Morgan County 700 MHz Project 25 TRS

[dhsvf]

sheriff's dept on 32100

 

[alabamarailfan]

Hey Folks, I noticed that it seems the like Morgan County 911/Flint EDACS location is off the air. I am only picking up the north site from Decatur City Hall. Anyone know if this is related to this new 700 MHz system for Morgan County? I also listened for 30+ minutes and never heard a peep so have the fire and ambulance officially moved strictly to the new system (maybe it was just slow)?
Thanks a bunch in advance!

 

[dhsvf]

that's been what i've noticed. decatur pd 1/2 is still on 460.x and s.o. seems to be simulcasting on the new system and 155.070, along with some county fire traffic.

all the talkgroups i've heard on the new system are in the previous posts.

 

[alabamarailfan]

Thanks for the info, dhsvf! I run the Decatur/Morgan Co public safety feed. I spent an hour plus tonight searching the rr,com Wiki and forums for a list of digital TRS scanners that are capable of receiving the 700 MHz band.
What radios are you guys using and do you know of such a list? I wouldn't mind spending some decent money on a scanner for general use but one that will just be scanning a few freqs for a live feed, I would like to try and keep the cost down, even a 2nd hand radio. Thank you in advance!

 

[dhsvf]

this probably isn't a complete list, but it's on the rr wiki:

Digital Scanner Comparison Chart - The RadioReference Wiki

i just use a pro106 for the mobility. good luck on your search.

 

[trlrdrdave]

GRE500 works pretty well. Yep EDACS is history.

 

[morganAL]

EDACS in Morgan Co is no more. THe only reason the North site is still on that we haven't made time to go turn it off. It should be gone in a couple of weeks.

Fire and EMS are 100% on the 700 system as are Trinity PD, Priceville PD, and Falkville PD.
About half of the Volunteer VFDs have switched over.

 

[alabamarailfan]

Thanks, morganAL. Don't want you to divulge anything that is still under wraps, but do we expect most of the other entities to go to this new system as well (DPD for instance)? In other words, should I start looking for a digital scanner pretty soon if I want to continue the Decatur/Morgan Co audio feed?

Thanks for everyone's hard work on this and sharing what information you can!
john

 

[morganAL]

There will analog for a while. No idea how long though.

 

[alabamarailfan]

Thanks for the information, morganAL. Much appreciated! Will be looking to get a digital scanner in the mean time but in quite as big a hurry as I think DPD is the main thing most listeners tune in for.

 

[Scanner_Rider]

Thanks for the update. Wonder what my next scanner will be?

This Pro-82 has served well for many years but out here in S.A.V.E.S jurisdiction surrounded by hay fields I think I will happily pay the price to get a 700 MHz capable receiver.

 

[trlrdrdave]

Thanks for the information, morganAL. Much appreciated! Will be looking to get a digital scanner in the mean time but in quite as big a hurry as I think DPD is the main thing most listeners tune in for.

That might be true. But since you can pick DPD up with pretty much anything and not very many people have a p25 capable scanner yet it might be more beneficial to start the p25. Just my 2 cents.

 

[morganAL]

If you live in S.A.V.E.S. (aka Somerville VFD) area and want to listen to them, you will need a P-25 scanner. S.A.V.E.S. and several other departments in that area have already transitioned to the new system..

 

[alabamarailfan]

That might be true. But since you can pick DPD up with pretty much anything and not very many people have a p25 capable scanner yet it might be more beneficial to start the p25. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed, trlrdrdave! As soon as funds are available for a replacement digital radio, I will get the new stuff added. I managed with win a BCD396XT on eBay to play with and after I sell a couple analog radios I have, I hope to put the funds towards a digital base radio for the live audio feed.

 

[Scanner_Rider]

If you live in S.A.V.E.S. (aka Somerville VFD) area and want to listen to them, you will need a P-25 scanner. S.A.V.E.S. and several other departments in that area have already transitioned to the new system..

That's my fire department that I contribute to and buy a half dozen Swamp John's plates from every time they have tickets for sale. .


If I am understanding what I have read on the forums here, the Uniden BCD436HP is a handheld scanner that should receive the new frequencies and still pick up the S.O. , AST and HPD analogs and is simple to program.

 

[morganAL]

Just to clarify...
The following are on the new 700 MHz P-25 System:

Falkville PD
Priceville PD
Trinity PD
First Response Ambulance
Decatur Fire
Hartselle Fire
Trinity VFD
Neel VFD
Punkin Center VFD
Mud Tavern VFD
Flint VFD
Oak Ridge VFD
Danville VFD
Massey VFD
Priceville VFD
Somerville VFD (S.A.V.E.S.)
Talucah VFD
Cotaco VFD

There is a patch to Morgan Co S.O. for the small PD but the S.O. is not moving at this point in time.

 

[alabamarailfan]

Good time to listen with lots of activity during the bad weather. Here are a few I believe are correct:
32002 Priceville VFD (tac 2)
32004 Somerville VFD
32063 Danville VFD

 

[Scanner_Rider]

Yes, tonight is a good night to be listening. Even only currently receiving MOSO , Hartselle PD and the non P-25 central dispatch I am getting better weather and trees knocking out our power information than from the NOAA and Huntsville meteorologists.


When I heard my area agencies had started to move to the new system I tried finding new scanners available locally and the few I did find for sale were closeouts of the older generation scanners like I bought from the Hartselle RadioShack when it was still in business years ago and the sales people I talked to about the new system couldn't offer any advise to speak of..

Are there any knowledgeable sellers of scanner gear left in Morgan county or will I have to order from one of the long established mail order radio gear vendors?

Although the floor staff at our former RS were able to help me program my digital display scanner and I understood that the frequency numbers keyed in equaled plugging in crystals, I am still confused about the digital transmission protocols and if I could program the 10 or so frequencies that pertain to my area..

Whatever replacement scanner I end up buying I want to be able to hear the tone outs and voice traffic and be able to easily lock out the agencies with minimal influence over my area so they don't over run my local agencies as I have been able to for the last 45 years scanner listening with my older generation gear.

 

[morganAL]

32002 Priceville VFD (tac 2)
32004 Somerville VFD
32063 Danville VFD

32001 - TAC 1
32002 - TAC 2
32003 - TAC 3
32004 - TAC 4
32005 - TAC 5
32006 - TAC 6
32007 - TAC 7
32008 - TAC 8
32009 - TAC 9
32010 - TAC 10

These TAC channels are in every fire radio on the new system and are shared by all fire departments

32062 is Danville's Private TG

County Fire is 32020
PD Net (Falkville, Priceville, Trinity PDs) is 32017

 

[alabamarailfan]

Thanks, morganAL. After I posted those, I listened more and realized they were being assigned tac channels by central dispatch and that each could use them. Those were just the first I heard using them (Priceville on 32002 and Somerville on 32004). I later heard two VFDs talking to each other on one but it was getting late and time for some sleep!
Thanks for the updated information! Much appreciated!