Finding a freq?

[Buckchucko]

Being new to SDR and radio monitoring in general I have a question about finding a freq.
I live in a private HOA that has it's own security force and I could use some pointers on finding it's trunked radio freqs.
It is not listed in the DB here.
Thanks

 

[wtp]

what makes you think it is trunked ?

 

[Buckchucko]

I'm actually not sure, but judging from everything else around here, I assume it is. Either way I could use some pointers how best approach finding their freqs. My new dual SDR radio gear will arrive next week so I wanted to get started with it all.

 

[mmckenna]

Being new to SDR and radio monitoring in general I have a question about finding a freq.
I live in a private HOA that has it's own security force and I could use some pointers on finding it's trunked radio freqs.
It is not listed in the DB here.
Thanks

I agree. Private security force for an HOA is unlikely to have it's own trunked radio system.

More than likely:
They are renting radios on someone else's system. That would make it very difficult to find them unless you know who they are getting service from.
-or-
They are not on a trunked system and are running conventional of some sort. Might be simplex, might be a repeater on site, might be leasing repeater time from a shop.

It would take a lot of detective work to figure that out. People here are likely to assist you, but you'd need to supply some specifics about who, where, what kind of radios, etc.

One place you can start searching is over on the FCC website: License Search - Advanced License Search
But again, you'll need to know some specifics to enter in the correct fields.

 

[Randyk4661]

I first thing I would do is look for the antenna length on any vehicles they drive. 6" look in 455-460 or 465-470 repeater input ranges and look for spikes on the spectrum analyzer. 10"-11" look in the 217 range. Sorry I don't have the exact ranges close by.
The FCC website can sometimes be of help if they own their own repeater system

License Search - Advanced License Search

 

[wtp]

18 inch 150 to 162
6 inch 450 to 470 like above (456 to 460 and 465 to 470)
3 inch 700, 800, 900's, it can be narrowed down even more on these.
and they might even just use phones.
and do they have a patrol car AND a stationary post ?

 

[Markb]

Another option is to use the robust license search tools in the database. You can search by entity and if they have their own licenses or maybe under the HOA. Good possibility as stated above that they may be on someone else's system.

 

[Buckchucko]

Great info! Using the FCC db I think I found all the info. I got to page here....

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WQRI225 - GOLDEN RAIN FOUNDATION OF LAGUNA WOODS DBA LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE - Frequencies Summary

This HOA is B I G. 8000 homes with it's own zip code, city hall, etc. So I think they used a trunked system. Their security force is over 25 cars and many officers. Even have their own bus system, 5 huge clubhouses, gyms, restaurants and a few golf courses. It is even an incorporated city here.

Once I get my SDR going, can't wait to try it out!

Thank you for help.

 

[mmckenna]

They are licensed for conventional repeaters and a bunch of simplex frequencies and both Analog FM and DMR. Not a traditional trunking system. That's good as it will make them much easier to monitor. An SDR and a good UHF antenna should let you hear everything as long as they are not running encryption.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Check these first and move to the other frequencies on the license.

464.0375 - FB2 -
464.1875 - FB2 -
464.3500 - FB2 -
464.3750 - FB2 -
464.8250 - FB2 -
464.9750 - FB2 -
7K60FXE = DMR
https://www.radioreference.com/db/fcc/callsign/WQRI225

FCC Frequency Proximity Query Results - 4 miles around that HOA area.
https://www.radioreference.com/db/query/fcc/?qLat=33.60006&qLon=-117.73414&qRange=4

 

[mmckenna]

Listen specifically to these repeater outputs, you'll likely hear most of the traffic on those:
464.0375
464.1875
464.3500
464.3750
464.8250
464.9750

The rest of the frequencies on the license are either the repeater input frequencies, or low power simplex channels.