Hearing digital on FRS 1 in Toronto

[Devicemodder]

Over the last few years, I've been hearing digital mode on FRS in Southern Ontario. Specifically, FRS 1 when in Toronto/Mississauga. It seems to always hog the channel. What might this be and is it even legal for someone to do this?

Here is what's going on: https://files.catbox.moe/tlamrz.mp4

 

[mciupa]

Maybe it is the same bunch that blasted their signal from Toronto to across the lake in the 2000's.
If I'm right, at least the technology has matured.

 

[Devicemodder]

Interesting. What happened with the lake blast?

 

[Aviator747]

Is the frequency close to a digital system in your area? I get swamping "front end overload" on my FT7800 when I drive by the Zone 2 tower here. I will get ambulance across or just control channel noise.

 

[Devicemodder]

Is the frequency close to a digital system in your area? I get swamping "front end overload" on my FT7800 when I drive by the Zone 2 tower here. I will get ambulance across or just control channel noise.

Not to my knowledge

 

[mbstone99]

First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto, uses this frequency as well but in NexEdge96 and trunked (Sys 2013).

Matt

 

[Devicemodder]

First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto, uses this frequency as well but in NexEdge96 and trunked (Sys 2013).

Matt

Good to know. It may be this place then.

 

[Firebuff66]

Around me, there are a bunch of people that use FRS channels with DMR & AES Encryption
They have been reported a few times but no action was taken I guess.
I'm sure it's the same people that do it on the DMR ham repeaters also, but there are many people trying to catch them on the Ham side so we will see

 

[Devicemodder]

Around me, there are a bunch of people that use FRS channels with DMR & AES Encryption
They have been reported a few times but no action was taken I guess.
I'm sure it's the same people that do it on the DMR ham repeaters also, but there are many people trying to catch them on the Ham side so we will see

Is that why I get no response when I ask them to knock it off on FRS?

 

[mciupa]

How many Watts are you transmitting on?

 

[Devicemodder]

How many Watts are you transmitting on?

The lowest power. Dunno how many watts, I think 2? It's a radio that's used on a construction site

 

[mciupa]

If that is the case, they may not even be hearing you.

 

[Devicemodder]

If that is the case, they may not even be hearing you.

Makes sense then. If it is DMR, do they receive analog as well? (Know nothing about DMR or digital radios in general)

 

[mciupa]

Not sure what they own. But I imagine they have some sort of mobile radios that do multiple modes.

 

[mbstone99]

Good to know. It may be this place then.

Also forgot Metrolinx uses FRS 1 as well.. for the Eglinton Crosstown Maintenance & Storage Facility DMR CC 9 TG 1 & 2. I can hear them when I am in downtown Toronto as well so it could be these guys as well.

Matt

 

[Jradioptbo]

ISED has no interest in enforcing FRS frequency use, unless it interferes with a licensed user of another frequency.
Generally, they ask if your radio service provider has investigated. Then your RSP will contact ISED

 

[exkalibur]

I think if you tried it on a real radio you wouldn't hear it. That's a DMR control channel that is causing overload/intermod on a CCR. It would also be impossible to know if it's using AES or any other flavour of encryption, just from listening in analog.

 

[n1iic]

Makes sense then. If it is DMR, do they receive analog as well? (Know nothing about DMR or digital radios in general)

They might be able to hear analog if their radio is set up to do this. I haven't noticed any dual mode settings in my 6x2, I don't know if others might have it.
Let's give a couple of examples.
1. If they were nearby using simplex and you were listening to their conversation you most likely would be able to talk to them. You would have to find out which talk group, slot, and color code they were using to do this. If they were on a repeater, you could work them on the output if the repeater wasn't transmitting.
2. If you've checked every slot and color code and still can't hear anything, then they're either using encryption or it's not DMR at all.

Since the signal is on the air 24/7, then it's most likely a control channel for a trunk system. The strange thing is that it's showing up on an FRS channel, which would lead me to believe you're hearing an image. Check ~10.7 mhz either side of the FRS channel and you might hear the same thing.

Jason