smorris
WX3PMC/WQWZ815/MOPA-27
I see. I thought that with a system like this you could access any TG from any site. Didn’t know they might be regionalized.
There are many ways these P25 systems can be configured. I suppose "by default" if you didn't customize any of the configuration, then yes, all talkgroups and subscribers would be allowed to operate on any site/band. That works fine for a small system with few sites that everyone needs to be able to operate on, however for a large regional or statewide system, it can make for very inefficient use of precious channel resources. As the vast majority of VHF sites of the STARNet system are comprised of only 3 frequencies (1 control + 2 traffic = 4 voice slots), it wouldn't take much to quickly saturate a site with traffic that it doesn't need to be carrying. And thus, the admins almost surely restricted talkgroups to sites where they are actually needed for coverage.
In the end, it really doesn't matter what talkgroups DCNR is using for testing, it's all the same coverage regardless.
If they are site locked their coverage might differ depending on where in their coverage area they are and what site they are affiliated to instead of the global tacs that use all the sites. If that makes sense, I've been up for 36 hours lol
Based on some input from western PA, OSIG seems to be a likely agency...specifically the welfare fraud unit. Based on info online, they have three regions: Western, Southeastern, Northeastern. 13472 seems to be the dispatch channel for SE. 13466 seems to be the dispatch for W (identified over the air as WRO1). Based on what I have heard, they seem to have personnel rotate thru the “dispatcher” role when not in the field. All comms have been via portable.
Then the TG 13477 BRAD31\41 affiliation, along with the 1814067 RID, could possibly be the Northeast dispatch. But it's all DT and no voice so far. And I haven't seen any 134xx on TIOG06 or SULL01, although TIOG06 does have a possible First Energy TG of 40047 with a 4200624 RID. Again, all DT and no voice. But the SULL01 and TIOG06 are difficult for me to get.
The LYCO01 700MHz site that was offline for a while seems to be back up and they're operating in the clear for some reason. I have a recording but the site won't allow me to upload MP3s.
Who is? Doubtful PSP
If the site is still running on the Phase 1 system, then yes, PSP. Air 1 is active throughout the day as aircraft go up for training or ops.
Air 1 Watch Center on the 700MHZ AIR TO GROUND SYSTEM
- Joined
- May 19, 2017
- Messages
- 591
All PSP Aircraft ops have been in the clear on the Air/Ground system.
At first they were then for a while it was only the dispatch side in the clear now both sides are again.
When they use the Interop TGs both Air and Ground units are in the clear on the Westmoreland Site
All the traffic I heard was on Air 1 not the interop TGs.
- Joined
- May 19, 2017
- Messages
- 591
I've heard Air 1, SW Air, and Interop's for Fayette and Beaver County all in the clear. I have not seen any PSP Helicopter ops channels on the StarNet system at the same time as the Air/Ground system. That will likely happen when they change the A/G towers into StarNet towers if that's what they choose to do.
Well since PSP is 100% encrypted on the new STARNet system we won't hear anything and to my knowledge they plan to keep the 700MHz system separate for the foreseeable future.
To be clear, all the PSP talkgroups on the P25 Phase 2 side are encrypted. I see Air 1 come up regularly on sites out this way, always encrypted. The clear comms referenced were on the Phase 1 system which is being removed from service along with the OpenSky.
It sucks that they're removing it after spending all that money and it being in service less time than OpenSky. Plus they'll have no backup comms system then.
smorris
WX3PMC/WQWZ815/MOPA-27
I’m sure PSP, like other agencies, have a contingency plan in place in case of system down time. It wouldn’t surprise if they have the old analog radio plan programmed in all their radios alongside the phase 2 plan. PSP Stroudsburg operated on Ch B, which was simplex. The FCC license for the old Analog system doesn’t expire until 2025.
It may depend on who they are communicating with. A week or so ago Trooper 6 came up on Starnet on the Beaver Co Hailing TG after the jail break in the Clear. All comms on there were in the clear air and ground. So there is some hope in certain situations
I mean it doesn't suprise me with PA but it just seems like such a waste. They bought all those radios and invested in millions in infrastructure just to shut it off.