Blue Ridge Parkway

[glc]

I have been monitoring traffic on 172.750 P25. I believe this is the new parkway frequency. Can someone confirm this? Thanks

 

[fmon]

I have been monitoring traffic on 172.750 P25. I believe this is the new parkway frequency. Can someone confirm this? Thanks

Nice catch. Can't confirm but added to scanlist for next trip up.

 

[randy6800]

I have been getting very clear traffic on this ch., when the officer calls into dispatch he says his number to 800. Thats what they did on the old parkway ch. I will listen more , they have a traffic stop with drugs now,but im pretty sure its the parkway rangers.

 

[Ten42]

Blue Ridge parkway

I started a thread in the NC forums last night about this so those in NC could help out. A reply to that one also mentioned these frequencies: 172.725, 172.450, 173.7625. I am in Stuart this morning and so far I have heard traffic on 172.725 and it was a better signal here than the 172.750. So making an assumption, 172.750 may be Poor Mountain and 172.725 may be either Fishers Peak, Buffalo Mountain, or Grassy Hill. They were not simulcasting.

David Hartman

 

[W4UVV]

Blue Ridge Parkway Map

I started a thread in the NC forums last night about this so those in NC could help out. A reply to that one also mentioned these frequencies: 172.725, 172.450, 173.7625. I am in Stuart this morning and so far I have heard traffic on 172.725 and it was a better signal here than the 172.750. So making an assumption, 172.750 may be Poor Mountain and 172.725 may be either Fishers Peak, Buffalo Mountain, or Grassy Hill. They were not simulcasting.

David Hartman

Dave,

Attached is a neat color map of the parkway that might be helpful. The orientation is slightly different favoring north/south directions vice all four directions equally. RR changed the pdf format to jpg which reduced the resolution and size. Try the below link and download the better larger easier to read pdf scrollable version.

http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/upload/blrimap-2.pdf

 

[randy6800]

The 172.7500 I have picked up BR PKWY Rangers from Waynesboro to Roanoke. The digital reception is so very clear. The park rangers on Saturday had trouble calling the game wardens with the new radios. Also lots of radio checks, Im going to add the 172.725 and see what I pick up.

 

[Ten42]

Brp

If the rangers are working from Waynesboro to Roanoke on 172.750, its possible this is the Apple Orchard repeater site. On the old system, there were repeaters at Humpback Rocks, Apple Orchard, Poor Mountain, Grassy Hill, Buffalo Mtn and Fishers Peak. I assumed they might add a site or two along the way since digital seems to require more sites than analog. These were all the Virginia sites I knew of.
The 200 numbers were from Waynesboro to around Roanoke, 300's were from Roanoke to the NC line. 201 and 301 were the district supervisors, 210-219 and 310-319 were sub district 1 ranegrs, 220-229 and 320-329 were sub district 2 rangers, while the maintenance people appeared to take up around the number 50 and up. During the bad weather a few weeks ago and when they were still on 167.175, the maintenance crews were using 260-279 numbers and they were closing the gates and such north of Roanoke.
I didnt know they talked to the game wardens, I was told that they (NPS) used other agency systems but nobody could use the NPS frequencies except parkway units. Some Virginia Game Wardens in thess areas may have the newer STARS radios but they havent switched to the STARS systems here yet that I know of, they are still using conventional freqs unless they can hit a STARS repeater in areas east of the parkway.
But I could be wrong. Wouldnt be the first time. So far no new freqs shown in the NC thread.

Dave

 

[CCHLLM]

Either I wasn't paying attention before or there's some P25 suddenly being heard in this 172-173 freq range in NW NC too, and some one sided conversations on 167.175/103.5 kind of alternating with the P25 traffic, which is a new thing. The P25 traffic is at about the same signal strength as the various 167.175 transmissions have always been so I may be hearing Fisher's Peak and VA sites north of here. Since I don't immediately have P25 capability on VHF in the truck, all I can say is that it's suddenly here on VHF over the last few weeks and with increasing frequency of occurrence, but what it is and where it is I don't know. Sounds to me as if BRNP P25 may have reached NC, too. Hope somebody can confirm it.

