Finally verified Dominion Power NC

[richardbritt]

Well, I finally verified Dominion Power NC Ahoskie using 451.75 NBFM and a PL of 123.0 license WPXX587 several minutes ago (I just added it to the database)

Other frequencies on the FCC license (not confirmed use so they aren't in the database) are:

451.1625 Kitty Hawk, NC and also Emporia Virginia

452.175 Winfall, NC

451.375 Barco, NC

I know a few of you specifically keep lists of power companies. So here you go

They don't use their voice radios very often, I have been trying to confirm them for years. Today with a heat index of 115 was a good day to hear them.

Richard

 

[richardbritt]

Well. after leaving the scanner on 451.75 in addition to hearing the NBFM repeater with the 123.0 PL tone, I am hearing another repeater on the same frequency. The Ahoskie repeater I am hearing on my old PRO-2096 and a duel band whip on that scanner, however when I plug in my BCD536 to my outside discone with inline 15 db preamp, I am listening to a digital repeater talking about resetting reclosures and circuits (obviously a power company troubleshooting a line). I am getting the following on the screen on my BCD536 which is plugged into the outside antenna:

451.75 S4 T3 U1140

It doesn't indicate NXDN, DMR or anything else (I have both upgrades done to the scanner). The PRO-2096 with the whip ant is not picking up the digital transmissions. Any ideas? I do have raw digital audio if that will help

 

[RaleighGuy]

Well. after leaving the scanner on 451.75

451.75 or 451.175, 451.75 wasn't in the original post?

 

[richardbritt]

Well, I finally verified Dominion Power NC Ahoskie using 451.75 NBFM and a PL of 123.0 license WPXX587 several minutes ago (I just added it to the database)

451.75

 

[richardbritt]

Well, I finally verified Dominion Power NC Ahoskie using 451.75 NBFM and a PL of 123.0 license WPXX587 several minutes ago (I just added it to the database)

451.75

 

[richardbritt]

I did a FCC frequency lookup and nothing else close by in NC however 451.75 is licensed to Southside EMC in Virginia. I could be picking that up using the outside antenna and preamp. The 451.75 repeater with the PL tone in Ahoskie is stronger (5 bars) vs the other one that's digital (2 bars).

WQBM269 is their callsign and their emission types are 8K10F1D and 10K10F1D which is P25 phase 1. I think that's what the digital sounds like from comparing a VIPER signal to the signal I am picking up with the outside antenna

 

[jsncrso]

Thanks for this! I do believe they mostly rely on cell phones now, but I'm sure there will be a flood of traffic for hurricanes and any event that requires assistance from outside agencies. Please post if you find any additional frequencies, I'll program in the Kitty Hawk one and see if I can hear any chatter

 

[richardbritt]

I have wondered what they use, I suspect satellite data terminals from seeing satellite antennas on some of the trucks. For liability reasons when they turn on and off phases and circuits they tell the trucks what exact steps they are to take, and the truck repeats each step back over the radio. That's how it was done when I lived in Tidewater and listened to them for years. So they should be doing it where they recording each step. Each step gets a reference number of some sort, then as each sequence is completed, they go to another location and troubleshoot more, or complete some tasks. The dispatcher for Dominion Power is always an electrical engineer. I used to work with one in electrical engineering design at NNSY and she used to tell me about it from when she worked at Dominion Power in Richmond

 

[jsncrso]

Yes, any pole or pad-mount that has a disconnect, recloser, or any type of switch will have a set of larger pole numbers that must be read back and confirmed between the lineman and dispatcher as part of Dominion's SOPs. For example, the one near my house reads 455AD199 where 455 is the circuit from the substation, A is a major branch or radial feed of that circuit, D for disconnect, and 199 for the disconnect number on that circuit. Another one near me on a gang switch reads 455T435 which is circuit 455, Tie, circuit 435. You also have S for switch (underground), F for feed (usually a step down transformer), R for recloser, and there is also V and B I'm not 100% sure on

 

[richardbritt]

Good information. Thanks for sharing.