NJICS "Ghost Sites"

[Jbooth75]

I'm curious about what I call "ghost sites" on NJICS. However, there is probably a more technical name for these. I am referring to sites that broadcast with site numbers not listed on RR and do not broadcast any talk groups.

Here is an example, which in itself is interesting. Late last week, I noticed I was able to pick up the Morris County Simulcast (58) here in Southwestern Orange County, N.Y., near the Sussex County border. It was never available here before. It came in pretty good at many locations as I drove about, but weak at my house. The next day, I went to see if I could get it again. However, instead of getting Site 58 with the talk groups that appear in Morris County, I was now getting Site 111, with zero talkgroups. The signal was stronger here at my house than the Site 58 simulcast. There is no Site 111 that is listed on RR. Last evening, I went back to see what was broadcasting under Morris County, and it was once again Site 58. However, as I was listening, it suddenly switched out of nowhere to Site 111 again. When I was receiving Site 58, it was with control frequency 774.081250, with Sys ID 39h, RFSS ID 1, WACN, BEE00h, with P25 NAC 392h. When it switched to Site 111, the parameters were frequency 769.931250, with SYS ID 26Eh, RFSS ID 111, WACN 91FE8h, with NAC 392h 06Fh, which was flashing. There was no P25.

Also, last evening, I was receiving a "ghost site" over the Monmouth County Simulcast, with Site 141. I did not receive any regular Monmouth traffic beforehand, as I would be too far away.

I am curious what could be the cause of all this. 1. Why the sudden ability to receive the regular Morris County site, and 2. why it then suddenly switches to this other site, with no talk groups. Are they perhaps planning to add a new site nearby and testing frequencies?

 

[RadioDitch]

Hey JBooth. What you heard isn't actually part of the NJICS.

System 26E, Site 111 is the Zone 4 Simulcast of the Metro-25/MTA MRRS System centered in Orange County, NY. It's on the same frequency, but is unrelated to the NJICS or Morris County Simulcast.

Frequently when the weather and conditions are right, they will carry signals further than normal and mix with stations on the same frequency. The past several nights conditions have been particularly favourable for long distance listening. You can do some research on Google about radio propagation to learn more.

Enjoy your listening!

 

[Jbooth75]

Ahhh, OK. I did not think that was possible system to system. I have seen it happen on the same system. But, wouldn't have thought it would be the MTA site. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[RadioDitch]

Ahhh, OK. I did not think that was possible system to system. I have seen it happen on the same system. But, wouldn't have thought it would be the MTA site. Thanks for clearing that up.

No worries.

To clarify, it's not system to system. In the most basic terms, think of it like two people having separate conversations in the same room. You can hear both of them at the same time when conditions are right. You can program you radio to only receive the NJICS Morris County Simulcast's NAC, and that would ignore the other system. But then you miss out on fun discoveries like this.