Somerset 500 MHZ End of Life Notice

[rr60]

Somerset End Of Life Notice has been served on subscribers of the Somerset 500 MHZ TRS, the system will be turned off at the end of 2026.

There have been several communications this would be occurring over the past several years.

It is surprising a large percentage of subscribers (40 percent) remain on 500MHZ and have not transitioned to 700MHZ.

“The 700 MHz system has been fully operational and available to all agencies since February 2025. The mandatory deadline to be fully operational on the 700 MHz system is December 31, 2026. On that date, the UHF T-Band simulcast system will be permanently decommissioned.”

The FCC Digital Television repack put a RF knife in this system making it unusable at times. This began in 2019 when newly FCC allocated TV 19 Digital stations began propagating into Somerset. This increased the RF Noise Floor on 500-506 MHZ and as a result the system became un-reliable for public safety communications.

TV19 bandwidth overlapped perfectly to interfere with each of the (8) 500 MHZ on Somerset’s TRS system on both input and output frequencies.

WAVY TV was newly authorized by FCC with 1 megawatt from 1000’ in Suffolk Va near Norfolk.

A bit more history of Somerset systems here.

Somerset County Trunking End of Life Notice

 

[rr60]

There is a new standard template that reorganizes and renames some Fire and EMS talk groups.

There are about a dozen new TG’s in the mix too. This includes new I/0 TG’s in the standardized SC Coordination Zone.

A few radios has been seen affiliating, but no real usage yet.

It appears way to early to make any DB changes.

 

[robbinsj2]

From reading some Bridgewater BOFC Districts 2 & 3 minutes this has been on their radar since January 2024. There was concern that it may require coming off the 507.2375 repeater for dispatch and maybe paging. District 3 tone testing on 470.1375 is ongoing, maybe finishing this week; no District 2 (21-Fire) yet but the pattern has been one tone pair at a time.

Bernards had 470.1375 tone testing in September/ October and 40-Fire went again in the past week or two. No fire districts there, town council minutes discuss emergency services radio upgrades but I didn't find much detail beyond costs.

 

[lynchy135]

Bernards had 470.1375 tone testing in September/ October and 40-Fire went again in the past week or two. No fire districts there, town council minutes discuss emergency services radio upgrades but I didn't find much detail beyond costs.

20 Fire was dispatched on 470.1375 for a call last week. I don't know if that was accidental or is now active.

 

[robbinsj2]

I have not heard 20 Fire's tones come over 470.1375 recently, not on a regular basis though I may have missed a random instance. Maybe you heard a multi-dispatch including 22 or another department, so the shared voice message was on 470.1375 but 20's tones were only on 154.415?

 

[ion_op]

I’m not hearing police on 700Mhz. Did something change? I never noticed interference to 500mhz groups. Will 700Mhz be installed in green Brook? Dispatch Talk groups have changed?

 

[FT752]

I’m not hearing police on 700Mhz. Did something change? I never noticed interference to 500mhz groups. Will 700Mhz be installed in green Brook? Dispatch Talk groups have changed?

Is there a particular agency you're having trouble with, or all law enforcement? There is more than enough coverage to go around if Green Brook is where you intend to receive this system, and the RR DB is current to this date.

 

[ion_op]

All law enforcement is silent tonight. I’m using a SDS100 and 200 and regularly scan the SOMERSET county fire/ems and law enforcement groups. I heard law enforcement activity during the day but this evening it is quiet. Only fire/ems is active. I’m line of sight to the GB 500mhz site and will miss the solid reception phase 1 offers. The 100 and 200 don’t handle 700 SOMERSET county LSM distortion well where I’m located. I’m wondering if investing in a G4/G5 will offer any improvement?

 

[lynchy135]

All law enforcement is silent tonight. I’m using a SDS100 and 200 and regularly scan the SOMERSET county fire/ems and law enforcement groups. I heard law enforcement activity during the day but this evening it is quiet. Only fire/ems is active. I’m line of sight to the GB 500mhz site and will miss the solid reception phase 1 offers. The 100 and 200 don’t handle 700 SOMERSET county LSM distortion well where I’m located. I’m wondering if investing in a G4/G5 will offer any improvement?

