Rebanding in Bham

BHAMDISPATCHER · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 06:22 PM

I don't know if this is going to affect those of us that love to listen to the scanner, but all Bham PD (and maybe fire) radio units are going through "rebanding". I have read a memo that if the officers do not get the radios rebanded, they will not work "on the new system". Anybody have any insight as to what they may be doing and if it will affect (or is it effect) us listeners?

rjviola12 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 10:28 PM

Dave, was there a time frame given in the memo? The rebanding thing is going on across the country. I have installed a firmware update on my 396T for just this reason. It should effect the Jefferson County system, since both are shared. Thanks for the info...

dave911 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 01:51 AM

And what are the new frequencies??? Thanks Dave

AlabamaRS · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 09:39 AM

http://www.radioreference.com/forums...d-systems.html

http://www.radioreference.com/forums...d-systems.html

http://www.radioreference.com/forums...ng-br330t.html

BHAMDISPATCHER · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 10:53 PM

According to the radioshop when asked about being able to receive radio traffic on the scanner after the rebanding, here is the response I got. PLEASE NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (AND MAYBE JEFFERSON COUNTY) ONLY.

You will still be able to receive on your scanner. As a matter of fact you will be receiving duplicate talk groups due to re banding. What is going now as far as re banding we are adding firmware with the700 freqs in with the 800freqs. So when they start adding the new freqs at the sites there will not be any hit and misses.

scanrfan · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 09:04 AM

If I understand Bhamdispatcher's last post, there is not going to be an immediate change in the Bham (JeffCo) system. They are just adding the capability to use the 700mHz frequencies and may be adding some frequencies in the future. And when/if they add frequencies, there may be a period when both sets of frequencies are going to be used?

AlabamaRS · #7 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHAMDISPATCHER

According to the radioshop when asked about being able to receive radio traffic on the scanner after the rebanding, here is the response I got. PLEASE NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM (AND MAYBE JEFFERSON COUNTY) ONLY.

You will still be able to receive on your scanner. As a matter of fact you will be receiving duplicate talk groups due to re banding. What is going now as far as re banding we are adding firmware with the700 freqs in with the 800freqs. So when they start adding the new freqs at the sites there will not be any hit and misses.

Moving to 700 frequencies is NOT rebanding, it's a completely different thing

AlabamaRS · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scanrfan

If I understand Bhamdispatcher's last post, there is not going to be an immediate change in the Bham (JeffCo) system. They are just adding the capability to use the 700mHz frequencies and may be adding some frequencies in the future. And when/if they add frequencies, there may be a period when both sets of frequencies are going to be used?

Thanks for the clarification

wwhitby · #9 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 06:55 PM

I checked the transition authority's web site, and it indicated that the frequencies of Birmingham's trunked system will move 15 Mhz lower then they are now.

Jefferson County will also be getting some, but not all, new frequencies,

BTW, doing a search on the FCC's website with radio service code YE doesn't show any entries for either Jeff Co or Birmingham. I don't think the FCC has allocated the new frequencies yet.

Warren

bob-the-scanner-man · #10 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 11:01 PM

So, does anyone have a timeframe on this?? I have a Pro-96 so I know I'm covered but I'm still curious as to when I need to start getting it ready for rebanding. If it's going to be a while or use the same freq's with the 700mhz as an option, I can wait.

Btw Are they rebanding or moving to 700mhz?? Because I'd hate for them to move entirely to 700mhz, then I'd be back in the same boat I was in before I got my Pro-96.

wwhitby · #11 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 07:15 AM

As far as I can tell, they're only moving to new 800 MHz frequencies ,15 MHz below what they are now. They'll end up between 851.000 - 854.000 MHz. Your PRO-96 will follow them, but only if you use a custom trunking table.

I don't know when this will occur, but if you keep watch on the FCC's web site (do an advanced search for code YE in Alabama), it will get closer after the FCC has allocated the new frequencies to Birmingham.

Warren

scanrfan · #12 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 08:19 AM

I have a BC396T and need to know if I'll need a custom table to follow BPD/BFD when they change or can I just program in the Control Channels and let the scanner find the frequencies and TGID's?

AlabamaRS · #13 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scanrfan

I have a BC396T and need to know if I'll need a custom table to follow BPD/BFD when they change or can I just program in the Control Channels and let the scanner find the frequencies and TGID's?

read my 1st post with the links, that may answer you question, If not ask in the uniden forums
Paul

bob-the-scanner-man · #14 (**permalink**) 05-16-2009, 12:15 AM

Thanks wwhitby, I was just kind of confused when I saw something about 700mhz freq's.

medic9351301 · #15 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009, 11:15 AM

i have heard them talking on several talk groups saying they had to go to the radio shop and get the radios "flashed" i have also seen some fire handhelds with a sticker that reads"i have been flashed"
i know someone at the radio shop and he told me they were doing this to get ready for the switch over he said that no talkgroups should change

AlabamaRS · #16 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic9351301

i have heard them talking on several talk groups saying they had to go to the radio shop and get the radios "flashed" i have also seen some fire handhelds with a sticker that reads"i have been flashed"
i know someone at the radio shop and he told me they were doing this to get ready for the switch over he said that no talkgroups should change

was this City or county?? or Both??
oops if they are using the same frequencies its both my mistake hehe

BHAMDISPATCHER · #17 (**permalink**) 05-20-2009, 05:03 PM

ok, talked to another radioshop guy today who said we are simply moving to the lower end of the 800mhz band. He said we will be broadcasting on both freq's until the fall and then we will switch over. I currently don't know the freq's but will try to get them, and I will also try to confirm that we will have the same talkgroup ID's.

eddiemax · #18 (**permalink**) 06-11-2009, 09:47 PM

Here's a link to a letter written last year requesting a waiver until this year:

http://tatools.800ta.org/PublicTaToo...RMINGHAMAL.pdf

eddiemax · #19 (**permalink**) 06-14-2009, 08:42 AM

Got my BC396 udated now. First update since I bought the scanner, so I had to get them all. Like the butcher that backed into the meat grinder... I got a little behind in my work.

BTW: Make sure you're not pushing the buttons on the side while you're powering up with (L/O) and
(6) pressed to enter the update mode. It took me a try or two before I fugured that out.