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

[medic9351301]

from my understanding it does not matter if its 800 or 700 freqs.
i will try to dig into this . i do know that if a fire department does not want to go full p25 .
they are going to be asked to give the radios back that they were given. and revert to vhf or something else.
this is a massive pain in the butt.

 

[morganAL]

41008 should be a TGID for the P-25 and 2563 would be a TGID from Smarnet. Either ID is valid in the system.

I would assume by what IDs are being broadcast...
41008 would be JCSO1 on the Jeffco system
2563 would be JCSO1 on AFRN

 

[Jtolar]

Which AFRN sites are people hearing Jefferson Co Sheriff / B'ham Fire / Center Point Fire etc?
Birmingham / Jefferson County.

sorry I'm late to the party, But I am picking these up off the Huffman tower on Tower hill by St. Vincents East. The Ctrl channel has moved to 852.1375 for AFRN. That is getting the JCSO, CPFD and Irondale. BFD still broadcasting on the old JC800 system along with Trussville.

 

[Dwhitt301]

sorry I'm late to the party, But I am picking these up off the Huffman tower on Tower hill by St. Vincents East. The Ctrl channel has moved to 852.1375 for AFRN. That is getting the JCSO, CPFD and Irondale. BFD still broadcasting on the old JC800 system along with Trussville.

I can confirm BFD is broadcasting on the JC800 system today.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

Anyone in Jefferson Co. successfully using a scanner in their car to monitor this?

I'm using the simulcast on 857.5375 in my car and the traffic is clear south of Red Mt along 459 and in Hoover but the reception kind of sucks north of Red Mt along the Red Mt Expressway and 59.

With the old JC 800 simulcast on 855.6875 I had great reception in both of those areas. I could use it from the Huffman area all the way through Bham and to about 10mi into Tuscaloosa County on 59 before it would drop out. The new simulcast seems way more spotty.

Why the difference? Is the new simulcast in a different area? Does it have less power?

 

[medic9351301]

its called lsm .
search in the fourms or google it

Simply put, a simulcast system transmits the same traffic on the same frequencies at the same time from 2 or more locations. A simulcast system would transmit from multiple sites to provide better coverage within its intended operational area. These signals then tend to arrive at your scanner with slightly different time delays. Even though these time differences are almost indescribably small, the fact that they are digital1’s and 0’s makes them interfere with each other. The 1’s from one tower tend to block the 0’s from another tower. This causes interference and sometimes the interference is so bad as to block the entire conversation.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

its called lsm .
search in the fourms or google it

Simply put, a simulcast system transmits the same traffic on the same frequencies at the same time from 2 or more locations. A simulcast system would transmit from multiple sites to provide better coverage within its intended operational area. These signals then tend to arrive at your scanner with slightly different time delays. Even though these time differences are almost indescribably small, the fact that they are digital1’s and 0’s makes them interfere with each other. The 1’s from one tower tend to block the 0’s from another tower. This causes interference and sometimes the interference is so bad as to block the entire conversation.

Why wasn't this an issue on the old JC 800 system? It was a simulcast also, wasn't it?

Also, what are the simulcast site locations? The RR DB only shows one location for the simulcast site.

 

[BHAMalan]

Also, what are the simulcast site locations? The RR DB only shows one location for the simulcast site.

Here’s something IconicIR20 posted to this thread a little while back. Very well done map of all the towers.

Hello all,

I don't know if anyone else has made this kind of map, but I haven't been feeling great the past few days so, out of personal interest since I often visit AL, I made this map: AFRN Tower Sites - Google My Maps

It is a map of all AFRN sites with stand-alone sites in green, and simulcast sites in the other colors. I decided to share it in case it might come in handy for anyone. Most of the time, I was able to locate the exact tower site on satellite imagery, but in some places I couldn't find it so I just approximated. Let me know if there is anything I missed (because it's probably not perfect) and I'll fix it or anything I should add!

 

[medic9351301]

because the old system was a mixed system not a true p25.
Each site has a simulcast switch as i understand.
Hear is something promising i am hearing a lot of jefferson county agencies on the hoover 700 site. (769.28125)

 

[daveyb]

Ok I need a little help here Can a Motorola XTL 5000 be used on this system? My Dept was offered some need to know if they will work on this system and what flash code . Baud rate is needed I will not be able to talk to the system admin in time before these radios go away.

 

[Julian1]

Visit the site. These are P-25 radios.
Phase 1 P25 for B’ham and Jefferson County.

ASTRO XTL 5000 Digital Mobile Radio - Motorola Solutions

While the Astro XTL 5000 Digital Mobile Radio has been discontinued and is no longer available, you can click here to find accessories and replacement parts.

www.motorolasolutions.com

Ok I need a little help here Can a Motorola XTL 5000 be used on this system? My Dept was offered some need to know if they will work on this system and what flash code . Baud rate is needed I will not be able to talk to the system admin in time before these radios go away.

 

[daveyb]

I see it has the 9600 baud rate in the specs are you talking about the old B Ham and Jeff co system or the one they are going to the Alabama 1st responders network?

 

[Julian1]

The new B’ham & JEFFCO AFRN systems. Now full digital. AFRN is full P25. 9600 Baud Digital Only.

The old system was mixed mode and was lower baud rate.

I see it has the 9600 baud rate in the specs are you talking about the old B Ham and Jeff co system or the one they are going to the Alabama 1st responders network?

 

[Julian1]

How much to buy one?

The new B’ham & JEFFCO AFRN systems. Now full digital. AFRN is full P25. 9600 Baud Digital Only.

The old system was mixed mode and was lower baud rate.

 

[medic9351301]

good luck getting it programed very doubtful any comer. radio shop will do it .

 

[morganAL]

Talk to the system admin in your area. We do it here in Morgan Co but we make them sign an agreement that gives them authorization to use a personally owned radio on the system as long as they are a member in good standing with their agency. The agreement states if they leave the department, they must bring us the radio within 5 business days or we will disable it. They must also get a Talkgroup authorization letter signed by the head of any agency that they want have a talkgroup programmed for.

Policies vary by area so no guarantees.

 

[medic9351301]

thanks morgan:
the key word is member of department.
so its very unlikely that john q public gets a radio programed .
even if you are a member of a dept chances are your will only get one talkgroup programed .
when you say bring the radio back to yall will you keep it or just remove the tg and give it back ?

 

[daveyb]

Ok can you tell me what specs are needed for this radio? Or mite you have a plug code to tell them.They want to make sure they give me the right radios? I will not be able to talk to the system adm for a while

 

[medic9351301]

I am confused here
Are you buying the radio out of your pocket?
Is your department issuing you a radio ?
If the department is issuing the radio it will be programed .
if your paying for it yourself i would wait till you talk to the sys admin. cause if they find a unauthorized radio on the system they are going to brick it for sure.
Each radio transmits a id code if the system see it they might brick it automatically .

 

[daveyb]

I am educating people there’s no radios for me. I was offered the radios from an acquaintance who has them for a small cost to me, They are not from the area and are will to let me have them as long as I can tell them what I need. The Departments have little extra money and get hand me down Rigs. If i get the right radios I would get them for members that dont have them when off duty. They are a great group of Volunteers. I have Voluntered for over 30 plus years in another state. Just trying to help using my experience.