Waterloo Regional P25 System

[slicerwizard]

Now 866.725 is showing as +Tetra

Not sure if true or not but this is a change (or a poor decode).

You can be sure by looking at the signal in the spectrum display. TETRA signals are about 20 kHz wide. No need to be guessing.

 

[BruceMurray]

I can hear the EDACS system here in Guelph. Haven't found new system from home or when I'm in K-W.
I will keep looking.

 

[rkillins]

I found a new (to me) weak signal on 866.9750 using my SDR setup. I'm not familiar enough with carriers to know if it's a control signal or not, but thought I'd put it out there. Too weak to pick up on my scanner. DSD+ isn't able to make an assessment, but then again I may not be using it properly.



Unable to post audio file, but it can be accessed here for anyone curious.

 

[slicerwizard]

That's not a control channel. That's the neighbour's yappy dog...

 

[Forts]

Control channel is back on 868.3250. SYSID=793. Alternate control channels are shown as 866.9750, 868.1125, 868.1375.

 

[bluwest]

It will be a Motorola ASTRO25 simulcast 700/800 MHz trunked P25 radio system.

 

[2Dis]

I see the DB has been updated.

 

[VA3ADP]

Any simulcasting taking place on the EDACS system? So we can figure out some talkgroups?

 

[rkillins]

Now that some frequencies have been found, what can we expect to encounter during the testing phases in particular? I am in south central Kitchener and can barely hear the identified control channel(SDR# ... faintly hear it under static). Is it characteristically weak, weak just during testing, or perhaps it's not even active full time.

I'm just wondering how I can prepare to investigate using DSD+ fastlane edition.

 

[Forts]

Eventually there will be lots of coverage testing and maybe channels patched over from the EDACS system. If it's anything like when the new London P25 system came online everything may be encrypted right from the get go.

 

[rkillins]

Thanks Forts. So it's not out of the ordinary to expect a weak control channel at this point in implementation? I was curious if this was a characteristic of a P25 Type II system control channel as I have heard that the signals are weaker (for decoding). Guess its just a matter of patience at this point until they start increasing the coverage area.

 

[gary123]

When testing starts and patching is active, this will help identify what TG matches what old TG.

 

[Forts]

Thanks Forts. So it's not out of the ordinary to expect a weak control channel at this point in implementation? I was curious if this was a characteristic of a P25 Type II system control channel as I have heard that the signals are weaker (for decoding). Guess its just a matter of patience at this point until they start increasing the coverage area.

Yep most definitely.

 

[ATCTech]

Weak from within Kitchener? This is from Milton, with the 300' escarpment in the way, using an Airspy:

 

[2Dis]

I get full bars in North Waterloo.

 

[ATCTech]

I get full bars in North Waterloo.

That's great! FWIW, I didn't post that message to "show off" in any way. I do notice that here there's enough very close-by 869+ MHz digital PCS signal that it can, and does, interfere with the weakest 866-869 MHz frequencies due to receiver saturation. Usually reducing gain settings helps if that's a suggestion for anybody.

 

[2Dis]

Me neither lol. I was just posting in case the info was a benefit to anyone else

 

[rkillins]

What's with the highlighted and bold frequency of 851.00625?

 

[mciupa]

View attachment 77087
What's with the highlighted and bold frequency of 851.00625

Looks like the P25 Phase II Band Plan start frequency.

The Band Plans are as follows:

Bandplan #0: Base=851.00625 Offset=-45 Spacing=6.25 BW=12.5
Bandplan #1: Base=762.00625 Offset=+30 Spacing=6.25 BW=12.5
Bandplan #2: Base=851.0125 Offset=-45 Spacing=12.5 BW=12.5 Slots=2
Bandplan #3: Base=762.00625 Offset=+30 Spacing=12.5 BW=12.5 Slots=2

 

[ATCTech]

Yep, if you look at the DSDPlus.P25Data file in your DSD+ folder you should find the system layout as shown here:

---------------------------------------
Network: BEE00.973

Bandplan #0: Base=851.00625 Offset=-45 Spacing=6.25 BW=12.5
Bandplan #1: Base=762.00625 Offset=+30 Spacing=6.25 BW=12.5
Bandplan #2: Base=851.0125 Offset=-45 Spacing=12.5 BW=12.5 Slots=2
Bandplan #3: Base=762.00625 Offset=+30 Spacing=12.5 BW=12.5 Slots=2


Site: 1.1 NAC=971

Channel 0-2555: 866.975 SCC
Channel 0-2737: 868.1125 SCC
Channel 0-2741: 868.1375 SCC
Channel 0-2771: 868.325 CC
-----------------------------------------

Once in a while one of the bandplan entries ends up displayed as if it was an active system frequency. Nothing to worry about.