LE has been off of the UHF cell for at least two years. You need it listen to the 700 site for it. I thought the SDS100 was built for LSM. I haven't had issues with mine on 700, but it's been a while since I used it regularly.

 

[ion_op]

I am listening to both 500 and 700 sites. Are you hearing police on 700 right now?

 

[lynchy135]

I am listening to both 500 and 700 sites. Are you hearing police on 700 right now?

Yes. There are two Calls nodes you can compare to.

Node 404: Somerset County (Site: 700 Simulcast (TDMA)) - Live

BCFY Calls Node: Node 404: Somerset County (Site: 700 Simulcast (TDMA)) - Live

www.broadcastify.com

Node 5684: Somerset County (Site: 700 Simulcast (TDMA)) - Live

BCFY Calls Node: Node 5684: Somerset County (Site: 700 Simulcast (TDMA)) - Live

www.broadcastify.com

700 is very active.

 

[mondaro]

Hello, I listen to Police / Fire and EMS in the Greenbrook Twp Area, located off Rock Road near Washington Rock.
On the TRS System for Somerset County, should I only be monitoring the 700 MHz band for Greenbrook PD
And North Plainfield ? - Thanks in advance for any clarification on this,

 

[rr60]

Hello, I listen to Police / Fire and EMS in the Greenbrook Twp Area, located off Rock Road near Washington Rock.
On the TRS System for Somerset County, should I only be monitoring the 700 MHz band for Greenbrook PD
And North Plainfield ? - Thanks in advance for any clarification on this,

GM Tony, only for you, your special, your on RR as long as myself.

The system presently has PD’s only on 700 set as “preferred“. You will also find some Fire, like North Plainfield and Greenbrook on 700. Greenbrook PD also 700 Preferred. LEO 99.9 percent of time exclusive to 700.

Be aware the Simulcast systems for your area are configured differently.

500 (only til end of year) Watchung, Rock Ave Greenbrook and Martinsville.
700 Watchung and Martinsville.

There has been chatter about adding 700 to Rock Ave, but money is tight and other work in pipeline so I am told.

For your listening there is little need or no need for 500.

 

[ion_op]

As of 10:10am I hear no 700mHz LEO on my SDS100&200 and I made no changes to them. Did anything recently change? Are the TGIDs unchanged?

 

[lynchy135]

As of 10:10am I hear no 700mHz LEO on my SDS100&200 and I made no changes to them. Did anything recently change? Are the TGIDs unchanged?

As mentioned multiple times, there has been no changes on 700 LEO. refer to the calls links I sent that is 700 only. 3 to 4 calls per minute on 700 at the time of this post.

 

[ion_op]

there have been no changes to my scanners too. E

 

[ion_op]

Police have magically reappeared.

 

[robbinsj2]

I have not heard 20 Fire's tones come over 470.1375 recently, not on a regular basis though I may have missed a random instance. Maybe you heard a multi-dispatch including 22 or another department, so the shared voice message was on 470.1375 but 20's tones were only on 154.415?

Bernards (20-Fire, 20-EMS, & 40-Fire) began multicasting pages on 470.1375 June 8th. I haven't yet heard the suspected 59-Fire tones on 470.1375.
Bridgewater Districts 2 & 3 (21-Fire, 24-Fire, 49-Fire, District 3 tone) began multicasting pages on 470.1375 last night. I haven't yet heard 34-Fire it's but hard to imagine they're different.

 

[rr60]

I hear there may be Fire or EMS folks that may not make the end of year.

It has been known and noticed for years 500MHZ was to be turned off.

Many bought 700/800 capabilities many years ago.

This passage in the final notice could not have been more clear.

“The mandatory deadline to be fully operational on the 700 MHz system is December 31, 2026. On that date, the UHF T-Band simulcast system will be permanently decommissioned.”