"Ramsey county simulcast".....

[Slyster]

Using Win96 and RR Webdate files.. I am trying to program my PRO-96 to get Hennepin county ARMER channels (I live in Maplewood, Ramsey co).... I don't get anything!

Am I too far away? So.. I see "ramsey co simulcast"... is this a repeater that would trasnmit all ARMER transmissions or is this just really for Ramsey county talk groups etc.

Thanks! SO SO confused... coming over from an old analog scanner only...

 

[ofd8001]

I don't know a whole lot about the ARMER system, but what I can tell you is this. The Ramsey Simulcast thing is several sites that cover only the Ramsey County area. If you follow this link, you may see a map showing the transmitter sites for the Ramsey system and see how close you are to one: http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WQBT680

All of these sites are simultaneously transmitting the same "stuff" (hence the "simulcast"). Generally speaking you will hear only those talkgroups affiliated with the Ramsey system. You may hear a state unit, or Minneapolis unit or Hennepin County unit, only if they wander in the Ramsey coverage area. They then get affiliated with Ramsey and link back to their "home" system. That's only a temporary deal for however long they are in the Ramsey area.

I was in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago, and pretty much heard everything I wanted to on both my Uniden 996 and 396, but I had to be fairly close to the area. The new way of doing things is with several lower powered transmitters, instead of one beefy transmitter. So the reception range is reduced.

 

[mmtstc]

You shouldn't have issues picking up the 867.08750 CC for the Ramsey Simulcast.

as a touch of a correction to ofd8001, ARMER is a 800 MHz system which replaced a VHF repeater system that Ramsey county was using before. The system uses a similar amount of repeaters (i think it was about 4 towers before and now is ?7?) to achieve coverage, each with similar power outputs. A VHF wavelength with travel further, but the has difficulty penetrating urban environments such as buildings, where as 800 MHz wavelengths are excellent in an urban environment and penetrate a building easier than a VHF wavelength. The goal of ARMER is to have 95% Portable coverage throughout (which is why you are seeing the build out of ARMER move slowly), where as you may only get about 70-80% coverage with the VHF, which may not seem like alot, but it is huge when you are dealing with mission critical communications.

The wavelength issue is going to be huge once the program tries to build up in the northern parts of the states that have a large population of long needled pine trees as a 800 MHz is about 4 Inches so the pine needles will reek HAVOC on the broadcast... I anticipate P25 narrowband VHF makings its presence known up there...

 

[Slyster]

Ramsey simulcast is strong for me.. but carries VERY few hennepin traffic. Tx for the tips!

 

[kc0wta]

analog simulcast?

hi there. is there an analog simulcast for the Ramsey Cty (and others, for that matter) of the ARMER system? I know State Patrol has a VHF rebroadcast (east metro anyways)...

just picked up a Pro-97 on fleabay for $29. and it even works, which amazes me... I know I won't be able to pick up the digital stuff, I mainly bought it for ham and stormchasing.

 

[unclebubba]

I think that St. Paul is the only RamCo agency with a simulcast. The only reason that the East Metro State Patrol still simulcasts is because all agencies in their area were still analog (Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey, & Washington). I would expect that as those agencies make a switch (whenever that is) that the MSP simulcast will disappear.
Craig
WX0BUB

 

[wogggieee]

I used to live at Co Rd D and Ariel in maplewood up by the mall. I was usually able to get the Hennepin Co East CC. but it wasn't always the best reception. Not sure what part of the city you are in, but i think that with a decent antenna you could get Henn Co fairly decent. If you really want to hear hennepin co stuff you will need to monitor that CC. Ramsey Co CC doesn't really have much Henn co stuff.

In Ramsey county what you can hear with out digital is St Paul PD and FD, but probably not for long. Ramsey County Fire dispatch, which covers everything but St Paul, maplewood, and white bear lake. Maplewood Fire still have their stuff simulcast as well as North St Paul fire on the same freq. White Bear Lake Police and Fire are also still analog as well. However that will probably change with in a year. The fire dispatches will likely remain simulcast since they need that for their pagers. but St Paul PD and WBL PD will probably drop off VHF once they get fully switched over. Not really sure if St Paul FD needs a VHF patch or not, but i am guessing not. So then at that point you will have Ramsey Co Fire, Maplewood/N St Paul fire and WBL fire as what would be monitorable with out digital trunking.

Dakota County is still analog and would be one that would need the SP analog simulcast as well. I believe they're considered east.

 

[KF8ZR]

vhf simulcast

I've been hearing police on 155.88
Try your scanner there and keep it tuned you should start hearing stuff there.

hi there. is there an analog simulcast for the Ramsey Cty (and others, for that matter) of the ARMER system? I know State Patrol has a VHF rebroadcast (east metro anyways)...

just picked up a Pro-97 on fleabay for $29. and it even works, which amazes me... I know I won't be able to pick up the digital stuff, I mainly bought it for ham and stormchasing.

 

[JASII]

"Ramsey County Simulcast".....

I thought that was just fire paging for White Bear Lake.

 

[KF8ZR]

yeah its changed. I found it listed as WBL police, SP Police, it may have been changed as of now.
Ramsey County, Minnesota (MN) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference