Alabama Interoperable Radio System (was: Alabama First Responder Network)

[codeplug]

The Marshall County 911 Board is investing $1.5 million in 3 new 300-foot
radio towers to boost communications for emergency responders in the county.
The new towers will be the framework for a new digital system to bring the
county’s radio communications into the modern age.
911 Board Invests $1.5 Million in 3 New Towers

Unsure if these New Tower Sites will be part of AFRN or not.

 

[morganAL]

Madkin. Madkin was a site used on the old system but when the P-25 was built it was determined that Madkin wasn't needed.

 

[scannerman200]

Have noticed the last several days that the Jefferson Co. Simulcast tower has not been coming in well on my Bcd996xt. The control channel is not locking on like it has been and keeps dropping out

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

Have noticed the last several days that the Jefferson Co. Simulcast tower has not been coming in well on my Bcd996xt. The control channel is not locking on like it has been and keeps dropping out

What frequency?

Is it the old simulcast or the new AFRN simulcast?

 

[KG4DRF]

The Marshall County 911 Board is investing $1.5 million in 3 new 300-foot
radio towers to boost communications for emergency responders in the county.
The new towers will be the framework for a new digital system to bring the
county’s radio communications into the modern age.
911 Board Invests $1.5 Million in 3 New Towers

Unsure if these New Tower Sites will be part of AFRN or not.

Yes, eventually they will go AFRN but they don't know how many years down the road it will be. Have heard could take 10 years to get every agency in county outfitted

 

[KG4DRF]

Using Whistler 1040 scanner and noticed that AFRN traffic for Morgan and Madison County has almost all vanished. Only thing I have caught after doing factory reset and reprogramming in frequencies is Huntsville S Disp(5) and N Disp (3). Was wondering if they have suddenly shifted frequencies or if they have phased II everything save for Huntsville PD Dispatch.

 

[Abmahaffey]

I was scanning Jefferson County Simulcast Last night and was able to identify a few TGID’s

1561 Mtn Brook Police
2277 Bessemer Fire
2131 Adamsville Police
2163 Eastern Valley Fire

But was unable identify the following, anyone know what they are?

1607
2505
2757

 

[morganAL]

I suggest you check your programming. Nothing has changed. No frequency changes or Phase II.

Using Whistler 1040 scanner and noticed that AFRN traffic for Morgan and Madison County has almost all vanished. Only thing I have caught after doing factory reset and reprogramming in frequencies is Huntsville S Disp(5) and N Disp (3). Was wondering if they have suddenly shifted frequencies or if they have phased II everything save for Huntsville PD Dispatch.

 

[KG4DRF]

I suggest you check your programming. Nothing has changed. No frequency changes or Phase II.

Thanks, will check and see what changing anything will do. Afraid it will be something with the scanner since I was getting them but then nothing.

 

[KG4DRF]

morganAL
Here is want I have programmed into the scanner. Wanted to see if you see anything that I might be missing. Even using search the only frequency catching anything is 769.71875(Gurley Tower per RR database)
P25 AUTO
773.99375c
771.33125a
771.63125a
772.68125a
770.75625
771.00626 (this is frequency I was getting 99% of voice traffic on)
Atten- off
Narrow fm- no
Dwell-0
DIG AGC-on
SuperTrack-on
Multi-Site-roam
Threashold hi-95
lo-75

 

[Metrofire31]

As a frequent visitor to Alabama (St. Clair, Jefferson), I've noticed in monitoring and in my daily check-ins on RR, that more and more Birmingham/Jefferson County TGs are shifting from the Jefferson County DTRS to the AFRN. But what I'm not certain of is what is the timeframe for Birmingham Fire, Hoover Fire, Shelby County Fire, and the agencies who have recently had TGs posted here on RR to actually shift over to AFRN? When I'm in the area, I'm not sure which system to monitor to listen, for example, to BFD. I have both systems programmed in my mobile scanner but would really appreciate hearing from someone in the know as to what these agencies are planning.

Metrofire31
Franklin, NC
Soon to be Auburn, AL

 

[W4AQX]

As a frequent visitor to Alabama (St. Clair, Jefferson), I've noticed in monitoring and in my daily check-ins on RR, that more and more Birmingham/Jefferson County TGs are shifting from the Jefferson County DTRS to the AFRN. But what I'm not certain of is what is the timeframe for Birmingham Fire, Hoover Fire, Shelby County Fire, and the agencies who have recently had TGs posted here on RR to actually shift over to AFRN? When I'm in the area, I'm not sure which system to monitor to listen, for example, to BFD. I have both systems programmed in my mobile scanner but would really appreciate hearing from someone in the know as to what these agencies are planning.

