Federal Use of MotoTRBO!

[ChrisP]

I just posted some additional information on the Fed Files blog, but I confirmed today that the VA Medical Center campus in Vancouver, WA is using what appears to be MotoTRBO radios on 409.4375 MHz. I've been chasing the signal for a couple of weeks and finally pinned it to that location today. Obviously I couldn't hear what they are using it for, but the signal sounds exactly like the MotoTRBO sound samples available on the Net..

- Chris

 

[ecps92]

I hope this is not a TREND and just someone purchasing radios outside of the normal relm

CT West Haven VA also uses the same freq for Maintenance
with a DPL-155

I just posted some additional information on the Fed Files blog, but I confirmed today that the VA Medical Center campus in Vancouver, WA is using what appears to be MotoTRBO radios on 409.4375 MHz. I've been chasing the signal for a couple of weeks and finally pinned it to that location today. Obviously I couldn't hear what they are using it for, but the signal sounds exactly like the MotoTRBO sound samples available on the Net..

- Chris

 

[shell6]

What is the likelyhood of someone programming a TRBO decoder for the PC? With discriminator output, the patent and some C++, I'd imagine it would be possible.

 

[KE7JFF]

I just posted some additional information on the Fed Files blog, but I confirmed today that the VA Medical Center campus in Vancouver, WA is using what appears to be MotoTRBO radios on 409.4375 MHz. I've been chasing the signal for a couple of weeks and finally pinned it to that location today. Obviously I couldn't hear what they are using it for, but the signal sounds exactly like the MotoTRBO sound samples available on the Net..

- Chris

You know, I was actually going to contact last month about what I thought was P25 at first on that frequency when I was over that way in Vancouver, but then put into the scanner later on and it wouldn't decode and I thought it was just some sort of analog encryption. I never thought it could be TRBO.

 

[ChrisP]

I hope this is not a TREND and just someone purchasing radios outside of the normal relm

I suspect one of the local two-way dealers is pushing the MotoTRBO line, and perhaps the VA came looking for some radios and got sold the XPR units. I don't know that the VA intentionally went looking for secure radios, but several area hospitals and medical care facilities have started using MotoTRBO as well on business UHF channels here.

The VAMC Police continue to operate on the 800 MHz Portland BOEC trunked system, but the talk groups assigned to the VA for other purposes have been silent as of late. While at the VA campus, I spotted what looked like a UHF antenna on one of the Sprinter vans that might be for patient transports. That might be who this frequency is used by. I've noticed it's not real busy with voice traffic...

- Chris

 

[KE7JFF]

I suspect one of the local two-way dealers is pushing the MotoTRBO line, and perhaps the VA came looking for some radios and got sold the XPR units. I don't know that the VA intentionally went looking for secure radios, but several area hospitals and medical care facilities have started using MotoTRBO as well on business UHF channels here.

While at the VA campus, I spotted what looked like a UHF antenna on one of the Sprinter vans that might be for patient transports. That might be who this frequency is used by. I've noticed it's not real busy with voice traffic...

- Chris

I know OF a ham who works at the VA in Vancouver...I might be able to ask him....

 

[ocscan]

Two quick questions;

-Does the FCC type accept Trbo for this band?
-Is it possible the patient transport/transfer is contracted out???

My understanding is Motorola is using another companies vocoder for Trbo, so the protocol is probably not "proprietary". If its a "protocol" and not encryption method/algorithm then a decoder is just a matter of time.

 

[ChrisP]

Two quick questions;

-Does the FCC type accept Trbo for this band?
-Is it possible the patient transport/transfer is contracted out???

My understanding is Motorola is using another companies vocoder for Trbo, so the protocol is probably not "proprietary". If its a "protocol" and not encryption method/algorithm then a decoder is just a matter of time.

The FCC has very little authority over the 406-420 MHz band in the US, that would be the NTIA. And I don't know if they have to approve specific emissions, but I suspect they might.

The patient transport could be contracted, but this is a federal frequency allocation. They could have been given the use of the frequency or even the radios as part of the contract.

- Chris

 

[KE7JFF]

The FCC has very little authority over the 406-420 MHz band in the US, that would be the NTIA. And I don't know if they have to approve specific emissions, but I suspect they might.

The patient transport could be contracted, but this is a federal frequency allocation. They could have been given the use of the frequency or even the radios as part of the contract.

- Chris

Doesn't AMR do Vancouver-Portland VA Center transports?

 

[Squad10]

Two quick questions;

-Does the FCC type accept Trbo for this band?
-Is it possible the patient transport/transfer is contracted out???

My understanding is Motorola is using another companies vocoder for Trbo, so the protocol is probably not "proprietary". If its a "protocol" and not encryption method/algorithm then a decoder is just a matter of time.

Haven't checked into it recently, but as I have always known it to be, the federal government is not required to use FCC authorized equipment. Maybe someone can confirm this until I inquire.

From what I have read, TRBO does not have integral encryption as standard or as an option. The XPR6550
portable and XPR4550 mobile have integrated GPS.

