Maryland FIRST 700mhz TRS

[maus92]

And this evening (probably all day today) 7546 is carrying NRP Area 3 traffic, and is not being patched or simulcast on 7501. Hmmm, perhaps this is the actual Area 3 TG?....

 

[maus92]

And this morning, TGs 7564 and 7501 are simulcasting again, on two different TDMA slots.

 

[pittsville]

You may need to try the Unitrunker forums since it looks like it's a Unitrunker issue. I use UT as well, but I never tried to import the RR database.

You may need to try the Unitrunker forums since it looks like it's a Unitrunker issue. I use UT as well, but I never tried to import the RR database.

Thanks. Will do.

 

[maus92]

More notes on TGs: Chart unit operating on the District 2 TG (Upper Eastern Shore) reports a disabled vehicle at Rt50 and I-97. This location is in well into Anne Arundel County, and should be District 5. No patches seem to be in effect. Perhaps it is weekend manning, not sure. Also, I haven't seen use of the Eastern Shore Traffic TG very often recently, although traffic reports occur on the district TGs.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

And this evening (probably all day today) 7546 is carrying NRP Area 3 traffic, and is not being patched or simulcast on 7501. Hmmm, perhaps this is the actual Area 3 TG?....

I believe 7546 is actually the NRP Area 3 talkgroup and 7547 is the ENC Tac 1. The reason for the patching, I have no idea. DNR/NRP has some confusing talkgroup layouts.

 

[maus92]

TG 7105 MdTA Hatem / ICC is been running as ENC today. and is apparently forcing TG 7106 MdTA Bay Bridge into ENC as well. Could be the way the patch is set up, with 7106 being subordinate to 7105. The other MdTA command dispatch TGs are in the clear... I don't want to overreact, but this is a potentially ominous development.

 

[trailhiker73]

TG 7105 MdTA Hatem / ICC is been running as ENC today. and is apparently forcing TG 7106 MdTA Bay Bridge into ENC as well. Could be the way the patch is set up, with 7106 being subordinate to 7105. The other MdTA command dispatch TGs are in the clear... I don't want to overreact, but this is a potentially ominous development.

I pick up the Cecil Simulcast from my home, and the last transmission on 7106 was in the clear just a few minutes ago.

 

[maus92]

The TGs were back to normal when I checked earlier this afternoon - not sure why normally UNENC TGs would be set to ENC temporarily. Will have to monitor the situation.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

I have seen at times "selectable" encryption on MDTA talkgroups. 99.9% of the traffic is usually in the clear but every once in a while you will get some encryption on the MDTA talkgroups.

 

[N4VKF]

Notes from the RCB Meeting earlier this week:

New Primary User: DHS
- Not day-to-day usage
- No dispatch operations
- 4 TGs enabled statewide
- 600 TDMA subscribers
- Important since their home system does not have coverage in the OC area

(notes: FIRST has mostly regional TGs, although some user groups have statewide TGs, like Comptroller)

New Primary User: CPB
- 5 TGs: 1 statewide, 4 regional (Baltimore)
- 100 TDMA subscribers
- Also wants TG sharing w/ MSP, MdTA, DHS, FBI, DNR, TSA, USCG, Air Marshals

(notes: Most Baltimore City subscribers are not TDMA compatible thus rarely use the system. Exceptions are the command bus and Foxtrot units.)

New Interop User: USPP
- 1000 TDMA radios
- TG sharing with MSP, MdTA, and other agencies
- Important for aviation / Eagle helos

New Interop User: Chester Co. PA
- Home system Harris TDMA
- Interops primarily with Cecil Co.
- 204 portable TDMA / 68 mobile TDMA subscribers
- Currently uses C-Comm system for interoperability (Southeastern PA Task Group)

Cecil Co looking at crosslinks for interoperability with New Castle Co DE

DE is slowly beginning to understand that their (janky) FDMA subscribers are a real problem when operating on FIRST, hogging 3 resources. New DE radios will be TDMA capable; reflashing existing radios will take several years

DE helos are TDMA

Newark radios are almost all TDMA

Cecil cutover this coming Thursday, 6am

Ethernet backhaul will be required for system 7.20; some local jurisdictions face a sizable bill. Discussion about who is responsible for the cost. Localities have incompatible equipment that enables local functions that are not directly part of the FIRST system, but will need to be upgraded to work with FIRST.

