SPEN 1 Statewide Broadcast Coverage

[KC2NNS]

Hey everyone.

Admittedly, this is a long shot. But I'm also certain somebody in this group has the answer.

I'm aware SPEN 1 is a simplex operation and is designed for local base-to-mobile and more distant base-to-base (tower-to-tower) communication. I only expect to hear what's close-by to me. As an example, I live in Monmouth County and can hear them on SPEN 1 clearly, but when they communicate with NJSP Parkway or NJSP Hamilton, I don't hear the other side of the conversation. Makes sense. Too far and I'm not on a tower.

Here's peculiarity that's been itching the back of my brain for a few weeks now - With all that said, when the state is broadcasting a silver alert or amber alert, they come in CRYSTAL CLEAR. I heard one a few weeks ago and there wasn't even any static.

So my question is this - Does the state have a "super-transmitter" on a way high elevation with very high output power somewhere that they use just for statewide broadcasts? Or do they have a simulcast set up on SPEN 1 that they use just for broadcasts?

Pure curiosity, obviously. Thanks!

 

[trentbob]

Hey everyone.

Admittedly, this is a long shot. But I'm also certain somebody in this group has the answer.

I'm aware SPEN 1 is a simplex operation and is designed for local base-to-mobile and more distant base-to-base (tower-to-tower) communication. I only expect to hear what's close-by to me. As an example, I live in Monmouth County and can hear them on SPEN 1 clearly, but when they communicate with NJSP Parkway or NJSP Hamilton, I don't hear the other side of the conversation. Makes sense. Too far and I'm not on a tower.

Here's peculiarity that's been itching the back of my brain for a few weeks now - With all that said, when the state is broadcasting a silver alert or amber alert, they come in CRYSTAL CLEAR. I heard one a few weeks ago and there wasn't even any static.

So my question is this - Does the state have a "super-transmitter" on a way high elevation with very high output power somewhere that they use just for statewide broadcasts? Or do they have a simulcast set up on SPEN 1 that they use just for broadcasts?

Pure curiosity, obviously. Thanks!

My experience on the border of Burlington County is that the county rebroadcast County Wide alerts from their encrypted P2 police dispatch for BOLOS, need for Spanish speaking officers, available canine units for drug search, endangered persons.

I also live on the border of Mercer County who has their own countywide emergency alert system on 453.225 pl 103.5 they test the system on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and it is simplex.

As I say I'm right on Burlington Mercer County border right across the river and they are the only two that I hear and I do have a rooftop.

 

[GTR8000]

My experience on the border of Burlington County is that the county rebroadcast County Wide alerts from their encrypted P2 police dispatch for BOLOS, need for Spanish speaking officers, available canine units for drug search, endangered persons.

I also live on the border of Mercer County who has their own countywide emergency alert system on 453.225 pl 103.5 they test the system on Wednesday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and it is simplex.

As I say I'm right on Burlington Mercer County border right across the river and they are the only two that I hear and I do have a rooftop.

What does any of that have to do with the NJSP broadcasting statewide alerts over SPEN 1 that the OP asked about?

 

[trentbob]

What does any of that have to do with the NJSP broadcasting statewide alerts over SPEN 1 that the OP asked about?

I'm listening to the frequency for SPEN 1 and I just get Burlington County rebroadcasting what they used to call countywide 5 before they were encrypted.

In my location I don't hear any Statewide broadcast.. where would that be coming from? I would think the West Trenton headquarters ?? They should be within range for me but I don't hear them. That's all I was saying.

 

[trentbob]

If I could ask, and the question was related to Statewide broadcast with Statewide alerts. In my neck of the woods it seems like on that frequency we just hear County related alerts. From Burlington I've only heard countywide 5 alerts.

Is there Statewide Transmissions that give Statewide, not just County but an alert for every county in the state and if so. Where would that be coming from in the central part of the state?

I'd like to set up a directional antenna towards the locations that would be transmitting these Statewide alerts, not just limited to County alerts.TIA.

 

[ff026]

What does any of that have to do with the NJSP broadcasting statewide alerts over SPEN 1 that the OP asked about?

Nothing.

 

[rr60]

While I have no direct knowledge of layout, I can tell what I hear.

If the OP is asking is there a single frequency network that is synchronized or simulcast to eliminate heterodyne, I do not think so.

Each Division and each Station have Spen 1 bases. Some appear to be able to key up multiple Spen 1 locations, you can tell this by the heterodyne. Not sure when that happens is intentional or not. It does not sound very good.

Said differently, locations of towers and tower heights matter.

Somerville is not far from me but blocked by terrain, Netcong blocked and quite a bit further yet strong, my conclusion is tower is up high. Totowa about same distance yet much weaker.

 

[thrakerzad]

From this white paper produced in 1977 by the NJ Department of Law and Public Safety, on page 34 of the PDF (internally it’s page 11-44) you’ll see the planned implementation of the SPEN system would include “several high powered Control Stations which will provide total radio coverage of the State,” and “a Control Center … A microwave backbone system will interconnect Control Stations and the Statewide Control Center.”
To me this statewide control center would now be the ROIC in West Trenton. Supposing that implementation followed the plan, statewide broadcasts could be made via all of the control stations from the ROIC. Contemporarily this would happen with the microwave backbone system retransmitting the message to each site, and today that either continues or is done using some kind of wired system, copper lines, IP, etc.
I have no special insider knowledge, I just happened across this white paper a few weeks ago, and happened to recall this portion.