CapeCodFD.com                Cape Cod Radio Frequency List        U/D 12/14/16

    Mass State Police System  Fire Radio    Police Radio     EMS    Air, Sea, Misc

    PRINT

MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE MOTOROLA TYPE II 800 MHZ TRUNKING SYSTEM
    Fire and EMS communications (as well as most of the Cape Police Departments and the MSP) on Cape Cod are conducted on the Massachusetts State Police Motorola Type II 800 Mhz Trunked Radio System. Operations on this system began around 1998. Trunked radio communications share a group of frequencies that are carried by sites (area radio sites). The frequencies are listed below. The list below also shows each of the departments and their assigned 800 Mhz "Talk Groups" (TG) as well as the corresponding low band frequency associated with these departments. Each department has its own Talk Group (=channel) for ordinary operations. In addition, the county has a mutual aid dispatch "County" talk group used for station to station communications. There are also 3 Operations "Ops" talk groups assigned as tactical channels for major incidents. In addition, a fire admin TG and an EMS TG may be utilized from time to time. Mobile and portable radios have 3 banks (A, B, C) of 16 channels each. Programming of fire radios tends to have primary and closest neighbors in a scan mode in the A-Bank along with the national I-Call and I-Tac channels. The B-Bank has all other FDs not in A-Bank. The C-Bank has the Ops channels.

LOW BAND COMMUNICATIONS
     At one time, each of the departments operated on a single county-wide low band frequency. During the 1960's-1970's each of the departments eventually went over to their own low band "fire alarm" frequency. A common "county" channel was maintained for mutual aid responses. Most of the departments continue to maintain their low band channels and simulcast primary operations from their trunking talk group over these old channels for pager and scanner reception.

400 Mhz and 800 Mhz CONVENTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
     In recent years, after a few issues with the MSP Trunking system and as a means of upgrading off duty recall capabilities, some departments began adding 400 Mhz and conventional 800 Mhz frequencies as well. These frequencies tend to carry simulcast communications from the Trunking system, but also enable personnel to communicate from 400 Mhz 2-way radios to other personnel or stations when needed. The idea being that these additional frequencies serve as a backup to the primary system should that system fail. The 400 and 800 conventional channels are listed below as well.

SCANNERS
     Monitoring Trunked Radio communications requires an appropriate type of scanner known as a "Trunk Tracker." These radios are made by several manufacturers and come in a variety of types and sizes. Monitoring on the Cape is difficult without a Trunk Tracker and since most major incidents are conducted on "Ops" channels that do no have corresponding simulcast channels, if you want to hear the good stuff, you really need a scanner that can handle it. See next section Re-Banding.

RE-BANDING 
     As many of you know, a national "re-banding" of many frequencies, particularly those utilized in Trunking systems, such as the MSP system, has been under way for several years. All of the radios in the system (fire, police, and others) were re-programmed over several months in late 2012 and early 2013. The switchover to the re-banded channels appears to have occurred around the week of Feb 25, 2013.  Scanners that have not been updated with the newest frequencies are probably missing a lot of radio traffic.

    The solution is to make sure you scanners have the correct frequencies programmed (SEE BELOW).

    Some older scanners may not do well during this process, but give it a shot. They may work ok.
    NOTE: March 2013. Entered full list of rebanded channels into a BC785D (older scanner) and it works FINE!  Give it a shot!
 

NARROW-BANDING 
     Another radio frequency change is coming about as a result of improved technologies and mandates from government.  Known as "Narrow Banding" the radio spectrum (available pool of frequencies) is changing slightly as the demand for more frequencies increases. Essentially, it is possible now to use more channels in the same frequency range by squeezing them closer together (ie: reducing the space between frequencies). As of Jan 1, 2013 for example, a new set of EMS channels go into effect. Halfway in between what used to be known as Med 2 and Med 3 for example, will be a new channel known essentially as Med 2-2. To make it even more confusing, Med 2 and Med 3 will be now be called Med 2-N (narrow) and Med 3-N (narrow). This goes all the way thru the Med channels and will also be done with other groups of frequencies in other bands. Scanners may have to be reprogrammed a little to deal with these slight changes.
 

Massachusetts State Police Motorola Type II 800 Mhz Trunked Radio System

MSP ZONES
     The Massachusetts State Police 800 Mhz Trunking System covers all of Massachusetts for the State Police. There are many sites (zones) across the state which group frequencies and radio "control channels." When the system was being built, Fire and Police agencies on Cape Cod were offered the opportunity to operate within the system, and for the most part, are the only non-state police fire and police departments in the state on the system.

