OHP Lowband system - updating - info needed

[PJH]

I am in the process of streamlining the OHP lowband system. It should read a bit better and duplicate information if being removed (ie having the mobile relays listed 5 times for the same place).

Since its been a bit since I have spent time in OK, along with some other changes, I need help from local OHP monitors to update the database and make it a bit more readable.

Right now all the troops are in one category (vs 10 separate ones) and maintains GPS range information for counties covered. This should also help those with RRDB aware scanners/software so information displays consistently.

What I need to know, are all "sides" used at all troops, or just a couple here and there?

Are the current text descriptions accurate and are all channels listed still in use?

Right now I am playing with Troop A, and want to make sure the naming reflects use and official names.

I'll be considating or expanding the statewide stuff shortly, but my fingers need a break.

 

[nd5y]

Most of the main troop 300 watt base stations are licensed for both 44.7 and 45.22. Back in the 80s I heard Lawton on 45.22 one time and never again. OKC used to use both 44.7 and 45.22 all the time before OKWIN. There is also a third low band pair 42.6 B 42.32 M licensed at most troops which I have never heard used by OHP. Fort Sill uses 42.6, maybe because OHP doesn't use it in that area. Vinita also has a base station licensed on 45.14. I don't know if it really exists

Most of the 44.7 and 45.22 base stations in the database are incorrectly shown as M and have the mobile callsign KA6474 instead of the correct callsign for each base station. The base/mobile frequencies are reversed with the base frequency in the input column for some of them.

About a year ago I drove past Troop A and noticed the low band and high band antennas have been removed from the tower. I don't know if that means they don't have low band at all or they moved it to the new DPS HQ tower that was built a few years ago.

There is a 45.22 remote base and 452.725 relay licensed for Hobart.
KNEE237 (OKLAHOMA, STATE OF) FCC Callsign Details
That tower was taken down a few years ago. I don't know if they moved it or it was permanently removed.

A few years ago somebody posted that each troop has their own PL tone now instead of 77.0 for all of them. I don't know if that's true or not. It might be a good idea to remove the tone and let people recornfirm and submit the tone for their area.

 

[n5bew1]

The new 450 ft tower at DPS HQ has a lowband antenna on it. I don't remember about high band. On rare occasions I hear traffic from OKC on 44.700. Most 45.22 traffic seems to be car to car in Troop A. Troop A on I-240 used to have 800 Mhz beams pointing to DPS HQ on their tower. They may be gone now???? Looking at a picture I snapped at the DPS tower it does look like a DB-224 type VHF antenna is side mounted near the top.

 

[B2man]

OHP Low Band Still Active

My primary "enjoyment" is monitoring OHP while driving around the metro... Low Band is indeed active. In the OKC Metro area, (Troop A), I hear conversations car to car as well as speed operations where the aircraft uses low band and in some cases they use their 800 system. I'll try and pay particular attention as to which "side" they're on referring to their VHF channels. I haven't isolated each troop by their PL tones... I listen to all four frequencies wide open whether I'm in the metro area or anywhere else in the state they break squelch if active.

 

[nd5y]

Troop A on I-240 used to have 800 Mhz beams pointing to DPS HQ on their tower. They may be gone now???? Looking at a picture I snapped at the DPS tower it does look like a DB-224 type VHF antenna is side mounted near the top.

At the time the Google Earth car drove by there in Jan 2016 there were no antennas at the top. It looks like all they have now is a GPS antenna and three small fiberglass 800 MHz antennas just above roof level, and something else just above those that might not be an antenna.

 

[n5bew1]

The new 450 ft tower at DPS HQ has a lowband antenna on it. I don't remember about high band. On rare occasions I hear traffic from OKC on 44.700. Most 45.22 traffic seems to be car to car in Troop A. Troop A on I-240 used to have 800 Mhz beams pointing to DPS HQ on their tower. They may be gone now????( Looking at a picture I snapped at the DPS tower it does look like a DB-224 type VHF antenna is side mounted near the top.

)

To clarify the tower I took a picture of which may have the VHF DB-224 like antenna on is the new one at DPS HQ not the Troop A Tower on I-240.

 

[PJH]

If we can get some concrete verification of freq'a and PL's by Troop, that would be awesome. I may adjust the tx/rx names to make things a little easier to read for those who may not understand how the it works on lowband. If each troop is indeed using a unique PL, that would work out even better.

