R.I Statewide System

[kc4wwu]

Just curious, I'm reading conflicting contributions...
It says that this system is a Statewide Simulcast, I'm aware that it is SmartZone Simulcast actually... but I have also read that the North Site, In Providence is not yet operational. When I was in RI last year, I was able to monitor Westerly PD from inside the Providence Mall. So whats the deal here. Are the three sites actually operational? Did I read an outdated site that says Providence Site is not yet operational?

Scroll to the bottom of this page, thats where I seen it.
http://www.scancapecod.us/wiki/index.php/Rhode_Island_Digital_System

Any info would be appreciated. I fly out to CT/RI friday morning, and I am trying to get all this stuff programmed before I leave.

73, de Pete
K4QHR

BC-396
BC-996
Motorola XTS 5000 VHF FPP
Motorola XTS 5000 UHF FPP
Motorola XTS 5000 800 Model III

 

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

During a recent tropo opening I was able to pick up the North Zone 868.5125 and South Zone 868.8750 control channels. BTW, they are 9600 baud APCO Project 25 control channels and not 3600 baud Motorola Smartzone control channels.

The link you mention lists one site as operational and another site as a maybe. If you followed the forum topic link http://www.scancapecod.us/messageboard/showthread.php?goto=lastpost&t=4386
you will see that people (including me) are following what is happening to the system and the situation has changed over the past months. I would not be surprised if another site or two comes up by the time you reach RI.

The South Zone was worked on first and now the North Zone is being made operational. I think it is still a year or two away from being completely operational. I have been monitoring the MBTA EDACS system since 2005 and it still only has test traffic on it. http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112

The frequencies listed without a voice or control channel notation for the North Zone are licensed to the system but no activity was monitored on them. This is likely due to the low traffic on the system. I suggest you use the control channel only feature of your scanner. Do not be surprised if you only hear one or two encrypted talkgroups on the North Zone.

73 Eric

 

[garys]

Eric's post is highly accurate. It is in fact a P25 site. It's also still being built. For that reason, the information posted in the Scan Cape Cod Wiki is frequently changing. If you go to it and look on a regular basis you'll see that more information is being added.

The Mass State Police are still building out their system, the first parts of which have already been replaced as equipment became end of life. Large complex trunk systems seem to be in a constant cycle of build and upgrade, so change is to be expected.

Gary