O.P.P 410.8625 VR02 digital beeps

[Jammin_Jay]

I am in Eastern Ontario, I am curious to know whenever there is a transmission from one of the mobile opp cars to the smithsfalls base you here a series of 3 beeps in some cases before there voice is heard. I distinctly here a different set of beeps in 2 different county vehicles. I would suspect this is a related to the talkgroups that are affiliated with the area they are covering. When u here the different tones of beeps , you can almost identify the talkgroup with each of the 3 counties I here. Has anyone else heard these tones on the VR02 since they have switched over from NOR to the new digital system. I am curious to know what they represent or are. Thanks

 

[transam76]

Ive heard these beeps too. I dont know what there actually for. When i was scanning on my old scanner i had the repeater chanel programmed in that one because i couldnt pick them up. But know that i have the new scanner i left the repeater frequency out becuse its hit and miss on quality. Dont hear no digital beeps on the new system though, not as yet anyway.

 

[Thornhill20]

Those 3 beeps you hear are the Mobile repeater polling the frequency to see if any other repeaters are turned on.

Taken from http://www.bmrfleetnet.ca/BMR/AboutFleetNet.htm :

The VR’s have revolutionary “contention algorithms” to allow for many devices to arrive on a scene and seamlessly manage network access. They can operate in three modes: i) Mobile mode (repeater off); ii) Local Mode (provide local coverage ~ 2km, listen to network traffic but do not transmit local traffic to FleetNet); and iii) System Mode (Local Mode with all transmission sent over FleetNet). These devices provide excellent on-scene communications support and are particularly suitable for the concentrated communications typical of fire operations.

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

I think you'll also notice that anytime that they're talking locally, such as on the BEAT Repeater, I know Carleton Place uses that.

You'll hear a different set of tones also, before each transmission.

I am in Eastern Ontario, I am curious to know whenever there is a transmission from one of the mobile opp cars to the smithsfalls base you here a series of 3 beeps in some cases before there voice is heard. I distinctly here a different set of beeps in 2 different county vehicles. I would suspect this is a related to the talkgroups that are affiliated with the area they are covering. When u here the different tones of beeps , you can almost identify the talkgroup with each of the 3 counties I here. Has anyone else heard these tones on the VR02 since they have switched over from NOR to the new digital system. I am curious to know what they represent or are. Thanks

 

[mikewazowski]

There are several different types of beeps that can be heard.

IIRC, when the VR is first switched on, a series of beeps go out which is probably the contention algorithm.

The 3 beeps you are referring to are the go ahead tones. They let the officer know that his mobile radio has been successful in accessing the talkgroup and he can begin talking.

If the mobile is not successful, the officer will hear a bonk.

 

[SCPD]

The beeps you hear when the VR is first turned on is actually the command to enable the repeater that is sent from the portable radio.

Back in the old days you could only change status (mobile/system/local) from the mobile radio in the vehicle. Now, with the press of a single button on the portable (the musical note on the front of the radio or the top button on the side of the radio) you will turn on any mobile repeater on the same VR channel as the portable that is within range of the portable.

Really convenient if you forget when you leave the vehicle.
A pain in the butt if you're in an urban area and all of a sudden you're hearing continuous tones as you enable the repeaters on 5 or 6 units in the area.

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

Ya, I think I've heard that "Bonk" noise before as well.

There are several different types of beeps that can be heard.

IIRC, when the VR is first switched on, a series of beeps go out which is probably the contention algorithm.

The 3 beeps you are referring to are the go ahead tones. They let the officer know that his mobile radio has been successful in accessing the talkgroup and he can begin talking.

If the mobile is not successful, the officer will hear a bonk.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

I noticed the difference in beeps depending on what county I listen to. I am in an area where i can here 3 different counties. But When i listen to VR02 if here the beeps as u said just before the officer talks but I only here that in the talkgroup he is assigned. It is not always there on each transmission just the ones in Lanark County, the ones in Leeds dont have one and the ones in Grenville have a different tone. I suppose it is as u said the different system modes the repeater is activated when they transmit. Just interesting thats all. On one repeater i can here 5-8 different talk groups, like they are networked. Its constantly busy. Which is good, All the different towns that the O.P.P. cover within the 3 counties I listen too. 3a .. 3p . Interesting to listen to. More to listen to then when they were on the old NOR system. Its more of a wide network.
Thanks for the information guys.

 

[transam76]

Just one question about the reapeaters. Do i have to add those frequencies if i have the pro 96, or is all that taken care of on the fleetnet frequencies. I have the repeater frequecies in my old scanner but the reception is very poor. So i left them out of the pro96.

 

[mikewazowski]

On one repeater i can here 5-8 different talk groups, like they are networked.

