Loudoun County School Bus System

[mike_s104]

I was showing a co-worker that used to work for the school communications dept. the RR database and when he say the Loudoun County School Bus system, he said "that ones wrong. there is a lot more freq. then listed there." I hope he doesn't mind, but here's the info I received from him:

Mount Weather Status & Home - 451.9625
Sterling Home 1 - 461.4125
Bull Run Status 2 - 463.7625
Hamilton Status 3 - 463.4875
Loudoun Heights Status 4 - 451.9375
Administration Building Repeater (Ashburn) - 462.1125
Loudoun Heights Home 10 - 462.100
Sterling Status 11 - 462.0625
Bull Run Home 12 - 463.9625
Hamilton 13 - 463.7875
DC Status 14 - 452.7375
Bull Run 15 - 463.225
Bull Run 17 - 453.000
Hamilton Home 18 - 463.9375
Hamilton 19 - 461.5625
Hamilton 20 - 452.675

 

[dtscho]

This list is very interesting. Did he say anything about what type of system it is, and how the buses communicate on it? For example, do they have to manually switch to these sites, or is it done automatically as they move? I think at least part of the system is LTR-Net (one of the many "flavors" of LTR). That's not trackable with any scanner.

Dave

 

[mike_s104]

it's trunked. they do not need to switch channels. when he gets back to work from vacation, I will inquire more.

the one listed for DC is a site in DC used for field trips.

 

[freqhopping]

What about the rest of the freqs licensed under WPPX817 (IG), WPTA593 (YG) and WPSA220 (YG)?

Some of the freqs listed are licensed as trunked, some are not.

451.9625 is licensed under WQBN800 (IG)

 

[mike_s104]

I'll have to ask more about it when he's back at work. Tomorrow morning I will look at the other freqs when I get to work. I'll also monitor the system tomorrow and post any more info that I uncover.

 

[mike_s104]

my 396 does decode an ID on this system.

so far I have:
0-04-005
0-04-045
0-03-253

would the second part refer to the tower number and the last the "unit" (bus) or radio maybe?

 

[dtscho]

It's interesting that you're getting IDs from the system. Does the audio stay on throughout the entire conversation, or does it cut off? I ask because I think this might occur when a scanner which only does LTR Regular tries to track an LTR-Net system.

The second two digits of those IDs are the home repeater. The last three digits denote an individual ID. The individual ID is usually for a group of users, not for just one radio. This may only apply to regular LTR systems, but I assume it's similar with LTR-Net.

Dave

 

[freqhopping]

After the last DB update I programmed these sites in my 396XT

Yesterday evening I determine that school security operates on 0-01-085/0-04-085

0-01-253, 0-01-252 and (0-10-253 on the Loudoun Heights site) break squelch occasionally with no comms ever being heard.


School buses on
0-01-005/0-04-005 Heard a bus that broke down at Evergreen Mills/Gum Spring.
0-04-025
0-01-045/0-04-045
0-01-155/0-04-155 Heard a bus servicing Tuscarora HS in Leesburg

Unit/Bus numbers are 'run' numbers and do not correspond to the numbers on the buses.

It seems like I can't receive the Hamilton site. I can receive the Sterling freqs though so I'll see if I can figure that out.


Update: Right after posting, my Sterling site setup with 462.0625 as LCN11 hit on 1-00-181 the same way as the #-##-253 channels. But when I tried to save that channel the scanner says it's a bad TGID.


For Sterling set as 462.0625 LCN1 I received School Security on 0-01-085. Voice on 462.0625 and then 461.4125.

 

[freqhopping]

Loudoun publishes the bus runs. Transportation / BUS RUNS BY SCHOOL

 

[freqhopping]

This is what I've determined for the system that differs from the DB.
Bull Run
463.7625 LCN11
463.9635 LCN12
463.2250 LCN17

Sterling
461.4125 LCN1
462.0625 LCN11

Hamilton
461.5625 LCN10
463.9375 LCN18

I'm not yet certain of the "Free" channels for Sterling and Hamilton.

Buses
0-##-002
0-##-005
0-##-025
0-##-035
0-##-045
0-##-155

Security
0-##-085

## will be 01,04,12,18
01 Sterling
04 Loudoun Heights
12 Bull Run
18 Hamilton

Channels seem to be simulcast on 'adjacent' sites so to speak. For example a channel will be heard on the Sterling, Bull Run Hamilton and Loudoun Heights sites, but not Bluemont. It may have something to do with the channels too, 035 is not very active and I think I saw it on the Bluemont site. It may be a 'west' channel. I've heard references to east and central. I haven't figured out channel use yet, I hear buses in the east and Leesburg areas using the same channels.

 

[freqhopping]

Home repeater for Bluemont channels is 01.
Heard security on the Bluemont, Loudoun Heights, Bull Run and Sterling sites at the same time, but not Hamilton.