NJ Statewide UTAC and VTAC frequencies

[Analogrules]

This may be a silly question, but do ALL frequencies with a repeater system have to identify themselves using morse code including Government/public safety frequencies?? The reason why I'm asking is that I have been trying to monitor the UTAC and VTAC statewide public safety frequencies for long periods of time (over 2 hours several days in a row) and the only two frequencies that I hear identifying themselves using a form of morse code from the Union County area are 470.2375 and 470.0875. Could it be that the other repeater systems are located too far away from me?? Or are they just not required to give any indication that they exist there at all? As a rookie compared to some of you out there, how long do you monitor a particular frequency with a repeater system until you can say beyond reasonable doubt, it's not being used? The same is true for 155.475 (SPEN 2). I never hear anything on it, not even a morse code identification. Am I just too far away from its repeater?

 

[mondaro]

All I know is that these channels so far have been used for glorified radio checks and other non emergency special operations, I didn't hear any traffic on them during the MAJOR Nor Easter but then again I wasn't listening 24/7.

On your question I think someone like Scott maybe able to help here, I am sure he or someone here on the BB will be able to answer this.

 

[apu]

The FCC requires you to identify your radio station when in use but not otherwise.

For example, our squad's radio system is quiet normally. But, after the initial transmission, the repeater identifies itself via Morse Code. It will then identify itself again 15 minutes later. After that, if there is no further use of the repeater, it will not identify again until the next transmission. If there is continued repeater use, it will identify itself every 15 minutes.

For the interop repeaters, you probably won't hear a call sign transmitted until someone actually uses the repeater. For simplex channels, it really depends on a trained person to identify the licensee manually.

 

[Joseph11]

None of the SPEN channels are repeated.

 

[Analogrules]

Thank you all for the useful information. Wow, I didn't realize the SPEN frequencies weren't connected with repeaters. Has anyone in this state ever heard traffic on 155.475?? Would this be a wasted channel programmed into my scanner?

 

[Joseph11]

155.4750 MHz is SPEN 2 as well as the national police channel. It's sometimes used as a secondary to SPEN 1 and I've also heard NYPD patches on it.

 

[kenisned]

I've heard our PD use spen 2 for tactical comms at special events.

Spen 1 and Spen 4 get the most action.

 

[squad1321]

According to another thread, it was said that Middletown PD used SPEN 2 the other night for a self-hostage stand-off. Other than that, not much use here in Mon Co.

I have not yet heard the VTAC channels being used in Mon Co, though they are part of the radio plan for very large incidents.

 

[robbinsj2]

VCALL, UCALL, ICALL, and their respective TACs are only supposed to be used for extraordinary events, not for semi-routine local mobilization / mutual aid operations. So you (hopefully) wouldn't hear them used very often. The NJ UASI / UTAC channels (-4, -5, -6) and NJ ITAC-5 are a different story, and are permitted to have routine ops if the licensee desires.

I used to hear NJSP Central Region regularly testing on SPEN 2 as well as SPEN 1. A couple years ago I stopped paying attention to their tests, so I don't know whether they still do. There was one nearby police department which used SPEN 3 as a tactical channel, but they went UHF years ago and I haven't gotten a thing on that channel since.

Jim

 

[Analogrules]

Ok, then I'll just program the SPEN channels and not bother with the rarely used UTAC channels (hoping they never need to be used). I know a police department in NY state regularily uses SPEN 3 as one of their main channels. I hear them use it quite often. I forgot the name of the town off-hand. I don't have my notes with me since I'm at work. 73's and have a good weekend everyone.

 

[kenisned]

Ok, then I'll just program the SPEN channels and not bother with the rarely used UTAC channels (hoping they never need to be used). I know a police department in NY state regularily uses SPEN 3 as one of their main channels. I hear them use it quite often. I forgot the name of the town off-hand. I don't have my notes with me since I'm at work. 73's and have a good weekend everyone.

I would leave them in if you have the space or at least have them handy.

When the big one hits, it might get some use and you will NOT want to miss out on that.