FREQUENCIES
     There are (3) zones (groups of frequencies) covering the Cape. These frequencies are shared by all fire and police agencies as well as the State Police. Use of Talk Groups (specific to each agency) helps limit and control what you hear by choice. Just using the frequencies would enable listening, but without any sense of order. The "control channels" at each zone carry data (and make an annoying sound) but are required and  key to enabling radios and scanners to monitor the communications orderly. Some radios only need the control channel (CC) to work. Others may require all the frequencies to work. Each is listed below.
 
ZONE 4 - UPPER & MID CAPE COD
1.  854.2125         voice
2.  854.3625         Alt CC & Voice
3.  854.7375         voice
4.  855.5375         Control Channel
5.  856.2375         P25 use
6.  856.2625         P25 use
7.  857.2375         P25 use
8.  857.2625         voice
9.  858.2125         voice
10.  859.2125       Alt CC & Voice
11.  859.2375       Alt CC & Voice
12.  860.2125       voice
13   860.2375       voice
14   860.4625       voice
 
ZONE 6 - EASTERN CAPE COD
1.  851.6000         voice
2.  852.6250         voice
3.  853.5000         voice
4.  856.2125         Alt CC & Voice
2.  857.2125         Control Channel
3.  859.0625         voice

 
 
ZONE 11 - OUTER CAPE COD
1.  851.2000         voice
2.  851.3750         voice
3.  852.3125         voice
4.  853.4750         Alt CC& Voice
5.  853.6375         Control Channel
 
 
CONVENTIONAL 800 CHANNELS IN ALL FIRE RADIOS
1.  851.3125         PL 146.2        Conventional 800 - Fireground Direct 1
2.  851.8375         PL 146.2        Conventional 800 - Fireground Direct 2
3.  851.0125         PL 156.7        Conventional 800 - National "I-Call"   (8-Call-90)
4.  851.5125         PL 156.7        Conventional 800 - National "I-Tac 1" (8-Tac-91)
5.  852.0125         PL 156.7        Conventional 800 - National "I-Tac 2" (8-Tac-92)
6.  852.5125         PL 156.7        Conventional 800 - National "I-Tac 3" (8-Tac-93)
7.  853.0125         PL 156.7        Conventional 800 - National "I-Tac 4" (8-Tac-94)
 
 

 

Fire Departments 

Frequency CTCSS Department 800 Talk Group Dispatch By
33.70 114.8 Barnstable County Control Mutual Aid Disp 38032 BSO
    OPS - 1  (C4) 38064 BSO
    OPS - 2  (C6) 37968 BSO
    OPS - 3  (C8) 38000 BSO
    EMS Control  (A-11) 37392 BSO
    Fire Administrative Channel 37936 BSO
33.48 114.8 Barnstable Fire 37264 BSO
33.64 114.8 Bourne Fire 37296 BSO
33.52 114.8 Brewster Fire 37328 BSO
33.84 114.8 Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills
COMM Fire		 37424 COMMFD
33.62 114.8 Chatham Fire 37360 CHAFD
33.56 114.8 Cotuit Fire 37456 COMMFD
33.86 114.8 Dennis Fire 37488 BSO
33.82 114.8 Eastham Fire 37520 EAS PD
33.78 114.8 Falmouth Fire 37552 FALFD
33.96 114.8 Harwich Fire 37584 HARFD
33.94 114.8 Hyannis Fire 37616 HYAFD
(was 173.585) Joint Base Cape Cod   (Otis/MMR) 37904 BSO
33.68 114.8 Mashpee Fire 37648 BSO
33.74 114.8 Orleans Fire 37680 BSO
33.46 114.8 Provincetown Fire 37712 PTPD
33.60 114.8 Sandwich Fire 37744 SANFD
33.66 114.8 Truro Fire 37776 TRUPD
33.54 114.8 Wellfleet Fire 37808 BSO
33.04 114.8 West Barnstable Fire  37840 BSO
33.58 114.8 Yarmouth Fire 37872 YARFD
         
