The state of Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN)

[FFPM571]

Interesting that the presentation was so TDOT HELP heavy. Wonder if they couldn't get more buy in from other users? (nice find, by the way).

All of the HELP trucks statewide have been upgraded to APX8500 all band radios now The existing 7500 were removed and set aslde for repurposing

 

[surfacemount]

All of the HELP trucks statewide have been upgraded to APX8500 all band radios now The existing 7500 were removed and set aslde for repurposing

Yeah, it appears they were put into the rural service patrol trucks

 

[jblackst]

Anyone monitoring around E TN today? Weird sites showing up as peers/neighbors: 03-25 769.36875 and 03-26 769.59375. (Knox Sharps Ridge, Cross Mtn and Windrock)

Also have a 01-91 851.00625 peer on Knox Simulcast and Windrock. This is a TDOC SOW?

Chasing down those 'odd' sites. 03-25 has the same CC as 02-46 Viking Mtn. 769.36875 is only licensed to TACN on two licenses.

Call Sign/Lease ID​	Name​	FRN​	Radio Service​	Status​	Expiration Date​
1	WQLE432	TENNESSEE, STATE OF (TACN)	0004562856	SY	Active	12/28/2029
2	WQQK397	Tennessee Dept of Safety	0004562856	SY	Active	01/14/2033

WQLE432 is the license for Red Stag (02-84) and Madisonville (02-23). That freq is on the license for the Madisonville site.
WQQK397 is the license for Viking Mtn (02-46).

Perhaps Viking Mtn is being changed to Site 03-25?

------------

769.59375 is easier, it's only licensed to TACN at one site: Black Creek 02-39 (Scott Co).

Call Sign/Lease ID​	Name​	FRN​	Radio Service​	Status​	Expiration Date​
1	WQQE559	Tennessee Dept of Safety	0004562856	SY	Active	11/16/2032

Perhaps Black Creek is being changed to Site 03-26?

------------

This brings up something interesting. For years, the only Zone 3 site has been Knox Simulcast. Is something in the works to move additional sites to Zone 3?

 

[ka4bni]

Chasing down those 'odd' sites. 03-25 has the same CC as 02-46 Viking Mtn. 769.36875 is only licensed to TACN on two licenses.

Call Sign/Lease ID​	Name​	FRN​	Radio Service​	Status​	Expiration Date​
1	WQLE432	TENNESSEE, STATE OF (TACN)	0004562856	SY	Active	12/28/2029
2	WQQK397	Tennessee Dept of Safety	0004562856	SY	Active	01/14/2033

WQLE432 is the license for Red Stag (02-84) and Madisonville (02-23). That freq is on the license for the Madisonville site.
WQQK397 is the license for Viking Mtn (02-46).

Perhaps Viking Mtn is being changed to Site 03-25?

------------

769.59375 is easier, it's only licensed to TACN at one site: Black Creek 02-39 (Scott Co).

Call Sign/Lease ID​	Name​	FRN​	Radio Service​	Status​	Expiration Date​
1	WQQE559	Tennessee Dept of Safety	0004562856	SY	Active	11/16/2032

Perhaps Black Creek is being changed to Site 03-26?

------------

This brings up something interesting. For years, the only Zone 3 site has been Knox Simulcast. Is something in the works to move additional sites to Zone 3?

There are some sites in East TN that are and will be swapped over to Zone 3 this year. This is to balance out the number of sites between Zones 2 and 3.

 

[bg_nashville]

In investigating the drastic drop in traffic (not just THP) on the Holston Mountain (State) site, I discovered that there are two frequencies authorized and in use that are not in the database: 771.04375 and 774.13125. According to my archive, both frequencies have been used today. That last one affects the bandwidth spread and was outside the range I was operating my SDR. That could explain a small piece of the puzzle. Some TGs like Highlands Air and FTHRA Net Trans that were previously very active on that site are now virtually nonexistent. Highlands Air has a base right next to Holston Mountain. My working hypothesis is that they have temporarily moved the tower and/or antenna for work related to bringing on Carter County to TACN. The site currently has only about 10 to 15% (my best guess) of the overall traffic that it has had in the past.

 

[bg_nashville]

In the database, I noticed that TG 47159 has an alpha tag of "DOT HELP R2 T2" and a description of "Region 1 Tactical 2". Shouldn't the alpha tag be R1 instead of R2?

 

[surfacemount]

In the database, I noticed that TG 47159 has an alpha tag of "DOT HELP R2 T2" and a description of "Region 1 Tactical 2". Shouldn't the alpha tag be R1 instead of R2?

I believe you are correct

 

[zachgallop]

I believe you are correct

In the database, I noticed that TG 47159 has an alpha tag of "DOT HELP R2 T2" and a description of "Region 1 Tactical 2". Shouldn't the alpha tag be R1 instead of R2?

