VSP using V-TAC

[Scannerboy1968]

Has anyone caught any traffic on 151.1 PL 131.8? Why I ask is I have been catching traffic from VSP in the Western Tidewater/Southampton area on this freq. I understand it is not one of the standard V-tac frequencies also. Listen in and see whatcha think.

 

[fmon]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

 

[Scannerboy1968]

V-TAC use in Mecklenburg Co

OK, First off I could be mistaken but I am sure I have heard VSP units called by "VSP XX on V-TAC". I have devoted the last few days to close monitoring and I have figured out exactly who is definately on the Freq. Here are some of the transmissions:
12NOV PM
I’m on N. Mecklenburg coming by Gavins House of Flowers and Gifts.
I ‘m just outside of Franklin, go work on the Chief.
13NOV 0830-1500
It rained hard all day long in Broadnax.
A lot of radio testing happening:

- single frequency tone.

- Unclear….testing 12345…54321

- He was a little bit under the influence but that was a 30.

- 10-4

13NOV 2000-0600
from Carolina… you don’t want to know where in Mecklenburg

Unit numbers heard have been:9,10,11,14,15,16,1030 or 10,30 27,55,57,73,and 81.

And tonight again I have heard several test counts again. What I don't understand is why no database (including the FCC) shows 151.1 (131.8) for Mecklenburg County VA or associated areas. And also why all of a sudden can I hear this frequency clear as day from about 75 miles away (skip or no skip). I will keep monitoring.
Andy

 

[W4UVV]

151.1000 mhz.

I think my postings on another Va. newsgroup have confirmed it is an unlicensed repeater operation of Mecklenburg Co. simulcasting the Sheriff's Office and possibly some cities within the countie's law enforcement comms. The VSP callsigns may have been VSP radio techs aiding in installing and checking the repeater. The comms I've heard source to the Mecklenburg Co. Sheriff's Office. The VSP techs need to optimize all repeater input sources (i.e., "regular" FCC assigned frequencies, non-govt. frequency simulcast, etc.) as some input signals are awful, (i.e., chopping, noisy) while other input sources sound good..

 

[CCHLLM]

As a former resident of South Hill and a regular visitor to family and friends there, and having been involved in their emergency services system, I'm gonna hazard a coupla guesses. The first is that it's part of the interops radio stuff being tested, and the second guess is that it's coming from the VSP tower site just north of South Hill on US 1. The only other sites in that part of the county that might give that kind of coverage would be one of the Roanoke River Service Authority's water tanks, the main county site at Baskerville, or the tower site on VA Hwy 47 at North View. All this is speculation, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[kc4jgc]

John Wilson has come up with the answer to this mystery. Here is his post from the yahoo Virginia Svanner Yahoo group:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By checking my master frequency database, I am confident I have
the answer. 155.640 mhz., pl 131.8 is the repeater output of the
Mecklenburg Co. Sheriff's Office. The input to the Franklin Public
Works 151.1000 mhz., pl 131.8 repeater is 155.640 mhz. Mystery solved.
That accounts for solid audio (Franklin Public Works) and choppy audio
from Mecklenburg. The output of the Sheriff's Office repeater is strong
enough to be received by the Franklin Public Works repeater as input.
Mecklenburg Co. SO is not simulcasting by design on 151.1000 mhz. The
solution is for one of the two to change pls.

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

Great job, John!!

 

[CCHLLM]

Then I have a question. I thought Mecklenburg SO was on UHF and their freq is 460.275/465.275 with DPL 731. That's what I hear every time I visit the area. The transmitter site is at Baskerville where just about everything they have is located. I wasn't aware that they were using that VHF freq. I'll be able to confirm during Thanksgiving while attending the family gathering.

 

[fmon]

Then I have a question. I thought Mecklenburg SO was on UHF and their freq is 460.275/465.275 with DPL 731. That's what I hear every time I visit the area. The transmitter site is at Baskerville where just about everything they have is located. I wasn't aware that they were using that VHF freq. I'll be able to confirm during Thanksgiving while attending the family gathering.

I agree, 460.275 w/ DPL 731 always works with me for Mecklenburg SO. The only listing for 151.000 that I can find is Franklin, though I haven't heard anything since Scannerboy1968 made his posting 11 days ago.

