Gillespie County

[rattlerbb01]

Didn't see any good threads specifically for Gillespie Co/Fredericksburg. Starting this one for a few changes I've noticed this week.

Everything is mostly on LCRA though they use VHF for tone outs and some on scene ops. This week they've started toning out the county VFDs on their own channels, but since I'm out of state I am unable to track their VHF usage. The GC FIRE 5 channel they've had linked to VHF for tone outs has been heavily affected by interference locking up the repeater and the talkgroup. So I'm not sure if this is temporary or permanent. The response by medics and fire units is still on GC FIRE 1.

 

[TLR2019]

I've been off the air... So I can clear up some distractions in my personal life and focus more on a learning. To code, And possibly even study for my license. Last year when I was working at a nursing home, A paramedic told me there was a potential incoming move from fire tone out from conventional to trunk

 

[TXDispatcher1]

I listen to Gillespie County LE, fire and EMS here: Gillespie County Public Safety
The sound quality is very good. What's strange to me is that the dispatchers and personnel on there sound like big city yuppies-most of them don't even sound like Texans. However, if you listen to Llano County SD or Blanco County SD, right next door, they have distinctive Texas accents. I have no idea why there's such a big difference in the same area of the state.
My ex and I used to camp in that area and at Enchanted Rock State Park. I have good memories of that and I think it's a beautiful part of the state.

 

[rattlerbb01]

Checked back on the fire tone out issue, and it seems that Fredericksburg Fire and EMS are still toned out on GC FIRE 5 via the linked VHF repeater and interference from a carrier somewhere with P25 digital buzz sounds continues to plague that repeater. The rest of the VFDs are dispatched on their own talkgroups still but I am not sure if they are patched to a different VFD repeater by the console/dispatcher. Again, all response is still primarily on GC FIRE 1

 

[Doss_Tx_Listener]

As of about 9:30 AM on Sunday, April 12, the Fredericksburg LCRA 700 mHz performance has been troubled. The signal is strong; no audio is coming over it.

The setup here is a SDRPlay RSPDx using SDRTrunk program. Additionally the Uniden BCD536HP is being used. The radios are within 1 mile of the LCRA Schneider Hill Fredericksburg repeater. Both use outside antennas with good performance over the past years.

The SDRTrunk shows a very strong signal on the control channel yet the program will not latch on to the control channel. The 536 S meter shows full bars but no audio with an exceptional blurb coming through. The “Analyze” function of the 536 indicates good signal and good quality but there is no audio present when a transmission is heard over the Luckenbach tower.

The SDRTrunk and the Uniden will both connect to the Luckenbach Tower which is about 15 miles away and any Gillespie LE or Emergency operations that are on the Luckenbach Tower are heard fine. (Most Gillespie traffic is also over the Luckenbach tower as it serves the eastern part of Gillespie county.)

The SDRTrunk with the SDRPlay has been tested on another computer with the same failing results.

Also the op25 program for Linux is used on a third computer with an RTL-SDR but the results are the same as above. A signal is present for the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill repeater but the op25 will not latch on to the signal nor can any audio be heard.

The SDRTrunk input data for Fredericksburg has been re-programmed in for all the various scenarios. This was done in hopes of finding if LCRA had changed something. Changed were Phase I, Phase II simulcast, Phase II TDMA both channels, Phase II TDMA individual channel with no improvement.

A general receive radio (not a trunk radio) was used to tune to the control channel to see if a loud buzz was present and the signal was present and the computer digital buzz was heard.

(Note: Sunday April 12, about 1700 hours (5:00PM) the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill repeater seemingly worked for about 30 minutes but quit)

Is anyone else experiencing such?

Edit: After I posted this, the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill is being received on the 536; the SDRTrunk will not latch on to the control channel nor receive. The Luckenbach tower is working fine. The SDRTrunk does have all the frequencies input and with the display of the RF signals, it is verified which is the control channel. This is to verify that the SDRTrunk is seeking the correct control channel.

