OPP Cornwall Logging

[jimlawrence]

I visited the casino in Hogansburg, NY tonight and took along my Pro-96 and Uniden 250D with the Cornwall freqs programmed into both.

Using the Pro-96, I was able to hear Smiths Falls talking with 3Kilo and 3India units on 141.555, 142.920 and 143.145. The control channel was 142.260. No voice traffic was heard on 142.200; just an occasional key-up or brief open carrier at regular intervals. The signal carries very well; as I drove in from the east I began to receive the signal while in northwestern Clinton Co., NY.

Talk groups logged were 08432 (dispatch prior to 21:00), 08704 (dispatch after 21:00) and 08896. Many times when talk group 08896 was in use, I could hear the base but not the cars. I was in the casino for a short time around 21:00 (it doesn't take long to lose everything in that place!) and that's when the talk group for dispatch changed.

I also heard Smiths Falls refer to several 10-78s (emergency tones/signals) but never heard any tone or beep on any of the trunked freqs. How are these transmitted to/from dispatch?

There were also many requests for permission to go 10-10 (direct from one unit to another via the trunked system). Is I-Call not being used?

I also tried monitoring using my 250D. Thanks to the excellent comments and research done by readers of this forum, I was able to get my 250D monitoring the system! yay! However, one thing puzzled me. As my 250D scanned, the control channel freq, 142.260, kept flashing on the display. Is this normal? I have no VHF trunked systems here in my area so I had no idea what to expect from the 250D but I don't recall seeing the control channel freq when I monitor Clinton Co. NY's 800 MHz trunked system.

Thanks for all the help!

All The Best,
Jim
Former resident of Kingston, Ontario

Oh, P.S. A comment about that 142.200 freq. The A-10s out of Bradley field, Conn. use that freq in AM mode as an air-to-air and tactical. Considering that they use that freq over New Hampshire and when visiting the Ft. Drum NY range, I'm surprised there haven't been loggings of interference. Regular listeners might want to keep an eye/ear on this freq with that in mind.

 

[mikewazowski]

Many times when talk group 08896 was in use, I could hear the base but not the cars.

8896 is 1Ottawa and would have been multiselected with other talkgroups. You would have been hearing the dispatcher talking to cars on the other talkgroups. There must have been a car on your tower sitting on 1Ottawa. If they had talked, you would have heard the car and the dispatcher.

I also heard Smiths Falls refer to several 10-78s (emergency tones/signals) but never heard any tone or beep on any of the trunked freqs. How are these transmitted to/from dispatch?

They are transmitted over the control channel. You would need to be running trunker or treport to see them.

There were also many requests for permission to go 10-10 (direct from one unit to another via the trunked system). Is I-Call not being used?

The cars do not have the capability to call other units. They can respond to an i-call from dispatch only.

 

[DaveH]

Interesting report Jim, I hope you enjoy listening to the new system. I also have heard air-air tactical in the 138-144MHz band AM, lately also on 141.100; some months ago it was on 138.525, which is an input to one of the Hydro-Quebec (digital) sites. I wonder if they've noticed anything...

Regarding 142.200, it is the alternate CC for Site 2. It may be used as a voice channel if all others are busy (I've seen it happen on other sites) or if the main CC fails it should switch. Normally, sporadic activity from another source may not be noticed.

Dave

 

[radiolalaland]

What are the frequencies for these I-Call's? And how often would these be used?

Are they analog or digital? And if so. Is it possible to hear both sides of the coversations.

There were also many requests for permission to go 10-10 (direct from one unit to another via the trunked system). Is I-Call not being used?

The cars do not have the capability to call other units. They can respond to an i-call from dispatch only.

 

[mikewazowski]

What are the frequencies for these I-Call's? And how often would these be used?

Are they analog or digital? And if so. Is it possible to hear both sides of the coversations.

The I-calls are on the same frequencies as the rest of the system.

They are digital and you can hear both sides of the conversation.

Only the Uniden scanners are able to monitor them. The Pro96 doesn't have I-Call capabilities.

However, I-Calls are very rarely used so your not missing much.

 

[jimlawrence]

Not to get too far afield here but the USAF makes use of some freqs in and around the freqs used by the OPP. That hit you took on 138.525 was probably the Vermont ANG F-16s out of Burlington. They also work 138.0 and 138.625.

Last time I listened, 141.1 was used by Ft. Drum NY base security. When I lived in Kingston, they were all digital but I've heard they're analog now and may be going to (or may have already moved to) P25. I neglected to monitor them last time I was out there in May.

Conflicts like this aren't uncommon. Here in the states, the A-10s work 140.4 in AM; same freq used by ops at Burlington, Vermont, only in FM. Same thing is true of 143.425. And there are a number of air-to-airs in the 141 MHz range. Generally, the aircraft will hear the interference and move to another freq. I've heard this happen a number of times.

 

[DaveH]

Thanks for the additional info Jim. BTW sometimes I can pick up what seems to be Fort Drum FD on 148.575 (concurring with NF2G's site). Does this sound familiar?

Dave

 

[jimlawrence]

Yes, it sure does.

 

[jimlawrence]

Yes, it sure does.