700 MHz interoperability... for school admin?

[wbswetnam]

In Russellville today, I'm hearing what sounds like school administration ("Mr. Grant, are you still in the band room? A student is looking for you.") on 774.85625 MHz P25, 293 NAC which is listed in the nationwide database as 7GTAC77 - Other Public Service. I haven't been able to identify precisely which school district and which school it is yet. But, I find it curious that a school district would be using a 700 MHz frequency reserved for 'interoperability'. I wonder how they got the P25 radios... surplus maybe... or eBay...??

 

[jaspence]

Schools can use the P25 public service legally. In Michigan, one of the electric power companies is also part of the system due to the importance of their work in a disaster. Your situation does sound a little strange, but otherwise they would need two radio systems, and carrying one radio around is a big expense and challenge to a new user.

 

[wtp]

down here we use the schools for emergencies, like hurricanes.
the cops in the school during charlie had to have 2 radios, one for PD work and one for the school stuff.

 

[03msc]

I think the others in this thread are missing the point of the original post - he's saying that they're using an interop frequency and that was the question. He is well aware that schools can use P25 (some in Arkansas are on the statewide system) but it's pretty much the most expensive option. Most will go with analog or perhaps DMR or NXDN, as some around here use.

 

[INDY72]

That system is on AWIN and all the radios have all those interops in them. This is a school staff not properly trained in what to use for what. But if they are not causing interference then most likely they will never have an issue. (In fact currently, the schools in that simulcast net have far more TG's than public safety or DPW right now.)

 

[wbswetnam]

After some listening and some sleuthing on the Russellville School District's web page, I'm pretty certain that it's the high school.

 

[zenomorf]

Schools can use the P25 public service legally. In Michigan, one of the electric power companies is also part of the system due to the importance of their work in a disaster. Your situation does sound a little strange, but otherwise they would need two radio systems, and carrying one radio around is a big expense and challenge to a new user.

AWIN is public safety, not public service.

 

[03msc]

AWIN is public safety, not public service.

Some schools/colleges are using it for maintenance and operations use. Some utilities and streets departments are, as well.

 

[buddrousa]

In Tennessee on the TACN SYSTEM any City or County Government can use the TACN SYSTEM as long as a fee of $200 per radio per year is paid.

 

[INDY72]

Roads are public safety in many ways. Utility part of it too. Want to tell government that protection of children isn't important? Good luck with reversal of fear to get toys. Same on MSWIN, TACN, so on and on.

 

[INDY72]

To clarify... Roads are part of vital infrastructure and if they are not travel safe public safety can't get to you etc... Fear for school safety is the primary way to get schools on a public safety system . Especially with all the school shooting crap lately. Try to go against that powerful weapon and your dead in the water. Utilities are protected... At least key facilities that are part of the National Grid. But all utility infrastructure can be argued as essential for public welfare now correct?

 

[ArkTex]

Listening to this Freq now, I'm generally going to agree with the Russellville HS assertion. I've tried listening to Dover/Atkins/Pottsville and really nothing.

Maybe they were trying to get a license through the FCC and someone just took a freq that came first available?

 

[slayer816]

I've found more school use talkgroups on LWIN than public safety talkgroups lately. From what I've read most statewide radio systems consider school use as important stuff.

Side note: AWIN users have those interop frequencies on them but this is obviously conventional. So users at that school are transmitting digital P25 non-trunking. Are their radios programmed for AWIN and they just not using site trunking? Or do they have a talkgroup no one has discovered yet...?

 

[Magnetsteve]

AWIN is public safety, not public service.

Way more stuff than public safety on AWIN. Shoot, just go look at the database. Sanitation, street departments, water departments, utilities, schools, etc. Shoot, look at UAMS and Rogers on the database.

 

[03msc]

Way more stuff than public safety on AWIN. Shoot, just go look at the database. Sanitation, street departments, water departments, utilities, schools, etc. Shoot, look at UAMS and Rogers on the database.

Yeah, I’m not sure why he made that statement since it is clearly wrong and easily disproven but...

 

[ArkTex]

I've found more school use talkgroups on LWIN than public safety talkgroups lately. From what I've read most statewide radio systems consider school use as important stuff.

Side note: AWIN users have those interop frequencies on them but this is obviously conventional. So users at that school are transmitting digital P25 non-trunking. Are their radios programmed for AWIN and they just not using site trunking? Or do they have a talkgroup no one has discovered yet...?

I would assume if they used a site it would the Russellville or Hector AWIN site as referenced in the database.