New Newton County system

[I_Am_Infinite]

Just a few key ups again no traffic, on all same TGs as I've posted about on here before except one TG 21. All with radio ID of 5610570. Also noticed 772.70625 like has no hits, like the system never choses it to carry traffic. All other frequencies have over 10 hits a piece and that one literally none. Here's pic of the TGs today and radio Id

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

It's essentially a certainty now that TG 30 is Sheriff Dispatch. I heard 56-17 say "County 17" and again was using the wrong radio cause after bout 30 seconds and County not responding he was on the state system and said County 17 and dispatch responded. So they can't hear him evidently. Cause even if the couldn't respond and just heard him on there they cud respond on the state system to him talking on the new system 🤷🏻

I'm don't get why everyone has radios but County dispatch don't yet, it's not turned on, set up or something. Maybe cause no FCC license yet and they ain't supposed to use it yet. I don't know.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

I must say this, I know I'm not a engineer or nothing but am opinionated. Newton County is roughly 12 miles from division to north county line, 18 miles south from division to southern county line. 30 miles long from top to bottom, from 1250 north to 1800 south

1 site is essentially on 1000 north 2 miles from north county line, 1 mile east of meridian (the middle of the county). The south tower is 825 south so about 10 miles from the southern county line and about 2 miles west of meridian. The county is roughly 13 miles wide roughly 6 miles east of meridian and roughly 7 miles west of meridian. From 700 West to 600 East.

The north towers 2 antennas point south, they are on the southeast and southwest of the tower meaning, if they are directional most of the northwest and northeast and north sides will lack good signal. One lobe cud cover northwest area but the southeast antenna will have to go thru the tower to get to say like me, and same with the other lobe cover northeast but the other antenna will have to go through the tower to get to the roselawn area.

Now with the south tower the antennas are northwest and northeast facing, meaning Kentland, Brooke, Goodland (the biggest towns in the county) besides Morocco are behind the tower. Kentland is essentially 8 miles behind the tower directly South. Goodland is roughly 8 miles line of site Southeast of the tower, Brooke while close is roughly 3 miles ESE of the tower.

So the northwest facing antenna on the south tower will have to go through the tower to get to Kentland, Goodland, Brooke and the northeast tower can likely get Brooke and Goodland but Kentland will be behind it still even more so than the northwest antenna. south Newton school is roughly 5 miles line of site SSE -SE ish of the tower, the northwest antenna will again have to go through the tower

Assuming the 2 antennas have 3 frequencies each that's alot of thru the tower signals. Imo and again I'm not an engineer nor anything, I'm kinda dumb in many ways but it seems they cud have put antennas in different spots.

Like how is the portable coverage gonna be in the courthouse in Kentland, the south Newton school, in any building or house that not in the main lobes or in the main pattern and are behind it etc.

I started thinking about this because my signal wasn't great. And I realize my scanners are nothing in comparison to their actual mobiles and portables, but it just don't add up having essentially every town, 6 out of 8 towns in the county behind or not within the main lobes of the antennas on the south and north tower, since there essentially facing inward toward the center.

Idk but just my thoughts maybe I'm not understanding things right, I really don't know but I figured I'd say something about it, to get others, thoughts, opinions, experience etc

 

[west-pac]

Each tower uses 2 antennas for this radio system. The antennas might be teal in color. One is for receive, and the other is for transmit.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

Each tower uses 2 antennas for this radio system. The antennas might be teal in color. One is for receive, and the other is for transmit.

They are white, they are actually quite weird. Like I've been to many towers, just because I'm curious and it's interesting, most I've seen are poles, well look like a rod. A couple other are like a square horseshoe, like if u put a L upside down and one the normal way with the vertical line on top one another.

These antennas look more like a panel, similar to cell antenna panels, which make me think they are directional. Like flat sided. The reason I thought 3 frequencies on each antenna, is cause 3 of the frequencies (770.08125, 771.08125, 772.70625) I get decently, 4 bars usually on handheld with stock antenna.

