STARS System

[W4UVV]

No STARS now

hey guys, this is my first post! I'm a long time radioreference user, but I would like to start getting involved in the forums more... I live in Southwest VA about 20 minutes from Virginia Tech... I used to have an old school uniden way back when, before 800mhz... I have been using my Kenwood TK-3160 (from my 4 year volunteer EMS career) to scan the local UHF conventional channels, and just a few weeks ago I got a Uniden BCT15 and I gotta say, that thing is freakin awesome! anyway, my question is, can I pick up stars from where I am? I decided not to invest in a digital scanner because I read that stars wouldnt be implemented in my area until 2009 but I am curious if anyone around here had been able to hear anything ... thanks! -Matt

You're too far away to hear Div 1 STARS repeater site transmissions. Implementation of STARS in Division 6 in 2009 may or may not happen. Hopefully it will happen and be sooner than 2009 but I wouldn't bet on it. As of today you will need either the latest Radio Shack or Uniden digital scanner models to receive STARS P25 transmissions correctly in the trunked scan mode.

 

[fmon]

You got it correct ew.

Welcome pog, the BCT15 should serve you great for some time. Roanoke appears to be the only trunking in your area at this time.

 

[pogbobo]

You got it correct ew.

Welcome pog, the BCT15 should serve you great for some time. Roanoke appears to be the only trunking in your area at this time.

thanks guys! yeah, i knew i needed the money scanners to get digital, but i figured that unless i went on a road trip somewhere that had a digital system i would be fine with the bct15

I put roanoke in the first day I got my scanner! it works great, but im just out of range to get it from home, but when I'm in the area its really sweet ... I also visit Lynchburg, VA frequently so I put there EDACS system in the scanner too, that def makes for some good listening... speaking of Lynchburg, I had to redo the sites when I got there because its apparantly edacs wide, not narrow ... should I have been able to gather that from the rr database or not? I was under the impression that edacs networked standard was narrow, but thats the newb in me commin out lol ... thanks again guys!

oh, and I hope stars comes to division 6 and my area, for $320+ million you would think it would eventually

 

[gcgrotz]

There is a VSP radio tech in the Wytheville area that writes a column in the Southeastern Repeater Journal (Ham-type) who just this issue said he has been given a new radio and is beginning to get trained on STARS. Start saving now pog, and Welcome to RR!

 

[pogbobo]

sweet! I've already started saving

 

[fmon]

I also visit Lynchburg, VA frequently so I put there EDACS system in the scanner too, that def makes for some good listening... speaking of Lynchburg, I had to redo the sites when I got there because its apparantly edacs wide, not narrow ... should I have been able to gather that from the rr database or not? I was under the impression that edacs networked standard was narrow

Standerd is Wide, likely because most EDACS systems are Wide.

Edit: Gotta shutdown and head for Beckley WV from Corydon IN.

 

[pogbobo]

thanks fmon! I'm still getting my feet wet with trunking, mainly cause I've never had a trunking scanner, just the good old conventional stuff ... have a good trip

 

[Nitsud]

george! haha my pc died, so i havent been able to keep i touch, wendy's would be sweet man, let me know. My phone somehow or another doesnt have your number anymore...ill send you a pm so that you can get in touch lol...talk to ya soon