VSP- Appomattox Legacy Ch. 6

[tglendye]

For the last week or so, I have had VSP's legacy channel 6 in one scanner and STARS in another. I have noticed that Ch. 6 is still active and I am hearing traffic that does not come across STARS (APP 2). The traffic has been from troopers in Augusta and Albemarle. I am hearing both side of the conversation on the legacy system and nothing on APP 2.

At times I hear the traffic simulcasted on both Ch. 6 and APP 2. It has me wondering if my digital scanner is not tracking correctly or if STARS is not being used all of the time. I also wondered if the TG was not being broadcast on the CC I am monitoring, however I have Bear Den and the Harrisonburg sites in 2 different scanlists and am tracking both sites (I have a Pro-197). I can't imagine APP 2 not being broadcast on either of those sites.

Any ideas?

 

[smwincva]

It could be techs working on the STARS system. In NW VA just after the switch here, they added the troopers' side of the broadcast back on legacy while they worked on reception issues near Harrisonburg. At the time I heard most, but not all the troopers on conventional, & both sides of the broadcast on STARS. That lasted about a month.

A month or so ago, I heard the dispatcher on legacy for about a week, and both sides on STARS on the Mount Weather tower. Then I noticed that the CC was changed at Gore & Hogback, and I had to add those.

Steve

 

[John]

In parts of northen Div 6 they are still using conventional to cover some gaps but I believe all the traffic is still making it to STARS. Whether you hear a particular talkgroup on a particular site is dependent on whether or not a trooper is affiliated with that site and has that talkgroup channel selected.

I have also heard some traffic on the old conventional TAC and SURV channels not repeated on STARS but these have been special events.

John

 

[gcgrotz]

Right you are Todd. Just a few weeks ago there was silence on 159.135 and now it is active again here in C'ville. I know many many months ago when I checked it was only relaying APP2, which makes sense considering where it is. Funny how that 30 year old system just keeps chugging along.

 

[gcgrotz]

Yes, I was hearing it: 159.135 at Bearden was relaying APP2 again. I wonder why they keep turning it off and then back on and then off...