Then the other 3 frequencies (770.09375, 771.9375, 772.20625) I don't pick up at all, with the scanner in same exact spot. Like when the CC changes to 770.09375 I can barely get it, like rn. That makes me think the ones I do get well are on my side of the tower, the southwest side and the ones I don't get are on the other side of the tower, the southeast side, and had to go thru the tower cause I'm WNW to northwest of the site (I'll attach screenshot of line of site map)

Nonetheless I thought they cud did better in mapping this out or even putting the antennas on the top, making them more Omni directional, instead of 3/4 the way up and all on the one side, the south side (of the north tower site)

Again I know I ain't no engineer, no radio tech, I don't have 5000$ radios but it don't make sense to leave most of the population centers behind the towers signal path, if indeed they are directional, which I think they are 🤷🏻

 

[speedway_navigator]

The microwave system should be done in mid Feb.
Here are some links to coverage predicion sites.

RF Line of Sight - SCADACore

RF Line-of-Sight provides radio path information for mapping long distance SCADA radio communications by using antenna height and topography.

www.scadacore.com

Radio Mobile Online

www.ve2dbe.com

 

[west-pac]

The local region had a meeting on Dec 18th, the Newton Co radio system was on the New Business agenda. Provided that it was approved, Newton county will likely be filing for an FCC license within the next week or so (accounting for holidays).

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

The local region had a meeting on Dec 18th, the Newton Co radio system was on the New Business agenda. Provided that it was approved, Newton county will likely be filing for an FCC license within the next week or so (accounting for holidays).

Thanks for Info, was it talked about if it was full power and radio techs did all testing, drive test etc and got the 95% coverage? Again thanks for Info

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

The microwave system should be done in mid Feb.
Here are some links to coverage predicion sites.

RF Line of Sight - SCADACore

RF Line-of-Sight provides radio path information for mapping long distance SCADA radio communications by using antenna height and topography.

www.scadacore.com

Radio Mobile Online

www.ve2dbe.com

So it not fully ready from what u know... The second link I have login, I wudnt know what I'm doing probably anyway on there. Thanks though

 

[speedway_navigator]

Newton is at Region 54 for final frequency approval. Testing is continuing since they are going live in February.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

Newton is at Region 54 for final frequency approval. Testing is continuing since they are going live in February.

Sweet, thanks for info. When u said microwave system Shud be done in February, does that mean even though they have the microwave antenna on the tower the 2 towers aren't linked together yet.

Another thing what's the odds I'd say that the system or at least the north tower is full erp. AI tells me not but AI can be dumb. Sorry if stupid question I just don't know a lot about how towers go online, about testing, about ore licensing stuff

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

Heard a medic unit try to get county and like others before no reply.... Nonetheless the reason for the post, that was on TG 4 also like fire. So makes sense cause EMS, FD, EMA are on same TG on the state system so seems they will be on here also.

 

[19K10Tanker]

What scanners other than the SDS100 or 200 will be able to receive the new Newton county system when they go into effect?

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

What scanners other than the SDS100 or 200 will be able to receive the new Newton county system when they go into effect?

Probably just depends on ur location relative to the towers, sorry for the late reply. Any phase 2 scanner in theory can work but if your getting both towers then u might get simulcast interference. I'm using my PSR 800, it don't get simulcast interference but I'm 3.7 miles northwest of the north tower and essentially 20 miles from the other.

If I had that Yagi on my tower id probably get interference but it's on a pole off the back deck. So I'm 5 bars, 2 bars or so on ATT but when wind comes and trees blow I drop some. But when they go full power after they get their license and start testing (assuming their low erp right now) then I Shud be perfect.

But other than the SDS100/200, the BCD436HP/536HP, 325P2/996P2, TRX-1/TRX-2, PSR 800/Pro-668 (with legacy upgrade) Home Patrol 2, WS1080/1095, I think that's it, but again it all depends on ur location relative to the towers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

On side note I drove by the south tower a week ago today and they removed the antennas, maybe they had an issue. maybe these were not the final antennas and were test antennas, they did look like no antennas I've seen on any public safety tower ever in my life, so maybe that is why. I dont know, I don't know much bout all that kinda stuff.

Also today I heard a county cop say "county 15" on TG 1 so I dont know if TG 30 is the dispatch although I heard 2 different county cops try to get dispatch on tre before. But it was the same as before that I reported, cop tries to get dispatch, on TG 30 and now TG 1 and doesn't get a response then goes onto the normal TG on the state system and gets dispatch.

