sound right to me either - I'm wondering if maybe they're some kind of SEU detail or some such.....

Rolin - do you hear them on the radio pretty regularly (like every shift), or just at certain times (i.e. weekends, certain hours, etc.)?
I hear the reference pretty regularly, from what I remember (maybe because it's when I'm usually listening) is that the reference is made during the afternoon commute. Can't guarantee that, but it seems to be about right.

[stateboy]

For what it's worth, I was part of a conversation with RolnCode3 about this on another board.

I was on a ride-along with one of the Metro cars out of South Sac in Dec. 2004. The radio ID was "Metro 48" and I was with a motor officer, but it was raining that day so we had a cruiser. We were in downtown Sac, near the 5/80 interchange on both I-5 and I-80.

Hope this helps.

[john2190]

Are you sure about that? It's been a while since I was in the Sac Area, but the freeway units never used to be called metro units. Never had metro units anywhere I worked, so I'm curious as well.

"Metro" is not used in their call sign; metro is the name of the highway beat. So, when they request a metro unit, they are requesting a highway unit. If you would like more detail, I'll be glad to PM you, but I don't think I'm supposed to post specific beat information in a public forum.

[dw]

Are you sure about that? It's been a while since I was in the Sac Area, but the freeway units never used to be called metro units. Never had metro units anywhere I worked, so I'm curious as well.

"Metro" is not used in their call sign; metro is the name of the highway beat. So, when they request a metro unit, they are requesting a highway unit. If you would like more detail, I'll be glad to PM you, but I don't think I'm supposed to post specific beat information in a public forum.

I think I need more information because I'm still confused. :confused:

[john2190]

OK, let's say that there are two beats in an office: Beat 1 and the Metro beat. Beat 1 covers a certain area of the office's jurisdiction; the metro beat is the beat that covers the freeways within the office's jurisdiction. When dispatch calls for a metro unit, they are referring to a unit that covers the freeway. The same goes for Beat 1.

By the way, these are not actual beat names nor do they represent how the beats are set up, except for metro; they are simply examples so as not to release any sensitive information. I cannot really do anymore explaining, as this is the Internet, and I don't want to get into any trouble. I hope I haven't gone to far already :confused: :shock:ops:

[dw]

OK, let's say that there are two beats in an office: Beat 1 and the Metro beat. Beat 1 covers a certain area of the office's jurisdiction; the metro beat is the beat that covers the freeways within the office's jurisdiction. When dispatch calls for a metro unit, they are referring to a unit that covers the freeway. The same goes for Beat 1.

By the way, these are not actual beat names nor do they represent how the beats are set up, except for metro; they are simply examples so as not to release any sensitive information. I cannot really do anymore explaining, as this is the Internet, and I don't want to get into any trouble. I hope I haven't gone to far already :confused: :shock:ops:

Huh...

[RolnCode3]

Cool...thanks for the clarification...I think :biggrin:

I might shoot a PM, but don't want you to feel you might get in trouble...
Thanks for the responses.

[CHP Explorer]

So ones a line beat and the other is an area beat. Makes sinces but why a call sign with metro?

[john2190]

So ones a line beat and the other is an area beat. Makes sinces but why a call sign with metro?

Like I said, the call sign is not "metro"; metro is the name of a particular beat. Your call sign could be "2 Sacramento 85", but the beat you?re assigned to is metro. When they call for a metro unit, they mean a highway unit.

[Darkness916]

Like I said, the call sign is not "metro"; metro is the name of a particular beat. Your call sign could be "2 Sacramento 85", but the beat you?re assigned to is metro. When they call for a metro unit, they mean a highway unit.

I know this is an old forum but, I did a ride along a few years back and our call sign was something like "Sac112 Metro15". We were not a freeway unit. We were assigned to the unincorporated area of Sacramento County from Fruitridge to Elk Grove. Sorry if that puts more confusion to the mix. :think:

[BoySergeant]

Okay, I think I speak for everyone who has had to read through this post from 2 1/2 years ago... What in blazes name is a Metro unit in Sacramento?! I'll make a call today...

[RolnCode3]

Too funny. Just randomly stopped in looking for pics of the new squads and saw this. Had totally forgotten about it.

[Code349]

Any luck with the parking ticket code 3? :hitwall: I kid, I kid.

[PapaBear]

Here are the CHP frequencies for statewide service.

http://www.freqofnature.com/frequencies/ca/chp.html

I am not certain of the Metro Units in Sacramento, but they could be SAC PD metro units calling on a CHP frequency in a special task force.

If you play with your scanner and the frequencies, you should be able to hear the patrol units. Code your scanner with the "Mobile" frequency. I have mine coded and can copy the units from quite some distance away. If a pursuit entails that I want to listen to, I bring up the "Base" frequency or go to a common frequency - blue or clemars.