860MHz MSS channels recieved in east end Barrie

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CityLights

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860MHz TPS channels recieved in east end Barrie

800MHZ DX?

I was fidgeting with my Groups in ARC396 and accidentally turned off all the CTCSS tones for the TPS 800MHz Conventional Channels & Talk Around Channels before programing.

I've been monitoring all evening from indoors using a Tri-Band wip. :D I had to find a sweet spot to get decent reception, 2 Bars ..sometimes 3, but it's listenable! :)

I'm in the east end of Barrie, so how can this be? I didn't think 800MHz systems could reach this far. I've read about Tropospheric Ducting, but never was it mentioned for 800MHz. it's over 80KM by crow.

Exploring this new found wounder, I went back into arc and hashed up a TPS Conv. group with all channels corrected for CTCSS tone and duplicates without CTCSS tone. I programed that into my radio and Only the Non-Tones open squelch.

The 800MHz convention channels on this list is what I'm receiving.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=4326
 
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CityLights

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Did a little log and just received a channel with CTCSS tone. I'm only getting a few channels right now, ..it is 3am, but this afternoon I had the Morality squad and lots of other active channels. :D

INFO,SYSTEM,FR,ID,SUB,COUNT,NAME,MODE,TIME,DATE
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 10, 863.4875, NFM, 03:16:29, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0860.9875,,, 9, 860.9875, NFM, 03:14:33, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 9, 863.4875, NFM, 03:14:23, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.7125,,, 1, 863.7125, NFM, 03:13:56, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0860.9875,,, 8, 860.9875, NFM, 03:12:49, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 8, 863.4875, NFM, 03:12:17, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 7, 863.4875, NFM, 03:10:53, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 6, 863.4875, NFM, 03:10:10, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0863.4875,,, 5, 863.4875, NFM, 03:08:52, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 6, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:08:03, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 5, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:07:55, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 4, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:07:37, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 3, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:07:27, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 2, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:07:15, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0866.5125,, C156.7, 1, A8 I TAC1, NFM, 03:07:07, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0860.9875,,, 7, 860.9875, NFM, 03:05:46, 04-15-2008,
LOG, Police - Fire/ TPS MSS, 0860.2375,,, 1, 860.2375, NFM, 03:05:39, 04-15-2008,
,
 
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exkalibur

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A couple of the MSS channels are also used as voice channels on the York trunked system. That is likely what you heard.. It threw me when it happened to me as well.
 

CityLights

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it's beyond York, I'm hearing calls all the way out to the Georgetown city limits and all over Mississauga.
 

rfsparkz

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Temperature inversion 800Mhz

I am an Amateur Radio operator near Angus.I have an 800Mhz antenna mounted on a 30ft tower at my location.I can pick up York Regional and Peel Regional very clear.I have never been able to pick up anything from Toronto though.The fellow(Citylights) that is in the east end of Barrie may be getting enhanced reception due to the temperature inversions that occur around the lake.I use to operate 144Mhz and 440 Mhz SSB and yes at times there is some really great temperature inversions that will allow you to hear stations over a great distance.If you use a high gain directional antenna then you will see a great improvement in reception.Look on Ebay for deals on used or new 800 Mhz yagi antennas.Check out a picture of my cramped antenna system I use at www.qrz.com/ve3ell or for a better close up check www.eham.com and type in my callsign at the upper left.Then click on the picture.I use a BCD996T in the house and a BCD396T mobile.

73 Russ VE3ELL
 
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CityLights

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-Thanks Russ !! knowing that your getting York and Peel from Angus is encouraging. Now that I know I can receive some GTA channels from Barrie I'm going to look into finding a 800MHz yagi.

Most of the channels dropped off in the early evening and left only a few (see above log.) Today I'm not receiving anything close to the number of channels. I still think it was Tropospheric Ducting. I find it interesting, but not surprising, that my best reception was with my antenna angled down 15 to 20 degrees towards Lake Simcoe.
73
 

CityLights

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Russ, Nice tower! I like your inverted V antenna tethered to your roof corners. When I put up a tower I'll be sure it's dead center to my roof line. I've been offered a few free 30' & 40' towers from out in Hilisdale but they were too old and rusty.

