About Ames Police Frequencies
- 4 conventional channels are analog FM, so any scanner can receive them. Enter the frequency and set the tone shown in the table.
- Trunked radio systems that carry law-enforcement traffic here: Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION): 2 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 Ames, start with the Cedar Bluffs site of Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION), about 2 miles away. Its control channels: 856.3125, 860.4875 MHz.
- 1 listed entry is marked encrypted. No scanner can decode encrypted audio.
Dodge County channels that also cover Ames
Dispatch
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County Sheriff | South Patched to 155.670 | 155.5200 In 159.0450 | 703 DPL | FMN | KRM674 |
| Dodge County Sheriff | North Patched to 155.520 | 155.6700 In 156.0300 | 503 DPL | FMN | KRM674 |
Tactical
| Agency | Description | Frequency (MHz) | Tone | Mode | FCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge (Village) Police | Vehicle Repeater | 458.9375 | 179.9 PL | FMN | — |
| Dodge County Sheriff | Sheriff Vehicle Repeater | 769.6938 | FMN | — |
Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION)
| Agency | Description | Talkgroup | Hex | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County Sheriff | Dodge County Sheriff – Dispatch | 2180 | 884 | T |
1 encrypted talkgroup (cannot be monitored)
| Agency | Description | Talkgroup | Hex | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County Sheriff | Sheriff Secure | 2215 | 8a7 | T Encrypted |
Nearest trunked radio sites
Distances are measured from the center of Ames.
Cedar Bluffs · Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION)
RFSS 1 · Site 10 (hex A) · NAC 14A · about 2 mi away
Control 856.3125, 860.4875
Voice 854.8875, 855.3625, 855.4875, 855.9625, 856.4375, 856.7625, 856.9375, 857.4375, 857.9375, 858.2875, 858.3125, 858.4375, 858.4875, 858.9375, 859.2875, 859.3125, 859.3375, 859.4375, 859.4875, 859.9375, 860.3375, 860.4375, 860.9375
Cedar Bluffs · Nebraska State Radio System
RFSS 1 · Site 67 (hex 43) · NAC B80 · about 4 mi away
Control 172.625, 173.9125
Voice 169.7875, 171.2625
Dodge County Simulcast · Omaha Regional Interoperability Network (ORION)
RFSS 1 · Site 13 (hex D) · NAC 14D · about 8 mi away
Control 853.15, 853.375, 853.6625, 853.9125
Voice 851.6125
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 Ames?
We do not have a dispatch channel listed specifically for Ames. County-level dispatch channels in the same county: Dodge County Sheriff 155.5200 MHz (703 DPL); Dodge County Sheriff 155.6700 MHz (503 DPL).