Duke Energy P25 is coming alive in NC

[RaleighGuy]

Another site verified today in 397, and a new site found on neighbor list:

Site: 8.8 NAC=008 ; WRUV406 Bentonville/Four Oaks (Johnston NC)
Neighbor: 91F14.397-4.4 ; Garner
Neighbor: 91F14.397-19.19 ; Unconfirmed WRWY933 Clinton (Sampson NC)
Neighbor: 91F14.397-23.23 ; Dunn
Neighbor: 91F14.397-28.28 ; Fuquay
Neighbor: 91F14.397-37.37 ; Unconfirmed WRYS562 KORNEGAY Albertson NC (Duplin)
Neighbor: 91F14.397-60.60 ; Archer Lodge

Channel 8-608: 854.8125-1 SCC
Channel 8-1084: 857.7875-1 SCC
Channel 8-1496: 860.3625-1 CC

Unconfirmed Sites:

Site: 19.19
Channel 8-1264: 858.9125-1 CC ; Unconfirmed WRWY933 Clinton (Sampson NC)
Site: 37.37
Channel 8-1408: 859.8125-1 CC ; WRYS562 KORNEGAY Albertson NC (Duplin)

 

[RaleighGuy]

Dunn site 397-23.23 is either offline, has been removed as neighbor to 397-46.46 or has changed the control channel. I'm too far from it at home to check it out, if anyone with DSD+ FL is in Harnett Co I hope they will be able to help.

397

23 (17)

023 (17)

Dunn T

Harnett, NC

855.9125c

857.5875c

860.9125c

 

[RaleighGuy]

Possible Duke TG discovered today 62016, with RID of 16331249 who has alias of "BAD_CREEK_HYDR".

The Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station located 8 miles north of Salem in Oconee County, South Carolina. The 1,065 megawatts power plant is owned by Duke Energy.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I think there are a few more sites out there we haven't located...location data from FCC files

 

[mtindor]

I think there are a few more sites out there we haven't located...location data from FCC files

View attachment 152231

A few

 

[RaleighGuy]

Just wanted to post a thank you to all who are helping with this project, we've had about ten updates from various people in the past week, and our NC/Duke database admin @brian has been working hard and fast to keep the DB updated, I'd say he's earned his pay lately, but he does this as a volunteer. It is great to see all the help we are getting on this.

That said, we continue to need help, there is a new site in Lumberton and Southern Pines that is awaiting confirmation, there are a lot of sites in western NC and in northern SC. If you are in these areas, or know someone who is, please consider helping us out. Just 15 minutes of your time to check the frequencies and send in your submissions, a screen shot, a copy and paste from a DSD+ P25 file, will make a huge contribution to making our area of the Duke database the best.

In advance, thank you, all of you, anonymous and public, who have made contributions.

 

[IcomIcR20]

I have been out of the loop as I have not been in North Carolina for a number of months, but I am back in town for a bit and decided to do a scan through the 800 MHz band to look for any Duke P25 control channels. I am not picking up any it seems, and I am able to receive other 800 MHz sites in Ashe, Watauga, Alleghany, Wilkes, Surry, Stokes, Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Rowan, and Yakin counties (as well as some of the VA border counties as well), so I have a pretty good radius to work with here.

One thing I wanted to ask is if perhaps my SDS100 completely overlooks their control channels since they are TDMA? I do not have experience with those types of control channels. I understand that I need to run DSD+ to get any useful information, but I was attempting to use my SDS to quickly scan the band and identify frequencies to check out in DSD+. Otherwise, maybe the sites are just not online yet. If they had a site on Sauratown Mountain, it could have sustained damage in the recent wildfire there.

I am still hearing quite a bit of OpenSky from their old system.

 

[RaleighGuy]

perhaps my SDS100 completely overlooks their control channels since they are TDMA? I do not have experience with those types of control channels. I understand that I need to run DSD+ to get any useful information, but I was attempting to use my SDS to quickly scan the band and identify frequencies to check out in DSD+.

