Woodway, Texas Trunking

[Ensnared]

TG 52 LE Traffic This Date

I intercepted C2C LE radio traffic on TG 52 today. It was loud and clear. To my recollection, I have not heard any traffic on this channel yet.

Since Woodway Dispatch asked me to cooperate and not post police codes, due to officer safety, I am going to comply. So, if you happen to know these, please keep them to yourself in this thread. I think that is reasonable request.

 

[JRR4607]

I currently have Woodway TSYS 155.31000 for the control channel.but the problem i haveing is im hereing Hewitt on the same control ch.So do i have to make a TSYS for Hewitt and Lorena with the same control ch.

 

[Ensnared]

One CC, One Alternate Control

I currently have Woodway TSYS 155.31000 for the control channel.but the problem i haveing is im hereing Hewitt on the same control ch.So do i have to make a TSYS for Hewitt and Lorena with the same control ch.

If you are using a GRE-branded radio or one made for RS, then you would load 155.535 & 155.31 into the system frequencies. From the information I've gathered, this system serves Hewitt, Lorena & Woodway. They are all on the same TSYS. The license for trunking shows Woodway. I guess they are the "host." According to a reliable informant, the Lorena dispatch his handed over to Woodway dispatch after 5:00 pm.

At present, I am still monitoring Lorena talk groups. I believe that Lorena talk groups will be 101 (channel 1) and 102 (channel 2). But, I am not ready to commit. Another wrinkle I am trying to figure out is what channel Woodway Fire is using. I've never heard them transmitting.

I happen to use Win500. I have all of the system frequencies loaded into mine, but that is a preference. I also have my radio set up to show the active frequency and control channel, alternating on display.

 

[Ensnared]

TG2 Confirmed

Today, I intercepted radio traffic confirming TG2 as Woodway Channel 2. I am pretty certain this is LE, but don't know if it is exclusive to that service.

I want to publicly thank Woodway for having a increased presence in my neighborhood since the officer told me there has been a rash of burglaries. We all need to pitch in to help them. These guys are very nice, even when you get a ticket.

Lately, the Woodway-Waco area near Old Hewitt Drive has had some suspicious-looking vehicles in my neck of the woods.

So, last night, I reported an odd-looking vehicle. After I got gasoline at Wal-Mart, this squirrely looking Crown Victoria was still in the grass where cars never park. When I returned to Wal-Mart a second time, it had moved to another parking lot and then back. So, in an effort to help the police, I called it into Waco PD. Working with LE helps keep crooks on the run. I haven't seen this car since then.

I never heard anything about this car on the radio. I thought this was rather strange.

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway-Lacy Lakeview Connection?

When I loaded the Lacy Lakeview frequencies into one of my scan lists, I was waiting on data to emerge. Tonight, I observed the very same NAC as Woodway. The radio shows NAC 481 for Lacy Lakeview. Perhaps, this is common, but I still think it may mean these systems are connected in some way.

Any comments?

 

[Ensnared]

Separated VHF Conventional From Trunking

I currently have Woodway TSYS 155.31000 for the control channel.but the problem i haveing is im hereing Hewitt on the same control ch.So do i have to make a TSYS for Hewitt and Lorena with the same control ch.

When I first loaded this system, I loaded the system frequencies in P25 and conventional mode. Sometimes, I would hear conventional traffic and the radio would stop.

So, I recommend loading Woodway trunking in an exclusive scan list for right now. Radio service is still working on the system.

 

[Ensnared]

Silent CC?

Here is an interesting observation on the Woodway TSYS. I heard no CC channel buzzing on this when I put it into analyze mode on this date, both with Pro96Com & without. It still showed a strong signal strength, but it sounded like an open mike. It was still tracking fine, but silent on the CC. I checked both, 155.31 and 155.535. Any comments would be appreciated. I wonder what is going on? When I went to my Pro2042, I heard the usual CC sound.

