Disneyland Scanning, the end is drawing near...

[b52hbuff]

As seen in a couple of messages in the socalscan Yahoo! Groups. I was at DLR between 6/1-5. I can confirm that the the list of users below appears accurate from what I could monitor on the radio.



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalscan/message/57991
Mike <KA4993.Mike@...> wrote:
In the May 23-29, 2008 Disneyland Cast Member Reference Guide is some
info about "Teams on New Radios."

"The Disneyland Resort is currently transitioning to updated two-way
radios. During the phased roll-out, teams using different types of
radios will be unable to communicate directly with each other.

New Teams added on new radios:
Resort Parking & Transportation
Guest Services
Main Entrance
Stores

The following Teams are also currently using the new radios:
Custodial
Disney's Photo Pass
Distribution Services
Horticulture
Outdoor Vending
Park Banquets
TDA Building Maintenance

Over the next few months, additional teams will be transitioned to the
new radios."


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalscan/message/56824
Disneyland recently completed an extensive installation of RF over
fiber to primarily support Nextel underground and elsewhere on its
campus.

 

[WayneH]

You're still going to have traffic on the 900 system. I don't believe the patches to the iDEN talkgroups are in place yet.

 

[b52hbuff]

You're still going to have traffic on the 900 system. I don't believe the patches to the iDEN talkgroups are in place yet.

So you mean that all-calls and the like don't work?

Is this a nextel limitation, or just something that hasn't been enabled/rolled out yet?

 

[Eng74]

Kind a sad to go back to being in the dark at the Parks. It was always nice to have a heads up on times and show problems or if it was going to be cancelled.

 

[WayneH]

So you mean that all-calls and the like don't work?

Is this a nextel limitation, or just something that hasn't been enabled/rolled out yet?

I don't know about the all-calls. I'm not exactly sure what you mean. From a console perspective, iDEN or SmartNet, it's just another channel. They can announce to them however they want. The SmartNet system will announce it like it typically does (as a MultiSelect). I'm not totally sure on how truly it will all react together since I have seen iDEN linked to SmartNet yet.

When the patch is enabled it will be just another talkgroup on the system. You'll notice a difference in audio quality though.

 

[b52hbuff]

I don't know about the all-calls. I'm not exactly sure what you mean. From a console perspective, iDEN or SmartNet, it's just another channel. They can announce to them however they want. The SmartNet system will announce it like it typically does (as a MultiSelect). I'm not totally sure on how truly it will all react together since I have seen iDEN linked to SmartNet yet.

When the patch is enabled it will be just another talkgroup on the system. You'll notice a difference in audio quality though.

My apologies, since I'm not totally fluent in all of the terms. As you know, I live in Santa Clara County, and there aren't a lot of complicated trunked systems out here.

So at Disneyland, there are two kinds of announcements. There are the park All-Calls that go out over TGID 1168. I can understand/assume that the Nextel system could/would work the same way. Have a single group for announcements.

The other type of announcement is for when a ride breaks down, and they want to alert facilities and ops simultaneously. I think this is a MultiSelect.

So now with my clarifications, what do you think is supportable under Nextel?

Also, have you ever heard of someone patching a Nextel system with a Motorola TRS? If it's possible, it would appear from the note I send out that they aren't doing it. So it sounds like the long term plan would be to maintain two separate systems and not link them together. I could read into this that the ultimate plan would be to abandon the old TRS...

 

[gusbuster1217]

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, at some point and time, we wouldn't be able to monitor the system at DL?

It amazed me the stuff that I did here about when I was down there 6/1-6/4. My wife would tell me to shut up every time I told her about a problem.For instance, a couple times I heard request for Pluto to check out a box\mini ice chest @ city hall (locker room) that was on monday and on wednesday the problems they were having with the computers that controled the Mono -Rail(red, new train) at least we knew when to go wait in line. Then the request for security to escort an employee at the Mattahorn for use of language which was against Disney policy.

So I take it that Disney World in Florida can not be monitored because they use the Nextel system?

 

[b52hbuff]

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, at some point and time, we wouldn't be able to monitor the system at DL?