Thanks for the help, I was hoping you would come home Okay, to catch you up, currently there is no scanner that will decode the TDMA control channels, you must use DSD+ FL (perferred), OP25, or BTT. The system is on across the state, though in some areas they are still making some changes and getting to work properly, but Duke has not made the switch yet.

The easiest and fastest way using DSD+ FL is start FMP24 and then start DSD+, you will basically be looking for control channels only in the 853-861 MHz range, when you stop on the control channel within 30-60 seconds you should see a message that says "FM demodulated P25p2 PSK signal detected; forcing P25p2 PSK demodulation", give it a minute or so and it should start the decode, if it doesn't click off and back on it or try adjusting gain. You should then see "Current site: 91F14.397 (or more than likely in your area 3D4). There are a number of sites near you, some identified some not. We have a Wiki page that is kept updated at:

Duke Energy P25 - 91F14:397 and 91F14:3D4 - Carolinas Site Research - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[IcomIcR20]

Thanks for the help, I was hoping you would come home Okay, to catch you up, currently there is no scanner that will decode the TDMA control channels, you must use DSD+ FL (perferred), OP25, or BTT. The system is on across the state, though in some areas they are still making some changes and getting to work properly, but Duke has not made the switch yet.

The easiest and fastest way using DSD+ FL is start FMP24 and then start DSD+, you will basically be looking for control channels only in the 853-861 MHz range, when you stop on the control channel within 30-60 seconds you should see a message that says "FM demodulated P25p2 PSK signal detected; forcing P25p2 PSK demodulation", give it a minute or so and it should start the decode, if it doesn't click off and back on it or try adjusting gain. You should then see "Current site: 91F14.397 (or more than likely in your area 3D4). There are a number of sites near you, some identified some not. We have a Wiki page that is kept updated at:

Duke Energy P25 - 91F14:397 and 91F14:3D4 - Carolinas Site Research - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Thank you for the good information! I think I found some Duke control channels now that I switched over to an SDR. However, I have not updated DSD+ in forever, so I do not think I have a recent enough version installed to get the appropriate control channel information. It just detects it as an endless voice call. I just renewed my Fastlane subscription, so when they send me the latest version I will get to work.

 

[IcomIcR20]

Actually, scratch that. The first what I assumed was a control channel would not decode properly, but the others do fine. Here is what I have from a quick scan through the band:

Should be Sauratown Mountain, Stokes County (FCC Callsign WNPW329 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC)):


Should be Sheffield, Davie County (FCC Callsign WRYQ942 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC) and FCC Callsign WNSK751 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC), although I do not see a license for 859.6125):


Should be Pores Knob, Wilkes County (FCC Callsign WNSK755 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC))


Should be Turner Mountain, Surry County (FCC Callsign WNSK755 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC))



As for the neighbors, here is what I have (note that these are only best-guesses based on FCC data):

3D4-2.2 - Granite Quarry, Rowan County (WRWJ791)
3D4-3.3 - Anderson Mountain, Catawba County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-9.9 - Hickory, Catawba County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-36.36 - Hibriten Mountain, Caldwell County (WNSK755)
3D4-51.51 - Walnut Cove, Stokes County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-63.63 - Reidsville, Rockingham County (WPZT872) (Different location from Reidsville 3D4-59.59 already in the DB)
3D4-74.74 - ??? - Nothing close-by showing up

 

[mtindor]

Actually, scratch that. The first what I assumed was a control channel would not decode properly, but the others do fine. Here is what I have from a quick scan through the band:

Should be Sauratown Mountain, Stokes County (FCC Callsign WNPW329 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC)):
View attachment 152806

Should be Sheffield, Davie County (FCC Callsign WRYQ942 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC) and FCC Callsign WNSK751 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC), although I do not see a license for 859.6125):
View attachment 152807

