In his first appearance (Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect (2003))(#2.7), Grooms was an ATF Agent. Between then and this episode, he had evidently transferred to the FBI.
The show "Monk" takes place in San Francisco, but when Mr. Monk gets out of the car to fix the antenna, Amoeba Records, Hollywood on Sunset Blvd is visible in the background.
The first of two episodes where Adrian Monk goes camping. He would do so again in Mr. Monk Goes Camping (2009)(#8.12).