 

[appalachianscanner]

Re"

wx4cbh, you're in Winston Salem right? im wondering what you're referring to NW NC as im just up in SW VA Abingdon, VA

 

[CCHLLM]

Yeah, I'm in W-S and I'm referring to NW NC not NE NC. With the scanner in edge scan, I'm hearing the new traffic in the 172 and 173 range. It's definitely narrow band and it's definitely P25 type sounds. It could very well be all coming from VA because I hear everything from Poor Mountain in VA south into the Black Mountains in NC. The 167.175 traffic is still in there, too, mostly referring to NC landmarks and mileposts a coupla weeks back or so. Haven't heard a thing on 167.175 in the last day or so, but this time of year the freq is pretty quiet except on some weekends. I'll just have to pay more attention to what I'm hearing so that I can maybe figure out what it is.

 

[appalachianscanner]

Re:

k thanks

 

[CCHLLM]

Over the last few weeks some of the counties in NC that the BRNP passes through have recently had announcements made on their fire frequencies for members to bring radios to the fire meetings for reprogramming. That might be connected to putting P25 BRNP freqs into the radios that are P25 compliant and authorized because I don't hear any apparent fire freq changes, and all of these counties have VHF fire freqs. I could assume that if that's true, the same type of thing is happening on the law enforcement side of these same counties because those are all VHF on the LE side, too, and don't seem to be making any indications that they're buying into VIPER.

NE NC definitely has some NPS traffic as Cape Hatteras National Seashore has gone digital and the old 164 and 163 freqs are silent.
__________________

 

[W4UVV]

My 172.7250 & 172.7500 mhz. BRP test reception results

If the rangers are working from Waynesboro to Roanoke on 172.750, its possible this is the Apple Orchard repeater site. On the old system, there were repeaters at Humpback Rocks, Apple Orchard, Poor Mountain, Grassy Hill, Buffalo Mtn and Fishers Peak. I assumed they might add a site or two along the way since digital seems to require more sites than analog. These were all the Virginia sites I knew of.
The 200 numbers were from Waynesboro to around Roanoke, 300's were from Roanoke to the NC line. 201 and 301 were the district supervisors, 210-219 and 310-319 were sub district 1 ranegrs, 220-229 and 320-329 were sub district 2 rangers, while the maintenance people appeared to take up around the number 50 and up. During the bad weather a few weeks ago and when they were still on 167.175, the maintenance crews were using 260-279 numbers and they were closing the gates and such north of Roanoke.
I didnt know they talked to the game wardens, I was told that they (NPS) used other agency systems but nobody could use the NPS frequencies except parkway units. Some Virginia Game Wardens in thess areas may have the newer STARS radios but they havent switched to the STARS systems here yet that I know of, they are still using conventional freqs unless they can hit a STARS repeater in areas east of the parkway.
But I could be wrong. Wouldnt be the first time. So far no new freqs shown in the NC thread.

Dave

Dave,
This afternoon I did a test to determine if I could receive any BRP P25 transmissions. I used three R7000s and my GRE600 and Uniden 996. One R7000 each was tuned to 167.1750 mhz., 172.7250 mhz. and 172.7500 mhz. respectively ONLY for the purpose of determining the strongest signal strength receptions. Normally the BRP has little comm activity heard here and today was no exception. I also programed my GRE600 and Uniden 996 for 172.7250 mhz. and 172.7500 mhz. I did receive a few P25 transmissions. The best P25 signal strength was from the NW direction on 172.7250 mhz. I also heard very weak P25 signal on 172.7500 mhz. at S1 and nothing on 167.1750 mhz. Although 172.7250 mhz. would have been an excellent analog signal at S5 on the R7000, it was not strong enough to threshold the GRE600 or Uniden 996.

Checking my frequency/user database and reception results lead me to make several conclusions. First, Staunton/Waynesboro is dead on NW from here over a 110 air mile path. In my opinion there is a 172.7250 mhz. BRP repeater located at Humpback Rocks which is located about 6-7 miles SSE of Waynesboro. The extremely weak 172.7500 mhz. repeater signal probably was from a further SSW BRP repeater site possibly at Montebello in Nelson Co. or the Rocky Mtn. site in Rockbridge Co., and definitely was not phased in my direction. Both repeaters simulcasted but I do not recall 167.1750 mhz. simulcasting with them. I cannot hear Apple Orchard Mtn., Buffalo Mtn. or Poor Mtn. signals from here.

I suspect when one BRP P25 repeater is accessed all repeaters in the "backbone" BRP system transmit. This would be done via vhf to uhf/microwave relay links and vice versa to vhf at the various repeater sites in both states using 411.4750 mhz., 411.7000 mhz., 1704 mhz., 1716 mhz., 1726 mhz., and 1776 mhz. As with STARS and SNP I suspect where possible the BRP tries to use their existing analog repeater locations and infrastructure for P25 operations.

