About Billings Police Frequencies
- 7 conventional channels are analog FM, so any scanner can receive them. Enter the frequency and set the tone shown in the table.
- 1 conventional channel uses a digital mode (P25), which needs a scanner that decodes that mode.
- Trunked radio systems that carry law-enforcement traffic here: Montana Public Safety Communications System: 4 talkgroups; Montana Public Safety Communications System: 3 talkgroups. A trunking scanner is required, and it must support the system type shown.
- To follow a trunked system, program a control channel first. For Billings, start with the Billings Courthouse 800 site of Montana Public Safety Communications System, about 2 miles away. Its control channels: 851.0375, 851.375 MHz.
- 4 listed entries are marked encrypted. No scanner can decode encrypted audio.
Billings conventional frequencies
Dispatch
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings Police | Billings Police – Dispatch (patch to TRS) | 155.6700 | NAC 948 | P25 Encrypted | WQAC208 |
| Billings Police | Billings Police – Dispatch (patch to TRS) | 155.6700 | 127.3 PL | FMN | WQAC208 |
Billings trunked talkgroups
Montana Public Safety Communications System
| Agency | Description | Talkgroup | Hex | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Prison System | Montana State Women's Prison (Billings) | 1607 | 647 | D |
3 encrypted talkgroups (cannot be monitored)
| Agency | Description | Talkgroup | Hex | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings Police | Billings Police Main Dispatch | 12401 | 3071 | T Encrypted |
| Billings Police | Billings Police Encrypted | 12403 | 3073 | T Encrypted |
| Billings Police | Billings Police Encrypted | 12405 | 3075 | T Encrypted |
Yellowstone County channels that also cover Billings
Dispatch
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | East Dispatch | 154.7850 In 158.9100 | 107.2 PL | FMN | WPZH216 |
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Lockwood Dispatch | 155.7600 In 159.0300 | 107.2 PL | FMN | WQDT347 |
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | West Dispatch | 156.2100 In 159.2100 | 107.2 PL | FMN | WPZH216 |
Tactical
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Car/Car | 159.0900 | 192.8 PL | FMN | WPZH216 |
Talk-around & Car-to-Car
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Yellowstone County Sheriff – Alternate (640) | 155.6400 | 162.2 PL | FMN | WQCX531 |
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Yellowstone County Sheriff – Alternate (730) | 155.7300 In 158.8950 | FMN | WQGG748 |
Montana Public Safety Communications System
| Agency | Description | Talkgroup | Hex | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Yellowstone County Sheriff – Dispatch | 12315 | 301b | T |
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Billings Animal Control | 12408 | 3078 | T |
| Yellowstone County Sheriff | Billings Airport Police | 12450 | 30a2 | T |
Nearest trunked radio sites
Distances are measured from the center of Billings.
Billings Courthouse 800 · Montana Public Safety Communications System
RFSS 2 · Site 15 (hex F) · NAC 160 · about 2 mi away
Control 851.0375, 851.375
Voice 851.75, 852.7375, 853.1375, 853.4375
Billings South 800 · Montana Public Safety Communications System
RFSS 2 · Site 41 (hex 29) · NAC 161 · about 5 mi away
Control 855.2125, 855.7125, 856.4625
Voice 856.9625, 857.4625, 857.9625
Laurel · Montana Public Safety Communications System
RFSS 2 · Site 16 (hex 10) · NAC 16F · about 18 mi away
Control 155.5575, 161.9
Voice 161.8, 161.8625
What do these numbers mean?
- Control channel
- The frequency your scanner listens to first. It tells the scanner where each voice call is happening, so program it before anything else.
- Voice
- The other frequencies the site uses for calls. A trunking scanner follows them automatically once it has the control channel.
- Site
- One tower location of the system. Scanners show the number in decimal or hex, so both are listed.
- RFSS (Radio Frequency Sub-System)
- A group of sites run by the same controller. Large Project 25 systems can have several.
- NAC (Network Access Code)
- A hex code the site transmits. Your scanner can use it to ignore other systems on the same frequency.
- Talkgroup
- A virtual channel on a trunked system, such as one agency’s dispatch. Programming uses the decimal or hex number, depending on your scanner.
Common questions
What frequency do the police use in Billings?
Dispatch channels listed for Billings: Billings Police 155.6700 MHz (NAC 948); Billings Police 155.6700 MHz (127.3 PL).
Are Billings police talkgroups encrypted?
3 of the 4 talkgroups listed for Billings are marked fully or partly encrypted; a scanner cannot decode encrypted audio.