Democratic National Convention Passport LTR system

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

Recently I found out that AMTS systems use Passport LTR and I need some closer sources of Passport LTR for testing of LTRTrunk. I found a local system licensed to Paging Systems, Inc but it is idle most of the time.

Well a few days ago I was searching around and found additional Passport bursts in the block licensed to Paging Systems, Inc. It has been mostly idle but became active over the weekend. As I listened I realized this is a low power Passport LTR system at the Fleet Center for the DNC. Various talkgroups are homed to all eight channels and it is busy. Some people are complaining about the lousy radios. About 30+ talkgroups in the 100-500xx range.

Site 100 No neighbors
217.1375
217.1875
217.2375
217.2875
217.3375
217.3875
217.4375
217.4875

I got a chuckle when I copied the callsign, PASSPORT.

If you can hear voice traffic or a burst every two seconds then you found the system. The system cannot be trunk tracked with a scanner. A computer program like LTRTrunk is needed.

Likely it will be gone by next week.

73 Eric

 

[mr_hankey]

Eric,

what radios are they using?

ht1250's? 1550's?

strange bandsplit, 200's and all...

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

I do not know since it is very difficult to even get close to the Fleet Center.

I know Motorola has a 1250 LS+ that covers the band.

The 217/219 MHz band was dedicated to Maritime and Inland Waterway use. The FCC opened it up for land mobile use. One of the major AMTS providers, Mobex, is targeting Land Mobile on their website. The Mobex system in New York City is active.
The Boston AMTS system is not very active.

It makes sense to use 217 MHz as the other business bands are crowded here in Boston. I would not be surprised if the Republicans use 217 MHz in NYC as well.

73 Eric