Unlicensed Trunked Systems?????

[ECPD279]

Lately I've been coming across several trunking systems, mostly Motorola, that have strange returns in the FCC Database. As an example, if I do a search with the first freq in the system it comes up with several licensees but none will have all of the freqs. Then search on the next freq and get a whole nother list of licensees. It just doesn't add up. Anyone else having similar troubles?

 

[FPO703]

Two words: Expired Licenses

 

[nd5y]

It also could be the same system with seperate licenses for different frequencies.
The NE Tarrant County system here in the DFW area is like that.
You would never know by looking at the licenses that these are all the same trunked system:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPFR225
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPJR315
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPZA392

I wonder if its even legal.

Tom

 

[jim202]

Trunked frequencies and licenses

It also could be the same system with seperate licenses for different frequencies.
The NE Tarrant County system here in the DFW area is like that.
You would never know by looking at the licenses that these are all the same trunked system:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPFR225
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPJR315
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&action=fcc&cs=WPZA392

I wonder if its even legal.

Tom

It is not uncommon to run across a trunked system that has licensed some frequrencies for a trunking system. Then later on it finds some changes are needed, like move some frequencies around or add more. Maybe even add more sites. It all shows up as additional licenses that may not be easy to locate the first search you do.

You would be better off trying to obtain the system ID and then looking here on the database and see what you can find. Then send a message to the moderator with any updates that you may have. It is through efforts like yours that have made this site so valuable to everyone.

Jim

 

[loumaag]

There is certainly nothing in the FCC reg's prohibiting pooling licenses in a trunking system. As a matter of fact, it used to be required (but no more) that each sepertate entity on a trunking system be licensed for at least part of the frequencies used in the pool. This legacy is one of the reasons why commercial LTR systems are so hard to figure out sometimes.

As trunking systems grow and incorporate more and more entities, they sometimes swallow up surrounding systems. A good example of this is Harris County's (TX) STARNet system. It started out basically just in Houston/Harris County. It has now incorporated (read taken over) surrounding systems in Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, Chambers County and I think Galveston County (but I am not sure of that one). Each of these were seperate Motorola Trunking Systems which kept their own frequencies but now all go under the SysID of 2318. There were other smaller ones being (like Pearland) being taken over but you get the idea.

 

[INDY72]

And just for fun, LTR Passport systems are not always liscensed for trunking.

The Adams County E-911 Communications District in MS is liscensed for PW Conventional, but is a Passport LTR TRS. Buncombe County, NC has a future LTR Passport that again, is liscensed as PW Conventional.

Entergy Services Inc... Has combination liscenses that some have multiple sites on a liscense, and some liscenses only have part of a site..... You have to work at some systems to get everything in use.

And then there are the mistakes in the FCC DB... like the about to be built and brought online City of Ridgeland MS's Motorola ASTRO, the FCC has it listed in Jackson County.. but if you read carefully, you see its in Madison County.

But thats all in the joy of research for scanning.

 

[mllockwood]

... It has now incorporated (read taken over) surrounding systems in Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, Chambers County and I think Galveston County (but I am not sure of that one). ...

The Galveston County RTRS is still a standalone SmartNet system with a tower in Texas City and one in Galveston. The first phase (subscriber upgrades) of the migration into the Harris County system is underway now. The second phase (infrastructure) will be started when this phase is complete.

 

[WayneH]

This is typical for commercial for-profit systems in California. The licenses are always screwed up.

-Wayne