NJSP 800 MHz SmartZone system

nosoup4u

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Some good memories. Getting my BC200XLT and trying to listen to the trunk system, finally getting a trunk tracker scanner when they came out and struggling to get the size codes setup for the type 1 system, and I clearly remember the day that they switched over from Type 1 to Type 2 and running out to my car at lunch to verify the talk group ID's.
 

trentbob

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Some good memories. Getting my BC200XLT and trying to listen to the trunk system, finally getting a trunk tracker scanner when they came out and struggling to get the size codes setup for the type 1 system, and I clearly remember the day that they switched over from Type 1 to Type 2 and running out to my car at lunch to verify the talk group ID's.
I have similar memories of just scanning all the frequencies and trying to follow the state police LOL.

I finally got the Bearcat 898-T.. followed type l, type ll and hybrid Motorola systems. PL Tone was especially helpful with all the UHF systems for the police in Mercer County and of course fire and EMS pre the T band TRS.

The only problem was Trenton police went 800 MHz digital in 2000 but I was one of the few who was issued a Trenton police Motorola RX only radio at my newspaper.

It was great being able to listen to the New Jersey State Police, nice and clear and always have even after I retired.

A great era is over.
 

trentbob

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Your PRO-106 misses it!
Yep not to mention a few other scanners and my apx. I was a Troop C listener on Central simulcast.

All I listen to now is 10-COMM Marine Dispatch and 01- Division Call which is the NJSP helicopters.. sigh.
 

kd2pm

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NJT shut down their smartnet 12/31/2013. NJSP shut down 7/18/23.....New York City Transit shut down ????? Not too far away but at the rate its taking them to get to TETRA...they better hope they have enough spare parts!
 

policefreak

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Not to wake up an old thread but I'm just curious...so CC 858.9375 is still active on the Berlin tower. I have not copied any transmissions on the old system in open mode on my SDS100. Is this just a backup?
 

kd2pm

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Not to wake up an old thread but I'm just curious...so CC 858.9375 is still active on the Berlin tower. I have not copied any transmissions on the old system in open mode on my SDS100. Is this just a backup?
I am not near my files at the moment but some of the old 800 frequencies were repurposed and added to NJICS. So if its acting as a CC its for the new system. The old system is deader than a door nail.
 

GTR8000

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None of the 800 MHz frequencies have been noted in use with the Berlin cell, so it's probably a rogue SmartZone subsite still on the air with a control channel. Perhaps they haven't gotten around to all of the subsites to physically shut down the old system.
 

policefreak

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None of the 800 MHz frequencies have been noted in use with the Berlin cell, so it's probably a rogue SmartZone subsite still on the air with a control channel. Perhaps they haven't gotten around to all of the subsites to physically shut down the old system.
Definitely the sound of a Motorola SmartZone Control Channel coming from 858.9375. So, yea our tax dollars at work!
 

GTR8000

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Is it an actual SmartZone control channel, though, or it just "sounds" like one? Is the scanner decoding it?
 

mshumeyk

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Is it an actual SmartZone control channel, though, or it just "sounds" like one? Is the scanner decoding it?
Saw the post and decided to check. It is a Smartzone control channel for the old system and receivable in Cape May. As I was typing this I heard transmissions on the SJTA Atlantic City Expressway ESP and Maintenance talkgroups on the system.
 

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mshumeyk

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That's funny, I guess no one has gotten to the south cell yet to break the bad news! 😵
After logging the system for a day the only active talkgroups are those used by the South Jersey Transportation Authority for the Atlantic City Expressway ESP and Maintenance as well as Patrols and Fire at Atlantic City Airport. Perhaps SJTA didn't get the memo about the switch to NJICS.
 

kd2pm

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That's funny, I guess no one has gotten to the south cell yet to break the bad news! 😵
Now that you mention it....I thought once they had the helo's done that was it...Guess the yocals on the ACE have yet to get their radios (or at least have them programmed)
 

K7UDZ

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For anyone curious... south cell is still chugging along on 858.9375, with occasional calls on (at least) 0x8a3, 0x6d5, and 0x89f.

Takes a lot to shut a system down!

On an unrelated note, what was the reason behind making the system OmniLink? Was there a point where it had (a lot) more sites than just the 3 simulcasts?
 

GTR8000

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On an unrelated note, what was the reason behind making the system OmniLink? Was there a point where it had (a lot) more sites than just the 3 simulcasts?
In addition to the three main simulcast cells, there were a number of IntelliRepeater fill-in sites. They are not the reason for OmniLink, however.

The NJSP system started out life as three separate SmartZone systems, each with their own System ID. When Motorola came out with the ability to link SmartZone systems together to facilitate easier roaming (OmniLink), the NJSP system was one of the first to incorporate that technology to merge the three systems together. That is why each simulcast cell retained its original SysID.

The three original SmartZone systems are still in the RRDB, albeit hidden as deprecated long ago.

 

K7UDZ

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The NJSP system started out life as three separate SmartZone systems, each with their own System ID.
Do you know the reason behind the separate original systems, rather than building it (or expanding it) as a single SmartZone?

Was it something technical, or more so political?
 

ff026

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Do you know the reason behind the separate original systems, rather than building it (or expanding it) as a single SmartZone?

Was it something technical, or more so political?
Capacity of legacy smart zone.
 

kd2pm

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NJT went in at the same time as NJSP. It was 2 smartnets that covered the state with a north and south system.
 
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