 

[Ensnared]

New Information

Since I initially identified the system frequencies for Woodway, I strongly suspect they've have been altered and/or changed. I am hearing digital traffic on 154.085 which is not one of the system frequencies listed in the RR DB.

Pro96Com does not appear to be catching all of the system frequencies. I am hearing 154.085 in digital with a NAC of 481. Hence, I can assume: a) 154.085 is a single P25 frequency; b) 154.085 is actually part of the Woodway trunking system; or c) another agency is using this frequency with the same NAC.

I would appreciate some help on this one. If there is better system for analyzing a VHF P25 trunking system, I am interesting in hearing from someone.

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway VHF Simulcast?

Last night, I loaded all of the frequencies for both Woodway Fire and PD into the system frequencies in Win500 before loading them into my PSR 500. Next, I programmed all of these frequencies into my Pro 2042 & listened to each one for digital bursts or sounds consistent with P25. I heard digital noises on all but one frequency, 155.88.

Then, I programmed 155.88 into my Pro 2042 and parked the radio on this frequency.

I sat down in my chair with two earphones attached to the aforementioned sources & waited. I heard the exact transmissions in both ears from Woodway with the analog being first. So, I am thinking 155.88 does not need to be programmed into the system frequencies.

Now, I will repeat this process with the removal of 155.88 from the system frequencies & see what this yields. I don't think Pro96Com has correctly identified the operating frequencies. Perhaps, this is my fault, but I am going to read more about this software.

More later...........................................

 

[hiegtx]

Frequency 154.085 is licensed both as a trunked frequency to Woodway and as a conventional frequency to Lorena. It's possible that they've added some frequencies.

 

[Ensnared]

Shared Frequencies

Frequency 154.085 is licensed both as a trunked frequency to Woodway and as a conventional frequency to Lorena. It's possible that they've added some frequencies.

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I have checked the licenses of these and determined that there are overlapping frequencies: Lorena; Woodway; Hewitt; and McClennan County.

By they way, my latest trick worked. I went ahead and removed 155.88 from the system frequencies & it did not make a difference in the 500's behavior. But, I did notice on one occasion, while the PSR 500 was parked on TG1 and the Pro-2042 was parked on 155.88, that the digital transmission was received first.

I am sticking with this lineup. It is quite interesting that 155.31, the alternate, is listed under the Woodway Fire license and the control channel 155.535 is listed under the Woodway PD license.

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway Analysis Questioned

I have been attempting to analyze the Woodway Trunking System for quite some time now. However, I remain unconvinced that I have isolated the variables involved in this system. I arrived at this conclusion after comparing two different systems, TxWarn P25 and Woodway TSYS. I have used Pro96Com & the analyze function on my PSR 500.

To this very day, the PSR 500 is showing blank fields in analyze mode for Woodway. However, when I activate the same analysis on TxWarn P25, all of the fields are complete: 99%, N1A0, W:BEEOO, Sy:1A7, R002 & SO30.

All the Woodway system is showing is signal strength & NAC. Hence, this is why I believe something is wrong.

The data received from the TxWarn P25 system shows detailed information in analyze and Pro96Com.

Although I seem to be hearing all of the radio traffic on Woodway, one of the identified TG's remains inactive. TG3 was stored after it surfaced as a Wild Card. However, it has remained absent from the scan for several weeks now. Something is not right. I do realize that this TG might be inactive; however, the possibility of programming error cannot be ruled out. Otherwise, I should be seeing complete fields in analyze mode. I have information that this might be a Motorola Astro 25 Express Trunking System.

Where are the experts when you need them? HELP!

 

[Ensnared]

What Progress Have You Made?

Hello all, just wanted to say I really appreciate all the hard work everyone has done to identify this new system. I've been listening to Hewitt and Woodway for close to 15 years and it initially gave me fits trying to figure this new system out.