 

[Doss_Tx_Listener]

UPDATE: April 13, 2026 1400 hours. There have been numerous "radio checks" by Law Enforcement on the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill Tower which is now being received on the Uniden BCD536HP. I copied one transmission where user was checking out to obtain new radio. Perhaps LCRA is doing something. The SDRTrunk and op25 still cannot latch on to control channel.

 

[rattlerbb01]

UPDATE: April 13, 2026 1400 hours. There have been numerous "radio checks" by Law Enforcement on the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill Tower which is now being received on the Uniden BCD536HP. I copied one transmission where user was checking out to obtain new radio. Perhaps LCRA is doing something. The SDRTrunk and op25 still cannot latch on to control channel.

Is it possible that a simulcast subsite has been added somewhere for the Fred site and it’s causing havoc?

 

[Doss_Tx_Listener]

Thank you for the suggestion. I had not thought about that. SDRTrunk has an option for Simulcast.
I have been away from the radio and now the SDRTrunk and SDRPlay RSPDx is working as usual.
I did try your suggestion to switch between C4FM and Simulcast but the radio would not latch on to the control channel using simulcast. I experimented with an inside rubber duckie antenna and the outside antenna that has more gain. Neither worked. So the simulcast setting is not the answer. It is totally baffling. I have composed a letter to the Google Groups for the SDRTrunk program. I am wondering if there is a "new" version of P25 Phase 2. I don't know enough to describe it. I see there is Phase 2 TDMA, Phase 2 FDMA etc.

 

[rattlerbb01]

Thank you for the suggestion. I had not thought about that. SDRTrunk has an option for Simulcast.
I have been away from the radio and now the SDRTrunk and SDRPlay RSPDx is working as usual.
I did try your suggestion to switch between C4FM and Simulcast but the radio would not latch on to the control channel using simulcast. I experimented with an inside rubber duckie antenna and the outside antenna that has more gain. Neither worked. So the simulcast setting is not the answer. It is totally baffling. I have composed a letter to the Google Groups for the SDRTrunk program. I am wondering if there is a "new" version of P25 Phase 2. I don't know enough to describe it. I see there is Phase 2 TDMA, Phase 2 FDMA etc.

Well, I did listen to the Calls activity, and there are some huge missing chunks and a bunch of radio checks and terrible sounding audio. I run the Luckenbach node from central Kendall Co, so it isn't the best reception but it is usually much better than that. We need a Fredericksburg site broadcastify calls node if someone is willing to install one.

 

[Doss_Tx_Listener]

In my original post I indicated I had tried every option available in SDRTrunk. I saw where one option was not properly programmed with all the frequencies. I once again attempted to program the system as a Phase 2 Trunked System with FDMA Phase 1 Control Channel.
I do not pretend to understand in depth. I do understand the concept of TDMA and FDMA Phase 2.
In any case this setup worked. I did post a question to Google AI as to the difference. The reply indicated FDMA Phase 1 is a workaround when some radios were still on Phase 1 and others on Phase 2.
In any case after 24 hours, The SDRTrunk is latched on to the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill Repeater and working solidly using the method described above.

Regarding your comment (rattlerbb01), yes, the missing chunks and bad audio and "going digital" has been a notable problem in the past.
I only listen to the Luckenbach tower out of necessity and curiosity on occasion. Various times the fire / ems departments to my west will not be on the Luckenbach tower so Fred is my choice. I have just become so acquainted to the low quality of the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill node. Occasionally I monitor the GATRRS nodes that cover Llano, Blanco etc. The quality of the signal, the great audio makes me wonder why LCRA could not do something like that.

Regrettably I cannot be a Fredericksburg node for Broadcastify. My computers, while good are ancient and I don't want the responsibility.

Thank you for your kind input here.

 

[rattlerbb01]

In my original post I indicated I had tried every option available in SDRTrunk. I saw where one option was not properly programmed with all the frequencies. I once again attempted to program the system as a Phase 2 Trunked System with FDMA Phase 1 Control Channel.
I do not pretend to understand in depth. I do understand the concept of TDMA and FDMA Phase 2.
In any case this setup worked. I did post a question to Google AI as to the difference. The reply indicated FDMA Phase 1 is a workaround when some radios were still on Phase 1 and others on Phase 2.
In any case after 24 hours, The SDRTrunk is latched on to the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill Repeater and working solidly using the method described above.