You are correct.

So I take it that Disney World in Florida can not be monitored because they use the Nextel system?

You are correct.

 

[DPD1]

This is the kind of stuff that scares me. How many more hits can the hobby take before it really starts having an adverse effect.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[inigo88]

Yet another reason someone needs to figure out how to legally reverse engineer iDEN.

 

[gusbuster1217]

Yet another reason someone needs to figure out how to legally reverse engineer iDEN.

I'm not only talking about the Patent on iDEN, but even other technologies, at some point the patent expires. Do companies renew the patent or companies such as GRE and Uniden just don't have the R&D to copy the technology?

Then again, aren't we talking about the use of PUBLIC airways that is leased from the Federal government?

 

[Eng74]

I just wonder how well the nextel stuff will work there. I know cell service is spotty at best in Disneyland and in DCA. I know in Pirates you can get anything on a radio. I can still listen to OCoFA, LACoFD, and in some areas Verdugo while at the Park.

 

[WayneH]

Disneyland has installed a tone of infrastructure to support iDEN service throughout the park. Fiber and BDA's everywhere.

Keep in mind that the 900 system is not going anywhere. They recently upgraded the whole system with a new controller, stations, etc. A lot of money to spend and then not use it. DLR is very together when it comes to their communications systems.

Regarding iDEN and "all-calls" or MultiSelecting... I believe there's something there to support it but I'm not sure how it operates. I don't know of anyone using it. I do know that somewhere iDEN is patched in to trunked systems but I don't recall where exactly. Today's technology makes it pretty easy.

With the 900 system the "all-call" 1168 talkgroup is what's referred to as an ATG (Announcement TalkGroup). It's identified by the ATG status bit. This is a separate TG in a radio's personality. Basically a group of talkgroups are assigned to a personality in a radio (typically up to 15). Usually you assign them by user (PD, Fire, PubWorks). As long as the radio is monitoring a TG under this personality it will also be listening for the ATG TG ID. Nothing extra needs to be done, it's automatic. A by product is if you monitor an ATG it opens up for any TG under that personality (similar to scan but you don't know which TG as the display only shows the ATG alias). ATG's can be pretty complex. I'd try a search on here.

 

[Eng74]

Didn't they just put the trunk system in around '98 or '99?

 

[Mick]

Disneyland licenses

The license for WNYX856 was originally issued to Disneyland Resort (a division of the
Walt Disney Company) on October 21, 1994, and was renewed on November 16, 1999, for a
five-year period through October 21, 2004. The license authorizes Disneyland to operate ten trunked Business Radio channels in the 896-901/935-940 MHz band to support over 900 mobile units.

Source: FCC:
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=1928840

They got a new license for the same frqs using callsign: WQFF241
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=2823727

Didn't they just put the trunk system in around '98 or '99?

 

[monitor142]

yep....they got a new license alright, someone at DL corporate sort of forgot to renew it, and probably ignored the renewal reminder from our friends in Gettysburg. Cost a whole bunch of $$$$$ from the lawyers.

 

[key2_altfire]

Yet another reason someone needs to figure out how to legally reverse engineer iDEN.

I work for an RF company, and Motorola is very stingy about giving out the modulation profile for iDEN. Even if you have the $ to buy the profile from them, they want all sorts of information on what you plan on doing with it.

It could be done, but I doubt we'll be seeing a general-purpose iDEN receiver EVER.

 

[peepoop]

Would something like this do the trick?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Comarco-CWT-X25...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

It's a little pricey, even used.

 

[AZScanner]

Would something like this do the trick?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Comarco-CWT-X25...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

It's a little pricey, even used.

Wow that looks cool! Anyone on the board familiar with this unit? Does it basically clone the phone you're trying to monitor or what? Does it require the phone to remain tethered to the unit?

You could also go with a General Dynamics r2660, but that unit isn't quite as portable...:lol: Would look hella sweet in my shack though...

-AZ

 

[b52hbuff]

Disneyland has installed a tone of infrastructure to support iDEN service throughout the park. Fiber and BDA's everywhere.

What is a BDA?