Charles County P25

[maus92]

I though I'd establish a new thread for Charles County as their new system is now slated to cutover in January, 2027. Typically this means a FDMA control channel will come online roughly a year prior, which means that should happen soon. AFAIK, they will be reusing existing frequencies - hard to tell because the FCC website is so awful. The revised project cost was $55M at the end of 2024 when a contract modification was granted for different subscribers - probably APX Next data capable radios.

Edit: Charles WILL be getting a few new frequencies licensed previously.

 

[Hbright]

I though I'd establish a new thread for Charles County as their new system is now slated to cutover in January, 2027. Typically this means a FDMA control channel will come online roughly a year prior, which means that should happen soon. AFAIK, they will be reusing existing frequencies - hard to tell because the FCC website is so awful. The revised project cost was $55M at the end of 2024 when a contract modification was granted for different subscribers - probably APX Next data capable radios.

Edit: Charles WILL be getting a few new frequencies licensed previously.

Thanks! Just curious if there's a press release or some source you could link?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Thanks! Just curious if there's a press release or some source you could link?

https://www.charlescounty.org/webdocs/fs/bidboard/Solicitation649/Appendix%20A%20-%20Technical%20Specification%20-%20230215.pdf

 

[maus92]

The go-live date was mentioned in a MD First RCB quarterly meeting recently. The supplemental expenditure for new radios was in a change order document at the end of 2024. The rationale for the subscriber change is that the APX model originally spec'd in 2018 contract with Motorola is going to be EOL shortly.

 

[Hbright]

Is the proposed new tower in Waldorf to support the Smartzone system or the new P25 system? I believe the plans for the P25 system include increased coverage across the County (eliminating the need for TGs on the Fairfax Co and Calvert Co systems).

Charles County Accepts Land Donation For New Emergency Communications Tower - The BayNet

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 30, approved the donation of a one-acre wooded parcel on Mount Eagle Lane in Waldorf to support the county’s emergency communications network. Victoria Rickett, assistant property acquisition officer with the county’s...

thebaynet.com

 

[maus92]

Is the proposed new tower in Waldorf to support the Smartzone system or the new P25 system? I believe the plans for the P25 system include increased coverage across the County (eliminating the need for TGs on the Fairfax Co and Calvert Co systems).

Charles County Accepts Land Donation For New Emergency Communications Tower - The BayNet

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 30, approved the donation of a one-acre wooded parcel on Mount Eagle Lane in Waldorf to support the county’s emergency communications network. Victoria Rickett, assistant property acquisition officer with the county’s...

thebaynet.com

It would not be for the Smartzone system; I think they've maxed out on the number of sites that can be supported. Plus I doubt there are any parts left to build it, lol.

 

[Dispatcher308]

Is the proposed new tower in Waldorf to support the Smartzone system or the new P25 system? I believe the plans for the P25 system include increased coverage across the County (eliminating the need for TGs on the Fairfax Co and Calvert Co systems).

Charles County Accepts Land Donation For New Emergency Communications Tower - The BayNet

LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 30, approved the donation of a one-acre wooded parcel on Mount Eagle Lane in Waldorf to support the county’s emergency communications network. Victoria Rickett, assistant property acquisition officer with the county’s...

thebaynet.com

Its going to be at the tower behind the old state police barracks/NRP barracks on old Washington Road.

 

[dtscho]

They've got a control channel active:

Charles County (P25) Trunking System, Various, Maryland

Charles County (P25) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[N4VKF]

They've got a control channel active:

Charles County (P25) Trunking System, Various, Maryland

Charles County (P25) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Time to get that frequency into my G4.

 

[Chris52]

How were the other frequencies determined ?

 

[maus92]

Control channel software like Unitrunker can be used to decode the control channel and determine the alternate control channels. I see one traffic channel in the RRDB listing. If a channel grant ofr BSI was issued, the frequency carrying that grant would also be displayed.

 

[motorcoachdoug]

Any idea when they will decide on the talk groups listing?

 

[brian86]

Any idea when they will decide on the talk groups listing?

It is in the very beginning stages, it may be several months before they list all the assigned Talkgroups. My logs are showing 3 active talkgroups right now. These talkgroups (3027, 3028 & 3029) are probably Motorola testing.

 

[motorcoachdoug]

thank you

 

[brian86]

How were the other frequencies determined ?

Trunking Software I use to Stream the RDIO-Scanner Feeds.

 

[brian86]

Here is a Trunking Recorder Link of all radio traffic form the new Charles County P25 Radio System In Development. You can play back audio from the system for the last 60 days. Make sure to Click "All Dates" in the search options to listen to audio.

Charles New P25 - Trunking Recorder

 

[Hbright]

Here is a Trunking Recorder Link of all radio traffic form the new Charles County P25 Radio System In Development. You can play back audio from the system for the last 60 days. Make sure to Click "All Dates" in the search options to listen to audio.

Charles New P25 - Trunking Recorder

Thanks. I was wondering if they’d use seven digit RIDs on the P25 system. Looks like they are.

 

[maus92]

Seven digital RIDs are the standard for Region 20, which is basically Maryland, DC and Northern VA counties. Note that the same radio may use different RIDs in different personalities just to confuse things, lol.

 

[Hbright]

Seven digital RIDs are the standard for Region 20, which is basically Maryland, DC and Northern VA counties. Note that the same radio may use different RIDs in different personalities just to confuse things, lol.

Correct, but only for P25 systems. The current Charles Co Motorola system doesn’t use seven digit RIDs (but, like you said, the same radios have seven digit RIDs on other systems). 236xxxx for Charles Co.

 

[maus92]

Correct, but P25 is the standard in the region going forward. Charles is the last to move from SZ to P25 at least in MD.