Outer Banks Mystery Trunk

[mlevin]

Okay while chilling on vacation, and going bored with the lack of radio traffic, I decided to scan the 800 band which I though would for sure be desserted. Well surprise, surprise, I got my self a mystery.

This is all the info, I have. The big mystery is this trunk isn't listed in the database, and the control channel isn't transmiting a SysID.

It's a Moto type II analog and the CC is coming through at 97-99% in the northern part of Dare Co from Southern Shores Down to Nags Head. (I'm sure it has a wider coverage area but didn't bother to check outside of those areas.)

Freqs:

857.112 (CC)
853.362
854.437
856.112 (CC)

The control channel rotates every twenty four hour.

I only bothered to write down 4 talkgroups but there are plenty of others.

Talkgroups:

1280-UNID
1296-UNID
5456-UNID
35904-UNID

The activity didn't seem to be public safety related, and the only ideas I can come up with, is that this is some sort of SMR.

 

[jeffmulter]

Nextel owns the licenses for the frequencies mentioned, but I see no licenses in the FCC database specifically for Dare or Currituck Counties ... Nextel, or anyone else.

Nextel is licensed for New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Pitt, Jones, Lenoir, and Northampton Counties in N.C. on most of these frequencies, along with Virginia Beach, Va to the north.


Jeff Multer

 

[INDY72]

Hmm can't be nextel.. he actually logged it and has ID's,.. is that not impossible for nextel???

 

[ericcarlson]

It's a Moto type II analog and the CC is coming through at 97-99% in the northern part of Dare Co from Southern Shores Down to Nags Head. (I'm sure it has a wider coverage area but didn't bother to check outside of those areas.)

Freqs:
857.112 (CC)
853.362
854.437
856.112 (CC)

857.1125 and 856.1125 are on a license for CRSC Holdings under WPTH683 in Dare County. 853.3625 is on a license for CRSC Holdings under WPFV962 in Perquimans County (north of Dare County). The phone number on the license reverses to Total Communications in Kill Devil Hills.

-Eric

 

[jeffmulter]

Eric - thank you !

All contributions towards a new pair of glasses for me would be gladly appreciated, folks.

351 license entries each under 856.1125 and 857.1125 in N.C. ... 349 are Nextel-related. You'd think I'd notice the two oddball ones, particularly the one for my neighboring Mecklenberg County.

MILF - When Nextel takes over an SMR's operation, they often set a timetable for phasing out analog SMR, and offer to transfer the customers to Nextel's own digital service.

During that transition period, the SMR may continue to be operated in analog mode, like a traditional trunked system.

 

[mlevin]

What's CRSC? Does "Total Communications" mean this is an SMR? Also, last but not least, why is there no SysID. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ericcarlson]

What's CRSC? Does "Total Communications" mean this is an SMR? Also, last but not least, why is there no SysID.

CRSC is likely just a holding company or "doing business as" Total Communications. It's probably an SMR and it's probably theirs. Although, Nextel does operate some Motorola trunked systems on 800 MHz and 900 MHz, but the 800 MHz ones are rare these days.

Here's a blurb about Total Communications.

-Eric

 

[mrjon]

Although, Nextel does operate some Motorola trunked systems on 800 MHz and 900 MHz, but the 800 MHz ones are rare these days.

Actually, down here in Florence, SC, Nextel still has a very active 800MHz SMR with many local users (so many, in fact, that I often keep them locked out). Although these systems are slowly disappearing, ours is still alive and well.

I would think that you would have had some good marine comms to listen to up there on the Banks, given the amount of boaters I saw when I last visited (albeit that was about 15 years ago, and I was only 7). Fond memories. 8)

 

[mlevin]

No, not alot of marine activity. You do hear some Coast Guard comms every now and then. But Mil-Air is very active with the bombing range nearby. Of course public safety is quite compared to Baltimore where I live.

 

[INDY72]

Yes it is relatively peaceful up there... but if your there during the fourth youll notice a LOT more traffic, and lord forbid if you were around during a hurricane or tropical storm,.. then youd hear a lot of traffic. But as far as NC goes,.. for tons of traffic...youd need to go around Raliegh/Durham, Charlotte, and many of the areas near Ashville in WNC.

 

[mlevin]

Friday got kind of busy with the tornado/waterspout. I spent an hour in and out of the interior closet of my cottage. Apparently there was something a few miles north, and then later on I actually spotted a wall cloud (no funnel) aprox. a 1/2 mile to the west. Then a few minutes later Mr. NOAA Radio confirmed what I was seeing. Pretty scary.