STARS--New Talkgroups

[Bote]

If you have the time, ride Skyline Drive from Front Royal VA to Waynsboro, then continue down the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Great Smoky Mountions and continue through them. Seems that is about 600 miles of pure scenery.

Actually, I have done that in sections in years past.

My query on this trip was whether I could monitor certain frequencies and glean any new information for the STARS documentation effort. Something like: stop at Afton and check 159.7125757275 MHz and see what NAC shows up, or sumpin. That kind of thing.

Suggestions?

 

[MarkB513]

BCD996T Programming Help

I will be traveling to South Carolina in a few weeks and wanted to get the STARS system programmed ahead of time and had a couple questions...

I have the sites and talk groups programmed, but I'm a little confused with programming the base, step and offset of the band plan. I read quite a few older messages and had found one message suggesting a step of 7.5 and another 2.5, but the UASD software doesn't allow it. From what I seen, the 996T is capable of tracking the system correctly with the latest firmware update, which I have.

Also, is setting the P25 Threshold Mode to auto working out fine or is there a manual setting I should be putting in instead? I know the CT State Police system sounds much better with a manual setting between 11-12.

Lastly, is the STARS implementation schedule fairly up to date or are there some areas that are running behind? I do plan on programming the older conventional repeaters as well assuming some of them are still in use.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

 

[W2NJS]

Fork Mountain Transmit Range

The NERA Fork Mountain Repeater can be heard in DC and the MD
suburbs regularly. That's the Fork local transmit antenna, not the control
and audio links that come up to DC which are on yagis and run nearly DFQ at all
times. Range and direction is a function of how the agency or ham group built their
site to work.

 

[W4UVV]

996T STARS Settings

I will be traveling to South Carolina in a few weeks and wanted to get the STARS system programmed ahead of time and had a couple questions...

I have the sites and talk groups programmed, but I'm a little confused with programming the base, step and offset of the band plan. I read quite a few older messages and had found one message suggesting a step of 7.5 and another 2.5, but the UASD software doesn't allow it. From what I seen, the 996T is capable of tracking the system correctly with the latest firmware update, which I have.

Also, is setting the P25 Threshold Mode to auto working out fine or is there a manual setting I should be putting in instead? I know the CT State Police system sounds much better with a manual setting between 11-12.

Lastly, is the STARS implementation schedule fairly up to date or are there some areas that are running behind? I do plan on programming the older conventional repeaters as well assuming some of them are still in use.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

This is no bandplan to create. Select "APCO P25" for the type of system. Set threshold mode (default) "Auto 8". Division 1 (Richmond) and Division 5 (Chesapeake) are operational. Other sites still are "under construction". Recommend additionally programing the analog VSP repeaters for Divisions 1,2, 5 and 7.

 

[MarkB513]

This is no bandplan to create. Select "APCO P25" for the type of system. Set threshold mode (default) "Auto 8". Division 1 (Richmond) and Division 5 (Chesapeake) are operational. Other sites still are "under construction". Recommend additionally programing the analog VSP repeaters for Divisions 1,2, 5 and 7.

Thanks for the info. One other thing I forgot to ask, control channel only should work fine, correct?

 

[tglendye]

Yes, CC only works well.

 

[trainman111]

Here's a new one:

TG 1806 (Affiliated radio is 11207)
-This is most definately a Capitol PD TG as it's in the correct range and the radio ID is a CPD unit.

Also, it looks like the Marine Resources Commission was experimenting with patches today too. At 19:09:04 MRC patched TG 4130 with TG 4125. They removed the patch 4 seconds later.

 

[richrowl]

Here's a new one:

TG 1806 (Affiliated radio is 11207)
-This is most definately a Capitol PD TG as it's in the correct range and the radio ID is a CPD unit.

1804 CP OPS-1
1805 CP TAC-1
1806 CP FOX-1
1807 CP-RED-1

The most I have ever heard on these are evening radio checks when the units are mobile

 

[trainman111]

Well that explains the TG 1807 I saw today. Have you submitted these to the DB yet?

 

[dtscho]

I'll add the Capitol PD talkgroups to the database...

Several days ago, I heard two units talking on talkgroup 4722. One of them was in the Charlottesville area. There was no radio traffic that would have helped in identifying the talkgroup. I believe this was on the Fork Mountain tower, which would make sense if one of the units was in the Charlottesville area.

Dave

 

[fmon]

Just heard 2062 one side was encrypted, the second side indicated I can hear you loud and clear. Likely DCR of Div5 and must have been a "radio check" request.

 

[Jim41]

I also heard traffic on 2062 today. Sounded like it was being used as a TAC channel in preparation for a parade.

Jim41

 

[fmon]

Heard 2062 again at 0909. Both coms in clear and it certainly sounded like dispatch to mobile unit. However TG could still be Tac.

 

[Webodisk]

2061 is in use today for the missing jogger at First Landing State Park, Rangers comfirming areas searched, Using CR id's..... Also Some interesting comms on a new tg 6734 by the conversation my guess would be BCI

Mike

 

[Jim41]

2061 is in use today for the missing jogger at First Landing State Park, Rangers comfirming areas searched, Using CR id's..... Also Some interesting comms on a new tg 6734 by the conversation my guess would be BCI

Mike

I heard radio traffic on STARS talk group 6734 this morning. I concluded that it was being used as a Tac channel by mobile police units associated with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel police force. Will need to hear more traffic to confirm.

Jim41

 

[n4jri]

Is the Bridge-Tunnel & First Landing stuff on the Chesapake CC, or Hampton? Just curious.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[Webodisk]

Allen, I heard it of Chesapeake CC

Mike

 

[Jim41]

Is the Bridge-Tunnel & First Landing stuff on the Chesapake CC, or Hampton? Just curious.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

I heard it on the Hampton tower / CC.

Jim41

 

[SM166]

I too just went thru the Bridge tunnel on saturady July 31 and did not hear them on STARS chesapeak
but they were on thier 151. channel
THe Eastville site was quite on all listed channels - in april they were very weak on listed CC as i was in sight of the tower - now nothing
CLose Call did do a hit on 159.1100, Melfa sub station looks as if it close a year ago, so were do the troppers work out of in NorthHampton -Accomack conties?? the old ch 9 10 from chesapeak is still copied somewhat but seems 'weak' near state line...RT 13

your thoughts ?/

 

[slatescan]

any updates to STARS lately? just wondering