 

[glc]

I entered the freqs. listed in the NC forum: 172.450, 172.725, 172.750, and 173.7625. I am hearing traffic on 172.750 S4 and 173.7625 S1 at my location. I live at Smith Mountian Lake in Franklin Co. I would like to thank everyone for their input.

 

[John]

I have heard some traffic on 172.750 using a NAC of 160. Appears to be area of Peaks of Otter. Also some traffic on 173.7625 with a NAC of 150 which appears to be south of Roanoke.

John

 

[W4UVV]

172.7250 mhz...more

Dave,
This afternoon I did a test to determine if I could receive any BRP P25 transmissions. I used three R7000s and my GRE600 and Uniden 996. One R7000 each was tuned to 167.1750 mhz., 172.7250 mhz. and 172.7500 mhz. respectively ONLY for the purpose of determining the strongest signal strength receptions. Normally the BRP has little comm activity heard here and today was no exception. I also programed my GRE600 and Uniden 996 for 172.7250 mhz. and 172.7500 mhz. I did receive a few P25 transmissions. The best P25 signal strength was from the NW direction on 172.7250 mhz. I also heard very weak P25 signal on 172.7500 mhz. at S1 and nothing on 167.1750 mhz. Although 172.7250 mhz. would have been an excellent analog signal at S5 on the R7000, it was not strong enough to threshold the GRE600 or Uniden 996.

Checking my frequency/user database and reception results lead me to make several conclusions. First, Staunton/Waynesboro is dead on NW from here over a 110 air mile path. In my opinion there is a 172.7250 mhz. BRP repeater located at Humpback Rocks which is located about 6-7 miles SSE of Waynesboro. The extremely weak 172.7500 mhz. repeater signal probably was from a further SSW BRP repeater site possibly at Montebello in Nelson Co. or the Rocky Mtn. site in Rockbridge Co., and definitely was not phased in my direction. Both repeaters simulcasted but I do not recall 167.1750 mhz. simulcasting with them. I cannot hear Apple Orchard Mtn., Buffalo Mtn. or Poor Mtn. signals from here.

I suspect when one BRP P25 repeater is accessed all repeaters in the "backbone" BRP system transmit. This would be done via vhf to uhf/microwave relay links and vice versa to vhf at the various repeater sites in both states using 411.4750 mhz., 411.7000 mhz., 1704 mhz., 1716 mhz., 1726 mhz., and 1776 mhz. As with STARS and SNP I suspect where possible the BRP tries to use their existing analog repeater locations and infrastructure for P25 operations.

When the weather cleared here this afternoon I heard good P25 transmissions from the BRP while they lasted. Unfortunately most comms I heard were under a minute's duration and most of the times less than that..."800 to 214" and then another short transmission "Out of service". "214" must be the HQ dispatcher. Once again I confirmed the best reception was from the NW. Moving the antenna arrays a few degrees north or south resulted in no P25 audio. Surprisingly P25 reception was excellent with only one bar signal strength display on the 996. But the signal was not strong enough to get a NAC id on the GRE600. Humpback Rocks is the suspected location of this BRP repeater.

 

[John]

In the past, 800 was the dispatch. 200 series units are in the area of Peaks of Otter.

John

 

[W4UVV]

BRP- Apple Orchard Mtn.

When the weather cleared here this afternoon I heard good P25 transmissions from the BRP while they lasted. Unfortunately most comms I heard were under a minute's duration and most of the times less than that..."800 to 214" and then another short transmission "Out of service". "214" must be the HQ dispatcher. Once again I confirmed the best reception was from the NW. Moving the antenna arrays a few degrees north or south resulted in no P25 audio. Surprisingly P25 reception was excellent with only one bar signal strength display on the 996. But the signal was not strong enough to get a NAC id on the GRE600. Humpback Rocks is the suspected location of this BRP repeater.

I just heard 314 call 800 on "Apple". I assume that is Apple Orchard Mtn. So that ids another BRP P25 site. I probably was hearing this comm relayed through the Humpback Rocks site.

 

[n4jri]

Last night I heard both 172.75 and 172.725 from Appomattox, Amherst & Nelson counties. Both appeared to have a NAC of 160.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[Ten42]

Repeater confirms

172.750 is Apple Orchard and 172.725 is Poor Mountain, I confirmed these today.

David Hartman