Mid-Atlantic Digital Radio network - Connect Plus system 141

[Gilligan]

Can't you divided up by site?

After reviewing the database handbook and reading some other forum posts, I have decided to set it up by counties for now. That seems to be logical and make the most sense for how the administration seems to want the database to be set up.

 

[mtindor]

Do we have any confirmed frequencies for these sites that we could add them to the database?

Confirmed freqs are at beginning of thread. [check your PMs -- I PM'd you].

Voyager will have to chime in and let us know how he determined that 27/28/29 were the locations he listed.

Mike

 

[Gilligan]

I spent about two hours up on the mountain at King's Gap State Park and was able to nail down about six new sites from being up so high. The talkgroup for the Hershey Resorts shuttle (3790) seems to be coming across several different towers. I found a ton of voice channels that were showing Connect Plus and are likely part of this system. I didn't have time to track which sites they belong to just yet, but here they are in case anyone else wants to search for them:

451.5500  DCC 1
451.9250  DCC 1
451.9500  DCC 9
461.4250  DCC 1
461.8750  DCC 7
462.1500  DCC 2
464.1000  DCC 7
464.1750  DCC 10

 

[mtindor]

I spent about two hours up on the mountain at King's Gap State Park and was able to nail down about six new sites from being up so high. The talkgroup for the Hershey Resorts shuttle (3790) seems to be coming across several different towers. I found a ton of voice channels that were showing Connect Plus and are likely part of this system. I didn't have time to track which sites they belong to just yet, but here they are in case anyone else wants to search for them:

451.5500  DCC 1
451.9250  DCC 1
451.9500  DCC 9
461.4250  DCC 1
461.8750  DCC 7
462.1500  DCC 2
464.1000  DCC 7
464.1750  DCC 10

451.5500 DCC 1 - Site 1 ?
- WPLY937 Harrisburg (Dauphin)
- WPLY937 New Cumberland (York)
451.9250 DCC 1 - Site 1 ?
- WQKJ459 Harrisburg (Dauphin)
461.4250 DCC 1 - Site 1 ?
- KNAE286 Honeybrook (Chester)
- WQKJ459 Harrisburg (Dauphin)

462.1500 DCC 2 - Site 2
- WNST294 Penn Twp (Lancaster)
- WPLY936 Hanover (York)

461.8750 DCC 7 - Site 7 ?
- WPLY937 New Cumberland (York)
464.1000 DCC 7 - Site 7 ?
- WPLY937 New Cumberland (York)

451.9500 DCC 9
- WQWL881 Hazelton (Luzerne)
- WQSK899 Newport (Perry)

464.1750 DCC 10 - Site 10
- WPGK373 Wayne Twp (Schuykill)


Site 1 in DB lists 454.600
- WPVH212 Harrisburg Market area
- your three DCC 1 frequencies above all have Harrisburg licenses
- I'd say Site 1 might be Harrisburg

Site 2 in the DB lists 454.25
- WPVF400 Phila-Wilmington-Atlantic City market area
This just happens to cover Penn Twp (Lancaster Co)
- your DCC 2 frequency above has a Lancaster Co license
- I'd say site 2 might be Lancaster

Site 7 in the DB lists 454.475
- WPVH211 Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle market area
- This covers New Cumberland (York Co)
- your DCC 7 frequencies above both have New Cumberland licenses
- I'd say site 7 might be New Cumberland

Site 10 Wayne Twp
- your frequency 464.175 above is listed on a Wayne Twp license
- I'd say 464.175 belongs on site 10

As for 451.95 DCC 9, I can't even venture a guess there.

MIke

 

[Gilligan]

I drew vectors on a Pennsylvania map from my location last night as well as cross-referencing the different tower locations and was able to confirm Harrisburg, Hazleton, and New Cumberland as well as combining the control channel with the voice channels for Site 2 (Penn Township).

