851.0125 is one of the national interoperability channels (8CALL90,) and not really part of FIRST per se. Doesn't St. Mary's use them for mutual aid to the surrounding counties since their Harris subscriber don't do Smartnet (Charles Co. and formerly Calvet Co. - now P25.)
Chris,
I just checked the St. Mary's FIRST system, both with a 536 set to stare/record, and with an Airspy, and I am not even seeing the CC. I think it has been that way for a week(if not longer).
I have noticed that the audio for the 154.980Mhz VHF Simulcast has been very poor for the past week or so. I wonder if they are using the 851.0125 for simulcast instead. I will put that channel back in scan rotation, thanks for the tipper!
Eric
Yes, that frequency is known as 8Call90 the “Calling” frequency that all jurisdictions are supposed to monitor so I’m told and then they will set the patch up on one of the 8Call Tac channels. This is always done when any St. Mary’s unit runs out of county. The Harris system is the best of the best !
It was just odd to hear that going on all day but like I’ve said I’ve heard testing being done but nothing like that. Perhaps someone pressed a wrong button.
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I was down in Piney Point the other day and 154.980 sounded horrible to the point I turned it off. I then made my way north into Leonardtown and turned it back on and it was fine. Perhaps a transmitter issue on the Drayden tower ?
I found this interesting, this may or may not have anything to do with the First System but thought I’d post anyway.
Location - Charles County / King George County Va
Agency - Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Subject - Radio Coverage Testing
Units (N7) and (N11) have been conducting radio coverage (mobile) and (portable) testing inside and outside buildings in Charles County and King George County Va on the MTA talkgroup used on the current Charles County system.
This has been going on all day, while normal radio traffic resumed. I would think it would be too early to assume it has something to due with Charles new upcoming system but I could be wrong. Due to being in Va and testing it had me thinking of the First system as there is a tower by the Nice Bridge but then why do it on the current system ? Any idea what this is being done for ?
Location - Charles County / King George County Va
Agency - Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Subject - Radio Coverage Testing
Units (N7) and (N11) have been conducting radio coverage (mobile) and (portable) testing inside and outside buildings in Charles County and King George County Va on the MTA talkgroup used on the current Charles County system.
This has been going on all day, while normal radio traffic resumed. I would think it would be too early to assume it has something to due with Charles new upcoming system but I could be wrong. Due to being in Va and testing it had me thinking of the First system as there is a tower by the Nice Bridge but then why do it on the current system ? Any idea what this is being done for ?
I believe Charles County’s current SmartZone system is already maxed out on sites, so I doubt they added a site on Nice Bridge tower site. Maybe an antenna realignment/ relocation/ replacement somewhere? Or they moved a site to the NB tower? Or is King George working on a new system?
I confirmed King George is not, however the fire side now have all new all band Motorola mobiles and portables while the police continue to use their XTS300’s on their VHF P25 system. Nether have plans on changing. I find this VERY interestin.
A site under WRKE289 was licensed in 2020 at Nice Bridge. It appears they moved a SmartZone site to that tower (or used some trickery to add an 11th site,) and the Nice Bridge subsite is also included in their future 20 site P25 system
I am aware that this is huge and complex statewide TRS. However, does anyone have any layout of the system and a list of which talkgroups are system wide and site specific?
8377 Seneca Creek State Park Ops
County specific talkgroups are active for the county they are in and the surrounding county in each direction (if a radio is active on the site). MSP/MDTA pretty much are the same too.
If you monitor Anne Arundel, I have found it too be a great site to monitor. Talbot, QA, Caroline, & Dorchester have the "ability" to be active on the site. I have monitored some very far away talkgorups active on AA for NRP/SHA (maybe because their comms centers are in the county).
Interesting that this park is using FIRST since the Montgomery County cell is not on the air. Maybe Marlu Ridge provides the coverage, or maybe some sort of ISSI or crosslink connection with Montgomery County's system?
Or they are just testing a radio....
How did you ID the tg as belonging to Seneca Creek SP?
BigDaddy419
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
- Messages
- 42
Any ideas as to when Fredrick Co. may get some TG's on FiRST? I know MSP, SHA, NRP, and Cunningham Falls State Park are, was just curious as to if/when other county agencies would be joining.
Frederick County has its own system, thus really doesn't need FIRST resources. They may occasionally use the MD Tac tgs, or maybe the Events tgs and MIEMMS tgs. I don't think they have applied for backup tgs for their system, but I may be wrong
BigDaddy419
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
- Messages
- 42
Ok. I was under the impression that everyone would have to be operating on this system at some point.
Nope, not at all. The are some crosslinks in certain jurisdictions between individual tgs, and state subscribers can roam onto local jurisdictions via ISSI connections (usually between Motorola systems.)