151.310 71.9 DCR Fire Towers 36976 (old)  
151.310 71.9 DCR Fire Towers 11088  
     
    Barnstable County Public Health 38768
     
155.745   BMA Hyannis Airport Operations (ARFF Alert)    
453.550 114.8 Brewster FD 400 -2 way Paging (2012) see above  
154.355 114.8 COMM & Cotuit FD Zetron
(in house dispatch & alerting)		    
453.7375 192.8 COMM FD 400 -2 way Paging (New 7/09) see above  
460.6375 167.9 COMM FD 400 -2 way -TAC Ch (new 7/09)
   (Note: County & Ops are simulcast)		    
853.2625   COMM FD 800 -Conventional backup ( 9/09)    
453.375 103.5 Chatham FD 400 -Backup (2012) see above  
453.3875 173.8 Cotuit FD 400 -2 way Paging (new 7/09) see above  
453.325 151.4 Dennis FD 400 -2 way Paging (2008) see above  
453.800 114.8 Eastham FD 400 - 2 way Paging (2012) see above   
153.860 110.9 Falmouth FD -Admin Freq "742"  
460.550 85.4 Harwich FD 400 -2 way Paging (2006) see above  
857.4375 D-723 Harwich FD 800 -Backup (2012)  
460.625 123.0 Hyannis FD 400 -"Channel 2"  Admin  
853.2125 203.5 Hyannis FD 800 -Primary Simulcast see above  
453.1250 114.8 Orleans FD 400 -2 way Paging (2012) see above  
484.825 186.2 Sandwich FD 400 -2 way Paging (2006) see above  
453.1875 114.8 Wellfleet FD 400 -2 way Paging (2012) see above  
453.150 167.9 Yarmouth FD 400 -2 way Paging see above  
854.9625 146.2 Yarmouth FD 800 -Backup (2012)    
         
  LPS5 Local Public Safety (Interoperability)
   (used fire-police special events, etc)		 36464  
         
  Helo MSP Statewide Airwing 35472  
         
  FM Mass Fire Marshall - East 34992  
  FM Mass Fire Marshall - South 35024  
  FM Mass Fire Marshall - Central 35088  
  FM Mass Fire Marshall - West 35120  
         
  MEMA MEMA - East 38928  
  MEMA MEMA - South 38960  
  MEMA MEMA - West 39024  
  MEMA MEMA - Metro 38896  
         
155.955 100.0 MEMA - VHF Statewide    
155.7525 156.7 MEMA - V-Call 10 (statewide M/A use)    
151.1375 156.7 MEMA - V-Tac 11 (TAC 1)    
154.4525 156.7 MEMA - V-Tac 12 (TAC 2)    
158.7375 156.7 MEMA - V-Tac 13 (TAC 3)    
159.4725 156.7 MEMA - V-Tac 14 (TAC 4)    
         
         
 

   

        Police Departments

CAPE COD LOCAL AND STATE POLICE
      Each of the Cape Cod Police Departments have been assigned an 800 "Talk Group" on the Massachusetts State Police Motorola Type II Trunking System. Not all departments however are utilizing the system. Several had conventional 800 Mhz frequencies prior to the MSP system and opted to continue to use that frequency, with the MSP channel as backup.  
Frequency CTCSS Department 800 Talk Group Disp By
155.565 110.9 Barnstable County Police Ch.1  (old)
Barnstable County Sheriff's Office (BSO) Channel 1 for regional use (GI, GBC, etc)		 38800 BSO
    BSO (BCI, K9) 38736 BSO
155.700 110.9 Barnstable County Police Ch.2  (old)    
155.640 110.9 Barnstable County Police Ch.3  (old)    
155.520 110.9 Barnstable County Police Ch.4  (old)    
151.0925 173.8 Barnstable County Correctional Facility    
154.1825 114.8 BCCF Operations    
154.9575 103.5 BCCF Transportation    
155.760 127.3 BCCF    
         
855.2125 D445 Barnstable Police (Conventional 800) 38096 BARPD
857.4125 D445 Bourne Police (Conventional 800) 38128 BOUPD
    Brewster Police (Trunk) 38160 BREPD
    Chatham Police (Trunk) 38192 CHAPD
460.0625   136.5 Dennis Police (Trunk) 38224 DENPD
155.985 110.9 Dennis PD (Harbormaster, Animal Control)   DENPD
    Eastham Police (Trunk) 38256 EASPD
855.4625 D445 Falmouth Police (Conventional 800) 38288 FALPD
    Harwich Police (Trunk) 38320 HARPD
    Mashpee Police (Trunk) 38352 MASPD
854.9375 D445 Mashpee Police Ch.2 (Conventional 800)   MASPD
  Orleans Police (Trunk) 38384 ORLPD
    Provincetown Police (Trunk) 38416 PTPD
155.700 110.9 Provincetown PD VHF   PTPD
855.1125 D445 Sandwich Police (Conventional) 38448 SANPD
    Truro Police (Trunk) 38480 TRUPD
    Wellfleet Police (Trunk) 38512 WELPD
855.2375 D445 Yarmouth Police (Conventional) 38544 YARPD
         