 

[fast2okc]

Since the Low Band System was the original statewide system for OHP, and is still the only real statewide system, the PL was the same statewide (77.0) so troopers could move from troop to troop and communicate with each other. I have had a single report of OHP using a different PL in western Oklahoma, but personally, I have never heard an OHP low band transmission that did not have the 77.0 PL.

Obviously, the system is evolving as 800MHz takes over, but unless it is a recent development, the different troops do not use different PL's. Some troops now use the OKWIN sysem linked to low band. The state is working to put OKWIN radios in every OHP car, even if it is assigned to areas not served by OKWIN. For example, Troop H (Clinton) uses low band for most communication, since the base station cannot access the OKWIN system. But car-to-car communication is on OHP 800 Direct.

Many of the low band relays have been removed, especially in areas well served by the OKWIN system. However, the state has kept the licenses active. I don't know if they have plans for the frequencies or just want to hold on to them in case they need them in the future.

I know the OHP command vehicles have capacity to link the Low band and VHF frequencies to OKWIN during special events.

 

[PJH]

If you know of specific links that are out of service, I'd like to deprecate or remove them from the database.

 

[marshall58]

OHP car to car

44.7000 77.0PL is use when they don't want to use OKWIN here in NE Oklahoma. Hear Troop B when they are escorting large loads. Also hear Troop L sometimes on 855.9875 77.0PL Direct when the airplane patrols the turnpike for speeders.

 

[n5bew1]

I confirmed today that the Stratford, OK relay WBE342. 45.180 input and 154.695 output to Ardmore is alive and working well. Troop F is scarce on low band these days but I did hear some Troop D traffic come through just fine.

 

[Motoflightmedic]

the relay at hobart for troop M has never been put back up. They are also having some trouble down here and running some of troop m traffic over 1 and 2 instead of 3 and 4. I also know that Clinton troop H are still on 44.7/44.9 with a 100.0 PL now.

 

[n5bew1]

the relay at hobart for troop M has never been put back up. They are also having some trouble down here and running some of troop m traffic over 1 and 2 instead of 3 and 4. I also know that Clinton troop H are still on 44.7/44.9 with a 100.0 PL now.

How is using ch 1 and 2 any different from 3 and 4? Interference???

 

[Motoflightmedic]

i believe that they were having trouble with the voter at altus headquarters.

 

[n5bew1]

i believe that they were having trouble with the voter at altus headquarters.

Yes that would complicate things a bit not hearing the right receiver.
Thanks

 

[BryanD]

OHP Low Band Frequency Corrections Needed

Since the Low Band System was the original statewide system for OHP, and is still the only real statewide system, the PL was the same statewide (77.0) so troopers could move from troop to troop and communicate with each other. I have had a single report of OHP using a different PL in western Oklahoma, but personally, I have never heard an OHP low band transmission that did not have the 77.0 PL.

Obviously, the system is evolving as 800MHz takes over, but unless it is a recent development, the different troops do not use different PL's. Some troops now use the OKWIN sysem linked to low band. The state is working to put OKWIN radios in every OHP car, even if it is assigned to areas not served by OKWIN. For example, Troop H (Clinton) uses low band for most communication, since the base station cannot access the OKWIN system. But car-to-car communication is on OHP 800 Direct.

Many of the low band relays have been removed, especially in areas well served by the OKWIN system. However, the state has kept the licenses active. I don't know if they have plans for the frequencies or just want to hold on to them in case they need them in the future.

I know the OHP command vehicles have capacity to link the Low band and VHF frequencies to OKWIN during special events.

Chris, someone has the OHP low band channels all screwed up in an article preceding the actual breakdown of the troops and where they are used. Side 1,2,3 & 4 are incorrectly listed.

 

[BryanD]

The OHP low band system is as follows;

Side 1 RX 44.700 TX 44.700 Car to Car
Side 2 RX 44.700 TX 44.900 Car to Base or Mobile Relay
Side 3 RX 45.220 TX 45.220 Car to Car
Side 4 RX 45.220 TX 45.180 Car to Base or Mobile Relay

 

[PJH]

Which part, database or wiki or?

It is usually difficult to explain how these split systems work to the lay person. I tried to tweak some of the stuff in there and I still don't like it myself.

 

[nd5y]

What the hell is a "side"? Is that what their channels are really called?

 

[N5TWB]

What the hell is a "side"? Is that what their channels are really called?

Old school internal OHP/DPS dispatcher lingo, likely a military carryover.