GS Parkway Radio System

[N2DLX]

I also want to add that many scanners won't tune to 220 MHz, especially the low-end scanners. It just isn't a popular band for much of anything. And for trunktracking scanners, they may or may not track at 220 MHz.

 

[Highpockets]

My contact seems to suggest it's going to be an LTR system. I'm told it'll be Motorola radios, with GPS and other features added to the radios. Details are hard to get when the person doesn't care about the radio system enough to pay attention to details.

I do know that the system has been contracted to Pinnacle and is at least partially operational, as the management have been using and testing the radios for some time now.

I think 220 MHz is a bad move, as equipment availability is very limited and so they'll be locking themselves into one manufacturer. 220 MHz is better than a UHF TRS at least, but at a sacrifice. VHF trunking would be ideal if they could have pulled it off.

Rumor has it that Verizon either owned or used the system, and traded the system to the Turnpike/Parkway in exchange for some of their frequencies. That would explain why the infrastructure is up already.

That's the first I heard about anybody using the system yet. I don't know what part of the system could have been up already, new antennas were installed on the GSP towers, and the equipment installed in the buildings at the tower sites. The NJSP getting the frequencies makes more sense, but, we'll see what happens there. If the system is TDMA technology, I don't think any scanner will track the system.

 

[fineshot1]

Hey fellas - I am thinking this thread could be related to the one below but not sure.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110620

 

[Highpockets]

Hey fellas - I am thinking this thread could be related to the one below but not sure.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110620

Could be, I'd like to know if someone up north, and down south , near a GSP tower are hearing action on those frequencies also.

 

[fineshot1]

Could be, I'd like to know if someone up north, and down south , near a GSP tower are hearing action on those frequencies also.

On the Toms River site I have not heard any conversations at all. Freqs=217.9000, 217.8000, 217.7000, 217.6000 with the CW ID on the .9000 channel. The channels pulse about every 2 or 3 seconds and its very annoying trying to listen to that for very long. Right now the .8000 channel seems to be down.

 

[Highpockets]

On the Toms River site I have not heard any conversations at all. Freqs=217.9000, 217.8000, 217.7000, 217.6000 with the CW ID on the .9000 channel. The channels pulse about every 2 or 3 seconds and its very annoying trying to listen to that for very long. Right now the .8000 channel seems to be down.

I receive 3 of them full scale, and the .8000 one bar, I'm sure Pennicle will make last minute adjustments before they switch to the new sysem, if that's it.

 

[N2DLX]

I'm thinking Mobex might operate the system, they're known for multi-state LTR Passport systems, including NJ:

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=3185

It may explain why finding an FCC license is hard.

I'll try listening from my location when I have more time, and try to sniff out any activity/talkgroups if heard. I'll try to visit the old Parkway Admin building one of these days and track down one of the radio guys. They might be down in Cranbury since the old Turnpike Admin Building was closed, I haven't worked there since 2005.

 

[nosoup4u]

Is the Turnpike moving onto this as well?

 

[N2DLX]

Is the Turnpike moving onto this as well?

Yeah a big reason for the move was for the Turnpike and Parkway to be on one state-wide system. The Turnpike is currently on VHF and UHF, and the Parkway has 800 MHz frequencies. They want to consolidate it and that's where this new system comes in.

Frankly, I don't see why they didn't use the State Police system -- but I'm sure the additional volume would be too great.

Is DOT on the State Police system? The new TMC (Traffic Management Center) at the old Parkway building has State Police, Turnpike/Parkway, and DOT all in one room. So it would make sense to have them all on the same radio system in my opinion.

I think an LTR system is a good idea, but 220 MHz is a bad band because of the lack of equipment made for that band. Leasing the radio system isn't a great idea, either. They'd be better off in the long run to build their own system from scratch than to lease from whoever runs the system (likely Mobex). They're at the mercy of a third party when things begin to break.

 

[nosoup4u]

NJDOT does have a ton of talkgroups on the NJSP system. Common sense would say get everyone on the state on the same system.

 

[mondaro]

I have been in contact with the Radio Shop at the Garden State Parkway and explained the value to my operations at EMS being able to monitor the system. I do have it confirmed that it is going to be on a 220 MHz TRS system and the Turnpike will also be involved. I was also told they have to transiting almost 2,000 radios to the new system they also told me that the system should be operational be February of 2009. I ask some other questions that I am waiting to hear back from one of the radio shop supervisors. One of my questions is are they going to simulcast the new system on any of the existing frequencies. I hope more is to follow on this.

 

[Highpockets]

NJDOT does have a ton of talkgroups on the NJSP system. Common sense would say get everyone on the state on the same system.

The State of NJ, using common sense. Good one John!

 

[nosoup4u]

I know, I crack myself up sometimes.

 

[fineshot1]

This morning I noticed here in Toms River that the 217.900 freq with the cw id is down and the 217.800 is back in svc so they must be working on it. Still have not heard any traffic but I do not listen much as the pulsing is very annoying.

 

[fineshot1]

Well - its about a month later and they are all back on the air but i still have not monitored any traffic.

Any one else hear anything yet?

 

[N2DLX]

I can confirm that at least some of the Turnpike vehicles have the new radios, in a temporary (non-permanent) installation configuration, which says to me that they're rentals. They're using 1/4 wave magmount antennas with integrated GPS antennas (second thinner coax) and the radio power is a cigarette lighter plug. I think the radios are Motorola CDM1550s, but I haven't seen that for myself yet.

I don't think the radios have been switched over on a large scale yet, I think these are for testing and/or just the first batch of trucks. These were the white tech vans, not the orange maintenance pickups.

I haven't had the time to listen to those channels, but the system is being tested occasionally at the very least. As far as I know, no official traffic is on the new system yet.

 

[mondaro]

N2DLX...

To monitor this system what freqs would you put into the scanner and how would you monitor this system since it's 220 mhz. I'll be glad to monitor during the day just need some direction on how to set up the 996 radio.

Thanks

Tony

 

[N2DLX]

N2DLX...

To monitor this system what freqs would you put into the scanner and how would you monitor this system since it's 220 mhz. I'll be glad to monitor during the day just need some direction on how to set up the 996 radio.

Thanks

Tony

Listen from 216 - 218 MHz. No scanner will be able to follow the trunking, since it's an LTR Passport system. You'll hear idle pulses every 2 seconds or so (from the LTR controller), so you'll have to wait until you hear actual voice traffic to call the channel "active".

 

[fineshot1]

N2DLX...

To monitor this system what freqs would you put into the scanner and how would you monitor this system since it's 220 mhz. I'll be glad to monitor during the day just need some direction on how to set up the 996 radio.

Thanks Tony

Tony - The Toms River site Freqs=217.9000, 217.8000, 217.7000, 217.6000 with the CW ID on the .9000 channel. I do not know if that is the same for the sites up north but probably not since this is not a simulcast system. These are all FM and are receivable on a scanner that has the 216-225mhz spectrum coverage. If you find the freqs up north please let us know what they are. Thanks....

 

[BergenRadio]

There was a post that the radios might be Motorola CDM1550. I don't think Motorola sells anything in the 220 band. Sounds funny that they would rent space from someone that probably does not have coverage up and down the entire length of the roads. There might be some deal.

Listen from 216 - 218 MHz. No scanner will be able to follow the trunking, since it's an LTR Passport system. You'll hear idle pulses every 2 seconds or so (from the LTR controller), so you'll have to wait until you hear actual voice traffic to call the channel "active".