VHF low band in Indiana?

[west-pac]

Are there any VHF low band operations still in use in Indiana? I've scanned low band a few times here and there but I've never heard anything, not even DX. I'm also using a VHF high/UHF vertical for an antenna, and a Stridsburg multicoupler. I don't recall the low frequency cut off for the Stridsburg off the top of my head. I think the lowest freq I have received is the FM broadcast band. Even if there isn't any low band in Indiana, is it common to hear DX? If low band can be heard I might have to invest in a 6m antenna.

 

[VASCAR2]

No Law Enforcement uses VHF Low Band in Indiana to my knowledge. There we a few oil field related businesses on low band. Country Mark oil field ops and tanker trucks in southwest Indiana and southeast Illinois used Low Band.

Here is a link to the Countrymark Cooperative frequencies.

Businesses (Posey County) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Businesses (Posey County)

www.radioreference.com

In Illinois Emergency Management maintains a few low band frequencies but have very little radio traffic. The last LE agency in Illinois which had low band radios in their vehicles was Illinois Secretary State Police. They used the low band for car to car and details. Illinois SOS PD primarily uses Starcom21 and I don’t know if they still have low band radios in their vehicles. Illinois DOT had low band but now uses the statewide Starcom 700/800 trunked system.

 

[Mattnik]

Hopkins Gravel in Mooresville was on 31 MHz. The license shows expired but I used social engineering to make them use the channel a few years ago. I think there are a few more folks on there than license data would indicate.

 

[FFPM571]

No Law Enforcement uses VHF Low Band in Indiana to my knowledge. There we a few oil field related businesses on low band. Country Mark oil field ops and tanker trucks in southwest Indiana and southeast Illinois used Low Band.

Here is a link to the Countrymark Cooperative frequencies.

Businesses (Posey County) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Businesses (Posey County)

www.radioreference.com

In Illinois Emergency Management maintains a few low band frequencies but have very little radio traffic. The last LE agency in Illinois which had low band radios in their vehicles was Illinois Secretary State Police. They used the low band for car to car and details. Illinois SOS PD primarily uses Starcom21 and I don’t know if they still have low band radios in their vehicles. Illinois DOT had low band but now uses the statewide Starcom 700/800 trunked system.

Illinois department of Corrections still has Low band antennas on their vehicles. I just saw a late model Ford Transit van with a ball mount and a 2016+ Charger Parole officer with a base loaded NMO mount whip.

 

[INDY72]

American Red Cross is about the last public safetyish agency still using VHF Low Band in IN. IDHS/EMA has dropped it fully though the license is still maintained. They run VHF High, and the SAFE-T TRS. There are a few construction and lawn care guys on Low, but you need to speak Spanish to understand them.

 

[west-pac]

Even with the huge band opening last night I didn't hear any VHF Low, other than some intermittent TV or radio show on 44MHz. I could only hear it enough to know it was some type of sitcom TV or broadcast radio show.

I received 3 or 4 MOSWIN sites on VHF High, a couple TRS sites at the IL/MO border, analog Chicago PD on 460MHz, and a couple more TRS sites at the KY/VA border.

 

[Steve73]

Last ones I remember were the five frequencies ISP had. Wonder where all those radios went ?

 

[west-pac]

Last ones I remember were the five frequencies ISP had. Wonder where all those radios went ?

Likely 6m (52Mhz)... if they could get there.

 

[nd5y]

How long did ISP keep low band after the trunked system was finshed?

 

[dfoutch]

All the licenses being renewed still have low band freqs on them

 

[west-pac]

42Mhz is likely being renewed because the same license has Point and ILEEN on them. A paper-pusher is likely just pushing paper without reading them.

 

[INDY72]

42Mhz is likely being renewed because the same license has Point and ILEEN on them. A paper-pusher is likely just pushing paper without reading them.

Bingo. Within 5 years they began pulling the low band radios after SAFE-T was at original build out completion. They do have antenna still on some towers but the gear is all long gone. Probably recycle scrap.

 

[dfoutch]

I,m glad dad is not here to see it all gone, He spent some long days and nights trying to keep the low band and HF transmitters up & going.