- Joined
- Jun 8, 2021
- Messages
- 107
- Reaction score
- 66
I happened to be downtown last evening, and I heard what sounded like wheelchair personnel/ushers on 463.1250 and 461.7875. My SDS-100 was showing me these were both DMR CAP+ systems Both were slot-2 with CC12. The 461.7875 is listed as one of several frequencies for the Communications Direct CAP+ trunked system. I switched over to monitor that system, and although I was getting full signal bars and the radio was flashing CAP+, I heard no traffic. Soldier Field was well within my eyesight, so I was definitely line of sight. I heard traffic such as "JJ to Command" (apparently their dispatch goes by "Command"), and I heard traffic on both freqs mentioning rows and aisles, people with floor tickets, and a rule about wheelchair users needing wristbands.
I had something strange happen though. I went to the analyze function to try to find the LCNs, and even though the system is programmed into my radio, the SDS-100 kept telling me it couldn't find the system.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's two DMR systems were monitored. The SDS-100 was showing encrypted traffic on both. FCC Callsign WPCZ567 (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare), and FCC Callsign WQTB920 (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare) were the ones I monitored. WQTB920 definitely has a CAP+ system there. I was right on their grounds as I was walking past, and then sat at Olive Park Beach near Navy Pier for a while, which is right near NMH. I consistently saw the radio flashing CAP+ consistently.
I also monitored the Chicago MCC Federal Prison, and noted the Internal Control TG was the most active. Everything was in the clear. This system, I have discovered has limits to where it can be heard even in the face of the fact that their antenna is wayyyy up there. They can be heard all over downtown, but the moment you get near the area of DesPlaines and Milwaukee or maybe a little farther away, you can't hear anything.
Navy Pier was also monitored last night, and for that I used my Bridgecom Maverick. Not sure how high up their antenna is, or how much power they're using, but I know you can hear them citywide. I know I can hear them on a rubber duck antenna at O'Hare. I have noticed that the higher ranking people on the Navy Pier Public Safety TG seem to use three-digit radio IDs, and the lower ranking people seem to be four digit radio IDs with some exceptions. Same seems to hold true for the folks working Guest Experience. Lifeline Ambulance was seen at Navy Pier last night and they had a DMR hand-held sitting on their dash. Not sure if that is their radio or given to them by Navy Pier, as they had a huge event there last night.
I had something strange happen though. I went to the analyze function to try to find the LCNs, and even though the system is programmed into my radio, the SDS-100 kept telling me it couldn't find the system.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's two DMR systems were monitored. The SDS-100 was showing encrypted traffic on both. FCC Callsign WPCZ567 (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare), and FCC Callsign WQTB920 (Northwestern Memorial HealthCare) were the ones I monitored. WQTB920 definitely has a CAP+ system there. I was right on their grounds as I was walking past, and then sat at Olive Park Beach near Navy Pier for a while, which is right near NMH. I consistently saw the radio flashing CAP+ consistently.
I also monitored the Chicago MCC Federal Prison, and noted the Internal Control TG was the most active. Everything was in the clear. This system, I have discovered has limits to where it can be heard even in the face of the fact that their antenna is wayyyy up there. They can be heard all over downtown, but the moment you get near the area of DesPlaines and Milwaukee or maybe a little farther away, you can't hear anything.
Navy Pier was also monitored last night, and for that I used my Bridgecom Maverick. Not sure how high up their antenna is, or how much power they're using, but I know you can hear them citywide. I know I can hear them on a rubber duck antenna at O'Hare. I have noticed that the higher ranking people on the Navy Pier Public Safety TG seem to use three-digit radio IDs, and the lower ranking people seem to be four digit radio IDs with some exceptions. Same seems to hold true for the folks working Guest Experience. Lifeline Ambulance was seen at Navy Pier last night and they had a DMR hand-held sitting on their dash. Not sure if that is their radio or given to them by Navy Pier, as they had a huge event there last night.
