Disney World Mototrbo

[matt131]

Hello,

I was at Disney World and noticed cast members using Mototrbo units. Does anyone know if some disney operations are on Mototrbo? Anyone know the freqs?

Thanks,

 

[mikewazowski]

Are you sure those weren't Nextel units?

 

[n2hbx]

Disney

It's possible they were using them in analog mode. There is still some UHF activity in the parks.

Larry

 

[matt131]

The radios the cast members were using were the 32 channel non display Mototrbo units. I agree that it is possible they may have been using them in analog mode. I do know that Mickey's Magical Express is operating the Mototrbo diplay portables on a mototrbo system.

 

[TampaTyron]

Word on the street is that Disney is slowly migrating back to regular 2 way radio via Mototrbo (different departments have purchasing leeway and everyone wants their "own" system, much like medical facilities or large colleges in this area). The WDW IT manager who dumped the 800mhz system in favor of Nextel now works for some of the ex-Busch theme parks. The individual is trying to get them to dump their 900mhz systems and go nextel. It is my belief that said person may have a relative or some other back alley deal with the regional Sprint/Nextel rep. Anyone have any newer/better intel? TT

 

[matt131]

TT,

That is very interesting that you say that. I never understood why disney switched to Nextel anyways. There 800/900mhz system was fine from everything I had heard. It maybe possible that disney use the 800/900mhz mototrbo units on their old freqs. That would give them good secure comms, GPS, Data etc. I know that parade Ops are still UHF.

I wouldn't be surprised if they do switch back, if anyone knows anymore info I would appreciate it.

 

[mikewazowski]

Might just be a preemptive strike considering that Sprint will be shutting that system down in a few years.

 

[matt131]

Might just be a preemptive strike considering that Sprint will be shutting that system down in a few years.

What do you mean by sprint shutting that system down in the next few years?

 

[TEH]

WDW Mototrbo

Sprint Nextel plans to shut down its Nextel system beginning in 2013. The company's website doesn't say that, but spins the story by saying that Sprint & Motorola have contract to continue the network through 2013. Here's the company news release:

Sprint Newsroom | Sprint Extends iDEN® Network Infrastructure Supply Agreement with Motorola Solutions for Three Additional Years


Here's CNET's story on this:

Sprint releases two Moto iDEN phones | Dialed In - CNET Blogs

 

[matt131]

anyone know as to why the nextel system is going away

 

[ecps92]

As the story says $$$, it's costing them, and personally have noticed lack of maintenance, as they drive folks away or to the Sprint side of the house. Nextel was the bastard child anyway. :evil:

anyone know as to why the nextel system is going away

 

[SCPD]

Disney FIRST HAND ON SITE TODAY AND GOING BACK IN 30 minutes

OK the only thing I have seen at 4 of the parks is oversized cellphones that are grey and have a 3/4 inch molded antenna ON EVERYTHING! The transport buses use a oversized cellphone clamped to a pedestal with the audio control line and a antenna cable going to a hand mike and external speaker. There is a data console on the buses that appear to be interfaced to the radio phone. I HEARD THE DIGITAL BREAKING UP as I was in the front by the yellow line. On the trams there are two 6 inch disk with BNCs attached to the back windows.... Every important cast member has a Motorola unit (format unknown) but the seem to act like Nextels with no Nextel logo (Disney could have their own IDEN node I dont know.)

I did see an Ocseloa County deputy on site with a "Disney" communicator and a MTX8000 analog radio.

I have not seen ANY discreet radios in my 3 days on Disney this week. I did a scan from 150-170 and 450-470 during a parade and no dice just foreigners on business channels at motels and FRS/GMRS which was slim also....

 

[W4TF]

My wife's family is in Orlando, about 20 miles from WDW...I will be heading there this weekend for X-mas...are there any frequencies you all would like me to listen out for to test your theories? Just let me know and I will be more than happy to tune my scanner for you all.

