Info on the Foley-Robertsdale-Daphne-Bay Minette NXDN system — anyone listening?

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TomServo

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Foley, AL
So, I was wondering if anyone in Baldwin County has had any success monitoring the NEXEDGE system that these cities use. I acquired an SDR a while back for SW/HF monitoring and since conditions have been poor down in those bands, I've expanded into seeing what else this thing can do. With DSDplus I've had good luck decoding digital modes including NXDN.

I can't do trunking since that would require two radios, but with the SDRuno application I can have up to four virtual windows (three is maximum with my slower processor) and so I've been able to build a mini-tracking system with some of the frequencies listed on this site. For example, the Foley site shows four frequencies. After finding the control channel (which has been 460.0875 every time I've checked this week) that leaves three for audio. As long as there's not traffic on two or more frequencies at once, it actually works pretty well and I'm having no real difficulty following conversations. For example, here at 1:30 am there's not much going on in Foley so everything is coming through clearly. Earlier this evening Daphne and Foley were both full of activity and these three channels on the Foley system stayed pretty much full-duty!

I've snagged some data for this system, but since I'm not really familiar with trunking systems I wanted to post all this here before actually submitting it to the database, in case it's missing something critical. If this is useful, I'll be a happy camper. :)

In addition to the System ID of 69 listed on the page for this system, I'm also seeing a System ID of 0 when listening to the Foley tower site. 69 appears to pop up when I'm tuned to Magnolia Springs, and possibly Summerdale. There was no activity or control channel audible for me tonight to double check on the Summerdale frequencies.

Here are the groups I've logged and the ones I've been able to identify based on audio and/or the "radio alias" field that some transmissions include:

Groups:

  • 001 = ?
  • 100 = ?
  • 101 = Baldwin 911 (Central FD Dispatch?)
  • 109 = ?
  • 120 = Foley PD
  • 121 = ?
  • 137 = ?
  • 142 = ?
  • 251 = Daphne PD
  • 260 = ?
  • 276 = Daphne FD
  • 287 = ?
  • 351 = ?
  • 430 = ?
  • 501 = Foley FD
  • 1176 = Baldwin Central (Sheriff, unencrypted)
  • 1617 = ?

One thing that surprised me is the sheriff patch or interconnect is completely in the clear, when it is listed as encrypted on the AFRN system.
 

garys

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I'm only down there a couple of times (if that) a year and haven't had a chance to try to listen yet. Trying to monitor the NXDN system down there is one of my goals.

Your information is helpful and gives me an idea of how to set up DSD+ for monitoring.

When you have time, can you post any additional control channel frequencies?

Thanks.
 

TomServo

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Foley, AL
I'm only down there a couple of times (if that) a year and haven't had a chance to try to listen yet. Trying to monitor the NXDN system down there is one of my goals.

Your information is helpful and gives me an idea of how to set up DSD+ for monitoring.

When you have time, can you post any additional control channel frequencies?

Thanks.

Sure. They don't seem to change often so I'll check them this afternoon when I get back to my radio. :)
 

garys

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Sure. They don't seem to change often so I'll check them this afternoon when I get back to my radio. :)

Thanks! Who knows? Maybe Uniden will offer a NXDN upgrade and we'll be able to use LCN finder or Analyze to figure out the system.

Now, if I could just figure out a way to get Fairhope to unencrypt the traffic. :mad:
 

TomServo

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Foley, AL
Thanks! Who knows? Maybe Uniden will offer a NXDN upgrade and we'll be able to use LCN finder or Analyze to figure out the system.

Now, if I could just figure out a way to get Fairhope to unencrypt the traffic. :mad:

Are they still on their analog LTR network or did the police move over to the AFRN?

I was disappointed to find that this DSDplus program I use to decode NXDX does not appear to work with P25 phase II, only phase I, so I don't get anything from any of the AFRN frequencies.

Here are the active control channels I can hear on the NEXEDGE network this afternoon:

Foley - 460.0875
Summerdale - 460.6125 (not 100% on this - it's incredibly weak and I'm only a few miles from Summerdale city limits.)
Daphne - 453.325
Daphne (Spanish Fort) - 453.2375
Magnolia Springs - 453.800
Robertsdale - 453.050

I did not hear any activity on any channel for the Fairhope, Rabun or Bay Minette channels.
 

garys

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Fairhope moved to the AFRN about a year and a half ago. It's encrypted. For a short period of time they were on NXDN, but had severe problems with that and went back to the very nice LTR system.

I think Phase II is in the works for DSD+. I don't pay all that much attention to that part because I have the x36HP scanners. I even bought the Pro Voice upgrade so I can listen to Mobile when I'm down there. Of course, they're going to P25 on 700 Mhz too. :confused:

Thanks for the control channel frequencies. I can start setting up DSDPlus.frequencies and have a bit of a head start.