Whats the cost for a New 30' tower like that and where is the best place for me to buy one around here? Did you pour a concrete base for it? How deep for our local climate?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm writing my test soon. I feel investing in a good tower first will be the best step for long term enjoyment of this hobby.
 

tonsoffun

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Hi Citylights,
I have a 800mhz beam with amp turned south/west and can receive the peel system in Innisfil just south of your location. But I have tried to get the Toronto system and have had no luck.
I will try tonight to see if I can since I have not tried for a while.
Take care


CityLights said:
-Thanks Russ !! knowing that your getting York and Peel from Angus is encouraging. Now that I know I can receive some GTA channels from Barrie I'm going to look into finding a 800MHz yagi.

Most of the channels dropped off in the early evening and left only a few (see above log.) Today I'm not receiving anything close to the number of channels. I still think it was Tropospheric Ducting. I find it interesting, but not surprising, that my best reception was with my antenna angled down 15 to 20 degrees towards Lake Simcoe.
73
 

rfsparkz

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Antenna Tower

Hi Ben,
I purchased my tower sections from The Source (Radio Shack).I placed 3 10ft poles into the ground and secured the tower to them and also placed a set of brackets on the house.You should check out the www.rac.ca website for more info.The Barrie Amateur Radio club meets the second Tuesday of each month at Zehrs on Yonge Street in south Barrie.Check them out at www.barriearc.com you will find more great info here.I have been a radio hobbyist since age about age 10 when i recieved my first radio reciever.Keep in touch and let me know if you need more info.

73 Russ VE3ELL
 

tonsoffun

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I tried to pick up some of the Toronto towers last night from my location(Innisfil) and had no luck.
So, I guess we are out of luck Citylights.
Take care
 

CityLights

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Thanks for the tower info Russ. ..I'm already a member of the RAC. I'll get to the Barrie Amateur Radio club one of these days... or the breakfast club!

I typed 'Tower' into the search bar at 'Durham Radio' and 'Radio World' and they both came up blank. (scratches head) I thought 'Radio Shack' stopped selling towers when they turned into 'The Source.' Their 10' foot sections for $79.99 and tops for $89.99 gives me a figure for my budget. 4 sections $330. I'll pick them up when my Tax rebate gets here and do the install after I get my Ticket.

To bad they don't carry 5 foot sections for $40. I need a few extra feet to get my mast to clear my roof peak, my house is on a bank, 2 and a half stories plus the roof. Then again I could place 3 feet of the first section into the concrete base. :)
 
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exkalibur

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I bought my tower from Delhi Towers and found them to be very reasonable and a great company to deal with. They even delivered it for free as there was a truck coming to my area already.
 

mikewazowski

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CityLights said:
knowing that your getting York and Peel from Angus is encouraging.
73

Actually Peel is very easy to receive. I would be worried if you aren't getting it from anywhere in Simcoe County.

The 300 foot Peel tower that sits on the Charleston Sideroad just south of Hwy 9 can be heard for miles. I receive it on a portable in the Wasaga Beach area depending on where I put the portable in my house. Reception while mobile is no problem.

When Brampton was on 154.800Mhz, that tower would pick up Gravenhurst on the input to the repeater without difficulty. Many scanner books listed Gravenhurst's frequency as 154.800Mhz incorrectly because of this.

I have fairly good luck with York as well using a discone at roof level.
 

CityLights

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Thanks everyone for helping me broaden my horizon.

exkalibur said:
I bought my tower from Delhi Towers and found them to be very reasonable and a great company to deal with.
Thanks exkalibur, I looked at their GN Towers series and I'm still awaiting prices from their New Market retailer.

Mike_Oxlong said:
The 300 foot Peel tower that sits on the Charleston Sideroad just south of Hwy 9 can be heard for miles.
Thanks Mike. On Google Earth I found a tower on Charleston Sideroad between AirPort Rd and Mountainveiw Rd. The crow fly is 60Km (37 miles) from my local. Using the google earth ruler tool I found the tower's shadow was 280 feet long. :D

On the stock Uniden Antenna I can not receive 800MHz from the GTA.

On my MAL-MH510 antenna http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?cPath=195&products_id=2436
indoors, I'm picking up all 9 system frequencies of the York Region System but can not lock into the control channel, too scratchy. http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?cPath=195&products_id=2436

I'm getting some Peel but I still need to reprogram my scanner and test it further.

I can also hear the Primrose Fleetnet tower, Casino Rama and a few others but I have yet loged a TGID and heard a conversation. The Tower ID's do show up tho.

Mike_Oxlong said:
I have fairly good luck with York as well using a discone at roof level.
I ordered the OmniX antenna yesterday. It came to $105 CND with shipping http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html I had several prompt email exchanges with Dave at DPD before my order. They're back ordered by 2 weeks but I must say, so far they're a great company to deal with!
 
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