Help with Mass State Police Programming

[bobruzzo]

I am still confused about this system. I live in Cranston RI, not very far from Attleboro. I see on RR there is a MSP antenna on a water tank there. I also noticed there are DIFFERENT frequencies for that antenna compared to the freqs for BRISTOL COUNTY MSP. My reception here is terrible. Using SDS200. So I added those frequencies listed for MSP Attleboro to the Bristol County ones but makes no difference. I had been trying to recieve signals from Copicut hill, northeast of Fall River. But I guess I am too far away. I am using a 7 element 800 mhz yagi, even pointed directly at both Attleboro or Copicut Hill, my reception is mostly static, about 50% and 50% voice. When I am MOBILE in car with BCD996P2 in WARWICK, RI, MSP comes in FULL SCALE! Why is this system so hard to hear? Do I need to program JUST CONTROL freqs??? Would a LONGER yagi help?

 

[gordon115]

In Attleborough the zone 3 analog system comes in fine. Wouldn't surprise me to find out they are using directional antennas to direct signal to the coverage area like many public safety systems do today. For both zones 3 and 5 you want to monitor the analog systems, no digital coverage in those areas yet. I sometimes travel to the Cranston area on business and the signal drops off fast just at the state line.

 

[garys]

Forget counties, they are irrelevant for MSP. All of I-95 from Canton to the RI state line is covered by Troop H and Troop H is on Zone 5. Troop H is also simulcast on Zone 3 of the current system, but you are less likely to receive that in Cranston. For that matter you are unlikely to receive Zone 5 either.

Program the Zone 5 control channels and if you are in range, you'll hear Zone 5 traffic.

 

[bobruzzo]

In Attleborough the zone 3 analog system comes in fine. Wouldn't surprise me to find out they are using directional antennas to direct signal to the coverage area like many public safety systems do today. For both zones 3 and 5 you want to monitor the analog systems, no digital coverage in those areas yet. I sometimes travel to the Cranston area on business and the signal drops off fast just at the state line.

I programmed the Attleboro site but no good. Heard nothing. Been trying to get the Bristol County system (Copicut Hill) for a long time on and off but the static level is very bad. I have officially given up on this system!

 

[W1KNE]

I just noticed that the site was missing call sign WPUN255, so that has been added.

 

[mrsvensven]

I can confirm that the DB is accurate.

Massachusetts State Police Site: Bristol/Plymouth Counties Simulcast

Massachusetts State Police Site: Bristol/Plymouth Counties Simulcast Details

www.radioreference.com

There arent different frequencies for different sites as you seem to state. Every site in the simulcast including (but not limited to) Attleboro, Rehoboth, and Copicut all use the exact same frequencies.

859.8375c859.2875c858.3625c855.9125c

 

[W1KNE]

I also noticed there are DIFFERENT frequencies for that antenna compared to the freqs for BRISTOL COUNTY MSP.

There are no different frequencies as Sven said above. Are you looking at Bristol County Sheriff, thinking it's another MSP site?

 

[bobruzzo]

There are no different frequencies as Sven said above. Are you looking at Bristol County Sheriff, thinking it's another MSP site?

OK I might just be out of range where I live. I did know the BC Sheriff system is a different system. I just didnt see why I couldnt hear the CC from Attleboro since I am not that far from there.

 

[AJ1L]

OK I might just be out of range where I live. I did know the BC Sheriff system is a different system. I just didnt see why I couldnt hear the CC from Attleboro since I am not that far from there.

The CC from Attleboro is on the same freq as the CC at all the other Zone 3 sites (Fall River, etc). It's a simulcast system. There's no way to know which site you're picking up

 

[bobruzzo]

The CC from Attleboro is on the same freq as the CC at all the other Zone 3 sites (Fall River, etc). It's a simulcast system. There's no way to know which site you're picking up

OK either way its a losing situation here. I think part of the problem is Dean Estates which is directly east of me and 100' higher than my location. That big hill must be blocking reception. Normally would try to listen on SDS200. But if I take my BCD996P2 mobile, drive to other side of hill, reception improves quite a lot. Over in Warwick, MSP is full scale mostly all over town. Prob due to flat terrain there.

 

[garys]

I thought that the Attleboro site was shared by equipment for both Zone 3 and Zone 5, but I'm not sure. I looked at the Zone 3 tower site map on the RRDB and the height is only about 60' above the terrain. That makes it even less likely that it will be heard in Cranston. The Zone 5 tower in that area is on Route 1 in Wrentham, even further away from Cranston.

 

[bobruzzo]

I thought that the Attleboro site was shared by equipment for both Zone 3 and Zone 5, but I'm not sure. I looked at the Zone 3 tower site map on the RRDB and the height is only about 60' above the terrain. That makes it even less likely that it will be heard in Cranston. The Zone 5 tower in that area is on Route 1 in Wrentham, even further away from Cranston.

Its looking more and more like the problem is my location. Because I can receive them very good in car with an 800mhz mag mount over in Warwick. Also full scale on the east side of Cranston. I have a BIG HILL to my east so thats probably why I cant hear them very well at home. Even with an 800 mhz yagi and SDS200.

 

[ynot58]

I use a jim m75 pre amp in attleboro because we are on the fringe. Years ago they had a mansfield tower but now just dartmouth. Without the amp no good but with it works. A little static but okay for bristol county sheriff

 

[wtp]

move to the other side of the hill...?
and try slowly rotating the antenna, even all the way around.
and the elements are pointing up and down, right ?

 

[bobruzzo]

move to the other side of the hill...?
and try slowly rotating the antenna, even all the way around.
and the elements are pointing up and down, right ?

I tried EVERYTHING...Its just my location. I gave up ......maybe when they go to P25 the signals will be better who knows. It sucks cause I can drive a few miles to Warwick, with my BCD996P2 and hear Mass state PD perfectly full scale. Using a short 800mhz mobile whip on car. My 800 mhz yagi doesnt help regardless of where it is pointing.