Regarding your comment (rattlerbb01), yes, the missing chunks and bad audio and "going digital" has been a notable problem in the past.
I only listen to the Luckenbach tower out of necessity and curiosity on occasion. Various times the fire / ems departments to my west will not be on the Luckenbach tower so Fred is my choice. I have just become so acquainted to the low quality of the Fredericksburg Schneider Hill node. Occasionally I monitor the GATRRS nodes that cover Llano, Blanco etc. The quality of the signal, the great audio makes me wonder why LCRA could not do something like that.

Regrettably I cannot be a Fredericksburg node for Broadcastify. My computers, while good are ancient and I don't want the responsibility.

Thank you for your kind input here.

Good information, thank you for your input. Yes, a reliable power supply, internet connection and computer or mini PC/Raspberry Pi are a necessity. I consider myself lucky when the Tierra Linda, Doss or Harper VFD talkgroups affiliate with the Luckenbach site. I would love to get some more of the Fredericksburg specific chatter down the road, as that town continues to grow and draw crowds. Hopefully they are fixing that LCRA site and dealing with the issues that have been plaguing you and the responders.

 

[P25-logger]

What exactly would LCRA do? None of the sites in western region are doing anything different (like simulcast). I am in the Gillespie County area often and none of my radios are experiencing the low quality. I think that is more of the device you are using Vs the actual system. They aren't on Luckenbach as the units transmitting are getting better RSSI from a better site.
I know there were issues that arose the other day but from my personal experience and my radios on the sites there I haven't heard or had any issues.

 

[Doss_Tx_Listener]

What exactly would LCRA do? None of the sites in western region are doing anything different (like simulcast). I am in the Gillespie County area often and none of my radios are experiencing the low quality. I think that is more of the device you are using Vs the actual system. They aren't on Luckenbach as the units transmitting are getting better RSSI from a better site.
I know there were issues that arose the other day but from my personal experience and my radios on the sites there I haven't heard or had any issues.

I cannot answer your question. Given that I use multiple radios, (Uniden BCD536HP, SDRTrunk(with SDRPlay-RSPDx radio, op25 with an RTL-SDR dongle and have also used in the past Uniden BCD436HP) and hearing comments from my friends, there are times when the reception goes digital, the radios won't pickup audio and so on. It seems to be verified when the radio users request a transmission needs to be repeated or a user has to call in several times before being acknowledged. The beauty of the SDRTrunk is the recording part and I have saved many recordings of those calls. The SDRTrunk has a real time signal Spectrum Display. The signal strength of the tower can be seen varying radically. And no, it is not my antenna or radio because I test different radios and antennas. It seems as if the transmitting antenna had a broken element or a loose coax connection. But I would feel certain if it were that simple, it would have been fixed long ago.

 

[P25-logger]

I cannot answer your question. Given that I use multiple radios, (Uniden BCD536HP, SDRTrunk(with SDRPlay-RSPDx radio, op25 with an RTL-SDR dongle and have also used in the past Uniden BCD436HP) and hearing comments from my friends, there are times when the reception goes digital, the radios won't pickup audio and so on. It seems to be verified when the radio users request a transmission needs to be repeated or a user has to call in several times before being acknowledged. The beauty of the SDRTrunk is the recording part and I have saved many recordings of those calls. The SDRTrunk has a real time signal Spectrum Display. The signal strength of the tower can be seen varying radically. And no, it is not my antenna or radio because I test different radios and antennas. It seems as if the transmitting antenna had a broken element or a loose coax connection. But I would feel certain if it were that simple, it would have been fixed long ago.

Ah ok. I'm using APX Series radios and Harris radios. I do hear every now and then some garble/digital, but it seems most of that is related to what radio and where to portable is on their body. Or the few volunteers that have extreme tint which can affect portable performance. Majority of the time i hear them have to call more than 1 time is when there's incidents going on and the other caller may get lost in background. Keep in mind the dispatch centers in this region monitor a lot more than just their basic talkgroups of their county.