Anne Arundel County Radio System Upgrade

[maus92]

854.1875 is being modulated constantly, but it is not a control channel. Might be for testing.

 

[GTR8000]

A few points:

• Yes, a constant carrier that resembles a control channel is a test pattern. Perfectly normal during the early buildout
• It's entirely possible that not all subsites are on the air yet, accounting for "poor audio". Or they're purposely testing coverage by compromising the signal to get a "worst case" scenario. From personal experience: years ago when our ASTRO 25 system was being built out and only 2 (out of 12) subsites were on the air, we would drive around with APX portables with stubby antennas on low power inside the vehicle with the windows rolled up just to see if we had any coverage with the system so compromised. Anyone listening without knowledge of the situation would've likely formed a negative judgment of the system, which frankly is why the county personnel and MSI ST's should really do this testing on encrypted talkgroups to avoid uneducated assumptions by listeners.
• Get used to seeing those registration rejections, because they're actually much more common than you might imagine. It's only recently that Rick has Unitrunker 2.1 versions actually displaying them (at my request), prior to that they went ignored. What is technically happening is that a foreign subscriber is requesting a Working User ID (WUID) on the system, and is getting denied. A look at the raw control channel log would reveal all of that info. How they are happening is largely irrelevant...could be a radio passing through, could be ducting from a control station, etc. Much ado about nothing, I literally see dozens of these rejections each day on a number of local systems.

Enjoy the build out of your county's new system, but don't get too hung up on all the minutia. Realize that often there is some method to the madness, even if you might not fully understand it or have a high level grasp of the nitty gritty of these complex systems.

 

[maus92]

The new Arundel Center BANT site on Northwest St in Annapolis is now online, but the new tower site at the Friendship depot in south county is not. Coverage is now good in the Waysons Corner area where coverage is currently provided by tgs on the PG 700 system. As far as the voices heard in testing so far, it sounds more like the techs are testing connectivity vs. quality. The one transmission sequence I heard that was clearly a message sounded very good.

 

[Dispatcher308]

A few points:

• Yes, a constant carrier that resembles a control channel is a test pattern. Perfectly normal during the early buildout
• It's entirely possible that not all subsites are on the air yet, accounting for "poor audio". Or they're purposely testing coverage by compromising the signal to get a "worst case" scenario. From personal experience: years ago when our ASTRO 25 system was being built out and only 2 (out of 12) subsites were on the air, we would drive around with APX portables with stubby antennas on low power inside the vehicle with the windows rolled up just to see if we had any coverage with the system so compromised. Anyone listening without knowledge of the situation would've likely formed a negative judgment of the system, which frankly is why the county personnel and MSI ST's should really do this testing on encrypted talkgroups to avoid uneducated assumptions by listeners.
• Get used to seeing those registration rejections, because they're actually much more common than you might imagine. It's only recently that Rick has Unitrunker 2.1 versions actually displaying them (at my request), prior to that they went ignored. What is technically happening is that a foreign subscriber is requesting a Working User ID (WUID) on the system, and is getting denied. A look at the raw control channel log would reveal all of that info. How they are happening is largely irrelevant...could be a radio passing through, could be ducting from a control station, etc. Much ado about nothing, I literally see dozens of these rejections each day on a number of local systems.

Enjoy the build out of your county's new system, but don't get too hung up on all the minutia. Realize that often there is some method to the madness, even if you might not fully understand it or have a high level grasp of the nitty gritty of these complex systems.

Best explanation ever! But no one will read this and the shenanigans and non scientific wild ass guesses will continue!

 

[R8000]

Best explanation ever! But no one will read this and the shenanigans and non scientific wild ass guesses will continue!

 

[maus92]

Several new tgs in the log:

8651; 8834; 8843; 8854; 8846; 8847.

Encryption is being used on some tgs.

 

[Spleen]

Control channel kinda chatty today...

Activity Summary - Decoder25 Phase 1 Simulcast (LSM)

Network
WACN:BEE00[781824] SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] LRA:00[0]

Current Site
SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] RFSS:01[1] SITE:01[1] LRA:00[0] STATUS:ACTIVE RFSS NETWORK CONNECTION
PRI CONTROL CHANNEL:0-21 DOWNLINK:851137500 UPLINK:806137500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-2608 DOWNLINK:867306250 UPLINK:822306250
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-269 DOWNLINK:852687500 UPLINK:807687500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-3328 DOWNLINK:871806250 UPLINK:826806250
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-371 DOWNLINK:853325000 UPLINK:808325000
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-561 DOWNLINK:854512500 UPLINK:809512500
CURRENT DATA CHANNEL:15-4095 DOWNLINK:0 UPLINK:0
STATION ID/LICENSE:
AVAILABLE SERVICES:[UNIT_TO_PSTN_VOICE, AUTHENTICATION, USER_STATUS_QUERY, UNIT_STATUS_QUERY, EMERGENCY_ALARM] SUPPORTED SERVICES:[INDIVIDUAL_VOICE, UNIT_TO_PSTN_VOICE, GROUP_DATA, RESERVED_12, GROUP_AFFILIATION, GROUP_AFFILIATION_QUERY, USER_MESSAGE, UNIT_STATUS, EMERGENCY_ALARM]
Neighbor Sites
UNKNOWN
Frequency Bands
BAND:0 FDMA BASE:851006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000
BAND:1 FDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000
BAND:2 TDMA BASE:851012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:3 TDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:4 FDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000
BAND:5 TDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000 TIMESLOTS:2

 

[maus92]

The 867.30625 and 871.80625 look weird. I'll check my data log when I get back to the office later this evening.

