Colorado Using 700 MHz

[n4voxgill]

After the recent comments about the use of 700 MHz in Colorado, I contacted the Region Chairman for 700 and he advised me,

"Arapahoe County now has three sites using 700 MHz under the State of Colorado's license and the State has two sites. Adams County, to my north is putting in three sites". So 700 MHz is coming on line with the 3 agencies at this time.

This means that one of the two blocks of frequencies have been cleared. He further advsied the Colorado 700 plan was about finished and would be submitted to the FCC in about 6 months. This will include the initial assignments to all users within the state.

Please note: This means that I was wrong....

 

[Thunderbolt]

Time to buy a new scanner when it comes out because here in Michigan, they plan on doing the same thing, as does many other states.

73's

Ron

 

[BobWeb]

With the 396T on the horizon, I'm hoping this will not be a problem. It sucks, but at least there is an option available, unlike with those agencies using Pro-voice.

 

[SCPD]

This means that one of the two blocks of frequencies have been cleared.

The funny thing is that they are not using cleared spectrum. I just checked and TV channel 63 is still on the air. And they are using channels in that chunk of spectrum:

Ch. 63 = 764-770 Mhz

Maybe you should call him back and ask him what they're doing , especially since the channel 64/69 spectrum is open.

 

[n4voxgill]

I have confidence that he knows what he is doing.

 

[poltergeisty]

Does the 396 really get 700 MHz for digital? Geese this is scary, so long is it's not pro voice. Or should I say pro anti voice. :lol:

Why the move? I heard nexthell will have to move freqs. So that sounds like no more possible interference problems.

 

[RF-Intel]

Maybe you should call him back and ask him what they're doing , especially since the channel 64/69 spectrum is open.

Emery has been at this for a while. He also chairs the 800 planning committee for region 7. The FCC has given quite a bit of latitude to the states and planning committees in the matter of 700Mhz

Does the 396 really get 700 MHz for digital? Geese this is scary, so long is it's not pro voice.

The product manager for uniden has not said "Yes" directly, but it seems to be more likley than not. ProVoice certainly may be used in 700Mhz in the future. Colorado currently has only P-25 voice channels in 700.

 

[LFRfreak]

In my opinion these agencies squander money. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these agencies already using P-25 800MHz radios and towers? This system is only a few years old and has cost them a #%&* load. Why would they transition to 700MHz which would cost them even more #%&* loads of cash? Someone please help me understand their logic.

Thanks,

LFRfreak

 

[jimmnn]

In my opinion these agencies squander money. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these agencies already using P-25 800MHz radios and towers? This system is only a few years old and has cost them a #%&* load. Why would they transition to 700MHz which would cost them even more #%&* loads of cash? Someone please help me understand their logic.

Thanks,

LFRfreak

The DTRS system only cost the 78 million dollars so far.

Jim<

 

[LFRfreak]

So you're saying that 78 million dollars is considered fairly cheap for this kind of thing?

>LFRfreak

 

[SCPD]

They are going to use 700 MHz because they need the channels for increased capacity. There just aren't enough 800 MHz channels right now to support all the users that they've added.

Don't forget that it's not really a transition to 700 (it is for some sites/users) as far as the system is concerned. 700 and 800 will co-exist on the same system. It's more of an upgrade that adds some cost, but not much compared to the cost of the system as a whole.

 

[jimmnn]

They are going to use 700 MHz because they need the channels for increased capacity. There just aren't enough 800 MHz channels right now to support all the users that they've added.

Exactly and remember if you track and log the control channels as I do often Thorodin is maxed out and giving units busy signals and Lookout Mtn is also very close at times as well.

The South metro towers are not so busy currently but planning for continued growth in that area they need the extra frequencies.

Additionally I am hearing Thorodin will get a few allocated 700mhz frequencies as well.

Don't forget that it's not really a transition to 700 (it is for some sites/users) as far as the system is concerned. 700 and 800 will co-exist on the same system. It's more of an upgrade that adds some cost, but not much compared to the cost of the system as a whole.

Jim<

 

[Steve2003]

Another benefit from switching to 700mHz is being further away in the spectrum from the cell band.

 

[jimmnn]

Another benefit from switching to 700mHz is being further away in the spectrum from the cell band.

Has anyone noticed that as of tonight DTB (Glendale) site is no longer showing 700mhz channels in use, Chevron Plaza (Greenwood Village) and Smoky Hill remain as the only 2 sites showing 700mhz use.

Jim<

 

[RF-Intel]

Has anyone noticed that as of tonight DTB (Glendale) site is no longer showing 700mhz channels in use, Chevron Plaza (Greenwood Village) and Smoky Hill remain as the only 2 sites showing 700mhz use.

Glendale's 700 is up right now, I believe the combiner was being worked on.

 

[scanlist]

Kinda sux when you get hit with high power microwave energy when working on those so they shut them off. Expect to see more unusual behaviour on the system as they start adding more freqs to these sites.

Phil.

 

[jimmnn]

Kinda sux when you get hit with high power microwave energy when working on those so they shut them off. Expect to see more unusual behaviour on the system as they start adding more freqs to these sites.

Phil.

Speaking of any work on Zone 3 sites, believe it was scheduled to come on the air this weekend?

Jim<

 

[eyes00only]

BIG QUESTION! If DTRS does start using 700 MHz, will that mean that all agencies will be unmonitorable? I've finally got enough cash coming to get a digital scanner, but would really be bummed out if it became a paper weight in 6 months.

Jerry

 

[SCPD]

I would wait for sure Jerry. There is a Uniden model coming out at the end of summer that is supposed to work on 700. I'm sure RS will have to come out with one too.

The 800 stuff isn't going away, but most likely more and more sites and agencies will be found on a mix of 700 and 800. The radios that Motorola has had out for a while are dual band (700/800) and lots of users have them.

 

[eyes00only]

I would wait for sure Jerry. There is a Uniden model coming out at the end of summer that is supposed to work on 700. I'm sure RS will have to come out with one too.

The 800 stuff isn't going away, but most likely more and more sites and agencies will be found on a mix of 700 and 800. The radios that Motorola has had out for a while are dual band (700/800) and lots of users have them.

Thanks for the reply. I've seen the thread on the new one coming out. It's taken me a long time to get the $500 for a 96, and I think the new one is going to be around $700. That's a lot of bucks for an old man like me.

Jerry