Ensnared, you mentioned "Woodway PD 2" or 155.880. On the old analog system, that was a simplex frequency used with low power (probably less than 25 watts) for tactical ground communication for Woodway's SRT team whenever they had a SWAT page out. I probably heard it used less than 10 times a year.

I've also been trying to help identify some TGs as I've ran the system through Pro96Com myself. So far, I've sent updates to the DB for TGs 6 - Woodway Public Works and 54 - Hewitt Fire Dispatch. Today, I've been hearing traffic on TGs 2 and 102. I'll be listening to these trying to help identify these too.

Thanks again for the hard work!
--Rick

I've been reviewing the posts in this thread. Hence, I re-discovered what you wrote about attempting to figure this system out. Please, see my last post. At least I am not the only one who is perplexed by this system.

Since I am getting appropriate information in PSR 500 analyze mode & Pro96Com for TxWarn P25, I cannot understand why my radio does not show the same type of information for Woodway. It makes no difference what I put into the system frequencies. That is, I can put 155.535 and 155.31 as the only frequencies or load those I suspect to be involved. The outcome is the same, blank fields.

So, what new things have you discovered about this puppy?

Oh, I will be submitting information about these TG's in the near future.

TG1 is referred to as "Woodway 1" The other day, I heard someone referring to TG101 as "Lorena 1."

I the recent past, I have heard training operations and what was believed to be Special Operations on TG3; however, it has been silent as of late. They called this TG "OSP-1."

Thanks for helping me try to analyze this system. When the behavior of the PSR 500 and Pro96Com function don't reflect that which is observed with TxWarn P25, I remain unconvinced that we have fully unconvered the secrets of this system.

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway, Out of Money?

I think they ran out of money.

The system is licensed wrong too.

It is suppose to be a FB8 trunking system and it is licensed as a FB2.

Wow, I thought Woodway had tons of money to play given the demographics of the town. I am trying to understand what you wrote about this license. It is licensed as a FB2 and supposed to be FB8? Do you think this is why incomplete information is being received in analyze mode and Pro96Com?

 

[Ensnared]

Pro96Com PDF, Page 38, VHF System

I might have found an answer to my question about why Pro96Com is not analyzing the Woodway TSYS. On page 38, this PDF talks about how to alter settings to monitor VHF systems. But, my pea-sized brain does not understand what this means yet.

 

[Ensnared]

Finally, An Answer!

Although I have been able to listen to the Woodway TSYS, I have been rather dissatisfied with the analysis function of Pro96Com and my PSR 500. So, I decided to go to the horse's mouth.

I wrote my questions to GRE and found out the following from GRE support:

"Some VHF systems use P25 "extended packets", and the PSR-500 does not support all extended packet messages. It fully supports the regular packets that are needed for the scanner to scan the system, but the missing extended packets may show up as missing data in PRO96COM. We haven't seen any 800 systems that use extended packets, so the PSR-500 and PRO96COM work very well on 800 MHz systems."

The thing that everyone needs to remember is that the PSR-500 was never really designed to be a control channel decoding radio, so extended packet functionality was not really a requirement. It does have everything it needs to track group and private calls, which is basically what it is designed to do."

Before some of you start scolding me or telling me, "I told you so", I was not satisfied with some of the answers I received. I thought, "if the measurement is inaccurate, how can I understand the details?" Yes, I know the radio tracks the TG's, but that is not the point here.

I learned a lot more information by doing this, with the help of others, than I would have sitting here in this chair. Now, I am going to further refine the TG information.

Today, I heard dispatch talking with a unit about difficulties booting into the system. This discussion occurred on TG2. TG2 was said to be channel 2. I am assuming this means "Woodway 2."

I still haven't heard Woodway Fire. So, I still need some help from those in the area.

Cheers!













Jack

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway Update

Lately, I am not hearing any of the talk groups I previously identified with Wild cards. For instance, I've not heard the following TG's in quite some time: 2; 3; 4; 6; 102.

