VASCAR2
Member
Last year the Illinois State Police started transitioning to Motorola APX8000 hand held portable radios. My understanding is APX are dual band and the ISP model is VHF Hi band and 800 MHz. I also heard ISP was changing vehicular repeaters at the same time the portables were being issued. I suspected ISP was going to use VHF Hi band vehicular repeaters integrated to work with the 800 MHz SC21 mobile.
The ISP previously used an inband Motorla vehicluar repeater which required a monthly user fee on the STARCOM 21 system. Not every patrol car was issued a vehicular repeater to reduce cost. Under the SC21 system an Agency incurs a monthly fee for every portable, mobile, vehicular repeater on control point transmitter.
By using the dual band VHF/800 APX8000 portable a Trooper has access to agencies still using VHF Hi band plus legacy VHF Hi band ISPERN, HF4, IREACH, HF2 (District high band).
I finally heard a ISP portable and vehicular repeater today on frequency 155.505, DSC 152. The portable was transmitting on analog with a digital code. The previous in band vehicular repeaters were analog 700 MHz but the frequencies were duplicated. As an example if a Trooper was away from his home District he needed to use the correct setting/District for his physical location. Normally at least two Districts used the same vehicular repeater Frequencies and were not adjoining districts geographically. The portable would display Rptr 19/7 indicating the portable could be used in those two districts. If the Trooper traveled outside the geographic area of his district they are instructed to use the TG for their geographical location. For the vehicular repeater to work outside the assigned District the Trooper was required to navagate to a different menu to access the correct vehicular repeater frequency.
The confusion associated with having to change the mobile and portable to different TG and menu meant many users never used this capability. The simplicity of the new dual band portable and VHF Hi band vehicular repeater will be an officer safety improvement for Troopers assigned to rural areas or having to work in a different district.
I suspect that the 155.505 Frequency will be used statewide with the possible exception of District 15 (Toll Way). District 15 is supposed to have portable coverage capability on SC21 and was not using vehicular repeaters to my knowledge. I heard the ISP portable/veh rptr in northern Illinois but I suspect the same digital tone will be used statewide. Back when ISP used VHF Hi band repeaters they were paired to Low Band VHF mobiles on the same 155.505 frequency but with a ctss tone.
The ISP previously used an inband Motorla vehicluar repeater which required a monthly user fee on the STARCOM 21 system. Not every patrol car was issued a vehicular repeater to reduce cost. Under the SC21 system an Agency incurs a monthly fee for every portable, mobile, vehicular repeater on control point transmitter.
By using the dual band VHF/800 APX8000 portable a Trooper has access to agencies still using VHF Hi band plus legacy VHF Hi band ISPERN, HF4, IREACH, HF2 (District high band).
I finally heard a ISP portable and vehicular repeater today on frequency 155.505, DSC 152. The portable was transmitting on analog with a digital code. The previous in band vehicular repeaters were analog 700 MHz but the frequencies were duplicated. As an example if a Trooper was away from his home District he needed to use the correct setting/District for his physical location. Normally at least two Districts used the same vehicular repeater Frequencies and were not adjoining districts geographically. The portable would display Rptr 19/7 indicating the portable could be used in those two districts. If the Trooper traveled outside the geographic area of his district they are instructed to use the TG for their geographical location. For the vehicular repeater to work outside the assigned District the Trooper was required to navagate to a different menu to access the correct vehicular repeater frequency.
The confusion associated with having to change the mobile and portable to different TG and menu meant many users never used this capability. The simplicity of the new dual band portable and VHF Hi band vehicular repeater will be an officer safety improvement for Troopers assigned to rural areas or having to work in a different district.
I suspect that the 155.505 Frequency will be used statewide with the possible exception of District 15 (Toll Way). District 15 is supposed to have portable coverage capability on SC21 and was not using vehicular repeaters to my knowledge. I heard the ISP portable/veh rptr in northern Illinois but I suspect the same digital tone will be used statewide. Back when ISP used VHF Hi band repeaters they were paired to Low Band VHF mobiles on the same 155.505 frequency but with a ctss tone.