Yes it is and I submitted it as “DOT HELP R1 T2” and “Region 1 Tac 2” I tried to get it corrected but that did not happen. Maybe you will have better luck. Someone else had it as TDOT District 8.

 

[bg_nashville]

Yes it is and I submitted it as “DOT HELP R1 T2” and “Region 1 Tac 2” I tried to get it corrected but that did not happen. Maybe you will have better luck. Someone else had it as TDOT District 8.

I submitted it.

 

[jblackst]

In investigating the drastic drop in traffic (not just THP) on the Holston Mountain (State) site, I discovered that there are two frequencies authorized and in use that are not in the database: 771.04375 and 774.13125. According to my archive, both frequencies have been used today. That last one affects the bandwidth spread and was outside the range I was operating my SDR. That could explain a small piece of the puzzle. Some TGs like Highlands Air and FTHRA Net Trans that were previously very active on that site are now virtually nonexistent. Highlands Air has a base right next to Holston Mountain. My working hypothesis is that they have temporarily moved the tower and/or antenna for work related to bringing on Carter County to TACN. The site currently has only about 10 to 15% (my best guess) of the overall traffic that it has had in the past.

Yikes.

WIth a spread from 769.10625 to 774.13125 you'll need an Airspy or three standard SDRs to monitor all of that site. There appear to be 8 freqs on WQQE563, so I suspect there's another license out there for the others (perhaps a local govt?).

I travelled up I-81 last weekend and couldn't get linked up to Holston Mtn (State) from the interstate. Maybe that had something to do with it? I was figuring it might just not be 'viewable' from I-81.

 

[bg_nashville]

Yikes.

WIth a spread from 769.10625 to 774.13125 you'll need an Airspy or three standard SDRs to monitor all of that site. There appear to be 8 freqs on WQQE563, so I suspect there's another license out there for the others (perhaps a local govt?).

I travelled up I-81 last weekend and couldn't get linked up to Holston Mtn (State) from the interstate. Maybe that had something to do with it? I was figuring it might just not be 'viewable' from I-81.

I use an SDRPlay RSP1B on that system. I always adjust the bandwidth down to only what is needed.

Holston Mountain is the premier site for radio and TV towers in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Something is definitely going on with it at the moment.

 

[surfacemount]

Yikes.

WIth a spread from 769.10625 to 774.13125 you'll need an Airspy or three standard SDRs to monitor all of that site. There appear to be 8 freqs on WQQE563, so I suspect there's another license out there for the others (perhaps a local govt?).

I travelled up I-81 last weekend and couldn't get linked up to Holston Mtn (State) from the interstate. Maybe that had something to do with it? I was figuring it might just not be 'viewable' from I-81.

That is part of the area I was alluding to earlier. Still don't know whose end the issue is on, but if you were having problems, kind of tells me without telling me.

 

[KK4ELO]

Went through Cookeville today and picked up a new site. I noticed the last time I was through there, 2-65 was dead. I was bouncing between Sparta and Woodbury 800. But today, I was on 3-27, which is not programmed in my pager. CC 769.28125.

I don't have a way to get the NAC as I'm only there once a month. It's odd that it went to it wothout being programmed in. Whenever I go anywhere else near other sites not programmed, I get out of range.

 

[jblackst]

Went through Cookeville today and picked up a new site. I noticed the last time I was through there, 2-65 was dead. I was bouncing between Sparta and Woodbury 800. But today, I was on 3-27, which is not programmed in my pager. CC 769.28125.

I don't have a way to get the NAC as I'm only there once a month. It's odd that it went to it wothout being programmed in. Whenever I go anywhere else near other sites not programmed, I get out of range.

There is an effort in progress to balance zone 2 and move sites into zone 3. It's highly likely the former 2-65 is now known as 3-27.

If the control channel was the same it likely ignored the RFSS and site id change?

 

[KK4ELO]

I was just doing some digging on that trying to navigate the new site change, and you are correct. It is the same control channel. Thanks for the advice on checking that, because I normally wouldn't have checked it.

 

[jblackst]

This week's lucky site rezone appears to be Braden Mtn 700, from 02-71 to 03-31. But curiously in UniTrunker both sites with the same CC are showing as active peers on Cross Mtn.

 

[jblackst]

... and the old 02-71 neighbor apparently dropped off around 1645 today. Onward and upward!

 

[buddrousa]

Yes they are readdressing some of the 02-** addresses to 03-**
There have been several and more on the way.

 

[jblackst]

It's the Weekly Wednesday scavenger hunt, locating the updated Zone 2 / Zone 3 site. There seems to be one every Wednesday over the last few weeks. At least they're consistent.