Which frequency are you hearing 5-8 different talkgroups on?

You will only hear the beeps when an officer is transmitting through that vr from his portable. If the vr is only repeating a talkgroup back to the portable, you will not hear the beeps.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

I here the beeps before the transmission, then the officer talks. As well It seems as though Smithsfalls Com Centre has left SIM II active and on, I heard a police chase on it this morning for an hour. Its was the 3i units in Stormont, Glengarry counties. It was loud and clear, I could here smithsfalls and the mobile units. I don't know if it is my proximity to the Com center. I am in Smithsfalls. The beeps that I here are at the beginning of the transmission, then randomly i will here the longer 3 tone signal , indicating a repeater is active (i guess, not sure on that one). I will upload a sound file, if i am allowed to the website here for those who are interested.

 

[Jammin_Jay]

From Smithsfalls I have heard so far Leeds, grenville, lanark, stormont , dundas ,glengarry, and frontenac so far. I would have to assume that there is 6 talkgroups allready for each of the counties. On the VR02 and SIM II from my location U can pick up more than just the car repeater for the one talkgroup, I can here many. As I said i donot know why, just that i have. I know the 410.8625 VR02 repeater is for a mobile , but i hear other 3 counties on that frequency even if the car in the area is from only 1 of them, and then all 6 i have mentioned on SIM II. Just realying what I am hearing. I can't relate to a technical aspect why. Not sure how complete or complex the BELL FLEET NET SYSTEM is for THE O.P.P in district 3 here. But interesting on all the traffic i can here.

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

There's also another type of calling feature too or beeps whatever ya wanna call it. Anyhow, when an officer hits a Priority button or something like that or an emergency button. It has kind've like a space type beeping for when he's calling for back up or something. Something like how an FRS Radio sounds when you unkey the mic. Only not as annoying as one of those.

I here the beeps before the transmission, then the officer talks. As well It seems as though Smithsfalls Com Centre has left SIM II active and on, I heard a police chase on it this morning for an hour. Its was the 3i units in Stormont, Glengarry counties. It was loud and clear, I could here smithsfalls and the mobile units. I don't know if it is my proximity to the Com center. I am in Smithsfalls. The beeps that I here are at the beginning of the transmission, then randomly i will here the longer 3 tone signal , indicating a repeater is active (i guess, not sure on that one). I will upload a sound file, if i am allowed to the website here for those who are interested.

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

Seems also like there's a weird type of signal for broadcasting all call messages or something for special broadcasts.

Kind've like a warbling siren call.

Heard this when they let Upper Ottawa Valley know about some Hells Angels with there colours biking out on Hwy 17.

There's also another type of calling feature too or beeps whatever ya wanna call it. Anyhow, when an officer hits a Priority button or something like that or an emergency button. It has kind've like a space type beeping for when he's calling for back up or something. Something like how an FRS Radio sounds when you unkey the mic. Only not as annoying as one of those.

 

[Thornhill20]

That's what it sounds like when they hit their emergency button on the portables.

I've only ever heard it once.

On the BEAT repeater, you hear some funky tones before each transmission...these are something special in the radios. I think it's called Select 5 signalling, but i've never heard that to verify.

-Mike

 

[mikewazowski]

Interesting, none of the BEAT repeaters up here have that. Where did you hear it?

 

[OntarioScannerNut]

Well, I listen to the BEAT out of Renfrew Detachment.

Seems the only types of beeps I hear though are usually just the local units here. Never do I hear the little beeps before they talk from any of the other detachments up here.

Interesting, none of the BEAT repeaters up here have that. Where did you hear it?

 

[mikewazowski]

The only OPP repeater I've ever heard any fancy signalling on is the URBAN repeater out of Orillia but it's not a BEAT repeater.

The signalling in this case is used for unit id.

 

[Thornhill20]

Whatever...beat repeater, URBAN repeater....they're both pretty much the same thing.

I meant the repeater that's on channel "purple", which is the channel Osgoode Hall is on, I believe it's used in Orillia, as the signal is so strong in that area you can fry bacon on it.

The RCMP used to have very similar sounds on their radios back in the day, they had MX500 portables, I believe - any idea what the OPP use on the URBAN repeater in Orillia?

-Mike

 

[mikewazowski]

Besides being on completely different frequencies, the URBAN repeater is hardwired into the consoles while the BEAT repeater is a standalone installation. The BEAT repeaters don't have any sort of ANI on them while the URBAN repeater does.

I believe they are using Tait portables on the URBAN as well as the BEAT. I'd guess the ANI is a European format.

I'm not familiar with an MX500 portable. I've seen MX300's and MT500's. I believe the MX300's were signalling capable but I think signalling on an MT500 was rare.