453.4625

[JRM5204]

I caught what I beleive was PPD J Band for a few minutes around 7:30 tonight on 453.4625 pl131.8.

 

[DPH11]

That frequency is commonly seen now as the simplex side of UTAC-1, one of three UHF tactical channels that is part of the frequency set for national public safety interoperability frequencies. A number of states are phasing these in for use across the public safety agency spectrum, however I am not aware of any efforts by Pennsylvania so far. The common PL for these is 156.7. Supposedly they are being phased out for other uses, in favor of the public safety interoperability initiative. They are license-free for public safety agencies, unless it is installed in a base station.

"After December 7, 2000 this frequency is available primarily for public safety interoperability only communications. Stations licensed prior to December 7, 2000 may continue to use this frequency on a co-primary basis until January 1, 2005. After January 1, 2005, all operations will be secondary to co-channel interoperability communications."

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/...ss.gpo.gov/cfr_2006/octqtr/pdf/47cfr90.20.pdf

 

[HM1529]

The Commonwealth is in the process of licensing sites across the state that will be tied in to the OpenSky network for interoperability purposes.

The J Band rebroadcast you heard was SEPTA Transit Police doing some sort of testing. SPD uses the U-Tac outputs and the inputs as tactical channels. It would seem they also have repeaters up (hence the 131.8 PL). I would imagine they also have these freqs programmed in with the standard 156.7 PL for interop, although I have never seen the channels in use locally (have them in my fire portable).

 

[JRM5204]

I haven't heard anything since. Are these U-TAC's linked to the 800 I-TAC channels? I have heard some testing on the I-TAC's recently with Philadelphia.

 

[HM1529]

I haven't heard anything since. Are these U-TAC's linked to the 800 I-TAC channels? I have heard some testing on the I-TAC's recently with Philadelphia.

Theoretically, yes. Some areas of the country are establishing links between the VHF, UHF, and 800 interop tac channels either on permanent or temporary basis. I am not aware of plans to do this locally, but it is possible.