 

[W4UVV]

Check the FCC database first

If you had searched the FCC database for State/County and selected "PW" or State/County/Frequency you would have seen two repeaters listed for the Sheriff's Office in Mecklenburg Co. under callsign WPGV740. One is a UHF repeater on 460.275 mhz. and the other high band VHF on 155.640 mhz. The 155.640 mhz. repeater output is aslo the same input to the Franklin City Utilities 151.000 mhz. repeater. Both Mecklenburg Co. SO and Franklin City Utilities radios use the same pl 131.8 The Mecklenburg SO repeater output signal is strong enough to be detected as an input to the Franklin City Utilities repeater. Therefore the Franklin City Utilities repeater repeats the SO comms along with the city utilities' comms. Case closed!

 

[CCHLLM]

Well, I DID search the database, and I DID program 155.640 into my radio for the last trip to Mecklenburg a few weeks back, and I DID NOT hear any traffic on that frequency while I was there, though I DID hear traffic on 460.275, but I also was not able to spend much time near the radios, which, BTW are working just fine according to the General Dynamics 2975 service monitor, and you're repeating information we already have.

 

[Scannerboy1968]

V-TAC still active

Well I will thank all for their help in this matter (especially John). I have sent a corespondance to the city and the matter is in there ball court now. This is still an active frequency and Mecklenburg is still hitting the Franklin repeater strongly.

 

[CCHLLM]

I'll check this out tomorrow and make a casual call to the comm director in Meck Co to see if she's aware of the problem. Surely some coordinator somewhere needs to have his/her butt kicked for that kind of idiocy.

Even when a frequency/coding combo passes the paper test, some coordinators have absolutely no concept of geography. I submitted a renewal request a few years back on an emergency services freq that we had held for almost 20 years only to have it rejected due to a conflict with a relatively new licensee with the SAME PL about 70 miles away. The problem was that their transmitter is at 5300+ feet with 110 watts out on a 6 db gain antenna, and we were 250 watts at 1125 feet (960 + 165 AGL) with a 6.5 db gain, 6 degree down-tilt antenna for countywide saturation, and it's not far from being line-of-sight between the two. Can you say "interference potential?" The only saving grace was that they hadn't yet put their transmitter on line. Yes, there was a huge stinking mess that ensued. We won, BTW.

 

[fmon]

The only listing for 151.000 that I can find is Franklin, though I haven't heard anything since Scannerboy1968 made his posting 11 days ago.

Hey dummy, the antenna is collapsed for 800 MHz trunking.

Golly-Gee, I hear Franklin PW frequently with the antenna extended to VHF, duh.

Franklin is 30 miles west of my location and Brodnax is 90, if John Wilson is correct then I should hear Mecklenburg SO 155.640 out on Franklin's 151.1000 output.

 

[Scannerboy1968]

Mecklenburg out of Franklin's Repeater

Frank,
Yes you should be able to hear Mecklenburg fairly well on 151.1 PL 131.8. I hear the most traffic either in the evening or late morning. Normally you can tell it is Mecklenburg by the use of the term "V-TAC".
Andy

 

[CCHLLM]

After monitoring the 155.640 131.8 freq in Mecklenburg over the holiday, I can definitely tell ya it ain't a multicast of the UHF side. Couldn't get in touch with the Director at Mecklenburg because of the holiday (even if she IS a distant relative), but will try again this week and see if I can get the skinny.

 

[Scannerboy1968]

Contacted Franklin Public Works Director

I contacted the Franklin Public Works Director and he stated in the return email,"Hey Andy, your right about the interference, I will pass this on to Steve Watson as he handles our communication issues. Thanks and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving." So thanks to help of several people the problem is solved and the solution could be on the way?
Andy

 

[Sparx]

The only simulcast is on 169.575 for the Rangers at the dam to hear county dispatch.

 

[rescue674]

VSP using VTAC

That is not State Police using that channel is the Eastern Shore police and Fire explores talk-around and they talk about police and fire ideas and other things we have them in are radio(Norfolk Fire Dept Explores)

 

[tglendye]

Re: VSP using VTAC

That is not State Police using that channel is the Eastern Shore police and Fire explores talk-around and they talk about police and fire ideas and other things we have them in are radio(Norfolk Fire Dept Explores)

:?: ... I can make most of this out (I think), but what system are you referring too?