11 new RF sites are planned to fill in coverage "holes;" planning to fund 3 per year for the next few years
- Tower Road / Camp David ASR
- Cherrytown Chicken ASR (tower lease just signed, Carroll to provide backhaul)
- Table Rock ASR (site cleared, foundation set. Complete by end of year.)
- New Germany State Park ASR (prob use existing site)
- Crisfield ASR (going on county tower at Crisfield VFD)
- Nice Bridge ASR should be complete by October
- TV Hill ASR (fill in dead spot near Falls Road Light Rail) . MTA funds, April-May 2020 timframe
- Cecilton ASR (equipment in place, not enabled - maybe Thursday?)

System 7.18 upgrade March-June 2020

Syste 7.20 upgrade 2H2021, depending on ethernet upgrade status

CEN upgrade contiuing

Cecil move to Zone 3 complete with JFK and North East sites finishing migration

Cecil 2-channel upgrade in place to support GPS

Cecil LEOs - some users already on system; crosslinks between existing Cecil system to FIRST

Montgomery County simulcast cell being redesigned

OC ASR antenna relocation; want to raise transmit antenna, and move to a different tower leg to improve coverage in northwest Worcester. Current height is only 1/2 way up tower, will need to coordinate with Region 42 and new FCC license

Garrett County up and running, but the county needs to buy new radios; state loaning consolettes to enable usage

MTA 2ch upgrade to support Purple line. Discussion about the legality of using 700Mhz freqs for non-public safety users. Dorc hestewr has been denied the use for their MTA funded bus system. MTA Police will use 700; busses use 800Mhz, taken from port operations

McHenry Barrack transition on August 7th

What do you think the coverage would be from the nice bridge site?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[maus92]

What do you think the coverage would be from the nice bridge site?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

This is a border site that will have a directional antenna oriented northeast. The Nanjemoy site covers to the west, and the Bethune site covers to the southeast. I would not expect coverage into Virginia beyond 5 or so miles, however Maryland does have jurisdiction along the river to the Virginia shoreline (more or less.)

 

[N4VKF]

Ok thanks. Kinda what I was figuring.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

Looks like some state parks got some radios. Based on radio id's maybe Susquehanna State Park or Elk Neck State Park. Anyone get any audio on these talkgroups in Cecil/Harford?

7525: Park 646 to Park Office. Seems they were doing some testing.
7526: Park 645 to 693. Talking about campgrounds.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

7526: Park 645 to 693. Talking about campgrounds.

Confirmed as Elk Neck State Park.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

A lot of testing this week on 8335. Testing (installing?) radios in buses this week on 8335. Keyup on 8357. Also testing on 8359 and 8334 (First time logging these 2 talkgroups).

I wonder if some of the buses are going to switchover soon? Anyone know a timetable for MTA transition?

 

[maus92]

Looks like some state parks got some radios. Based on radio id's maybe Susquehanna State Park or Elk Neck State Park. Anyone get any audio on these talkgroups in Cecil/Harford?

7525: Park 646 to Park Office. Seems they were doing some testing.
7526: Park 645 to 693. Talking about campgrounds.

Gotta love that new fiscal year cheese.

 

[maus92]

A lot of testing this week on 8335. Testing (installing?) radios in buses this week on 8335. Keyup on 8357. Also testing on 8359 and 8334 (First time logging these 2 talkgroups).

I wonder if some of the buses are going to switchover soon? Anyone know a timetable for MTA transition?

Having busses on the 700 system would be contrary to what was discussed at the last RCB meeting. Interesting.

 

[maus92]

Down in eastern St Mary's today, we were able to receive some FIRST TGs via the Taylors Island site, which confirms that border sites will contribute to coverage within St Marys as outlined in a presentation to the St Mary's Board of Commissioners. I ran some further tests at the St Marys County Airport, and was able to receive The Dorchester Simulcast as well. The tests were performed with a dongle and Unitrunker, the reception was via a Unication G5.

 

[Mark]

Confirm this morning on Cecil system Med Ch 1 7609 to Union Hospital in Elkton.

 

[maus92]

Confirm this morning on Cecil system Med Ch 1 7609 to Union Hospital in Elkton.

Makes sense (sort of): 7R3Med1, although I think Cecil is Region IV (7R4Med1 / 7616)