> The next question will be if there is any interoperability between them (other than cell phones or Nextel): CMPD, NC Wildlife, USCG aux, Lincoln Co, Iredell Co, Catawba Co.
>> 99.9% NO. The only interoperability between them would be though VIPER.
If I understand the interoperability plan for the Charlotte area - including Lake Norman and Lake Wylie - correctly, Charlotte / Mecklenberg County and the Piedmont-Area Communications Council (PACC)ultimately will have the responsibility to provide regional interoperability for 11 counties / 29 comm systems that are part of the council.
So, I'm not surprised agencies involved in public safety on Lake Norman are not going hog-wild seeking interoperability via Viper or other communications tools.
( Like Blinddog, I am more-than-a-little disappointed that convetional ITAC channels have never caught on in either N.C. or S.C. ... particularly with widely available radios offering more channels than you need. )
Interoperability was the intent of the DHS grant to finance an extension of the CMPD TRS with nodes in Union Co, Gaston Co, Catawba Co, etc.
So far, the growth of the interoperability system appears to be slow. There are nodes in Union, Gaston and (I believe) Cabarrus counties. A 2007 DHS scorecard of the system progress mentioned sustained funding for the system equipment, radios and maintenance as a hurdle the council was facing. The scorecard was critical of member agencies addressing funding individually, rather than collectively.
I had the opportunity to talk with someone involved with the CMPD TRS on Friday, while working at the C-M government center. My understanding is that, as agencies such as Monroe Fire and Gaston Co Police acquire 800 radios, CMPD is providing them templates that include the Events and mutual aid talkgroups.
>>> I know there are wildlife unit to unit comms on 159.315 for local stuff. I thought I heard that CMPD had capability to talk to wildlife on VHF but I haven't confirmed anything. Now that VIPER is up and running you would think that having interop capability would be a no-brainer but I guess not. Also, There is a North Lakes mutual aid channel on the CharMeck system that seems like it would be designated for such use.
I have also heard CMPD on the NC WRC channels on both Lake Norman and Lake Wylie. The mikes they use on the VHF radios pick up the sound of the boat motors very well ... it always sounds like they are heading to a boater assitance call full-throttle.
>>>> Never heard anything on 150.700, that used to be on 149.050 with the input on 143.575. I got a copy of a 1999 article from Monitoring Times about that project from the carolinascanner yahoo group. It repeats traffic from CH 6, 16, 21, 22, 23, 81, 82, & 83. That article also shows the USCG aux assignments for the lakes in NC.
I can confirm Jon's report. 150.700 was active Thursday morning - at 4 a.m. - as I was getting ready for work. I also logged it a week ago.
The first reports I saw on the 150.700 repeater were on this forum in August, 2006, from Randy in the Piedmont Triad area:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44180&highlight=150.700
Although I did not log the repeater this morning, it's not surprising that Jon heard alot of activity on it today. Tropo was very good throughout the overnight through mid-morning in all directions from this location.
That same tropo fuels the activity on the repeater, as it previously received traffic on multiple marine and / or Coast Guard frequencies, as well as USCG HF watch frequencies. If the repeater is repeating Marine channels 16 and 22, as the Lake Norman repeater did in the past, it can be alot of fun keeping track of how many USCG stations are logged broadcasting boater announcements via the repeater.
I have not logged any activity in several years on the 149.050 repeater that linked Lake Norman with Lake Hickory and Lake James. Input from someone involved iwth the USCG Aux on these bodies of water would be useful.