The one I'm stuck on right now is 454.3500, DCC 8. According to my measurements from the state park, it was nearly due south of me but was a very weak signal, so that's why I'm thinking it could be Adams County, possibly near Gettysburg. I had to add the pre-amp just to get the control channel, so it could have even been further south into Maryland like perhaps Frederick or Thurmont.

 

[mtindor]

I drew vectors on a Pennsylvania map from my location last night as well as cross-referencing the different tower locations and was able to confirm Harrisburg, Hazleton, and New Cumberland as well as combining the control channel with the voice channels for Site 2 (Penn Township).

The one I'm stuck on right now is 454.3500, DCC 8. According to my measurements from the state park, it was nearly due south of me but was a very weak signal, so that's why I'm thinking it could be Adams County, possibly near Gettysburg. I had to add the pre-amp just to get the control channel, so it could have even been further south into Maryland like perhaps Frederick or Thurmont.

Site 8 -- Hanover PA (York Co) ???

* 454.35 -- WPVH210 - Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle market area

The HLC market area includes Hanover PA in York Co

* 451.825 -- WPLY936 - Triangle license for a Hanover PA site

NOTE: There are two Hanover sites on that license. It's the 32 Laurel Woods Ln ( 39.85639,-76.94889 ) site.

Any chance you'd buy into this theory?

Mike

 

[Gilligan]

Site 8 -- Hanover PA (York Co) ???

* 454.35 -- WPVH210 - Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle market area

The HLC market area includes Hanover PA in York Co

* 451.825 -- WPLY936 - Triangle license for a Hanover PA site

NOTE: There are two Hanover sites on that license. It's the 32 Laurel Woods Ln ( 39.85639,-76.94889 ) site.

Mike

I think you're right. I'll add it as such for now since it matches up. I didn't see that 451.825 was licensed for Hanover. Nice work!

 

[Gilligan]

After mapping out the known sites and their neighbors, here is where I think other sites may be found:

4 & 17 should be around the York or Hanover area
6, 11, 13, and 22 should be west of Lancaster
16 & 45 may be Balley & Lower Alsace sites near Reading
46 & 47 should be around the Ashland area
20 & 21 may be around the Wilkes-Barre area
26 is likely western PA around sites 27, 28 and 29


Hazleton is so far reaching because it is over 1600' in elevation.

 

[N2ICV]

I have updated the PA Digital Radio Network Unconfirmed Talkgroups Wiki to show the new sties added.
Please add your Unconfirmed Talkgroups to the wiki or PM me and I will add them.
PA Digital Radio Network Unconfirmed Talkgroups - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[mtindor]

Site 16 - ???

Is there confirmation that the Easton site is really Easton? Industrial Communications WPMT607, Location 1 out of Washington NJ which is 462.1000. I only ask because I'm in Nazareth, actually, right at this moment I'm at work in Palmer. If the site was in Easton, I would think I'd get more than 2-3 bars. Actually, it's 2-3 bars intermittently. Sometimes I have no bars. Below is what I logged in the last 15 minutes, conventionally.


760 462.1000/1 CC 1 324 779 NFM 6 00:00:05 07/15/16 13:10:05 07/15/16 13:10:13 Industrial Communications WPMT607 - Washington NJ Loc 1 - Nt 141: S 16: TG 760: U 779 Conventional CON

I'd question Site 16's location as well.

WPMT607 Industrial Communications

462.100 is actually licensed to the second site on the license, Salisbury Twp, Lehigh County PA

And that would make more sense to you, since you are only getting a couple bars on it.

And according the map I'm looking at, the site would be called "ALLENTOWN"

Mike

 

[sibbley]

I'd question Site 16's location as well.

WPMT607 Industrial Communications

462.100 is actually licensed to site 2, Salisbury Twp, Lehigh County PA

And that would make more sense to you, since you are only getting a couple bars on it.

And according the map I'm looking at, the site would be called "ALLENTOWN"

Mike

Yes, you are correct. It is site 2. Either way, it's not Easton.

 

[N2ICV]

What are you guys using to rec this?

 

[sibbley]

What are you guys using to rec this?

