Back to Work Las Vegas

[737mech]

Ok So seeing many hotels are going DMR it seems the scanning is getting limited?
For those that don't have a new scanner you better think about it? Mototrbo and DMR are
taking over most business radio systems in Las Vegas. I'll try to to help but it takes many to narrow down the systems.

 

[bryan_herbert]

Hooligan made a similar post in January

Las Vegas area RRDB -- Let's 'Do Work!'

The RRDB for the Clark County area has been long-overdue for some updating by us. Absolutely, some people have been making contributions in the recent past, however, it's an embarrassment that up-until this week, the RRDB still listed the Lady Luck (a hotel/casino that seems to have closed...

forums.radioreference.com

I recently bought a HomePatrol 2 from a friend and fellow RR member and tried using the RRDB to monitor Vegas stuff. I quickly realized more than half of the database was out of date and could not be monitored. The only systems it could track was NSRS, SNACC, once in a while Nellis-Creech, and one of the LTRs with taxis.

We really need to identify all deprecated freqs/systems, clear them from the database, and update ASAP.

 

[Hooligan]

Hooligan made a similar post in January

Las Vegas area RRDB -- Let's 'Do Work!'

The RRDB for the Clark County area has been long-overdue for some updating by us. Absolutely, some people have been making contributions in the recent past, however, it's an embarrassment that up-until this week, the RRDB still listed the Lady Luck (a hotel/casino that seems to have closed...

forums.radioreference.com

I recently bought a HomePatrol 2 from a friend and fellow RR member and tried using the RRDB to monitor Vegas stuff. I quickly realized more than half of the database was out of date and could not be monitored. The only systems it could track was NSRS, SNACC, once in a while Nellis-Creech, and one of the LTRs with taxis.

We really need to identify all deprecated freqs/systems, clear them from the database, and update ASAP.

The sad reality is we're amazingly dysfunctional here in-terms of basic communication. Not sure why, but c'est la vie.

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

I have submitted a number of updates lately but have not really posted the same updates here in the forum. Maybe thats part of the answer (or problem). If someone is submitting updates then maybe a quick mention here would help - thinking maybe someone else might also have intel / updates on the same system and together it makes a better product.

my most recent updates have been various taxi / limo CTCSS, Boulder Station casino, and the RTC (on the SNACC system).

 

[ChrisP]

I had a chance to work on monitoring the MGM Grand DMR trunked system in Las Vegas over the last weekend and wanted to share what I found: MGM Grand Trunking System, Las Vegas, Nevada - Scanner Frequencies

First, the MGM system used to be a Motorola 900 MHz analog system for years. There were originally 4 frequencies:
937.2500
937.7375
938.1500
938.2375

At some point a while back the system went from analog to DMR Tier III. The RR database still lists these same 4 frequencies as DMR with no LCNs listed. If you load this system in a Uniden scanner, you only hear occasional traffic - clearly not set up correctly.

I ran the system through the Uniden "LCN Finder" on the 436 radio and came up with these LCN's, all Color Code 5:
937.2500 - LCN 2217
937.7375 - LCN 2219
938.1500 - LCN 2252
938.2375 - LCN 1088

The LCN for the fourth frequency seemed a bit odd, but the radio started picking up more traffic than before, but it was clearly not picking up everything. So I pulled out my Airspy SDR and watched the 900 MHz band with the input sensitivity very low so I would just see what was near by. Watching the spectrum, I determined that the system has 6 active frequencies, all Color Code 5, including the control channel:
937.01250 - LCN 2161
937.02500 - LCN 2162
937.71250 - LCN 2217
937.73750 - LCN 2219
938.15000 - LCN 2252
938.23750 - LCN 2259

This setup worked well on my Uniden 436 radio at MGM - I caught almost continuous traffic related to normal hotel operations as well as the events going on at the Grand Garden Arena. I submitted the results to the RR database. But I had reports from others that it still didn't work for them on a Uniden 536 radio. So perhaps further testing is needed.

- Chris

______________

 

[gariac]

Ok So seeing many hotels are going DMR it seems the scanning is getting limited?
For those that don't have a new scanner you better think about it? Mototrbo and DMR are
taking over most business radio systems in Las Vegas. I'll try to to help but it takes many to narrow down the systems.

You can use the Tyterra AKA TYT MD380 radios as a DMR scanner with MD380 tools.
editcp (code plug)
If you have one of these radios, you might as well use editcp since it is far superior to what software TYT provides. You can install the MD380 tools from this program, which in turn lets you scan DMR on a frequency. However these trunk systems do some tricks that defeats the simple type II DMR radio. DMR RAS for instance. The MD380 tools will let you ignore color code and TG.

I have only used the linux binary. I can't vouch for the windows version. The author is really good about fixing bugs.

It looks like DMR will be the dominant technology. It works and the radios are cheap.

 

[737mech]

Bad thing about that the MD380's only reach 400-480 MHz. The hotels are still using the 800 and 900 MHz freqs.