42.50 141.3 MSP Troop D - Patrol 1
(D1) Norwell  (D4) Middleboro HQ		 33968 MSP
42.50 141.3 MSP Troop D - Patrol 2
(D3) Dartmouth / Southeast		 34000 MSP
42.50 141.3 MSP Troop D - Patrol 3
(D2) Yarmouth  (D7) Bourne / Cape Cod		 34032 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Patrol 4
Car to Car		 34064 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Detectives 1
Bristol / Plymouth		 34288 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Detectives 2
Cape Cod		 34320 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Auto Theft Task Force 34864 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Gov Security 35184 MSP
    MSP Troop D - Narc Div 34704 MSP
    MSP Troop D - All Troop Talk Group 34160 MSP
Police Upper Cape Admin 38576  
Police Mid Cape Admin 38608  
Police Lower Cape Admin 38640  
LPS-5 Public Safety (Police, Fire, all) 36464  
  LPS-6 Public Safety (Police Interoperability) 36496  
866.8125 146.2 Cape Police Tac-1 (Conventional 800)      
866.0625 146.2 Cape Police Tac-2 (Conventional 800)    
         
         
163.4125 173.8 US Army Corps Engineers - Canal    
173.7625 707 NAC Cape Cod National Seashore P25   
171.725 707 NAC Cape Cod National Seashore P25  
     

   


 

   EMS Radio System

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
      Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on Cape Cod and across Massachusetts use the following frequencies for Ambulance to Hospital communications. The frequency use is controlled and assigned by several regional CMED (Centralized Medical Emergency Dispatch) centers. Barnstable CMED (the first in the state in 1974) is operated by the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office communications center. Initial calling and hailing of CMED is on Channel 4 (Statewide).
      Barnstable CMED is the control center for 4 hospitals:
Cape Cod Hospital CCH in Hyannis,
Falmouth Hospital, in Falmouth,
Tobey Hospital in Wareham,
Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs
      All "patches" to these hospitals go thru Barnstable CMED on 4 patch channels (2, 5, 7, or 8). Additional channels are utilized in neighboring regions and are also listed.

      NOTE: Effective January 1, 2013
     All CMED channels and frequencies in Massachusetts will utilize the new required "narrow-band" frequencies as indicated in Red below. Note that Med 5 is now longer used in Barnstable CMED.  The following channels will be used by Barnstable CMED:
     Med 2-N    Hospital Patches
     Med 3-N    Hospital Patches
     Med 4-N    Calling & Hailing Channel
     Med 7-N    Hospital Patches
     Med 8-2     Hospital Patches

     The PL code (CTCSS) for Barnstable CMED was 173.8.  It will be 114.8 after Jan 1, 2013
     The PL Code (CTCSS) for Plymouth CMED will be 103.5  after Jan 1, 2013.
     The PL Code (CTCSS) for Bristol County CMED will be 127.3 as of Jan 1, 2013.
     The PL Code (CTCSS) for Boston CMED will be 136.5 as of Jan 1, 2013.

Updated 12-18-12
Frequency CTCSS Department Notes
155.280   EMS 280 - Martha's Vineyard Backup  
155.340   EMS 340 - Nantucket / Plymouth Backup  
463.0000   CMED Ch.1-N Base                                     (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.0000   CMED Ch.1-N Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.0125   CMED Ch 1-2 Base                                     (new  2013) Not on Cape
468.0125   CMED Ch 1-2 Mobile                                  (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.0250 114.8 CMED Ch.2-N Base - Hosp Patch           (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
468.0250 114.8 CMED Ch.2-N Mobile                               (new 2013) Barnstable CMED 
463.0375 CMED Ch 2-2 Base                                      (new 2013) Not on Cape 
468.0375 CMED Ch 2-2 Mobile                                  (new 2013) Not on Cape 
463.0500 114.8 CMED Ch.3-N Base - Hosp Patch           (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
468.0500 114.8 CMED Ch.3-N Mobile -                            (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
463.0625   CMED Ch 3-2 Base                                    (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.0625   CMED Ch 3-2 Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.0750 114.8 CMED Ch.4 Base - Calling                       (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
468.0750 114.8 CMED Ch.4 Mobile - Calling                  (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
463.0875   CMED Ch 4-2 Base                                    (new  2013) Not on Cape
468.0875   CMED Ch 4-2 Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1000   CMED Ch.5-N Base                                      (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.1000   CMED Ch.5-N Mobile                                  (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1125   CMED Ch 5-2 Base                                    (new  2013) Not on Cape
468.1125   CMED Ch 5-2 Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1250   CMED Ch.6-N Base                                   (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.1250   CMED Ch.6-N Mobile                                (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1375   CMED Ch 6-2 Base                                    (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.1375   CMED Ch 6-2 Mobile                                (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1500 114.8 CMED Ch.7-N Base - Hosp Patch          (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
468.1500 114.8 CMED Ch.7-N Mobile                             (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
463.1625   CMED Ch 7-2 Base                                    (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.1625   CMED Ch 7-2 Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1750   CMED Ch.8-N Base                                    (new 2013) Not on Cape
468.1750   CMED Ch.8-N Mobile                                (new 2013) Not on Cape
463.1875 114.8 CMED Ch.8-2 Base - Hosp Patch           (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
468.1875 114.8 CMED Ch.8-2Mobile                                 (new 2013) Barnstable CMED
462.9500   CMED Ch 9-N Base                                    (new  2013) Not on Cape
467.9500   CMED Ch 9-N Mobile                                 (new  2013) Not on Cape
462.9625   CMED Ch 9-2 Base                                    (new  2013) Not on Cape
462.9625   CMED Ch 9-2 Mobile                                 (new 2013) Not on Cape
462.9750   CMED Ch 10-N Base                                   (new  2013) Not on Cape
467.9750   CMED Ch 10-N Mobile                                (new  2013) Not on Cape
462.9750   CMED Ch 10-2 Base                                    (new  2013) Not on Cape
467.9750   CMED Ch 10-2 Mobile                            (new 2013) Not on Cape
       