Maybe they have the state system on there new radios but end up clicking the wrong TG to talk on, makes more sense then grabbing the wrong radio. So I dont know figured I'd note both the antenna thing and the officer on TG 1, so guess we will find out more when they actually go live in February from what's been said In here. I know I looked on FCC yesterday and nothing on the license search or application search yet, so maybe soon.

 

[19K10Tanker]

Probably just depends on ur location relative to the towers, sorry for the late reply. Any phase 2 scanner in theory can work but if your getting both towers then u might get simulcast interference. I'm using my PSR 800, it don't get simulcast interference but I'm 3.7 miles northwest of the north tower and essentially 20 miles from the other.

If I had that Yagi on my tower id probably get interference but it's on a pole off the back deck. So I'm 5 bars, 2 bars or so on ATT but when wind comes and trees blow I drop some. But when they go full power after they get their license and start testing (assuming their low erp right now) then I Shud be perfect.

But other than the SDS100/200, the BCD436HP/536HP, 325P2/996P2, TRX-1/TRX-2, PSR 800/Pro-668 (with legacy upgrade) Home Patrol 2, WS1080/1095, I think that's it, but again it all depends on ur location relative to the towers.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

On side note I drove by the south tower a week ago today and they removed the antennas, maybe they had an issue. maybe these were not the final antennas and were test antennas, they did look like no antennas I've seen on any public safety tower ever in my life, so maybe that is why. I dont know, I don't know much bout all that kinda stuff.

Also today I heard a county cop say "county 15" on TG 1 so I dont know if TG 30 is the dispatch although I heard 2 different county cops try to get dispatch on tre before. But it was the same as before that I reported, cop tries to get dispatch, on TG 30 and now TG 1 and doesn't get a response then goes onto the normal TG on the state system and gets dispatch.

Maybe they have the state system on there new radios but end up clicking the wrong TG to talk on, makes more sense then grabbing the wrong radio. So I dont know figured I'd note both the antenna thing and the officer on TG 1, so guess we will find out more when they actually go live in February from what's been said In here. I know I looked on FCC yesterday and nothing on the license search or application search yet, so maybe soon.

Thanks for the reply, I have the SDS 100 and 200, so I think I shouldn't have an issue, but I gave my BCD996P2 to a friend, he can only hear Newton on their analog, which means he can hear the dispatch but not the reply by the Deputy because he can't hear them on the Safe-T system, we were hoping he could once they changed so he doesn't need to buy a new scanner, lets hope. Also we are both in Lake Village due west of north tower

 

[west-pac]

Thanks for the reply, I have the SDS 100 and 200, so I think I shouldn't have an issue, but I gave my BCD996P2 to a friend, he can only hear Newton on their analog, which means he can hear the dispatch but not the reply by the Deputy because he can't hear them on the Safe-T system, we were hoping he could once they changed so he doesn't need to buy a new scanner, lets hope. Also we are both in Lake Village due west of north tower

Listen to a SAFE-T site in a neighboring county, but only include the Newton county TGs in the scanlist. Whenever a Newton county deputy gets close to that site, your friend will be able to hear them.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

Thanks for the reply, I have the SDS 100 and 200, so I think I shouldn't have an issue, but I gave my BCD996P2 to a friend, he can only hear Newton on their analog, which means he can hear the dispatch but not the reply by the Deputy because he can't hear them on the Safe-T system, we were hoping he could once they changed so he doesn't need to buy a new scanner, lets hope. Also we are both in Lake Village due west of north tower

Oh I see, I understand. Just curious though why cant he hear the SafeT system with his 996p2, Is it hard to get the Morocco site? If so I can definitely understand that, I had to do backflips to get it. Kinda like @west-pac said he can try neighbor sites for SafeT, I know Monon carries most, if not all Newton County traffic but that's farther away than Morocco. The other closer sites are Rensselaer and lake county simulcast (Lowell tower specifically) ...

But I think those maybe farther still than Morocco. Are you both like literally west of the tower in lake village, between the town of lake village and the tower, or west of lake village.

