Can anyone hear any control channel data or transmissions on the University of Alabama site? I know UA Simulcast and Northport are working. I understand it's fully encrapted, but I want to clear up frequencies that aren't in use.
Also, I've noticed that Tuscaloosa City and County are using the system but they do not have any FCC pending applications or licenses to use it (I could be overlooking or searching incorrectly). Is it "legal" for them to do so?
I'm kinda confused and thrown off by your question here but ill try to answer it. Last time I was in Tuscaloosa, 3 months ago, I got a fantastic full decode on the UA control chnanel. Like you said most is encrypted but other than that it was working for me. University Operations are mostly on DMR and UAPD is on P25 conventional.
Second part. The city and the county are on the system and don't require actual FCC licenses to use that system if its licensed to the State of Alabama and on the system or licensed to another entity who has that site on the system. Most of the time its a contract or two signed and a MOU is established and then they use it.
Where I currently live, if the neighboring county wanted to use our Phase 2 system. They would pay for the radios, instalation, and a rental fee from our county. We would probably license a 7/800MHz tower in thier county under our name, and then write a MOU. They wouldn't need a FCC license in their name to use our system.