ISP Mobile Extenders 155.505 P25

[Starcom21]

In case you haven't heard of this, 155.505 mobile extenders have been in use for a while now again. Since the ISP switched to dual band portables (700/800 and VHF). They were DPL for a while after 700 mhz extenders stopped bing in use.

NAC173 has been heard in District 13, NAC293 elsewhere. Apprarently it varies per car, which is better than what they used to have back to low-band (pre-STARCOM)

Not only does this extend the portable, the P25 conventional channel also relays the radio IDs and talkgroup ID. The same extender can transmit more than one talkgroup.

Anyone else had any recent experience?

I'm also wondering if the old 172.xxxx might be in use for Conservation units.

 

[FFPM571]

this must be in more rural areas outside the bigger Metro areas. Have not heard anything in the Chicago area on that freq in years

 

[scanman1958]

Have not heard any repeater stuff for a long time. I do remember when ISP was on low band hearing them use the VHF repeaters in the metro east. The Missouri State Patrol had the same kind of VHF repeater for short radio comms between their portables and car here in the St Louis metro when they were on low band.

 

[apco25]

I believe all of the metro Chicago, old D2/D5, Tollway, etc units are under portable coverage and not utilizing any mobile extenders even if installed in their vehicles.

 

[chill1971]

The new extenders don't just repeat audio, they also have talk.group and radio IDs. If two or more extenders are in range of each other, they seem to communicate with tones.

 

[apco25]

P25 extenders can do that...pass TGID and ID

 

[VASCAR2]

The Troopers assigned patrol in Metro areas where there is better Starcom coverage were not issued vehicular repeaters. The first SC 21 vehicular repeaters were Motorola and required a monthly fee just like a mobile or portable. By going to the current VHF repeater this saves an Agency the added cost of the monthly service fee. Another advantage of the current repeater is quicker communications while on portable. It is quicker to change frequencies on VHF highband that is not trunked than switching between talk groups on SC21 which has to communicate through the site controller.

If a Trooper is getting a status check and has insufficient signal on his portable it took 2 or 3 seconds at least to switch to the vehicular repeater even if the repeater was turned on. The Troopers also can communicate simplex very quickly using the VHF frequencies. When the ISP used high band repeaters the last position the the channel selector was the vehicular repeater frequency. One frequency position below was the same 155.505 frequency but with no PL so Troopers could communicate simplex without activating the vehicular repeater. This feature was utilized a lot on various patrol details.

With the 700 HHz Motorola vehicular repeaters only Troopers and Sergeants assigned to rural district patrols were issued vehicular repeaters. There weren’t any or very few vehicular repeaters issued to investigators or other non patrol uniformed personnel. As previously mentioned District 15 discontinued using vehicular repeaters when they switched to SC21.

 

[scanman1958]

Wow! A reply from the south pole!!! Thank you.

 

[kayn1n32008]

The new extenders don't just repeat audio, they also have talk.group and radio IDs. If two or more extenders are in range of each other, they seem to communicate with tones.

APX mobiles interfaces with Futurecom vehicular repeaters, paired with APX-6000 portables create a seamless system. It transparently passes signalling, RID, TG and Encryption.