 

[maus92]

This is my SDRT Details pane:

Activity Summary - Decoder25 Phase 1 Simulcast (LSM)

Network
WACN:BEE00[781824] SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] LRA:00[0]

Current Site
SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] RFSS:01[1] SITE:01[1] LRA:00[0] STATUS:ACTIVE RFSS NETWORK CONNECTION
PRI CONTROL CHANNEL:0-21 DOWNLINK:851137500 UPLINK:806137500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-269 DOWNLINK:852687500 UPLINK:807687500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-371 DOWNLINK:853325000 UPLINK:808325000
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-561 DOWNLINK:854512500 UPLINK:809512500
CURRENT DATA CHANNEL:15-4095 DOWNLINK:0 UPLINK:0
STATION ID/LICENSE:

Neighbor Sites
UNKNOWN
Frequency Bands
BAND:0 FDMA BASE:851006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000
BAND:1 FDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000
BAND:2 TDMA BASE:851012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:3 TDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:4 FDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000
BAND:5 TDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000 TIMESLOTS:2

 

[GTR8000]

Current Site
SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] RFSS:01[1] SITE:01[1] LRA:00[0] STATUS:ACTIVE RFSS NETWORK CONNECTION
PRI CONTROL CHANNEL:0-21 DOWNLINK:851137500 UPLINK:806137500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-2608 DOWNLINK:867306250 UPLINK:822306250
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-269 DOWNLINK:852687500 UPLINK:807687500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-3328 DOWNLINK:871806250 UPLINK:826806250
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-371 DOWNLINK:853325000 UPLINK:808325000
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-561 DOWNLINK:854512500 UPLINK:809512500

Quite a bit of bad decoding there. Motorola ASTRO 25 systems can only have up to four channels flagged as control capable, not to mention that 867 and 871 are not valid channels in the USA for a PLMR system.

 

[Spleen]

I've noticed it swapping back and forth, one time you hit Refresh and you get the long version, the next time you hit it you get the short version. I just checked and now mine is back to "normal".

Activity Summary - Decoder25 Phase 1 Simulcast (LSM)

Network
WACN:BEE00[781824] SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] LRA:00[0]

Current Site
SYSTEM:A7E[2686] NAC:A71[2673] RFSS:01[1] SITE:01[1] LRA:00[0] STATUS:ACTIVE RFSS NETWORK CONNECTION
PRI CONTROL CHANNEL:0-21 DOWNLINK:851137500 UPLINK:806137500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-269 DOWNLINK:852687500 UPLINK:807687500
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-371 DOWNLINK:853325000 UPLINK:808325000
SEC CONTROL CHANNEL:0-561 DOWNLINK:854512500 UPLINK:809512500
CURRENT DATA CHANNEL:0-269/----- DOWNLINK:852687500 UPLINK:0
STATION ID/LICENSE:

Neighbor Sites
UNKNOWN
Frequency Bands
BAND:0 FDMA BASE:851006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000
BAND:1 FDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:6250 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000
BAND:2 TDMA BASE:851012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-45000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:3 TDMA BASE:762006250 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:30000000 TIMESLOTS:2
BAND:4 FDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000
BAND:5 TDMA BASE:935012500 BANDWIDTH:12500 SPACING:12500 TRANSMIT OFFSET:-39000000 TIMESLOTS:2

 

[SkyPager]

So I must have an error in programming the HP436. I have the CC's and the TG and a wild card programmed but no joy. not hearing a thing.
System type P25 800 MHz and it selected the default trunk tables. What say ye?

 

[maus92]

Brand new system now being configured. Very little testing traffic and some of that is encrypted. Most clear voice is on tg 1 and only sporadically.

 

[maus92]

For those of you who like being in the weeds, the following is a visualization of the current Smart Zone control channel on the right side (854.4125), and the constant modulation of what might be a test pattern for testing the new P25 system on the leff (854.1875):



Below is a visualization of the P25 control channel at 851.1375:

 

[maus92]

The Friendship / Southern District Depot subsite is now online.

 

[empire550]

m type P25 800 MHz and it

So I must have an error in programming the HP436. I have the CC's and the TG and a wild card programmed but no joy. not hearing a thing.
System type P25 800 MHz and it selected the default trunk tables. What say ye?

Are you set for Phase 2 P25?

 

[tvengr]

Are you set for Phase 2 P25?

P25 Standard is all need for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. (P25 Trunk - System Type in Sentinel).

 

[empire550]

P25 Standard is all need for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. (P25 Trunk - System Type in Sentinel).

Then I dont know. I have heard then last week on my Unication, but haven't tried recently due to it just being test counts.

 

[maus92]

P25 Standard is all need for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. (P25 Trunk - System Type in Sentinel).

It's all they technically need, but it's likely that he will need to acquire a Unication or SDS series radio - or a SDR / free software solution like SDR Trunk or OP25.

 

[maus92]

Lol, they're doing voice quality tests on tg 6, basically a recorded narrator reading words and phrases - maybe there's a plot line (sounds like a sea story.) Narrator has an English accent. Slight echo. Using a new traffic channel 856.0125 for the P25 system but also exists on the SmartZone system.