Powhatan P25 System
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Some of the frequencies in the RRDB entry are not licensed to Powhatan County: 851.625; 851.9625; 858.075 and 858.300. Two additional call signs are WRDD912 and WRDL447. Attached spreadsheet maps the frequencies, licenses, and sites.
The county provided documentation that states the system will have 5 channels which correlates with your finding. The RRDB entry for the system has some extraneous frequencies that should be removed if they are not verified. The frequencies in the FCC licenses are likely to be correct.
The submitted frequencies came from Pro96com and dsd+ as I submitted them
I would check them again because it doesn't correspond to the FCC licensing, or what the county states the system as consisting of 5 channels. If they are using the frequencies you found, the county would be in violation and possibly interfering with another user. But you are there and I am not.
Powhatan Today –07/07/2021
Powhatan Today –07/07/2021 © 2021 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher.
My attempt at providing a link may not work.
Powhatan Today, (newspaper), July 7, 2022 edition provides article on updated timeline for testing in field and switch over, with legacy ending at the end of this year. I did not check the County's Facebook page if the same information is given.
Now, for my information:
What current or past scanners will work with Harris and or this new system?
I am sure the latest from the 996x on probably will, but are there any older radios that would work?
I agree that there appears to be some extra frequencies in the RRDB.
This is the information that I grabbed from DSD+
852.2250
853.1750
853.7875
854.2625
858.0125
Site 92959.00A - 10.10
NAC: 00A
This is the information that I grabbed from DSD+
852.2250
853.1750
853.7875
854.2625
858.0125
Site 92959.00A - 10.10
NAC: 00A
It's going to be simulcast P25, so the expensive scanners / radios that are designed to work with simulcast systems will like be the best choice. A Uniden 996P2 or Whistler TRX series are technically capable of receiving the system, but will likely not be the best choice.Powhatan Today –07/07/2021Powhatan Today –07/07/2021
Powhatan Today –07/07/2021 © 2021 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher.issuu.com
My attempt at providing a link may not work.
Powhatan Today, (newspaper), July 7, 2022 edition provides article on updated timeline for testing in field and switch over, with legacy ending at the end of this year. I did not check the County's Facebook page if the same information is given.
Now, for my information:
What current or past scanners will work with Harris and or this new system?
I am sure the latest from the 996x on probably will, but are there any older radios that would work?
The project manager for the new system hopes for an October 21 go-live (assuming foliage-based coverage testing meets standards) and final acceptance in 2022.
Seems to be more dispatch testing and use of a test location, going on of late.
I have also noted there may be dispatch on the new channels, as there is more confirmation of calls by the dispatcher, that may not have originated by MDT or low power use.
Anyone notice for months, fire dispatch was also simulcast on another county’s frequency, I think it was either Dinwiddie or Nottoway?
I have also noted the new, I think, SHP unit, (maybe 1149), did not have the old main channel in use, but was apparently answering dispatch on another channel, for about a week or so.
I have also noted there may be dispatch on the new channels, as there is more confirmation of calls by the dispatcher, that may not have originated by MDT or low power use.
Anyone notice for months, fire dispatch was also simulcast on another county’s frequency, I think it was either Dinwiddie or Nottoway?
I have also noted the new, I think, SHP unit, (maybe 1149), did not have the old main channel in use, but was apparently answering dispatch on another channel, for about a week or so.
When the Powhatan VHF system went live some 20 years ago, a handful of changes were made to cut down on overlapping with other agencies. There were still times that Madison County could be received on Fire/Rescue dispatch, however. Goochland and Dinwiddie shared some VHF frequencies in the past.
Grid testing is actively underway on the 800MHz system now.
Grid testing is actively underway on the 800MHz system now.
The Powhatan Today paper has reported a go-live date of October 19th for the new system. The article also mentioned that there is no set time for turning off the old conventional analog system.
I can't find a link to the article online. I'll post one when I can find it.
I can't find a link to the article online. I'll post one when I can find it.
Link to the Powhatan Today Article: Powhatan Today –10/13/2021
Powhatan went live with their new radio system yesterday. Fire and EMS are still broadcasting on the old analog frequencies in addition to the new ones but the audio sounds worse than it used to.
I have SDRtrunk up and running and can hear audio although it is sometimes broken or digital sounding. What's the best way to figure out the different channels/talk groups?
I'm new to SDRtrunk and really anything beyond old school analog scanning. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
I have SDRtrunk up and running and can hear audio although it is sometimes broken or digital sounding. What's the best way to figure out the different channels/talk groups?
I'm new to SDRtrunk and really anything beyond old school analog scanning. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
Sheriff Dispatch TG101
Fire/Rescue Dispatch TG201
Both are in the clear
Fire/Rescue Dispatch TG201
Both are in the clear
Sheriff Tac TG102
Fire/Rescue Dispatch 2 TG202
Both are in the clear
Fire/Rescue Dispatch 2 TG202
Both are in the clear
CPerk
Member
Was seeing TG 210 this morning (10/23) sounded like Fire, but hard to say.
Anyone else having trouble with picking up Powhatan's new system? I have a laptop running SDRtrunk and a BCD325P2 scanner and they both seem to be hit-or-miss on receiving audio. I will sometimes hear something on one that the other doesn't pick up or hear broken audio on both. I drove around the county with the BCD325P2 and I was still only hearing parts of a communication so I don't think it's a weak signal problem.
Probably simulcast distortion. Especially if it’s a Harris system, try an Uniden SDS100, SDS200 or Unication to get better reception
I think you are exactly right. I was about 10 miles outside the county last night and the audio was much better. Unfortunately a $700 scanner isn't in my budget so I guess I will just have to play around with attenuation, P25 threshold levels, and maybe building a yagi.
Anyone have better luck dealing with simulcast distortion with an SDR and specific software? I have a few RTL-SDR units with SDRTrunk but that doesn't seem to be any better than the BCD325P2 so far.
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