Official Bucks County 700Mhz Phase II Radio System Thread

[n3ouc]

Dan,
I did notice the dispatch patches yesterday and it continues today. Also a lot of building coverage testing being done today on the Doylestown Zone. Overall the system is coming in very nicely here near Allentown but it took a large 16dbi yagi to get it to come in decent. Could not point it directly at the tower. Have the yagi pointed about 45deg off of center to get the quality up.

Mike

 

[phillydjdan]

I noted the same activity. I just drove south on I-95 into Delaware Couny and while going through Philadelphia the signal was mostly readable with my Motorola radio. There were some areas where it dropped out but I had it down to the Girard Point Bridge, just above the Phila Intl Airport. Once I came down the other side of the bridge the signal got too garbled. But that's a slight improvement over the 500 system, so I'm psyched! It appears the dispatch patch is done at the console level. They were doing a lot of testing with the paging system this morning. I also noted an interesting exchange between a tech and a dispatcher that raised a question I can't elaborate on at the moment but is being worked on behind the scenes. Stay tuned.

 

[n3ouc]

Sounds intriguing! Thanks for the info..

Have a good day

Mike

 

[APX_Radio]

I heard a lot of "radio service testing" last night on the dispatch TG. I think the patch sounds good. I think the patch is done at the console but I can hear the "key tone" on the dispatch TG which makes me think they are routing audio a different way to make the patch work.

I noted the same activity. I just drove south on I-95 into Delaware Couny and while going through Philadelphia the signal was mostly readable with my Motorola radio. There were some areas where it dropped out but I had it down to the Girard Point Bridge, just above the Phila Intl Airport. Once I came down the other side of the bridge the signal got too garbled. But that's a slight improvement over the 500 system, so I'm psyched! It appears the dispatch patch is done at the console level. They were doing a lot of testing with the paging system this morning. I also noted an interesting exchange between a tech and a dispatcher that raised a question I can't elaborate on at the moment but is being worked on behind the scenes. Stay tuned.

 

[newspix83]

Your scanner may be useless by Sunday | Examiner.com This is happening on Sunday Oct 18.

 

[wa3ysu]

For those who have not yet noticed, in preparation for the cutover this Sunday, Bucks is now simulcasting all fire and ems dispatches on talkgroup 43.

 

[SmokeEater1090]

The question is, should I hold off on a new scanner right now, or buy one now, cause I have a feeling if I get one now not all of bucks county's stuff will be in the scanner just yet, was looking at the home patrol 2 but willing to get something a little different if needed be.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

The question is, should I hold off on a new scanner right now, or buy one now, cause I have a feeling if I get one now not all of bucks county's stuff will be in the scanner just yet, was looking at the home patrol 2 but willing to get something a little different if needed be.

Supposedly everything will be flipping on Sunday morning. So if you want to hear everything you'll need to get an HP2 or another Phase 2 scanner soon.

 

[trentbob]

... as long as you update your library from RR it's all there now... there might be some small changes but they will be submitted to RR when they happen... you might want to wait till they go online and see what the reactions are to the LSM issue... during the testing I also did extensive testing stationary and mobile using my APX7000 as a control... stationary in my house my 536 worked ok, not great but only with a RS800 antenna on the back of the set... I could not use one of my rooftop antennas without getting severe LSM... my 1095 and 800 worked poorly... in mobile applications all my scanners sucked as I drove around the lower part of the county in between the towers... I knew I had many missed transmissions as I used the APX as a control... there will be much more on this on this thread in a few days... Bob...

 

[signaldoc]

I agree with Bob here regarding LSM issues. I have sold my older scanners over a years time in anticipation
of Bucks going to phase II. I purchased the 436HP and a few months later the HomePatrol 2 for vehicle use and what a disappointment it's been. Now that there's been some steady testing by Bucks my fears have come true. My 436HP went from a grade A with reception and performance of the 500MHZ system to a grade D- on the 700. I reside in the Doylestown area and what used to be a signal of 90 percent is now almost non existent with the same scanner, between 0 to 20 percent in the house, move the scanner 5 inches either way and it could make the difference of it receiving or not. In the end I had to purchase the 536HP and install a Yagi antenna on the roof and this is the only way to make it work for me through the siren app. Vehicle use has also been awful between towers with the Homepatrol. So my question for the experts are:
1) I understand about the LSM problems but why such a big difference between phase 1 and phase 2 ?
2) Has the wattage of the towers been turned down on the new 700MHZ ?

I suspect that this forum will light up starting Sunday with everyone's experience.
Thanks.

 

[wa3bxw]

Central Fire Band

Thanks BXW. Do you know if it is Northampton or Doylestown FDs (or both) that will be rebroadcasting Central band? Northampton has a better signal into my QTH.

155.25 (PL 97.4) will be transmitting from Northampton Fire Company. There are a few issues presently degrading their signal, but these will be cleared up in the near future. Also Fire Central will be available on the internet using Broadcastify.

 

[newspix83]

Reception in Bensalem using the 536 HP is fine. will be mobile soon . fixed location with factory supplied antenna.

Most of the PD has migrated over. no issues yet that were not anticipated.

 

[bobs]

Mixed bag in Lower Makefield. BCD996P2 works fine with Channel Master all band antenna in attic.
GRE800 not so good with RS800 antenna, Most PD tranmissions broken. Fire/EMS TG 43 OK.

 

[ryanwr1994]

Will try to check how my 436hp works in warminster when I get off work.

 

[trunktracking]

Bucks County PD Zone 9 Feed Need

I am looking for someone who would be willing to provide me a Zone 9 feed in return for my providing a phase 2 radio scanner. I have a close friend who works for Ivyland PD and I would like to hear him when he works from my home here in Orlando, Florida. Please feel free to call my cell: 407.574.3344 or email me with your interest: joe@matternmedia.com. 73 de WX4ADX

 

[newspix83]

So far mobile i was listening to all of PD all of EMS mobile with zero problems. I took the truck into Philly and there were no issues. 536 HP with radio shack mag mount external antenna .

constant reminders to operate on the new radio system

 

[radio3353]

Reception in Bensalem using the 536 HP is fine. will be mobile soon . fixed location with factory supplied antenna.

Most of the PD has migrated over. no issues yet that were not anticipated.

EMS is also migrated at this time. FD next. Heard Station 2 (Upper Southampton) working a job around 11:40 am still on 500 MHz system.

Not hearing anything from PD Zone 9 on 500 system anymore.

 

[radio3353]

Fire band migration has just started. Roll call in process for North and South Fire. East and Central can't be far behind.

1:15 pm update: All fire now migrated to new system.

 

[ceavers30]

Any body have the new Unit ID's for the new system?

 

[radio3353]

155.25 (PL 97.4) will be transmitting from Northampton Fire Company. There are a few issues presently degrading their signal, but these will be cleared up in the near future. Also Fire Central will be available on the internet using Broadcastify.

Confirming 155.250 very weak into Warminster. Hopefully they can clear the problem soon. Central Fire just migrated to the new system. I can hear the roll call on 155.250, but as I said, very weak audio.