Thanks

 

[JMR3865]

FYI: the boundbrook flood, they were doing communications over VTAC 2.

 

[SCANdal]

I know a police department in NY state regularily uses SPEN 3 as one of their main channels. I hear them use it quite often. I forgot the name of the town off-hand.

N2ZGE,

That would be the Rockland County Sheriff's Department. 154.725R (151.4) is their "County" frequency and is used as an interop channel, linking all the county's law enforcement departments together. Also used on a secondary basis as an inquiry channel for when a car's primary dispatcher (i.e. a State Police car on the Palisades Interstate Parkway) is busy and can not run a data.

SCANdal

 

[elk2370bruce]

Don't bother with JEMS/SPEN 4. With all the rag-chewing and grrab-assing that goes on, the frequency should be identified as the State Police ENTERTAINMENT Network.

 

[kenisned]

Don't bother with JEMS/SPEN 4. With all the rag-chewing and grrab-assing that goes on, the frequency should be identified as the State Police ENTERTAINMENT Network.

I think that conversation can be interesting at times!

We use it for our medivac contact channel.

 

[mikea7531]

Don't bother with JEMS/SPEN 4. With all the rag-chewing and grrab-assing that goes on, the frequency should be identified as the State Police ENTERTAINMENT Network.

A lot of agencies in my area also use JEMS/SPEN 4 for their contact channel with the Medevac. I have it programmed into my scanners, and I don't get too much activity on it.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi ZGE and all,

You are well within range of the UTAC repeaters, most are in Essex County in very high locations. For a complete list of locations see http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchAdvanced.jsp and search under the Office of the State Attorney General. For a complete list of frequencies you can do it the easy way, see http://www.eastcoastscanning.com but be reminded the 500MHz channels aren't limited to the Delaware River area as it lists them, there's a repeater two blocks from me at the Municipal Building for one thing. Again if you want see the FCC site for locations.

Ken, if you think SPEN 4 is "interesting", the Newark PD uses one of the state repeaters as an auxiliary from time to time. A few months ago there was a major disturbance of some sort and they used it for crowd control (a futile effort in the city of Newark if you ask me) and it was like listening to the Keystone Kops, more or less. Less actually, the mumbo jumbo I heard made the Kops seem understandable and those were silent films.

Aside from that I've heard nothing, not even during major storms like that last nor'easter as it was mentioned. Those repeaters are intended for use when a major load of crap hits the impeller and no interoperability has been required since the towers went up. That bank is locked out but sitting ready just in case I see mushrooms on the horizon, if one sprouts at Lakehurst, Earle or McGuire it really won't matter anyway.

 

[kenisned]

That bank is locked out but sitting ready just in case I see mushrooms on the horizon, if one sprouts at Lakehurst, Earle or McGuire it really won't matter anyway.

Man, i've had that escape route planned for years. I won't be monitoring and I will not look back!

 

[SCPD]

This may be a silly question, but do ALL frequencies with a repeater system have to identify themselves using morse code including Government/public safety frequencies?? The reason why I'm asking is that I have been trying to monitor the UTAC and VTAC statewide public safety frequencies for long periods of time (over 2 hours several days in a row) and the only two frequencies that I hear identifying themselves using a form of morse code from the Union County area are 470.2375 and 470.0875. Could it be that the other repeater systems are located too far away from me?? Or are they just not required to give any indication that they exist there at all? As a rookie compared to some of you out there, how long do you monitor a particular frequency with a repeater system until you can say beyond reasonable doubt, it's not being used? The same is true for 155.475 (SPEN 2). I never hear anything on it, not even a morse code identification. Am I just too far away from its repeater?

The UTAC/UASI channels do ID in morse code under the PL tone. I don't think it's a requirement for Public Safety frequencies, but a must for the amateur bands. Amateur radio repeaters are not registered with the FCC, so you have to have some way of identifying it.

 

[rr60]

Don't forget,most repeaters STRIP PL/DPL on the morse ID, so if you are programmed in decode you may not hear the morse ID.