Tuscaloosa PD's Digital Transition...

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Randmaster

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The time is getting close...

Just last week, I picked up some P25 transmissions coming from TPD's channel 1 during the morning hours. It had a NAC of 223.

Here is the dreaded part... about 60% of the transmissions were encrypted.

On another note, their FCC license (KIB470) has pending applications.

It looks like they are getting ready to switch over to digital. Encryption remains to be questioned...
 
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kyle8120

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Tuscaloosa, AL
any word of the digital transition? I can still pick them up on my pro 164. Also am I missing anything other than Northport police and fire, county fire and tuscaloosa police? Why is the signal so weak in Northport?
 
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puzzleriddle

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bham, Bama
Here is various info I have collected / Monitored within past 2 months or so From BHm Southside

TCO VFD FG 453.750000 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TCSO CH-2 155.062500 AU NAC 110 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO CH-2 156.217500 AU NAC 110 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO CH-2 158.857500 AU NAC 110 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO DISPATCH 155.112500 AU NAC 210 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO DISPATCH 155.122500 AU NAC 210 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO DISPATCH 155.632500 AU NAC 210 --- ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 151.130000 AU CTCSS 141.3 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 155.670000 AU SRCH 2.0 A ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 155.707500 AU NAC 210 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 158.857500 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 159.247500 AU NAC 210 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TCSO TAC 159.382500 AU CTCSS 203.5 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSC HOUS AUTH 453.850000 FM CTCSS 100.0 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 155.610000 AU CTCSS 179.9 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 156.112500 AU NAC 210 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 156.217500 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 158.857500 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 159.090000 AU CTCSS 91.5 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 159.247500 AU NAC 230 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO SO 159.397500 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA CO VFD 453.150000 AU CTCSS 179.9 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA FD-1 154.400000 AU DCS 115 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA FD-1 154.400000 AU NAC 201 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA FD-2 154.385000 AU NAC 202 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA FD-2 154.385000 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD LINK 453.412500 AU DCS Srch --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-1 158.730000 AU DCS 223 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-1 158.730000 AU NAC 243 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-2 CID 154.695000 AU SRCH 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-3 154.845000 AU DCS Srch --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-3 154.845000 AU NAC 205 --- ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-4 TAC 155.970000 AU CTCSS 203.5 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
TUSCLSA PD-4 TAC 155.970000 AU NAC Srch 2.0 ---------------6------ 0
偍††††舀᐀
 
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Scottsbluff, NE 69361
glad i am moving again. going from tuscaloosa to denver. hopefully they are not encrypted. i knew tuscaloosa would go encrypted just by the shear attitude most of their officers have. and no i am not one who has issues with all police. i got along fine with all the officers back in jersey. i also got along with these officers here when interacting with them. it's just the unprofessional attitude most of them have here gave me a clear indication that this was coming down the pipe.
 

kyle8120

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Tuscaloosa, AL
i am using a rubber duck antenna. I am thinking seriously about getting a scanner that will be able to monitor p25 digital frequencies as well as fm. Can you think of a scanner that is not to pricey but will get the job done in this area? If i get a telescoping antenna will I be able to pick up a little further than my factory standard rubber duck? What is the AU stand for in the list above?
 

medic9351301

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at the station where i do the scanners we use the uniden bc996t good radios i have 3 at my home they will prob set u back around 550.00 try radio shack i know dave911 uses them as for the ant thing if at all possibile try to get u one up outside the higher the better use good coax i use rg6u 75 ohm coax cable b4 everyone starts i know there is an impedence match but it works as ffor the au could possible by the attenurator i presonally dont use one try looking on ebay for these radios uniden, radioshack,gre
also b4 u buy make sure they are rebanding cap.if u have futher questions drop me an e-mail abc3340skywatcher@charter.net
 

puzzleriddle

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bham, Bama
i am using a rubber duck antenna. I am thinking seriously about getting a scanner that will be able to monitor p25 digital frequencies as well as fm. Can you think of a scanner that is not to pricey but will get the job done in this area? If i get a telescoping antenna will I be able to pick up a little further than my factory standard rubber duck? What is the AU stand for in the list above?

have a quick read here , will explain AU for ya :) Easier to Read Pro-106/197/PSR500/600 Digital Scanner Manual
 

CSL126

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Dec 19, 2002
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Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Well guys, I started the Tuscaloosa scanner feed back up for anyone that's interested in monitoring them while we still can...

I should have the Birmingham feed back up later today. It runs on a remote server and I'm going to have to go change some settings on it.
 

Randmaster

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Brookwood, Alabama
Well, it's been about a month, and I haven't heard any further digital tests on TPD channel 1. I actually talked to some officers, and half of them say encryption is possible. The other half say it sounds too expensive.


Only we will know through time...
 

CSL126

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Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Hey guys, I just decided to post here rather than starting a new thread on this matter. I was just curious as to whether any of you have heard of any new developments on TPD's transition to digital. I was scanning through the licenses held by the City of Tuscaloosa on the FCC's website. I came across some frequencies used for "public safety" in the 4940-4990 MHz range. Any idea what these are used for? I can only imagine it would be some type of data...

I have not heard any P25 on any of the TPD channels.
 

Randmaster

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I haven't heard anything, either. However, their channel 2 was out of service a few minutes ago. I don't know if it has to do with the transition. Although, I can point out that there have been some P25 bursts once every so often. What's weird about it is that my scanner only picks up DCS encoded transmissions but still will get the bursts.

As for the 4900 mhz, may be data.
 
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morganAL

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Somerville, AL
4940 - 4990 is available to Public Safety agencies. It is typically used for point to point microwave links or point to multipoint applications. Common uses would be to provide IP connectivity between two or more locations or for connectivity between radio sites and a control point.
 

puzzleriddle

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bham, Bama
I haven't heard anything, either. However, their channel 2 was out of service a few minutes ago. I don't know if it has to do with the transition. Although, I can point out that there have been some P25 bursts once every so often. What's weird about it is that my scanner only picks up DCS encoded transmissions but still will get the bursts.

As for the 4900 mhz, may be data.

if you have it set for CT/dpl (analog) it excludes the digital
 

Randmaster

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if you have it set for CT/dpl (analog) it excludes the digital

Exactly, but here's the catch.

My scanner was set to force DCS-only transmissions. Tuscaloosa has had P25 bursts happen in a rare instance. I was able to catch their NAC, which was coincidentally the same as their DCS... 223. During the short P25 bursts while my scanner was in DCS mode, I was only able to hear the "buzzing" (which is what an analog-only scanner will pick up). I had to take off the force-DCS so I could pick up both analog and digital.

I do understand what you meant when setting it to force analog, it would not get digital signals. The digital signals got through, but it was only buzzing. I believe the reason for this was that TPD's DCS and NAC were exactly the same number, that's probably how the digital buzzing was heard.
 
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