I'm in Nazareth, and at work I'm in Palmer Township. I should be getting better reception if the site is in Easton. I'm also going off the WMPT607 as Mike pointed out Location 2 Industrial Communications page on the FCC website.

ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WPMT607 - INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

I also have an other Industrial Communications site in Salisbury that has the same TGID's and the same reception as 462.1000.

462.1000 is also not listed as Easton under Industrial Communications.

 

[Gilligan]

What are you guys using to rec this?

I am using DSD+ as well as a BCD436HP with the DMR upgrade. I have a UHF business-band beam that is portable on a tripod and a high-gain UHF business-band whip on my vehicle. From my home I can hear the Roxbury site fairly easily and several others when conditions are good -- perhaps due to ducting. Once you gain any elevation at all the sites just start rolling in easily. I was hearing the Hazleton site crystal clear on my way up the west side of the mountain toward King's Gap State Park. That's about 90 miles line-of-sight! DMR reception seems to be much improved over analog. I'm planning to take a trip up to Cascade soon so hopefully I can identify some of those unknown sites.

 

[N2ICV]

Ok i'm also using DSD+ 2.10 with a BC780 on a CX-333. Here is what I got. (003 Lionville 452.825) its looks like a new site we didn't have 141-45 I'm looking for it now.

 

[mtindor]

Site 23 -- Newport (Perry Co)

I don't think Site 23 is Hazleton / Luzerne Co

I think Site 12 is Newport (Perry Co)
a. 454.34385 - WPVH210 - covers Newport, does NOT cover Hazleton
b. 451.95 - WQSK899 - Newport (Perry Co)
c. reference material I'm looking at says site in NEWPORT, no sites in Hazleton area

Mike

 

[Gilligan]

I don't think Site 23 is Hazleton / Luzerne Co

I think Site 12 is Newport (Perry Co)
a. 454.34385 - WPVH210 - covers Newport, does NOT cover Hazleton
b. 451.95 - WQSK899 - Newport (Perry Co)
c. reference material I'm looking at says site in NEWPORT, no sites in Hazleton area

Mike

I am careful not to always believe the FCC data because a lot of the time the larger networks seem to flex on how accurate their data is according to site. I do have to agree that Newport makes a lot more sense, however they also have a license on 451.9500 (WQWL881) and have the advantage of elevation. Newport definitely "fits" better in the larger map but the azimuth from the park was exactly 45 degrees NE with no signal from due north, which would be the direction of Newport from the park. The color code (9) also matches with what would be expected for site 23. If it were Newport, wouldn't Roxbury be a neighbor site?

 

[Gilligan]

Ok i'm also using DSD+ 2.10 with a BC780 on a CX-333. Here is what I got. (003 Lionville 452.825) its looks like a new site we didn't have 141-45 I'm looking for it now.

If you search the business ranges, the scanner should stop on any control channels. Also you may try searching from 500 to 504 MHz as there seem to be a few sites licensed to use those frequencies as well.

 

[sibbley]

If you search the business ranges, the scanner should stop on any control channels. Also you may try searching from 500 to 504 MHz as there seem to be a few sites licensed to use those frequencies as well.

Yes, 502.9375 out of Salisbury, WPNU846. I get the same TGID's as 462.1000 2500, 760, etc.

I am using a 436HP and 536HP to log these (current activity, activity monitor, and LCN Monitor) It's LCN 1. Out of the 5 frequencies listed I only ever get the 1 LCN. I also get Net 141/Site 16. Activity monitor does show me voice channel switch from LCN 1 to LCN 2, but I never actually found the frequency for 2.

How was it determined that the 462.1000 site was in Easton? I have to go by signal, and the signal should be stronger if the site was in Easton.

 

[sibbley]

I am careful not to always believe the FCC data because a lot of the time the larger networks seem to flex on how accurate their data is according to site.

I absolutely agree. For example: Lehigh University is listed as DMR in the FCC database. However it is NEXEDGE. Found that with DSD+. I never gathered enough information to attempt trunk tracking it though.