Are they still on their analog LTR network or did the police move over to the AFRN?

I was disappointed to find that this DSDplus program I use to decode NXDX does not appear to work with P25 phase II, only phase I, so I don't get anything from any of the AFRN frequencies.

Here are the active control channels I can hear on the NEXEDGE network this afternoon:

Foley - 460.0875
Summerdale - 460.6125 (not 100% on this - it's incredibly weak and I'm only a few miles from Summerdale city limits.)
Daphne - 453.325
Daphne (Spanish Fort) - 453.2375
Magnolia Springs - 453.800
Robertsdale - 453.050

I did not hear any activity on any channel for the Fairhope, Rabun or Bay Minette channels.
 

garys

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Based on your information as well as what's in the RRDB, I built a DSDPlus.frequencies file for the system. The site numbers and LCNs are based on what's at the RRDB.

You should be able to cut and paste. If you only have one RTL dongle, you'll be able to see the trunking data, but not hear the audio. I've noticed that sometimes weak signal will result in false data, so maybe that's why Foley shows up as System 0. Or maybe they broke off from the rest of the network. You're guess is probably better than mine.

Here is the frequency file.


;Bay Minette

NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 453.0750, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 453.3375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 453.5875, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 453.7000, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 453.9000, 0.0, 5

;Rabun
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 453.1750, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 453.4500, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 453.7625, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 453.7625, 0.0, 4

;Foley
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 460.0875, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 460.1875, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 460.4125, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 460.6375, 0.0, 4

;Summerdale

NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 460.34375, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 460.0375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 460.3125, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 460.6125, 0.0, 4


;Daphne Main
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 453.3250, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 453.4750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 453.8750, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 460.3500, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 460.3500, 0.0, 5

;Daphne North
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 453.2375, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 453.7750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 453.9500, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 460.1250, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 453.3250, 0.0, 5

;Magnolia Springs

NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 453.8000, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 453.7750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 453.5375, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 453.7750, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 453.39375, 0.0, 5

;Fairhope
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 453.3000, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 453.69375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 460.14375, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 460.2875, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 460.45625, 0.0, 5
;Robertsdale -

NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 453.0500, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 453.2750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 453.1625, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 453.4750, 0.0, 4

I'll also work on a DSDPlus.groups file, but that's a bit more complicated since there are more lines, so it could be a while.
 

garys

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I just realized I forgot to add in the OTA (LSN) channel numbers. I'll do an edit when I have a few minutes.
 

TomServo

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Foley, AL
I'm curious what trunking data having those lines in the frequencies file will get me that I don't see now. If I park on a trunking channel it shows some data now, like unit numbers/alias and what channel the CC is on...
 

garys

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I'm curious what trunking data having those lines in the frequencies file will get me that I don't see now. If I park on a trunking channel it shows some data now, like unit numbers/alias and what channel the CC is on...

It will help if you decided to get a second dongle and use DSD+ to you can receive audio.

Of course if you don that, it will help me! :wink:
 

TomServo

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Feb 25, 2007
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Location
Foley, AL
Well, it just so happens my father has gotten but by the SDR big and ordered his own SDRplay, so if I can swipe it from him at some point, I'll give the two radio setup a try!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

garys

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I use one Airspy and one R820T2 dongle for my set up. I find that the more expensive Airspy is good for the control channel and the other one for the audio. The R820T2 dongle works very well and is pretty cheap.

Well, it just so happens my father has gotten but by the SDR big and ordered his own SDRplay, so if I can swipe it from him at some point, I'll give the two radio setup a try!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

TomServo

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Location
Foley, AL
Which model Airspy do you have, and do you like it? I looked into one but I was looking for a more all-in-one solution for HF, since I use it more for shortwave listening than anything.

I just noticed they have an Airspy mini with a 6 MHz view for just $99. That is mighty tempting but it'll be awhile before I have the fun money for it.

Then again, I'm seeing the price on the other one… :twisted:

If I thought I could get one working with my SDRplay at the same time, it'd be worth trying one of these as a second radio. I understand you need some third bit of software beyond DSDplus? Some sort of trunking app... I tried to get it to work with the SDRplay and had zero luck. I don't even think I have the installer anymore to look up the name.
 

garys

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I have the original Airspy.

DSD+ had everything you need to do trunking. It also has a very nice program (FMP) that serves the same function as SDR#. It's not as sophisticated, but does allow you enter frequencies and has other neat functions.

The Fastlane releases of DSD+ are newer and have more features than the public releases of DSD+. I found it well worth the $25.00/lifetime to subscribe to Fastlane.



Which model Airspy do you have, and do you like it? I looked into one but I was looking for a more all-in-one solution for HF, since I use it more for shortwave listening than anything.

I just noticed they have an Airspy mini with a 6 MHz view for just $99. That is mighty tempting but it'll be awhile before I have the fun money for it.