Should be Pores Knob, Wilkes County (FCC Callsign WNSK755 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC))
View attachment 152808

Should be Turner Mountain, Surry County (FCC Callsign WNSK755 (Duke Energy Business Services, LLC))
View attachment 152809


As for the neighbors, here is what I have (note that these are only best-guesses based on FCC data):

3D4-2.2 - Granite Quarry, Rowan County (WRWJ791)
3D4-3.3 - Anderson Mountain, Catawba County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-9.9 - Hickory, Catawba County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-36.36 - Hibriten Mountain, Caldwell County (WNSK755)
3D4-51.51 - Walnut Cove, Stokes County [CONFIRMED IN DB]
3D4-63.63 - Reidsville, Rockingham County (WPZT872) (Different location from Reidsville 3D4-59.59 already in the DB)
3D4-74.74 - ??? - Nothing close-by showing up

As you have already figured out, 3D4-48.48 MOCKSVILLE RADIO in Sheffield NC (Davie)
On the pending license app: ULS Application - Business/Industrial/Land Trans, 809-824/854-869 MHz, Trunked - 0010629785 - Duke Energy Business Services, LLC
+859.6125

3D4-74.74 is STATESVILLE 800 in Statesville NC (Iredell)
On the pending license app: ULS Application - Business/Industrial/Land Trans, 809-824/854-869 MHz, Trunked - 0010782978 - DUKE ENERGY BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
+856.35

That's why you weren't identifying those two freqs. The applications have not been approved yet. There are plenty of Duke licenses that have been pending for a long time, including those two.

Awesome job! Thanks so much for taking the time to do the sleuthing!

Mike

 

[brian]

@IcomIcR20 If you can submit the details of these sites from your dsdplus.p25data file using the database submission process, I'll get them added to the database. Please include the FCC callsign for each site with your submission.

 

[IcomIcR20]

As you have already figured out, 3D4-48.48 MOCKSVILLE RADIO in Sheffield NC (Davie)
On the pending license app: ULS Application - Business/Industrial/Land Trans, 809-824/854-869 MHz, Trunked - 0010629785 - Duke Energy Business Services, LLC
+859.6125

3D4-74.74 is STATESVILLE 800 in Statesville NC (Iredell)
On the pending license app: ULS Application - Business/Industrial/Land Trans, 809-824/854-869 MHz, Trunked - 0010782978 - DUKE ENERGY BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
+856.35

That's why you weren't identifying those two freqs. The applications have not been approved yet. There are plenty of Duke licenses that have been pending for a long time, including those two.

Awesome job! Thanks so much for taking the time to do the sleuthing!

Mike

Thanks for the heads up about the pending licenses! That would explain why I was not seeing anything plausible for 3D4-74.74. I will check it out the next time I am in Statesville unless somebody else beats me to it.

Today I drove to both the potential site in Winston-Salem (Forsyth County) and Arcadia (Davidson County) that are marked on @RaleighGuy's map, and I found no P25 control channels. However, there was plenty of OpenSky. I imagine those sites will be converted to P25 eventually as they leave sizable holes in coverage.

If anyone wants to know what the current Winston-Salem Duke Energy OpenSky site looks like, here it is (apologies for the poor image quality... it would not let me upload it in high quality):


Also, just a minor correction to my previous post: 3D4.74.74 is not actually on Pores Knob itself, but a neighboring peak about 1.3 miles away. Now that I have checked out those other two sites, I will get a DB submission sent it, @brian. Happy to help!

 

[IcomIcR20]

Some developments today: It seems that the Arcadia site is now online. I was not seeing this when I checked the band both here and when I drove to the site yesterday, interestingly enough. The Sheffield site (3D4-48.48) is now showing 3D4-7.7 as a neighbor when it was not yesterday.
Another interesting thing to note is that the Sauratown Mountain site control channel is not decoding correctly today, even with a good signal. DSD+ displays only an endless string of "Sync:+P25p2 Bad Frame Data." The Sheffield and Wilkesboro sites decode just fine.