 

[ChrisP]

Doesn't AMR do Vancouver-Portland VA Center transports?

Could be, but I don't know if what I spotted is medical transport. What I was referring to is more of a courtesy shuttle, not an ambulance.

- Chris

 

[KE7JFF]

Could be, but I don't know if what I spotted is medical transport. What I was referring to is more of a courtesy shuttle, not an ambulance.

- Chris

Ohh I see.

I'll have to go poke around and see what I can find.

 

[icom1020]

Not a federal use, but I saw that Google in The Dalles and other locations are licensed for motoTurbo emissions. I've seen a few other hospitals around the NW being licensed this way as well.

IG WQEN482
GOOGLE
[WE ARE ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OPERATING A WEB SITE BASED COMPANY]
Control Point 1 - 4200 COLUMBIA DR., THE DALLES OR 650-623-4000
Control Point 2 - 76 9TH AVENUE, NEW YORK NY 650-623-4000
Control Point 3 - 720 4TH AVENUE, KIRKLAND WA 650-623-4000
Control Point 4 - 901 CHERRY AVENUE, SAN BRUNO CA 650-623-4000
Control Point 5 - 201 S DIVISION STREET, ANN ARBOR MI 650-623-4000
Control Point 6 - 345 SPEAR STREET, SAN FRANCISCO CA 650-623-4000
(link) <http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=2792465>
03/05/2009 License Modified
1 - 4200 COLUMBIA DR., THE DALLES (WASCO) OR (map) <http://maps.google.com/maps?q=45.633055,-121.205555>
463.9875 FB2 25p 100e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 464.8625 FB2 25p 100e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 461.8625 FB2 25p 100e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 2 - 16.0 km radius around fixed location 1
463.9875 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 468.9875 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E
464.8625 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 469.8625 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E
461.8625 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E 466.8625 MO 5p 5e 7K60FXE 11K2F3E

I am correct that 7K60FXE is MotoTurbo? It must be, this is my 666th post!

 

[jmm346]

-Does the FCC type accept Trbo for this band?

Yes they do.

 

[WayneH]

I split off the 165.2875 thread hijack. Sofa_king, please don't do it again.

http://www.radioreference.com/forum...um/139200-165-2875-digital-pulses-no-nac.html

 

[SOFA_KING]

I split off the 165.2875 thread hijack. Sofa_king, please don't do it again.

http://www.radioreference.com/forum...um/139200-165-2875-digital-pulses-no-nac.html

Yea, sorry about that. At first I thought that is was something new and thought it might be TRBO.

Thanks for the new thread.

Phil

 

[KE7JFF]

I finally talked to a ham I know who works at the VA at the Vancouver, WA office. He acknowledges that there is now an in-house digital radio system recently installed.

He didn't help with it, but know the guy who did install it. Its TRBO all right and he says it was purchased with some sort of grant. There's also a TRBO repeater installed at the Portland VA which is linked to Vancouver via VOIP.

It was picked apparently because they wanted trunking ability but did not want a dedicated control channel blaring out.

Its meant for VA personnel only with the exception of security and shuttle buses which will continue to use Portland's BOEC trunking system.

 

[Dorf411]

I hope this is not a TREND and just someone purchasing radios outside of the normal relm

What do you mean you hope it is not a TREND? Just because you can't scan it? TRBO is a great platform with lots of potential, it has basic privacy built in to help you secure "sensitive information" which does not require true encryption. TRBO allows you to link many sites via IP over long distances and it also has many data applications available and being built such as GPS tracking for those VA shuttles. All of this can be done without the requirement for extra hardware. But unfortunately you cannot scan it right now.

 

[ChrisP]

I finally talked to a ham I know who works at the VA at the Vancouver, WA office. He acknowledges that there is now an in-house digital radio system recently installed.

He didn't help with it, but know the guy who did install it. Its TRBO all right and he says it was purchased with some sort of grant. There's also a TRBO repeater installed at the Portland VA which is linked to Vancouver via VOIP.

It was picked apparently because they wanted trunking ability but did not want a dedicated control channel blaring out.

Its meant for VA personnel only with the exception of security and shuttle buses which will continue to use Portland's BOEC trunking system.

Cool - thank for the update on the Vancouver system. Just FYI, I also found the Federal Reserve in Chicago is using Mototrbo as well...

- Chris

 

[ecps92]

Exactly what it means. I hope this is not a trend.

Until a Scanner is built that works on TRBO, I hope it is not a trend.

BTW TRBO is not the first with ROIP, it's widely available

A VA Hospital other than the Police, really doesn't need secure communications. JMHO

I hope this is not a TREND and just someone purchasing radios outside of the normal relm

What do you mean you hope it is not a TREND? Just because you can't scan it? TRBO is a great platform with lots of potential, it has basic privacy built in to help you secure "sensitive information" which does not require true encryption. TRBO allows you to link many sites via IP over long distances and it also has many data applications available and being built such as GPS tracking for those VA shuttles. All of this can be done without the requirement for extra hardware. But unfortunately you cannot scan it right now.