 

[gariac]

Bad thing about that the MD380's only reach 400-480 MHz. The hotels are still using the 800 and 900 MHz freqs.

Yep. I bought a low band version too, not knowing they were going to release a UV version.

I bought the DMR software for the 436. If Chris is still reading this, how was the LCD derived for the MGM?

 

[ChrisP]

If Chris is still reading this, how was the LCD derived for the MGM?

I used the LCN finder in the Uniden 436 Analyze menu. It takes some time, especially when I realized I had missed a frequency or two.

- Chris

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

I used the LCN finder in the Uniden 436 Analyze menu. It takes some time, especially when I realized I had missed a frequency or two.

- Chris

Thank you for sharing this. MGM seems to have a very strong signal compared to some of the others on the strip. I have a solid 5 bars using an indoor 1/4 wave I build to 900 mHz on the back on my 992p2 - my location is near Chimera golf course. Of course I have to listen in conventional mode since the 996p2 with the DMR upgrade does not like Tier 3 systems at all - wont track / decode.

My SDS100 seems to have stopped working (100% deaf) all of a sudden. I have seen other reports of same so I guess I'll be sending it back to Uniden.

 

[737mech]

I loaded it up on my 536 and it works great. My antenna is 6 miles away line of site to the MGM. Thanks for finding the extra freq!

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

I loaded it up on my 536 and it works great. My antenna is 6 miles away line of site to the MGM. Thanks for finding the extra freq!

I bit the bullet and paid another $60 to DMR upgrade my old 436hp while my SDS100 is out of service. Tier 3 DMR works great on the 436 too - I've been logging new talk groups all day. I'll submit updates as soon as I'm sure enough what the use likely is. 99% of the talk groups are 20xxx but every once in a while I log TG 101. It seems Security related but can't confirm yet.

Makes me wonder if with the new DMR systems going into all of the properties - if, for example, all the MGM owned properties on the strip can interconnect via IP if needed.

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

I bit the bullet and paid another $60 to DMR upgrade my old 436hp while my SDS100 is out of service. Tier 3 DMR works great on the 436 too - I've been logging new talk groups all day. I'll submit updates as soon as I'm sure enough what the use likely is. 99% of the talk groups are 20xxx but every once in a while I log TG 101. It seems Security related but can't confirm yet.

Makes me wonder if with the new DMR systems going into all of the properties - if, for example, all the MGM owned properties on the strip can interconnect via IP if needed.

Another one that pops up while scanning the mgm system is tg 10002. I don’t think it’s part of mgm grand though - but is definitely resort / casino security. Does not fit the 20nnn tg format everything else at mgm seems to follow

 

[ChrisP]

I've wondered about the MGM Park Hotel across LV Boulevard using the same system as well.

- Chris

 

[Mike-KC8OWL]

regarding MGM .... on TG 10002 cc5 I noted I was hearing security related traffic but did not think it was related to MGM. TG 10002 is the security TG for Mandalay Bay. A little while ago I heard a reference to the MB employment center so I do think the MB security TG may be linked to the MGM system. Anyone else noticing this or similar? I have also noted TG 101, 201, and 301 on the MGM system -all are way outside the normal TG range for MGM.

 

[gariac]

I used the LCN finder in the Uniden 436 Analyze menu. It takes some time, especially when I realized I had missed a frequency or two.

- Chris

Oh that menu actually does something? Thanks.

I was cleaning out some junk and considered tossing the 436 manual considering how outmoded it is.

 

[bryan_herbert]

Im trying to monitor Bally's. The database shows talkgroup numbers like

0-10-012
0-10-110
0-10-211

however, talkgroup numbers like

1-07-011
1-07-019
1-07-039
1-07-041
1-07-063

keep popping up. Sometimes theres audio, but usually there isnt. Are any of you able to hear the resort using the current settings?

 

[bryan_herbert]

The 1-##-### talkgroups appear to belong to the Rio. Someone just asked if the Voodoo rooftop lounge was open.

The system in this configuration is incomplete. One or more freqs are definitely missing.

Im trying to monitor Bally's. The database shows talkgroup numbers like

0-10-012
0-10-110
0-10-211

however, talkgroup numbers like

1-07-011
1-07-019
1-07-039
1-07-041
1-07-063

keep popping up. Sometimes theres audio, but usually there isnt. Are any of you able to hear the resort using the current settings?

 

[pro106import]

Im trying to monitor Bally's. The database shows talkgroup numbers like

0-10-012
0-10-110
0-10-211

however, talkgroup numbers like

1-07-011
1-07-019
1-07-039
1-07-041
1-07-063

keep popping up. Sometimes theres audio, but usually there isnt. Are any of you able to hear the resort using the current settings?

I know when I was there in Sept., Bally's security only was Enc. Same as most of the other Caesars properties around there. The radio may be muting the audio when Encr. ? Possibly. I don't have Unidens so I don't know if they operate the same as Whistlers.
Bob