You can put in the CCs for the new site see if he or you can get the data channel. 770.08125, 770.09375, 771.08125, 771.09375, see what and how good u can get it. Reg D Mutual Aid is on it quite frequently so he can test it see how good it will work but if your close like east of lake village town, west of tower you Shud be ok, unless ur using rubber ducky in a wooded area like me in sumava. But I believe ERP Shud go up as they get the license, soon hopefully.

If you are west of lake village DM me id like ask and talk to you about what kinda signal strength you get out there on the new system, especially if ur west of 400 west, like 500 or 650 west or so. Was wondering how far the signal reaches rn. I tried go to area 3 off SR 10 but Shud brought batteries for my psr800 so I cud got out the car. I put scanner at the window facing east toward the tower and essentially no signal which is about 550 west.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

@west-pac have u heard any more news about anything, I know u have alot of information so far and curious if u had any more since your last post with information about the licensing Shud be happening soon?

 

[19K10Tanker]

Oh I see, I understand. Just curious though why cant he hear the SafeT system with his 996p2, Is it hard to get the Morocco site? If so I can definitely understand that, I had to do backflips to get it. Kinda like @west-pac said he can try neighbor sites for SafeT, I know Monon carries most, if not all Newton County traffic but that's farther away than Morocco. The other closer sites are Rensselaer and lake county simulcast (Lowell tower specifically) ...

But I think those maybe farther still than Morocco. Are you both like literally west of the tower in lake village, between the town of lake village and the tower, or west of lake village.

You can put in the CCs for the new site see if he or you can get the data channel. 770.08125, 770.09375, 771.08125, 771.09375, see what and how good u can get it. Reg D Mutual Aid is on it quite frequently so he can test it see how good it will work but if your close like east of lake village town, west of tower you Shud be ok, unless ur using rubber ducky in a wooded area like me in sumava. But I believe ERP Shud go up as they get the license, soon hopefully.

If you are west of lake village DM me id like ask and talk to you about what kinda signal strength you get out there on the new system, especially if ur west of 400 west, like 500 or 650 west or so. Was wondering how far the signal reaches rn. I tried go to area 3 off SR 10 but Shud brought batteries for my psr800 so I cud got out the car. I put scanner at the window facing east toward the tower and essentially no signal which is about 550 west.

We are both in town by the community center (old FD) and Library, I programed the 996 using both the Morocco and Lake County tower but for some reason we couldn't hear Newton County on the Safe-T system, I even tried ISP (same towers) and nothing, that is why I gave him the 996 because I wanted to hear those, I also wanted to hear Lake County Sheriffs and I couldn't hear them either, but with the SDS 100 and 200, no problems. I never paid much attention to the signal strength, I'm not to technical with these things, I just like listening. I did try other towers around the area, but no luck. I don't think I'm programing wrong, I use Proscan for the 996. I just mentioned to my buddy you live in Sumava, he lived their his whole life, his sister still does.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

We are both in town by the community center (old FD) and Library, I programed the 996 using both the Morocco and Lake County tower but for some reason we couldn't hear Newton County on the Safe-T system, I even tried ISP (same towers) and nothing, that is why I gave him the 996 because I wanted to hear those, I also wanted to hear Lake County Sheriffs and I couldn't hear them either, but with the SDS 100 and 200, no problems. I never paid much attention to the signal strength, I'm not to technical with these things, I just like listening. I did try other towers around the area, but no luck. I don't think I'm programing wrong, I use Proscan for the 996. I just mentioned to my buddy you live in Sumava, he lived their his whole life, his sister still does.

If your by the community center it's pretty open around there, so if you pick up lake countys own system and lake county state system that makes sense. Where if he lives in the library area it is more clustered, with few more trees. Plus the SDS scanners are better and more sensitive to weak signals.

I'm sure u got them programmed right, most towers are pretty far from us. I'm surprised u get the Morocco site on ur SDS, it's pretty far. U are couple miles closer than me, and more in the open than me if ur by the old fd. Especially getting it a rubber ducky if that's what ur using. SDS are great scanners.

So do u get the lake village tower on Newton Countys new system? Can your friend pick this up at all? If he can't id wait for but I think the tower isn't broadcasting at full strength yet, they don't have a license so unless they got an authorization that don't show on the FCC it would be illegal to operate at full power. So I'd wait if he can't get it, it cud change in month or so. I also have lived in sumava forever.