Metrofire31
Franklin, NC
Soon to be Auburn, AL

Most Shelby County Fire Departments/Rescue Units are already on the AFRN. TGs 2953, 2957 and 2959 are the only ones I can recall right off the top of my head. There are others that I know I'm missing.

 

[W4AQX]

Also 2955 is one of them. I'm pretty sure that I've heard dispatches for Hoover Fire on AFRN, but I cannot recall the TG. I am unfamiliar with the TG for Birmingham Fire, as I usually listen to them on my Broadcastify cellphone app. I hope what I've provided helps you out a bit.

 

[morganAL]

774.48125 Flint
773.99375 Brindley Mtn (Lacey's Spring)
773.49375 Falkville
772.01875 Trinity

771.00625 is the CC on the Simulcast system at the moment. The others are alternate and just carrying voice right now.

Where are you in Marshall Co? The Gurley tower would be closest to you for sure and depending on where you are, distance could be a factor, especially since it is summer and all the trees are green. Leaves affect propagation and absorb signals in the 700/800 range. Even pine needles but with them it is more prevalent in the 800/900 bands.

morganAL
Here is want I have programmed into the scanner. Wanted to see if you see anything that I might be missing. Even using search the only frequency catching anything is 769.71875(Gurley Tower per RR database)
P25 AUTO
773.99375c
771.33125a
771.63125a
772.68125a
770.75625
771.00626 (this is frequency I was getting 99% of voice traffic on)
Atten- off
Narrow fm- no
Dwell-0
DIG AGC-on
SuperTrack-on
Multi-Site-roam
Threashold hi-95
lo-75

 

[KG4DRF]

774.48125 Flint
773.99375 Brindley Mtn (Lacey's Spring)
773.49375 Falkville
772.01875 Trinity

771.00625 is the CC on the Simulcast system at the moment. The others are alternate and just carrying voice right now.

Where are you in Marshall Co? The Gurley tower would be closest to you for sure and depending on where you are, distance could be a factor, especially since it is summer and all the trees are green. Leaves affect propagation and absorb signals in the 700/800 range. Even pine needles but with them it is more prevalent in the 800/900 bands.

We live at Arab.
Have had scanner for almost 16 months and after figuring out manual programming (do not have home internet so could not program over computer and could never find anyone who could) got Morgan County programmed in and have been listening to theirs and some of traffic out of Madison County, (HEMSI, Sheriff's Dispatch and Tac channels). And as I said even using preprogrammed search was only getting a few transmissions out of Huntsville Departments (fire, pd dispatch).
Also using magnetic mount antenna planted on metal roof.
my email is r.tidmore@gmail.com if you want to give me a contact there or phone to see what we can hash out.

 

[PapaG]

Also 2955 is one of them. I'm pretty sure that I've heard dispatches for Hoover Fire on AFRN, but I cannot recall the TG. I am unfamiliar with the TG for Birmingham Fire, as I usually listen to them on my Broadcastify cellphone app. I hope what I've provided helps you out a bit.

Tlk Grp 2955 is Shelby County Fire Disp North.

 

[morganAL]

In Arab you are probably going to need an outside antenna for the Huntsville system. There are a few Hsv/Mad Co TGs that roam onto the Brindley Site but not many

 

[mike36507]

Picked up 27249 and is apparently Poarch Creek fire/EMS. I picked this up on the Robertsdale tower. The database shows Poarch being on this system, but no talkgroups listed. Anyone else have any other TGID they have found?

 

[Julian1]

I have been away from this forum for several months. I look on here and MY GOODNESS lots of changes with AFRN in Bham area. I've got some programming to do.

For today - The Jefferson Co Simulcast we've always listened to is good to go. I'm listening on that and it works fine.

Nice to see you heading back to Alabama! Cheers!!

As a frequent visitor to Alabama (St. Clair, Jefferson), I've noticed in monitoring and in my daily check-ins on RR, that more and more Birmingham/Jefferson County TGs are shifting from the Jefferson County DTRS to the AFRN. But what I'm not certain of is what is the timeframe for Birmingham Fire, Hoover Fire, Shelby County Fire, and the agencies who have recently had TGs posted here on RR to actually shift over to AFRN? When I'm in the area, I'm not sure which system to monitor to listen, for example, to BFD. I have both systems programmed in my mobile scanner but would really appreciate hearing from someone in the know as to what these agencies are planning.

Metrofire31
Franklin, NC
Soon to be Auburn, AL

 

[mike36507]

Is anyone else having trouble picking up some of the fire towers in Baldwin county on this system? I'm not picking up the north, south or west tower on this system or the NXDN system, but can pick them up fine on their analog VHF channels.