Buffalo NY City Zoo frequency change

[videobruce]

Our Zoo received new radios a month or so ago and they are not on the VHF high band anymore. No idea why, the old one seemed to work ok, someone probably talked them into spending members donations for new ones.

Anyone in the know, know where they moved to?

 

[joespca]

RR Database Home

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[videobruce]

Right in with all the other digital CRAP in the jammed pack UHF band as opposed to the almost wide open VHF high band.
Lamos!
I'll have to remember that for the next time they look for donations.

I wonder who sold them the bill of goods?? This will solve all of your non-existent, so called problems on VHF.

 

[ak716]

I was there a few months ago, and I noticed they were running around with CCR's. Looking at the license, Saia's got their name on it, but, going from CCR's to probably some XPR's is probably an upgrade for the better, regardless which band.

 

[videobruce]

CCR & XPR??

The ONLY problem they had was the frequency of the auto ID which was everytime someone would unkey which got VERY annoying vry quickly since it would walk over someone else tiring to respond. That's just a poor setup issue, nothing else.

 

[ak716]

CCR = Cheap Chinese Radios (Zastone, Baofeng, you name it off eBay for under $50, Part 90 non-complaint "equipment"). XPR's, assuming thats what they got, seeing how they got a DMR emission, and Saia was the company who is listed as the contact for their updated license, a reputable Motorola dealer in WNY, they probably bought Motorola XPR line radios (radios decent for what they would be used for at a Zoo)

 

[videobruce]

I looked here, they are listed at very the bottom of the never ending list;

DMR Frequency Search Results

Radio frequency database search tool to identify Digital Mobile Radio, DMR, users by county and state.

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It looks as 464.1875 is the output, 469.1875 the input. Confirmed by the input fluctuating signal level (as in handheld).

I love the 175 unit count. maybe they are giving each of the animals a handheld;

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - KWI367 - Zoological Society of Buffalo, Inc.

 

[videobruce]

Their signal level is far less then with their 'working, not broken' analog setup. It sucks they got talked into a (somewhat) closed, proprietary standard. I'll have to see if they will pay for the optional 'key' so I can listen to them again.

 

[k2hz]

I just looked at their old license and it is odd. It is for a 25W base on 154.540 with the antenna on a building and 35 mobiles 25W on 154.515. No provision for mobile simplex on the base frequency. The frequencies are too close for repeater operation in addition to the fact the license did not authorize a repeater. According to the license the mobiles could talk simplex among themselves on 154.515 or talk to the base half duplex. This does not make much sense as to how they would have operated.

 

[videobruce]

Sounds as typical FCC typos.
They were on a repeater, like I already stated, the only real problem was excessive auto tone ID's after each time the base was keyed up. It really was annoying, to hear that ID would 'stepping on' the portable more times then not which I'm sure was (or should ) of been a programming deal. I'd bet.

I have to make a correction; I forgot I have a trap tuned to 463MHz to get rid of some data carrier destroying certain UHF analog signals that is knocking down the receive since their new freq, is only 2 meg away.

 

[k2hz]

Sounds as typical FCC typos.
They were on a repeater, like I already stated, the only real problem was excessive auto tone ID's after each time the base was keyed up. It really was annoying, to hear that ID would 'stepping on' the portable more times then not which I'm sure was (or should ) of been a programming deal. I'd bet.
I have to make a correction; I forgot I have a trap tuned to 463MHz to get rid of some data carrier destroying certain UHF analog signals that is knocking down the receive since their new freq, is only 2 meg away.

What were the actual repeater input and output frequencies ? Those frequencies were too close for a duplexer but it could have been done with separate TX and RX antennas if they were far enough apart for good isolation like on separate buildings.

 

[ak716]

I love the 175 unit count. maybe they are giving each of the animals a handheld;

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - KWI367 - Zoological Society of Buffalo, Inc.

Just because they have 175 units on their license, doesn't mean they have 175 radios.

Their signal level is far less then with their 'working, not broken' analog setup. It sucks they got talked into a (somewhat) closed, proprietary standard. I'll have to see if they will pay for the optional 'key' so I can listen to them again.

DMR isn't a proprietary or "closed" protocol. Maybe you should read this - Introduction to DMR Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). Where DMR gets proprietary is when manufactures go beyond the standard, implementing specific things only for their brand of radios. Theoretically, you could run a DMR TII unit from Motorola, Vertex (part of Motorola now), Kenwood, Hytera, Tait, and they will all be able to talk to each other, if each radio is programmed using the DMR standard and not manufacture specific features. That's not closed, that's not proprietary. Right off the top of my head, one example is MotoTRBO (what Motorola calls DMR) Basic Privacy (XOR encryption), Enhanced Privacy (RC4/ADP), RAS ( Restricted Access to System). some texting, and, I believe a form/option of their GPS reporting is also proprietary as well, but I could be wrong. DMR uses DVSI's vocoder of AMBE+2, which, requires a license for them to implement in their units, however, that's what almost everyone uses. AMBE+2 is used as the codec for NXDN, DMR and P25 Phase 2, so its not just specific to these specific MotoTRBO radios. DMR adds a lot of capabilities that a analog conventional system doesn't offer. Furthermore, go out and find a newer, Part 90 complaint radio, made by a reputable manufacture that doesn't offer some sort of digital voice, where you have a local vendor. Outside of a GMRS radio, you are going to be hard pressed to find something (other than a few Kenwoods). If you were to buy something with a feature, might as well use it, if it might enhance your operations in any way.

 

[Saint]

Buffalo Zoo
This is what I have so far,
Buffalo Zoo 1 frequency DMR SYSTEM, 464.1875 MHZ CC=10, SLOT 1-2 TG=6001 Base, Security, Animal workers
TG=6005 unknown who is on this
Steve

 

[Saint]

Buffalo Zoo
This is what I have so far,
Buffalo Zoo 1 frequency DMR SYSTEM, 464.1875 MHZ CC=10, SLOT 1-2 TG=6001 Base, Security, Animal workers
TG=6005 unknown who is on this
Steve

469.1875 MHz is the other frequency that belongs with 464.1875
Steve

 

[GTR8000]

469.1875 MHz is the other frequency that belongs with 464.1875
Steve

+5 MHz is the standard offset for that portion of the UHF band.

 

[Saint]

+5 MHz is the standard offset for that portion of the UHF band.

I noticed it was in the list of frequencies that I have for Buffalo Zoo, I see 425.0875 MHz with analog audio on it with a D 143 TONE don't think it's Buffalo Zoo. I will keep listening to see if any digital comes up on it.
Steve

 

[k2hz]

I noticed it was in the list of frequencies that I have for Buffalo Zoo, I see 425.0875 MHz with analog audio on it with a D 143 TONE don't think it's Buffalo Zoo. I will keep listening to see if any digital comes up on it.
Steve

If you look at the license data, the 425 frequencies are all 3W mobile only simplex so will be very short range. The authorized emission type is both analog and DMR. But, there are several other users in the area on the frequency.

 

[Saint]

If you look at the license data, the 425 frequencies are all 3W mobile only simplex so will be very short range. The authorized emission type is both analog and DMR. But, there are several other users in the area on the frequency.

Yes I see that quit a bit with several people using a frequency in analog and also someone using Digital, the analog on the 425.0875 is very weak.
Steve