Then again, I'm seeing the price on the other one… :twisted:

If I thought I could get one working with my SDRplay at the same time, it'd be worth trying one of these as a second radio. I understand you need some third bit of software beyond DSDplus? Some sort of trunking app... I tried to get it to work with the SDRplay and had zero luck. I don't even think I have the installer anymore to look up the name.
 

dmmbutts

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May 12, 2007
Messages
36
Location
Fairhope, AL & Brisbane, QLD
So, I was wondering if anyone in Baldwin County has had any success monitoring the NEXEDGE system that these cities use. I acquired an SDR a while back for SW/HF monitoring and since conditions have been poor down in those bands, I've expanded into seeing what else this thing can do. With DSDplus I've had good luck decoding digital modes including NXDN...
.

I'm going to give this another shot. I have an SDRPlay that I have loaned to a friend but just ordered an inexpensive dongle to use as well. While I'd rather listen to my hometown PD here in Fairhope, Foley or Daphne would be good too, as I am frequently in both of those nearby towns and know them well.
 

garys

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I'm going to give this another shot. I have an SDRPlay that I have loaned to a friend but just ordered an inexpensive dongle to use as well. While I'd rather listen to my hometown PD here in Fairhope, Foley or Daphne would be good too, as I am frequently in both of those nearby towns and know them well.

If you're going to be using DSD+, try this frequency file.

; DSD+ frequency file
;
; line format:
;
; protocol, network ID, site number, OTA channel number, TX frequency, RX frequency, sort order
;
;
; use site number = 0 for network-wide definition
;
; use 0.0 for unknown frequencies
;
; use sort order = 0 to sort by OTA channel number
;
;
; protocols:
;
; D-Star
; IDAS
; NEXEDGE48
; NEXEDGE96
; dPMR
; DMR
; Cap+
; Con+
; P25
; ProVoice

; example

Con+, 123, 1, 1, 452.00000, 0.0, 1
Con+, 123, 1, 3, 453.00000, 0.0, 2
Con+, 123, 1, 5, 451.00000, 0.0, 3


;Bay Minette

NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 1, 453.0750, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 3, 453.3375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 5, 453.5875, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 7, 453.7000, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1, 9, 453.9000, 0.0, 5

;Rabun
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 1, 453.1750, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 3, 453.4500, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 5, 453.7625, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 2, 7, 453.7625, 0.0, 4

;Foley
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 1, 460.0875, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 3, 460.1875, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 5, 460.4125, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 3, 7, 460.6375, 0.0, 4

;Summerdale

NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 1, 460.34375, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 3, 460.0375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 5, 460.3125, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 4, 7, 460.6125, 0.0, 4


;Daphne Main
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 1, 453.3250, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 3, 453.4750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 5, 453.8750, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 7, 460.3500, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 5, 9, 460.3500, 0.0, 5

;Daphne North
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 1, 453.2375, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 3, 453.7750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 5, 453.9500, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 7, 460.1250, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 6, 9, 453.3250, 0.0, 5

;Magnolia Springs

NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 1, 453.8000, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 3, 453.7750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 5, 453.5375, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 7, 453.7750, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 7, 9, 453.39375, 0.0, 5

;Fairhope
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 1, 453.3000, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 3, 453.69375, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 5, 460.14375, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 7, 460.2875, 0.0, 4
NEXEDGE96, 69, 8, 9, 460.45625, 0.0, 5
;Robertsdale -

NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 1, 453.0500, 0.0, 1
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 3, 453.2750, 0.0, 2
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 5, 453.1625, 0.0, 3
NEXEDGE96, 69, 9, 7, 453.4750, 0.0, 4

You can try this for groups.


; DSD+ 2.5; group records
;
; you can edit this file while DSD+ is running
;
; line format: protocol, networkID, group, priority, override, hits, timestamp, "group alias"

;DMR, 0, 26, 50, Normal, 1, 2016/04/09 7:03, ""

;

NEXEDGE96, 69, 001, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 100, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 101, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Baldwin 911 Central FD Dispatch?"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 109, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 120, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Foley Police"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 121, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 137, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 142, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 251, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Daphne Police"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 260, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 276, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Daphne Fire"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 287, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 351, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 430, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""
NEXEDGE96, 69, 501, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Foley Fire"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1176, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, "Baldwin Sheriff Central"
NEXEDGE96, 69, 1617, 50, Normal, 0, 2016/07/29 22:00, ""

As I said earlier in the thread, I'm only down there once or twice a year, so I don't have many opportunities to listen in.
 

dmmbutts

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Messages
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Location
Fairhope, AL & Brisbane, QLD
I finally got around to trying this again and have heard Foley, Robertsdale, and Daphne using just a single dongle. I may try some trunk tracking this weekend; have mostly decoded voice on 453.8 and 453.875.
 
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