I’ve got a prison in Pasquotank about 4 miles from me. I THINK I should be hearing them. As I understand it, NCDOC is using NXDN. I’ve got both NXDN and DMR upgrades. I did a custom search on the NCDOC 453.2-469.0 and only picked up Mecklenburg I believe. Do I need to do anything special to receive or scan NXDN sites?
NCDOC and NXDN scanning
- Thread starter ih784
- Start date
Having two state prisons near me both using NXDN, one a mile away the other about 2 miles away, if you are 4 miles away that is too far to hear them. NCDOC NXDN system is low powered and anything over two miles from the prison is highly unlikely. These systems are meant for internal use only, not comms outside the immediate facility grounds. Take a ride nearer the prison and you'll probably pick them up. They will be heard on these frequencies with rotating control channels;
| 453.2000 | 453.6000 | 453.9000 |
The licenses for all prisons are listed in the wiki below.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety Prisons - The RadioReference Wiki
If you have the upgrade installed then you should be able to receive data & voice (assuming encryption isn't a factor) when you perform a custom search without having to "do anything special". PASQUOTANK is licensed for 20 watts ERP though they might not be utilizing full power if you can't get a hit from a couple of miles out. As RaleighGuy suggested, drive as close as you can safely get to the facility and throw in those frequencies. License indicates they're mostly likely trunked so program accordingly
FCC Callsign WREC930 (NORTH CAROLINA, STATE OF)
FCC Callsign WREC930 (NORTH CAROLINA, STATE OF)
www.radioreference.com
Thanks guys! I definitely have the upgrade installed and can see the actual prison lights at night across a wide open field. I can live with it if I’m too far, I just wasn’t sure if sentinel or ProScan should have a different “system type” when loading onto the scanner or if P25 was sufficient? Or, will the sds do find it automatically? I may get as close as I can and see what I can scan.
It is not P25, it is NXDN that is the proper system type (your site and RAN will most likely be different).
The distance calls for 16km. That’s a base I assume. I’ll get Fast lane going as well. If I program sentinel should I use NXDN or NXDN Trunked?
NXDN trunked and just because the license lists a distance/power that is a maximum able to be used, not actually being used. Like I said, I have two near me and have monitored several around the state.
Ok, I just programmed 6 site frequencies that are assigned to that prison into a favorites list using NXDN as the system and one of them gives me full bars. I’m getting NEX9 and RAN11 on my screen. I assume I need to find some talk groups. I’ve found TGIDs on P25 using a custom search. Can I do this on the NXDN system as well?
You only needed the three receive frequencies listed above, but it won't hurt to have them all. Just set up the scanner for ID search and it should pull in the talkgroups for the system.
reconrider8
Member
last time i was up around Caledonia they were still on vhf analog so you may want to keep your ears open with close call or the sort
akalynchs
Member
If memory serves correctly the Pasquotank Correctional Facility (DOC) in Elizabeth City was the site that (possibly) prompted that all DOC facilities switch to NXDN due to correctional staff being killed or injured during an escape attempt. I believe that they had comms issues during the event due to older analog radios.
If this is the site that you’re trying to monitor, as others have suggested they are low power or encrypted. If low power, you would have to be just about sitting outside of the facility to monitor.
If this is the site that you’re trying to monitor, as others have suggested they are low power or encrypted. If low power, you would have to be just about sitting outside of the facility to monitor.
I have yet to find any of the NCDOC NXDN sites that were encrypted, all have been in the clear. And, yes they are low powered but I'm a little over a mile from one prison and pick them up using an indoor antenna, the other prison is just over 2 miles away and I can not get a decode using DSD+ and the indoor antenna, but am seeing the spike on the frequency.
That said, OP stated in post #8 that he was getting full bars on one of the frequencies.
akalynchs
Member
I don’t doubt what you’re saying, I just find it surprising that anything is in the clear due to the aforementioned events.
I was seeing full bars. I suppose it is/was spikes. BUT, it was on a programmed frequency that the doc site uses. HOWEVER, when I turned on location services… I was left with “nothing to scan”. I’m confident this is an NXDN signal because of the NEX9 and RAN11 on my display. I’m not sure if it was the Pasquotank prison. Yes, this is where the guards were killed.
Keep in mind, the CC changes at least once a day, sometimes more often. You mentioned you had DSD+ FL, if so try using that to get TGs and other system info, maybe it will let you see the signal strength on those frequencies.
