Washington County SHA Tower

[Whistler]

Right along I-70 at Exit 29 the SHA put up a antenna structure with various antennas on it recently a friend of ours noticed several new antenna on it. One set is half way up and the other set is at the top. I am not good with antennas but they are the style with the mini loops on the end and they are VHF antennas also. Does anyone know who is using these antennas and what are the frequencies.

 

[Whistler]

They are Antennex 1/2 wave Dipole Two Array VHF antennas.

 

[ka3jjz]

Maybe for the MSP narrow band stuff? If they are indeed VHF antennas, would be a logical candidate. 73s Mike

 

[Whistler]

What narrowband stuff do they have? Maybe it is a system to come they have only been up for a week or so. Are there any Washington County listeners on here?

 

[spanner]

Yes, we are here.....

Did not notice the new antennas....I will see what I can find out....

 

[ka3jjz]

What narrowband stuff do they have? Maybe it is a system to come they have only been up for a week or so. Are there any Washington County listeners on here?

This is pure supposition at this point, but....we have seen reports of the DNR using the new VTAC freqs just for chit chat (they did it, evidently at the recent Yacht race stop here in Baltimore...) and I think I've seen some reports of DNR using it in other places, too. In addition, there's been reports that some MSP barracks have now gotten licenses for the VTAC freqs, so it's not hard to assume (there's that dangerous word again...) that it's for either of those agencies. However, with DNR and MSP sometimes working together, it makes it even more of a possibility....73s Mike

 

[Whistler]

OK well I guess I deserved that one...but anyway back to important stuff. We were talking about the additional antennas on a tower in Hagerstown (Western MD...no water). I guess I will have to get the GPS on the tower and do a Geosearch on ULS. Might as well drop this thread it isn't helping figure out the original question.

 

[ambdrvr]

Ok, thought I'd throw this out there. The Washington County MSP barracks has their own license for VTAC and UCALL/UTAC (WQDD826) and the State Police also have a statewide license for VTAC and UCALL/UTAC (WPXX392). It would be a good assumption (careful with that word again) that these antennas will be used for these channels. Ok, later.

Ambdrvr

 

[spanner]

I plugged in all of the VTAC and UCALL/UTAC listed in when they first appeared on the page.

I have not heard any traffic on them in Washington County yet.

Yes, there are more antennas on the tower. I saw them last night on my way back home.

I will try and find out who owns them....

 

[spanner]

I have an "interest" request into someone at SHA in Hagerstown....Hopefully, they will get back to me with a user for the new antennas....

carl

 

[Whistler]

Spanner...you are a Scholar and a Gentleman, Bless your Heart.