MdTA - here we go again (I think)

[ka3jjz]

For the last couple of days, it seems all that 453.1 has had on it has been the control channel data from Virginia (I think); no other traffic heard here. I've been listening during the morning rush hour when it's usually busy, and it's been silent.

[update] Someone was sending dead carriers on this freq a few mins ago; no voice traffic, though. I'm going to park my 895 and record the freq during the day and see if anyone shows up

[update] As of 10:30 there've been a couple of folks trying to call someone and not getting any responses, and a heckuva lot of dead carriers being thrown. Clearly this repeater is sick. Where did the Tunnels detachments go?

Another change? 73s Mike

 

[trimmerj]

On a releated note, I think I'm hearing a lot traffic on 453.575. From my 20 they are stepping all over each other. Different Pl's but I sure it's annoying for the users.

 

[TinEar]

Mike, I'm sure you've just forgotten but the McHenry tunnels detachment is the one that moved to 453.475 during the interference problem. They have never returned to 453.1. The Port/KeyBridge detachment from 453.575 also went to 453.475 for a short time but they returned to their original freq after the problem either got fixed or just went away.

trimmerj: 453.575 has three different units using the freq, each with different PL tones which must be set if you want to pick anything out of the mess. Port/Key Bridge uses PL 167.9, Bay Bridge uses 127.3 and Hatem Bridge uses 173.8. I have the freq entered three times in my scanner, each with its respective PL tone and appropriate alpha tag.

 

[ka3jjz]

Ah, but there's another tunnel detachment; Harbor, along with the garage and motorist assist vans. I hadn't forgotten about McHenry; in fact, I checked that first. Perhaps Harbor is now also using .475? I need to check that.

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

That whole mess is on 453.475. It is all under the callsign McHenry. I'm not entirely sure when that change took place but it was quite awhile ago when everything was consolidated on 453.10 and then moved to .475 after the interference hit the freq. I think they're getting such good, clear comms on .475 that they don't want to go back.

I noted that last night Alan Henney mentioned on SCAN-DC that there is a 453.225 freq. I set up on it after his email but haven't heard a peep on that freq since then. I'm not sure how that plays into the mix, if at all.

 

[ka3jjz]

Well it seems someone is on 453.1 Lots of times this morning, someone saying 'radioman testing' and using a 5 count. Lots of other junk coming over that freq too, including dead air, tones, ect.

It may not be actively being used by MdTA but someone is most certainly there

73s Mike

 

[skipshark773]

That whole mess is on 453.475. It is all under the callsign McHenry. I'm not entirely sure when that change took place but it was quite awhile ago when everything was consolidated on 453.10 and then moved to .475 after the interference hit the freq. I think they're getting such good, clear comms on .475 that they don't want to go back.

I noted that last night Alan Henney mentioned on SCAN-DC that there is a 453.225 freq. I set up on it after his email but haven't heard a peep on that freq since then. I'm not sure how that plays into the mix, if at all.

i think the 453.225 frequency shows up as being licenced to MdTA in perryville? ive had it in my old scanner for years now and have never heard a thing on it.

 

[TinEar]

Thanks skipshark773. I'll toss that 453.225 freq then. It has been silent for the 24 hours I've been on it and since you said you've not heard a thing in years, that's good enough for me. It's gone.

Mike, I don't know if the guys you're hearing on 453.10 are the MdTA radio people or someone else. Right after the problems hit, their radio guys were playing on that freq trying to figure out where the interference was coming from. I heard them for about a week after they all moved and then locked out the freq so I'm not sure if it's the same guys or not.

 

[ka3jjz]

That whole mess is on 453.475. It is all under the callsign McHenry. I'm not entirely sure when that change took place but it was quite awhile ago when everything was consolidated on 453.10 and then moved to .475 after the interference hit the freq. I think they're getting such good, clear comms on .475 that they don't want to go back.

That would make sense; when someone calls 'Communications' they're talking to the Harbor tunnel detachment? Or perhaps they're using Nextel?
I don't think they would use 'McHenry' as a call, and then start talking about the Harbor Tunnel thruway; it would be much too confusing? It's possible, tho

73s Mike

 

[skipshark773]

The Tunnel Command Detachment encompasses both tunnels, so units with the ID 'TCxx' can be either assigned to the harbor tunnel or the mchenry tunnel. It was alawys my impression that 'Communications' was the dispatcher and 'McHenry' was some sort of shop or other type station. Although now that they've switched to 453.475 'McHenry' could be the dispatcher since the ULS shows 453.475 to be licenced to the McHenry site and not the Harbor tunnel site.

 

[TinEar]

"Communications" and "McHenry" are one and the same. Listening right now to them (453.475) and the same speaker will either call himself McHenry or Communications. For awhile, I thought he used "Communications" when he was doing non police things but that doesn't seem to be the case. The two names seem to just be interchangable. At times, some of the mobile units even use "Control" to call the dispatcher but it's still the same speaker on the dispatch end. The same speaker at dispatch is doing all the police work along with tunnel comms like lane closings and he is also controlling work trucks. Perhaps at different times of the day it's something different but that's what is happening this evening.

 

[ka3jjz]

Sounds like it's time to update the database, unless someone has already submitted the change :?:

Thanx to Skipshark and TinEar for the clarifications

73s Mike

 

[skipshark773]

hmm....whenever i used to listen to them on 453.100 it alawys sounded like 'communications' and 'mchenry' were different entities. this may not be the case now that they are all on 453.475...i've also heard users calling in to 'tunnel communications' too....

 

[TinEar]

I know at times in the past I've heard more than one speaker at the dispatch end. Perhaps this has more to do with the work load than with different entities. For instance, during the last snow storm, there was one dispatcher controlling all the plows, sand/salt trucks and another controlling the police functions. I suspect they are working next to each other or at least within the same comm center controlling the various functions of the tunnels and roadways leading to the tunnels along with the police function of MdTA. McHenry seems to be the favorite term and the only "place" name I've heard on the channel.

 

[skipshark773]

i agree with your theory about the work load. it's too bad that we cant get ahold of any "inside info" on this one....

 

[md_p97]

Not sure how this will play into the mix on this subject, but I punched 453.475 into my Pro97 last night to see what I could hear up in Montgomery County. Not a peep all night (external discone). However, as I was passing the MSP barracks off Rt 70 in Hagerstown this afternoon the channel lit up and just about blew me out of my car. But from what I could tell, the frequency was being used by some type of road crew or maintanence people. I heard "unit 8 to 12"' "yeah what?", then "bring that (unknown item) back to the yard when ya come" "gonna be here soon?" Then a couple minutes later someone came across and said something about providing someone some relief at some unknown post and a reply back was "nah, I'm not going there, they can just stand there for a while."

For what its worth......

 

[n3bxv]

The database shows the Maryland Correctional Training Center in Hagerstown also using the freq...

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=isf&stcd=MD&freq=453.475

 

[skipshark773]

i did some more digging thru the FCC in an effort to figure out what the elusive MdTA frequency 453.225 is supposed to be used for and discovered the following: it is licenced to the Maryland Transportation Authority under the callsign WPJG416. It appears to be a B/M set up (no repeater) in Perryville, Cecil County. These were the notes associated with the frequency: D12-CONTROLLING CONTACT CLOUSURES WITH PORTABLE LOW POWER TRANSMITTERS. ALSO TWO WAY COMM AMONGST STAFF. Maybe its a talkaround type back-up for Hatem bridge? Anyone on the boards live up near Perryville that can take a listen?

[edit]: this info probably wasnt worth a post, but i just thought i'd throw it out there anyways...