 

[matt131]

the following information was taken from radioreference:

WDW Operations

Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
461.30000 WZE419 RM 162.2 PL Parade Ops Magic Kingdom Parade Ops FM Business
463.75000 WPLI963 RM 162.2 PL Sky Show Magic Kingdom Fireworks Ops (SkyShow) FM Business


I was at Disney last week and I saw the cast members at the american pravilian at Epcot at the Candle Light processional using the Mototrbo 32 channel portables.

ALso, I know for a fact the above WDW operations channels are working because I listened to them all last week.

 

[W2NJS]

Assuming that Disney is using digital TRBO, and that it's NOT encrypted, then the only way you can find out the exact frequency specs if you know the frequency in advance would be to set up ten channels on your TRBO HT (2 slots X 5 color codes = ten channels) and then scan until you hear something. Seems like a whole lot of trouble just to hear boring park operations. (It may be six color codes; I haven't done any TRBO programming in a while, but would require two more channels to scan.)

 

[TampaTyron]

In addition to knowing freq, slot, and color code; you would still need to know which of the 16.775 million group codes to listen on (think talkgroups, like ltr). Without that info, your digital capable radio will not decode the voice. It would show that the freq/slot/color code is active via colored blinking lights, but no audio. See, a major issue that I have with Mototrbo system security is that I cannot lock people out of accessing my repeaters (or that of my customers), because each repeater (in digital or mixed mode) is essentially a community repeater with 16,775,000 vaild talkgroups on each slot. That is a big security hole in the system.........TT

 

[microwave]

Down with Nexthell

That doesn't make sence seeing how Nextel is going to start shutting down in 2013. Sprint To Shut Down Nextel*-*TechnoBuffalo

Word on the street is that Disney is slowly migrating back to regular 2 way radio via Mototrbo (different departments have purchasing leeway and everyone wants their "own" system, much like medical facilities or large colleges in this area). The WDW IT manager who dumped the 800mhz system in favor of Nextel now works for some of the ex-Busch theme parks. The individual is trying to get them to dump their 900mhz systems and go nextel. It is my belief that said person may have a relative or some other back alley deal with the regional Sprint/Nextel rep. Anyone have any newer/better intel? TT

 

[JRayfield]

Better security (system access) an be achieved using 3rd party software/systems.

John Rayfield, Jr. - CETma
www.rayfield.net

In addition to knowing freq, slot, and color code; you would still need to know which of the 16.775 million group codes to listen on (think talkgroups, like ltr). Without that info, your digital capable radio will not decode the voice. It would show that the freq/slot/color code is active via colored blinking lights, but no audio. See, a major issue that I have with Mototrbo system security is that I cannot lock people out of accessing my repeaters (or that of my customers), because each repeater (in digital or mixed mode) is essentially a community repeater with 16,775,000 vaild talkgroups on each slot. That is a big security hole in the system.........TT

 

[TampaTyron]

JRayfield-
you are correct, but whatever the third party apps do, a simple reprogram clears any inhibited status. This is going to be a big deal as "trunker" style programs emerge for DMR/Mototrbo. Difficult for me to recommend these systems to customers who need a little more advanced security (but do not need ful blown p25, etc).

To the poster saying Nextel is on the way out-
They will be shutting off 800mhz iDEN network. This will give them a very large chunk of 800mhz spectrum to play in. Currently, Sprint has said they will have CDMA PTT devices ready prior to the shut down. The issue is that 800mhz freqs are for dispatch, and cannot be used for telephone operation (without a waiver). I would expect Sprint to get this waiver, as they need the 800mhz access bad (hench the purchase of NexTel). TT

 

[JRayfield]

I'm not sure what you mean by "a simple reprogram". Units can be inhibited from accessing the repeaters, at the repeater 'level', same as any other system that provides for 'access control' of subscriber units.

John Rayfield, Jr. - CETma
Motorola 2-Way Radios - Springfield, MO, Implementing New and Emerging Technology

JRayfield-
you are correct, but whatever the third party apps do, a simple reprogram clears any inhibited status. This is going to be a big deal as "trunker" style programs emerge for DMR/Mototrbo. Difficult for me to recommend these systems to customers who need a little more advanced security (but do not need ful blown p25, etc).
TT