W3DMV
Member
150th Anniversary-Battle of Gettysburg (Observations) July 1-4th
Some observations (If your interested)
Pennsylvania State Police
PSP had a very large presence here and were assisting local police.
Inter op frequencies on any band had no activity between law enforcement units.
County had a temporary patch established between open sky and the local VHF-L
police channel for inter-ops. Was used for communications during a stolen car chase.
(Worked well)
Overhead observation provided by state police helicopter for three days. No communications
noted. I can not receive their 700 mhz system at my location, if helicopter to ground unit
operation was via this system.
National Park Service
164.725 (NAC 585) This system was by far the most active. Major traffic jams on the battlefield,
and the usual lost kids and heat related med problems. This is the normal frequency used here
for years.
172.600 (P-25) Beginning on the second day, activity appeared on this frequency. Appeared to
be a portable repeater supplied by a group of rangers from outside the area who were here assisting
with parking and crowd control. No operation on this frequency has been noted since the end of the
anniversary activity.
Traffic Control
Town intersections covered by using outside contractor (Flagger Force) to manually operated traffic
signals. (Worked ok considering the crowds here) Using FRS radios on 462.575 (CSQ) to chat
between intersections.
Re-enactments
Two civil re-enactments this year.
First show sponcered by the Blue-Gray Alliance. No radio traffic noted pertaining to this operation.
Second show by the Anniversary Commitee utilized their normal simplex channels. (WQEW367)
159.615 D631
159.720 D631
159.495 No activity
159.525 D431
159.540 D331
U-Tac
For some reason, in this area, these frequencies are becoming the dumping ground for miscellaneous
operations.
Activity noted - three different crews operating private parking areas for visitors. Drove by one of the
lots and was unable to identify the operators. No marked vehicles, or signs that might suggest who the
user was. (Pay to park)
Three out of town tour bus operators chatting about their movements and looking for a parking area.
Several groups of tourist chatting car-car
GMRS/FRS/MURS
Tons of activity. mostly tourist yelling "Where are You"
Several re-enactor groups trying to coordinate their activities
Several sidewalk vendors (Mom-Pop operation)
General Observation
The amount of licensed radio communications in this area has declined significantly over the past
couple of years. Most tour operators, hotels/motels, and other business no longer use radios,
and the few that do are now using FRS units. Of note: Several remaining area camp grounds still using
their wfm systems !
Considering the number of visitors here for the three day period, (270,000) radio activity here was light
to moderate.
Set-up 8 scanners in operation.
4 receivers on dedicated systems
4 receivers on general scan w/tone search
antennas 1 ea VHF-L ground plane (70ft)
4 ea discones (2@50ft, 2@35ft)
1 ea 4 bay vhf @ 50ft
2 ea UHF station masters @ 30ft
Some observations (If your interested)
Pennsylvania State Police
PSP had a very large presence here and were assisting local police.
Inter op frequencies on any band had no activity between law enforcement units.
County had a temporary patch established between open sky and the local VHF-L
police channel for inter-ops. Was used for communications during a stolen car chase.
(Worked well)
Overhead observation provided by state police helicopter for three days. No communications
noted. I can not receive their 700 mhz system at my location, if helicopter to ground unit
operation was via this system.
National Park Service
164.725 (NAC 585) This system was by far the most active. Major traffic jams on the battlefield,
and the usual lost kids and heat related med problems. This is the normal frequency used here
for years.
172.600 (P-25) Beginning on the second day, activity appeared on this frequency. Appeared to
be a portable repeater supplied by a group of rangers from outside the area who were here assisting
with parking and crowd control. No operation on this frequency has been noted since the end of the
anniversary activity.
Traffic Control
Town intersections covered by using outside contractor (Flagger Force) to manually operated traffic
signals. (Worked ok considering the crowds here) Using FRS radios on 462.575 (CSQ) to chat
between intersections.
Re-enactments
Two civil re-enactments this year.
First show sponcered by the Blue-Gray Alliance. No radio traffic noted pertaining to this operation.
Second show by the Anniversary Commitee utilized their normal simplex channels. (WQEW367)
159.615 D631
159.720 D631
159.495 No activity
159.525 D431
159.540 D331
U-Tac
For some reason, in this area, these frequencies are becoming the dumping ground for miscellaneous
operations.
Activity noted - three different crews operating private parking areas for visitors. Drove by one of the
lots and was unable to identify the operators. No marked vehicles, or signs that might suggest who the
user was. (Pay to park)
Three out of town tour bus operators chatting about their movements and looking for a parking area.
Several groups of tourist chatting car-car
GMRS/FRS/MURS
Tons of activity. mostly tourist yelling "Where are You"
Several re-enactor groups trying to coordinate their activities
Several sidewalk vendors (Mom-Pop operation)
General Observation
The amount of licensed radio communications in this area has declined significantly over the past
couple of years. Most tour operators, hotels/motels, and other business no longer use radios,
and the few that do are now using FRS units. Of note: Several remaining area camp grounds still using
their wfm systems !
Considering the number of visitors here for the three day period, (270,000) radio activity here was light
to moderate.
Set-up 8 scanners in operation.
4 receivers on dedicated systems
4 receivers on general scan w/tone search
antennas 1 ea VHF-L ground plane (70ft)
4 ea discones (2@50ft, 2@35ft)
1 ea 4 bay vhf @ 50ft
2 ea UHF station masters @ 30ft