Anyways, here are the details on the new site:

"Arcadia 800," Davidson County, NC


Neighbors:
3D4-2.2 - Likely Al's Knob Radio, Rowan County (WRWJ791) -- unconfirmed
3D4-24.24 - Lots of license hits for this frequency, so I am unsure. A fairly strong Duke OpenSky signal is on this frequency here, so any potential P25 control channel is obscured. (EDIT: Possibly Denton Radio, WNYK398)
3D4-38.38 - Likely High Point MW, Guilford County (WNAJ727) -- unconfirmed
3D4-48.48 - Sheffield/Mocksville 800 [CONFIRMED]
3D4-66.66 - Sauratown Mountain [CONFIRMED]

Photo of the site (again, sorry for the reduced quality):


These may be Duke's antennas as the others looked like broadcast (I know WWLV-FM is on this tower):

 

[IcomIcR20]

Any chance you could post the control channel frequency for the neighbor 3D4-7.7 ?

3D4-7.7 is the site I posted (Arcadia 800). The control channel is in the screenshot: 857.650 MHz. I was just noting that the Sheffield site was not showing the Arcadia site as a neighbor yesterday, implying it was likely just turned on.

 

[mtindor]

3D4-7.7 is the site I posted (Arcadia 800). The control channel is in the screenshot: 857.650 MHz. I was just noting that the Sheffield site was not showing the Arcadia site as a neighbor yesterday, implying it was likely just turned on.

I just realized that. I’m reading off my phone so I’m half blind. Thanks for the continued sleuthing!

 

[RaleighGuy]

Some developments today: It seems that the Arcadia site is now online. I was not seeing this when I checked the band both here and when I drove to the site yesterday, interestingly enough. The Sheffield site (3D4-48.48) is now showing 3D4-7.7 as a neighbor when it was not yesterday.
Another interesting thing to note is that the Sauratown Mountain site control channel is not decoding correctly today, even with a good signal. DSD+ displays only an endless string of "Sync:+P25p2 Bad Frame Data." The Sheffield and Wilkesboro sites decode just fine.

Anyways, here are the details on the new site:

"Arcadia 800," Davidson County, NC
View attachment 152919

Neighbors:
3D4-2.2 - Likely Granite Quarry, Rowan County (WRWJ791) -- unconfirmed
3D4-24.24 - Lots of license hits for this frequency, so I am unsure. A fairly strong Duke OpenSky signal is on this frequency here, so any potential P25 control channel is obscured.
3D4-38.38 - Likely High Point MW, Guilford County (WNAJ727) -- unconfirmed

2.2 is actually called Al's Knob Radio 310 Hill Street GRANITE QUARRY NC ROWAN - WNPW328
24.24 Should be DENTON RADIO 194 MOUNTAIN VIEW DENTON NC DAVIDSON CO - WNYK398
I agree with 38.38

 

[IcomIcR20]

2.2 is actually called Al's Knob Radio 310 Hill Street GRANITE QUARRY NC ROWAN - WNPW328
24.24 Should be DENTON RADIO 194 MOUNTAIN VIEW DENTON NC DAVIDSON CO - WNYK398
I agree with 38.38

Thanks! I edited my post to reflect that. I might be able to justify a little trip to Denton here soon to check that site out and then swing through Granite Quarry on the way back.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Thanks! I edited my post to reflect that. I might be able to justify a little trip to Denton here soon to check that site out and then swing through Granite Quarry on the way back.

Thanks for all your help, there are only a few helping out here, but the few that are helping have been doing an incredible job!

 

[RaleighGuy]

Thanks! I edited my post to reflect that. I might be able to justify a little trip to Denton here soon to check that site out and then swing through Granite Quarry on the way back.

Go south young man, south has lots to look at