SFWMD Radio System

[LakeMurray1]

Does anyone monitor or has monitored the South Florida Water Management District Radio System? What is the MPL Radio System? How does it work and what frequency does it use? Also, is the Low-band System still on the air and being used?

[FLRAILMAN]

I aquired their communications frequencies around 1999 from the FCC gen-men database & after a solid week of monitoring I never heard anything on any of their listed frequencies, no voice, data or telemetry comms whatsoever. After reading your post I again searched the FCC database & it appears that they have expanded their communications capabilty ten-fold. here they are:

VHF-LOW BAND VHF-HIGH BAND UHF VHF MARINE
30.94 MHz 159.465 MHz 406.125 MHz 156.45 MHz
30.98 MHz 169.4375 MHz 406.175 MHz 156.65 MHz
31.02 MHz 169.4875 MHz 412.675 MHz 156.425 MHz
169.425 MHz 412.725 MHz 156.8 MHz
169.5125 MHz 412.775 MHz
169.525 MHz 415.125 MHz
156.015 MHz 453.7 MHz
169.5 MHz 453.9875 MHz
170.225 MHz 464.5 MHz
170.275 MHz 464.55 MHz
170.2375 MHz
170.25 MHz
170.2875 MHz
170.3 MHz
171.025 MHz
171.05 MHz
171.0625 MHz
171.0375 MHz
171.1 MHz
171.1125 MHz
171.125 MHz
171.85 MHz
171.875 MHz
171.8625 MHz
171.9 MHz
171.9125 MHz
171.925 MHz

They also operate an extensive microwave network (I didn't include frequencies as they are in the 6 GHz range) Also I crosschecked some of the frequencies & 453.7 MHz 453.9875 MHz 464.5 MHz & 464.55 MHz. are shared with other services. I'll program these new frequencies in one of my scanners & get back to you with the results.
FLRAILMAN
(P.S. What does MPL stand for? I am not familiar with the term)

[LakeMurray1]

The SFWMD refers to the Maintenance Party Line radio system in their hurricane exercise after action repots as a means to communicate with their mobile units through the microwave system. I am also a railfan here in Central SC. Any good info on the USSC private rail operation? Thanks for your input.

[trooper890]

South Florida & St John's WMD's used to run on the 30,31&35mhz low band frequencies for voice comms. the rest of that stuff is mostly SCADA, and there are some VHF marine channels mixed it used for barge and vessel comms (rarely used if ever).

Most of the VHF-LB comms have shifted to cellphone,nextel, etc. A look at most of their vehicles you'll see an old worn out GE delta, Motorola micor, etc with the anteanna taken off and long gone, and in the newer vehicles no radio at all!

I guess they plan to send smoke signals in a disaster!

[FLRAILMAN]

Trooper890 I think you hit the nail on the head about them using Nextel, it seems every agency is using some form of cellular communication for even the most basic message traffic nowadays. So if not it's either smoke signals like you said or messages in bottles sent down the Kissimmee River. I still cant figure out why they expanded their frequency bandplan so much though. Anyway Lakemurray1 believe it or not Governor Christ approved the land aquisition of USSC by SFWMD to prepare the Everglades & Okeechobee wetlands & natural habitats to their original states without affecting USSCs cane production. SCFERR was not affected in any way due to the fact that they are Floridas largest shortline railroad & even though they were owned by USSC the have always operated as an independant entity serving other south Florida industries besides USSC itself. a very unusual business arrangement to say the least. They still operate on their two original frequencies of 160.83 MHz & 161.25 MHz under the callsign of WNUF342 based in Clewiston. Here are some websites to better aquaint you with their operation: www.ussugar.com/sugar/sugar_railroad.html also try: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sou...lorida_express
For a very generic map of Floridas railroads including SCFERR go to: www.dot.state.fl.us] click on the left side drop down menu under office & click on rail. Again I'll let you know if I hear anything on their new frequencies, keep in mind that SFWMD works very closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in south Florida so they could could be using the corps frequencies although I doubt it but you never know.
Talk to you later
FLRAILMAN

[FLRAILMAN]

Trooper890 I think you hit the nail on the head about them using Nextel, it seems every agency is using some form of cellular communication for even the most basic message traffic nowadays. So if not it's either smoke signal like you said or messages in bottles sent down the Kissimmee River. I still cant figure out why they expanded their frequency bandplan so much. Anyway Lakemurray1 believe it or not Governor Christ approved the land aquisition of USSC by SFWMD to prepare the Everglades & Okeechobee wetlands & natural habitats to their original states without affecting USSCs cane production. SCFERR was not affected in any way due to the fact that they are Floridas largest shortline railroad & even though they were owned by USSC the have always operated as an independant entity serving other south Florida industries besides USSC itself. a very unusual business arrangement to say the least. They still operate on their two original frequencies of 160.83 MHz & 161.25 MHz under the callsign of WNUF342 based in Clewiston. Here are some websites to better aquaint you with their operation: U.S. Sugar Corp also try: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/south_central_florida_express
For a very generic map of Floridas railroads including SCFERR go to: Florida Department of Transportation - Home click on the left side drop down menue under office & click on rail. Again I'll let you know if I hear anything on their new frequencies, keep in mind that SFWMD works very closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in south Florida so they could could be using the corps frequencies although I doubt it but you never know.
Talk to you later
FLRAILMAN

[FLRAILMAN]

Lakemurray1 I've listened to all the listed frequencies & the only two that were active from my location were 453.7 MHz which SFWMD shares with numerous county public safety agencies, mostly routine administrative traffic & 464.55 MHz which SFWMD shares with Lockheed-Martin, only thing I hear on that frequency is some type of electrical contractor with conversations in english & spanish. Maybe someone in central or south Florida can try this with better success then me. Sorry.
FLRAILMAN

[LakeMurray1]

Thanks FLRAILMAN for all of youe efforts.