Wash DC Metro-rail

kg4rgn · #1 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 7:29 PM

Is anyone else having trouble pickup the DC Metro trunk system with a BC 996XT or BC 396XT. I work in Rockville and only seeing a 496.4375 mhz control channel pop in and out with no audio. It is a P25 system?

Thanks KG4RGN Frederick, MD.

ka3jjz · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2013, 8:02 PM

Nope, it's mixed mode...

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies

And when I see a trunk system do this, it's usually because I'm not receiving it very well...Mike

kg4rgn · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2013, 7:07 PM

Interesting no one else is having an issue with receiving the trunk system. I work near the White Flit Metro station and cannot pick up any voice signals. I am guess they may have gone to open sky? How else is having success with receiving the truck metro radio system. I still pick only the control channel on 496.4375.

Thanks

ka3jjz · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2013, 7:24 PM

If they went to Open Sky, no one would be able to hear them - that's a protocol that can't be trunked on any scanner.

The only way to properly debug this issue is to post a copy of your programming and let others see it. Otherwise we're shooting blanks...Mike

dpcain · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2013, 8:07 PM

You should be receiving the Rockville tower pretty well.. only a little bit NW of you and that tower can punch out at up to 75W output.

And FYI the FCC ULS only lists wideband AFSK data (20K0F2D) and wideband FM voice (20K0F3E), which (correct me if I'm wrong, Mike) looks standard for Motorola analog systems, so there shouldn't be anything funky.

ka3jjz · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2013, 8:53 AM

Without seeing the actual programming, I would hazard a guess that the system/site type is wrong, or the custom table is not loaded.

The system/site type should be UHF (not Moto), and you need the base/offset as shown in the database. Make sure you have all the control freqs (red and blue colored)

Mike

jkahn · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2013, 5:28 PM

Use the vhf frequencies for rail. It comes in much better than the TRS. I am near NIH.

redburgundy · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2013, 4:34 PM

Is this the WMATA 490 MHz system?
I have no problem receiving it in Rockville.

redburgundy · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2013, 10:24 PM

By the way:
Released: 02/11/2013. WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEK COMMENT ON OPTIONS FOR 470-512 MHZ (T-BAND) SPECTRUM. (DA No. 13-187). (Dkt No 13-42 ). Comments Due: 05/13/2013. Reply Comments Due: 06/11/2013. PSHSB WTB
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...A-13-187A1.doc
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...A-13-187A1.pdf

So unless Congress changes the law, WMATA will have to move to other frequencies in the next eight to ten years.