Freq Assistance for 938.5250

[robocop80]

Hello All,

I just started experimenting with the close call feature on my bcd296t. I don't really know what I am doing but I figured I would give it a shot. I work in Hopewell NJ (princeton area) and close call stopped on this freq 938.525. I tried to do a search on this freq but was unable to locate any information on it. I am getting very strong signal bars on it and it is constant static. If you could picture someone keying there mic every second that is what it sounds like. I don't know how to determine if something is a control channel or not but I am trying to find out what this could be hitting on. What type of system uses freq in the in 900mhz range. Again any assistance would be greatly appreciated or any steps that I may need to do to figure this out would help. I don't always like being provided with just answers I like to know how you got it so I can learn myself.

Thanks in advance.

James

 

[robertpearsall]

Robo,
In the fcc datebase it shows a trunked system (nextel) with a control point of 1 Woodbridge Center Drive use the link below click on advance search leave state as all scroll down enter the freq and it comes up with a few systems

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp

 

[robocop80]

Robert,

Thanks for providing me that information. I now know how to search for this information myself. I attempted to do it from the database page within radioreference and I could not locate but I like your searching method better. Now I just need to understand how to read the info that I am seeing.

First let me explain what is throwing me off here: I notice once I complete the search that on the page it has the control point as Woodbridge center but when you click on the locations tab it does not mention Woodbridge but it mentions other states. Even further when I go into the freq tab it shows all the other locations with the exception of Woodbrige.

What do people listen to on the Nextel network anyway? I would assume not a cell phone conversation since that is illegal?

I have to say I love Radio Reference. Besides the fact that you have so much information at your finger tips, the people on here are so helpful and contain a wealth of knowledge that most freely share. I wan't to thank those who take time to explain something that another person may not understand even if it seems like basic knowledge to most.

Thanks again for all your assistance and I learned something new today.

James

 

[robertpearsall]

I do not know much myself but it my be the direct connect that they listen to when my wife gets home i will key up her direct connect and see if thats the freq that comes up in close call maybe that will get us closer to finding the answer. i well also try to enter those freq in my 396 in trunked mode and see what happens being in edison and a little closer to woodbridge center will let you know what i find

 

[fineshot1]

I do not know much myself but it my be the direct connect that they listen to when my wife gets home i will key up her direct connect and see if thats the freq that comes up in close call maybe that will get us closer to finding the answer.

That will not work. A "direct connect" key up can wind up on any of the freqs that the local sight may have available at the key up time. Now there is a talkaround mode (do not know what nextel calls it) that can be used that may be what you are talking about but robocop80 has been telling us about a constant transmit condition like a control or data channel. They are not related.

 

[robbinsj2]

You'd need some pretty fancy equipment to listen to any sort of Nextel -- no scanner or consumer receiver will decode that digital format. I've read in the past that you can buy equipment off of eBay which is capable of doing that but it was a technician's diagnostic and/or maintenance device and very expensive.

FYI, control point information in FCC licenses is theoretically where a live operator of that station can be reached at any time to shut it off or for other urgent inquiries. It doesn't have to be anywhere close to the actual transmitter and it doesn't have to be the same as the mailing address for routine correspondence and the like though for smaller channels/systems like a local police or fire department all three often are the same.

Jim

 

[robertpearsall]

I thought the direct connect was able to be decoded just could not decode the cellphone part as for the freq robo is talking about comes up as nextel in the fcc data base is it posable that it is the talk around I do know you can go radio to radio off network but that would not be trunked wouldnt that be simplex

 

[fineshot1]

I thought the direct connect was able to be decoded just could not decode the cellphone part as for the freq robo is talking about comes up as nextel in the fcc data base is it posable that it is the talk around I do know you can go radio to radio off network but that would not be trunked wouldnt that be simplex

The direct connect can not be decoded - its a Motorola iDEN system and no scanners can decode that.

Yes - the off network chan would be simplex but again I do not know what nextel calls it.

 

[robbinsj2]

Yes - the off network chan would be simplex but again I do not know what nextel calls it.

I believe they call it Direct Talk, and that it is also unmonitorable. I can't say whether it's iDEN, or even whether iDEN supports simplex, but it's a bit academic anyway.

As an aside, I'll bet most Nextel users either don't know about Direct Talk or don't understand how it is different from Direct Connect. I have a few (non-scanner-enthusiast) friends who thought Direct Connect went handset-to-handset, bypassing the tower.

 

[countryboy879]

direct connect wouldn't be able to be decode for the fact it is like a cell phone call..but the direct talk might be decode cause that is like a simple freq it doesn't use a a cell phone tower. i'll put my 900 freqs in my scanner and see what i come up with my nextel

 

[radiomanNJ1]

Nextel has (had) a few units that actually were direct handset to handset but they have to be setup ahead of time and the esn's have to be preset. They must be in close range and are not repeated and not actually on the network. Like almost anything Sprint Nextel has it's not user friendly.

I believe they call it Direct Talk, and that it is also unmonitorable. I can't say whether it's iDEN, or even whether iDEN supports simplex, but it's a bit academic anyway.

As an aside, I'll bet most Nextel users either don't know about Direct Talk or don't understand how it is different from Direct Connect. I have a few (non-scanner-enthusiast) friends who thought Direct Connect went handset-to-handset, bypassing the tower.

 

[mancow]

Off network is frequency hopping 900 MHz that can't be monitored with a scanner.

 

[fineshot1]

I believe they call it Direct Talk, and that it is also unmonitorable. I can't say whether it's iDEN, or even whether iDEN supports simplex, but it's a bit academic anyway.

OK - I could be wrong on that but I was going on what a couple of Nextel users told me and I
suppose its possible they could have told me some hype.

 

[countryboy879]

i tried last night and could not pick up any thing so nextel direct talk is not listenable on scanners!

 

[W2SJW]

Nextel iDEN is a 6:1 TDMA transmission format. A standard scanner can't lock in on something that's moving around that much within the designated channel space.

Nextel's have a feature called 'Trace Mode'. Enter pound, then star, then menu, then the right side of the directional pad in rapid succession. One of the menu items that will come up is 'Current Frequency'...