Harrah's Casino - New Orleans - DMR

[som]

Has anyone had any luck listening in on the Harrah's New Orleans trunked system? I programmed in a new trunked DMR system, added all the frequencies I could find on the DMR search website, and set up a wildcard talkgroup, but I'm not hearing anything. I work only a couple of miles away from the casino.

Now, this could be due to several things: A) I'm still a relative scanning noob, B) this is my first attempt at trying to program DMR, C) this is my first attempt at trying to add a new system using only the scanner and not the software (I'm at work and don't have the Whistler software here), etc.

So, has anyone had success listening in on this system? If so, any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!

 

[sflmonitor]

I programmed it as a DMR trunking system with the following frequencies (obtained from FCC license):
451.1625
451.350
451.625
461.775
463.325
463.775

I don't have the LCN so they're not programmed in any particular order. However I am getting hits on multiple talkgroups. So far here are the talkgroups that have been active tonight:

100 casino ops
104
110
112
115 asking about slot machines
118
123 housekeeping
125
126 talk about car descriptions

I'll submit this info to the DB when I get back home later in the week and I've had a chance to look over my notes.

 

[troymail]

I monitored a bit when in NO a few months ago... was staying in the French Quarter.

 

[som]

Thanks, guys. About how far away from the casino can you get before you stop being able to hear transmissions do you think? I work near the Superdome and I'm still not able to hear anything. I'm thinking maybe I programmed something wrong...?

 

[sflmonitor]

I only monitored from my hotel which was a few blocks away from the casino so I can't really answer your question. And unfortunately I'm already back home. However, looking at the FCC info, they are licensed for mobile operations out to almost 20 miles and the repeater antenna height is over 600 feet. From previous experience, FCC info may mean absolutely nothing but it's usually a good guide at the very least.

Just for kicks, why don't you program all the frequencies in conventional mode and see what you can hear? That may give you an indication of whether it's a programming issue or just coverage (or lack there of).

 

[troymail]

600' ??? Holy crap! That can't be right.... To do that, it would have to be on top of the Rt 90 bridge! I'm not even sure that would even be 600'

Other than wide area "regional" fleet type systems, most DMR systems like this are only powered enough to cover the "campus" they are intended for. I have a casino 2 miles from me and I can't hear it at all. However, I can hear various airport facilities (Southwest, United, Spirit and parking lot shuttles) that are farther away. So many variables.

I was staying on Dauphine St on the 4th floor and it was pretty clear from there.

 

[sflmonitor]

Troy, I stand corrected. The height is not 600'. It's actually around 100'. I was looking at the FCC license portion which states 203 meters (600') above mean sea level instead of looking at the height which is 30 meters (98.4'). Anyway, 600 AMSL is obviously incorrect for New Orleans. But they are authorized mobile coverage out to 32 kilometers (19.88 miles). But not sure why they would need anything close to that. Maybe that's a coverage that's used as a default range? Maybe someone familiar with FCC licensing can chime in.

600' ??? Holy crap! That can't be right.... To do that, it would have to be on top of the Rt 90 bridge! I'm not even sure that would even be 600'

Other than wide area "regional" fleet type systems, most DMR systems like this are only powered enough to cover the "campus" they are intended for. I have a casino 2 miles from me and I can't hear it at all. However, I can hear various airport facilities (Southwest, United, Spirit and parking lot shuttles) that are farther away. So many variables.

I was staying on Dauphine St on the 4th floor and it was pretty clear from there.

 

[troymail]

Troy, I stand corrected. The height is not 600'. It's actually around 100'. I was looking at the FCC license portion which states 203 meters (600') above mean sea level instead of looking at the height which is 30 meters (98.4'). Anyway, 600 AMSL is obviously incorrect for New Orleans. But they are authorized mobile coverage out to 32 kilometers (19.88 miles). But not sure why they would need anything close to that. Maybe that's a coverage that's used as a default range? Maybe someone familiar with FCC licensing can chime in.

No worries - I was just laughing trying to picture a 600' tower on top of the casino.

I think the FCC has some kind of "standard" values for range and 32 Km is a typical number - like a checkbox menu. It's probably just used to predict/calculate buffer from other users of the same frequency.

The FCC license data is helpful but as you've said and we've learned, it's far from 100% accurate.

As far as determining how far the system can be heard without extraordinary efforts (antennas, etc.), the only real way to figure that out is to go towards the transmitter site and drive away and see where if drops off. Unlike large public safety systems, most business systems have a much smaller range but of course it varies based on mostly a combination of what they decided they needed and/or how well (or poorly) the system was designed and installed.

 

[som]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. As it turns out, I was leaving work yesterday and as I got on the interstate near the Superdome, I finally got a hit on the Harrah's system! I guess I either needed to be a tiny bit closer, or just outside of my building (or higher up?) to start picking it up. At least now I know I programmed the thing correctly!

 

[sflmonitor]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. As it turns out, I was leaving work yesterday and as I got on the interstate near the Superdome, I finally got a hit on the Harrah's system! I guess I either needed to be a tiny bit closer, or just outside of my building (or higher up?) to start picking it up. At least now I know I programmed the thing correctly!

Glad you were able to monitor. I'm going to submit what I have to the DB. If you get to figure out the LCN, please submit if you can as I only visit NOLA once a year. Take care.