       
460.800 114.8 Boston Medflight - Boston  
460.800 103.5 Boston Medflight - Bedford  
460.800 127.3 Boston Medflight - Plymouth  
465.800   Boston Medflight Air - Ground  
155.160 118.8 Worcester Lifeflight  
       
  179.9 Plymouth CMED (Uses Ch.3,4,6)  
  151.4 Boston CMED  
       
461.200 173.8 Cape Cod Ambulance Co Private Ambs
463.350 173.8 Cape Cod Ambulance Co Private Ambs
       
       
453.575 141.3 Cape Cod Regional Transit Buses
       
   

  

     Air, Sea, Misc Radio Frequencies
       Assorted Cape area channels of interest.

Frequency CTCSS Department Notes
461.1000   Cape Cod City Wide Notif. Network
462.6000 103.5 Mass Net 3 - Barnstable Notif. Network
462.6000 94.8 Mass Net 3B - Barnstable Notif. Network
       
       
156.450   Marine Channel  (9) Calling
156.650   Marine Channel (13) Canal
156.800   Marine Channel  (16)  Emergency Calling Calling
157.050   Marine Channel (21A)
Sector S.E. New England / Woods Hole		 Ops
157.100   Marine Channel (22A) Notices, OPS
157.150   Marine Channel (23) USCG Ops
       
       
452.175 67.0 Towboat US Repeater  
       
164.550   USCG S&R - Air Station Cape Cod  
166.225   USCG S&R - Air Station Cape Cod  
379.050   USCG S&R - Air to Ground / Sea     
326.150   USCG S&R - Air to Ground / Sea   
237.900    USCG S&R  - Air Ops  
345.000   USCG S&R - Primary  
       
155.745   BMA Airport Operations (ARFF)  
119.500   Hyannis Airport Tower  
121.900   Hyannis Airport Ground  
118.200   Cape Air Approach  
       
284.600   Otis - Cape Air Approach North  
275.800   Otis - Air Ground  
121.600   Otis - Air Ground  
294.700   Otis - Tower  
236.600   Otis - Tower  
121.000   Otis - Tower  
       
451.0250 203.5 N-Star Electric Upper Cape
451.1250 203.5 N-Star Electric Mid Cape
451.200 203.5 N-Star Electric Adm
451.250 203.5 N-Star Electric Lower Cape
   
       
159.105 110.9 Barnstable DNR F1
154.680 110.9 Barnstable DNR F2
453.625 118.8 Barnstable DPW F1
453.350 118.8 Barnstable DPW F2
453.775 118.8 Barnstable DPW F3
159.105 119.9 Barnstable Harbormaster  
462.400 97.4 Barnstable Water F1
       
150.995 210.7 Bourne DPW  
462.400 210.7 Bourne Water  
       
155.115 151.4 Chatham DPW  
       
460.450 151.4 Dennis DPW  
       
151.130   Mashpee DPW  
       
47.28 141.3 Mass Highway  
       
156.180 103.5 Provincetown DPW  
       
159.075 156.7 Sandwich DPW  
453.6875 173.8 Sandwich Emergency Management  
       
37.18 173.8 Truro DPW  
       
159.120 210.7 Wellfleet DPW  
       
151.055 162.2 Yarmouth DPW F1
156.045 162.2 Yarmouth DPW F2