Most of recent activity has been on "Woodway 1 which is TG1. The dispatch in Lorena has been referred to on the radio as "Lorena 1 or TG 101.

About one week ago, I went to Hewitt PD to report a lost and/or stolen camera. When I walked into the building, I observed two people sitting at the dispatch console. I asked if this was their new digital system and they affirmed such. They were pretty friendly. Each one of them had three computer screens in front of them. The middle monitor showed an MS DOS blackened background.

Has anyone else in this area noticed any new TG's or activity?

 

[Ensnared]

Woodway Wreck

Today, while monitoring a head-on crash in the Woodway area, I heard what sounded like fire personnel talking on TG1. Hence, this channel might be a shared talk group between Woodway PD & Fire.

The transmissions were very poor. Earlier today, I heard transmissions on TG2 asking for a count down. So, I am assuming this system is still being adjusted. It is also possible that portables were being used.

I must admit, I don't think Woodway, Lorena, & Hewitt got their money's worth. Does it take this long to adjust a digital trunking system in an area without significant elevation variations? As I previously wrote, I have only talked to one Woodway police officer about this digital system. Although he seemed quite pleased with the installation, I am going to ask others about how they feel. I wonder if I'll get an honest or a boxed answer?

Onward through the fog.

 

[M_T]

Today, while monitoring a head-on crash in the Woodway area, I heard what sounded like fire personnel talking on TG1. Hence, this channel might be a shared talk group between Woodway PD & Fire.

The transmissions were very poor. Earlier today, I heard transmissions on TG2 asking for a count down. So, I am assuming this system is still being adjusted. It is also possible that portables were being used.

I must admit, I don't think Woodway, Lorena, & Hewitt got their money's worth. Does it take this long to adjust a digital trunking system in an area without significant elevation variations? As I previously wrote, I have only talked to one Woodway police officer about this digital system. Although he seemed quite pleased with the installation, I am going to ask others about how they feel. I wonder if I'll get an honest or a boxed answer?

Onward through the fog.

With Bearcom doing the work, it does. Use the Lacy-Lakeview VHF P25 Trunking system as an example. When it first came on line, there were coverage problems on both mobile and portable even tho it is on a 325 foot tower close by, the system crashed several times due to interference from other VHF systems in the area. The system crashed one final time and took several months before it was back online. I hear the system is working much better than before, but still not 100 percent.

 

[Ensnared]

Narrowing In

With Bearcom doing the work, it does. Use the Lacy-Lakeview VHF P25 Trunking system as an example. When it first came on line, there were coverage problems on both mobile and portable even tho it is on a 325 foot tower close by, the system crashed several times due to interference from other VHF systems in the area. The system crashed one final time and took several months before it was back online. I hear the system is working much better than before, but still not 100 percent.

I can attest to the substandard performance of the LLV trunking system. Sometimes, it comes in loud & clear, but not always. Yes, it has improved overall, but there is still much room for improvement.

I watched the news at 6;00 p.m. & noticed coverage of this horrible wreck. Since I did not look up the locations of the wreck, I did not realize it was in Lorena. On the radio, I heard them say, "Old Lorena Road", but I did not consult a map.

Crash Involving Pickup, UPS Truck Leaves Driver Trapped

This is a rather odd video because there is no narration. This seems to be raw footage of the wreck.

As I mentioned yesterday, I heard emergency traffic on TG1. When I looked at this footage, I saw Woodway Fire & another unidentified red fire truck at the scene. I also had difficulty identifying other emergency vehicles at the scene. But, I do recall hearing Lorena PD units respond based on their unit ID.

Some time back, I reported hearing radio traffic talking about "inter-channel." Previously, I thought this was referring to TG101. Now, I think "inter-channel" is referring to TG1. Again, I believe "Woodway 1" is multi-tac TG.

When I left the house last night on my bicycle ride, I noticed slight improvement in Woodway's transmissions.