Anything digital?

radiopro52 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 11:42 PM

Hey all. I was just wondering if there are any digital transmissions in north Alabama that I'm not aware of. The only digital system I know of is Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Is there anything else digital, cause everything still seems to be analog here around the Decatur area.

Caddop22 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 01:43 PM

I believe that the Marshall Space Flight Center has converted to digital also. They are located on the Arsenal also.

radiopro52 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caddop22

I believe that the Marshall Space Flight Center has converted to digital also. They are located on the Arsenal also.

Is that all of the digital systems? With the new BCD996XT out, I was thinking of an upgrade from my BCT15. But why spend the extra $300 just to be able to hear one digital system?

Do you know of any stations planning to convert to digital? If not then I may just get the BCT15X, or stick with what I got.

Caddop22 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 01:45 PM

As far as I know they are the only two systems. That is why I haven't upgraded. I hear that the DOD and MP's use encryption quite a bit also.

radiopro52 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 08:54 PM

North Alabama is lagging behind in the digital department it seems. I guess that's good though, it saves us money on scanners

KD4NII · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 10:31 PM

It's been almost four years since I lived up there but the only "digital" I know of is Southern-Linc. Morgan County Sheriff & Hartselle seemed to use it as much if not more than their VHF. Of course all the Ambulances were on Linc too, except for Decatur EMS which was on the EDACS analog system back then, and they were still adding towers.

radiopro52 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD4NII

It's been almost four years since I lived up there but the only "digital" I know of is Southern-Linc. Morgan County Sheriff & Hartselle seemed to use it as much if not more than their VHF. Of course all the Ambulances were on Linc too, except for Decatur EMS which was on the EDACS analog system back then, and they were still adding towers.

Yeah, Decatur EMS is still on the EDACS system. But no scanner can monitor Southern-Linc thought, right?

morganAL · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 08:56 AM

Nope. No scanners can monitor SouthernLinc. I have heard rumors that Huntsville may be switching to P-25 in the future but when remains to be seen. I know some of the industry in Decatur is using Mototrbo or whatever it's called. But that's the only digital I know of.

mikebennett · #9 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 10:04 AM

The Natchez Trace Park rangers (Lauderdale & Colbert Co's) went digital a few years ago however they also went to full time encryption so you won't be monitoring them.

Mike

bee · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 01:49 PM

A digital scanner will not, moniter the Natchez Trace. Nothing, will moniter the Natchez Trace!

Nothing!!

radiopro52 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morganAL

Nope. No scanners can monitor SouthernLinc. I have heard rumors that Huntsville may be switching to P-25 in the future but when remains to be seen. I know some of the industry in Decatur is using Mototrbo or whatever it's called. But that's the only digital I know of.

I did find the trunking system for Nucor Steel. I can hear it's data channel, but it all seems to be digital, probably Mototrbo. Here are the frequencies, but I don't think I'm going to submit it to the DB since you can't monitor it.

AlabamaRS · #12 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 05:47 PM

any reason that you say its "probably mototurbo'???? Do you hav e a digital scanner to try it??

js_scan888 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 06:43 PM

The Nucor Steel system has emission codes of 4K00F1D and 4K00F1E. You are dealing with NXDN. Either Kenwood NEXEDGE trunking or Icom IDAS trunking. A MOTOTRBO system would have emission codes of 7K60FXD and 7K60FXE.

radiopro52 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-27-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaRS

any reason that you say its "probably mototurbo'???? Do you hav e a digital scanner to try it??

No I don't have a digital scanner, but I can receive it's data channel and hear some sounds that are probably digital transmissions on the other frequencies. I'm certain that it's not a P25 system though.

milf · #15 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 02:37 PM

The Natchez Trace is a 4 chan digital P-25 net with both Law Enforcement chans encrypted full time. The maintanance side is clear, and when they interop on local LEA nets, they are clear. Also might want to monitor the Fed/Non Fed interop freqs with them now too. Also remember the TVA,.. a lot of thier stuff is now P-25, with the Law Enforcement encrypted.

KD4NII · #16 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 10:35 PM

You can buy "Motobro", & Kenwood NEXEDGE radios, though getting them programmed is a different matter. Monitoring Southern-LINC, fraid not - at least not with affordable hobby receivers & it's probably illegal even if you can afford professional service monitors. LINC is iDEN/TDMA, not omnidirectional like public-safety so don't waste you money.
Forget about encrypted systems, even if you could somehow find a way to decode it that would be highly illegal!
I always knew LINC, NEXTEL & encryption would be the end of our hobby, more or less. The feds used to be the only ones who could afford encryption & channel-hopping technology, like everything else it's become cheap enough for almost any agency & even commercial users. Just my 2 cents worth!