Northwestern University 800/900 systems

[Starcom21]

Apparently the university is transitioning from a 900 MHz system to an 800 MHz system, compatible with SC21.

New 800 MHz license WRVS467 has a recent FCC Modification 0010537856 that includes a "Waiver of 1.946(e) granted to support the 900 MHz Broadband transition."
Appears to be only 2 frequencies, 860.4375 and 860.9375 simulcast at 2 locations


There appears to have been more information/frequencies on the license, but no longer on the license.
At attachment gives more information on what is going on.
----Current DB Listings---

Northwestern University (Evanston, Chicago)​

Some of these frequencies may no longer be in use. See the 900 MHz system below.
*The below 900 MHz trunked system will be replaced by an 800 MHz trunked system, which apparently will interface with the statewide STARCOM21 system. See wiki page for additional frequency information

Northwestern University P25 (Evanston) Project 25 Phase I

4/24/12 - In use now...

Frequency	Input	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
464.200		KNNG923	M		NU Ops E1	Operations (Norris Univ Cntr)	FMN	Schools
464.575		KNNG923	M	88.5 PL	NU Ops E2	Operations (Norris Univ Cntr)	FMN	Schools
464.425	469.425	WNMU379	RM	162.2 PL	NU BlgHsMnt	Building/Housing Maintenance (Chicago Campus)	FMN	Schools
151.865		WNMU379	BM		NU Ops V1	Operations (Chicago Campus)	FMN	Schools
462.325	467.325	WPNS482	RM		NU Ops 46232	Operations	FMN	Schools

 

[kevino]

In the above letter to the FCC, they said the cut-over from the current 900 MHz system was scheduled to start on June 19th and completed by approximately June 29th. DSD+ isn't showing any new neighbors for STARCOM21 Site 149 (North Cook County), so I'm guessing that Northwestern University's new 800 MHz system might not be on the air yet.

I'll give things a listen when I go to work downtown on Saturday and see if there's anything new to report then.

 

[kevino]

The Northwestern University 800 MHz P25 Phase II trunked system site on Superior Street in Chicago is on the air:


Traffic heard today consisted of test counts (by Motorola techs, I'm guessing). 860.4375 was the control channel, 858.3875 was the only voice channel that I caught. I wasn't close enough to the main campus in Evanston to listen for activity there, so I could use some help with that location.

The callsigns for Northwestern's 800 MHz licenses are WROM337, WRVS467 and WRVZ395. The frequencies covered by those callsigns are as follows:

854.550
854.5625
854.7125
856.4125
856.8125
858.3875
859.3875
860.4375

It is unclear to me whether the Chicago and Evanston locations will be part of a single simulcast site or if they will be separate sites.

 

[N3BQX]

Have these new frequencies been added to Radio reference yet? I couldn't find them listed under StarCom21 or Schools.

 

[kevino]

No, because I don't have enough confirmed information to create the system. I'm hoping that someone could confirm the control channel currently in use at the main campus in Evanston. The Chicago Campus site control channel is on 860.9375 today. Seeing ENC activity on TG 8, and last week I noted the same on TG 57. Not a good sign...

 

[kevino]

No, because I don't have enough confirmed information to create the system. I'm hoping that someone could confirm the control channel currently in use at the main campus in Evanston. The Chicago Campus site control channel is on 860.9375 today. Seeing ENC activity on TG 8, and last week I noted the same on TG 57. Not a good sign...

BTW, their legacy 900 MHz system is no longer being heard here near their Chicago Campus. The switch-over appears to be complete.

 

[kevino]

I have created the 800 MHz site in the Northwestern University P25 System Northwestern University P25 (Evanston) Trunking System, Evanston, Illinois . I have included all of the frequencies covered by callsigns WROM337, WRVS467 and WRVZ395, although I have not been able to confirm that they're all in use.

I only get to listen to the system when I'm at work near their Chicago campus. Could someone who is closer to the system give it a listen and see which voice frequencies are in use?

 

[N3BQX]

I live in Evanston. Yesterday I programed the new frequencies into my SDS100 but didn't hear anything. I will monitor again today and see what happens.

 

[kevino]

The 900 MHz system is off the air and has been marked as 'deprecated' in the Radio Reference database. The good news is that it appears they're using the same talkgroups for the 800 MHz system. The bad news is that the last unencrypted traffic I heard on the system was the techs performing coverage testing. All voice comms I've seen since then have been encrypted.

Northwestern appears to have joined Loyola and DePaul Universities with the full-time use of encryption.

 

[ILjim]

I'm hoping that someone could confirm the control channel currently in use at the main campus in Evanston. The Chicago Campus site control channel is on 860.9375 today.

Can confirm that I'm also getting a CC of 860.9375 from the Evanston Campus.