What kind of system is this? University of West Florida

[JamesBrox]

www.radioreference.com/db/sid/5048

Little confused. The system type DLs as Motorola, I don't understand the mode being analog. Thanks

 

[Brales60]

What are you trying to listen to, just the school?

 

[JamesBrox]

What are you trying to listen to, just the school?

Can you see the link? Yes, it's a college.

 

[JamesBrox]

What's your question?
It's analog TGs on a trunked system. Unless the info is not up to date...always possible!

Just never ran across a digital system with analog TGs in my area. Threw me for a loop....was going to do "ID Searching" on this system but can't if it's analog.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Can you see the link? Yes, it's a college.

What's your question?
It's analog TGs on a trunked system. Unless the info is not up to date...always possible! It's not had an update posted in over 10 years.

Yes, we see the school, and @mass-man gave you a response. Not unusual for trunked system, especially older Type II systems, to have analog TGs, though it is quickly changing.

 

[wtp]

System Type:	Motorola Type II Smartnet
System Voice:	Analog

it is an analog trunked system...

 

[a417]

In the times before digital, there was analog.

Type IIs are what...30+ yrs old now?

 

[JamesBrox]

Yes, we see the school, and @mass-man gave you a response. Not unusual for trunked system, especially older Type II systems, to have analog TGs, though it is quickly changing.

I'm not too far from this college and have never been able to get a hit on my base unit. Just got me thinking I may have something programmed wrong on my side. Thanks

 

[mmckenna]

www.radioreference.com/db/sid/5048

Little confused. The system type DLs as Motorola, I don't understand the mode being analog. Thanks

I ran a Type 2 SmartNet system for a long time. It was all analog.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I'm not too far from this college and have never been able to get a hit on my base unit.

What does "not too far" mean? It could be it isn't designed for distance but only in the immediate vicinity of the campus, this is very common with amusement parks especially where a couple miles away you can't hear the trunked system.

 

[JamesBrox]

In the times before digital, there was analog.
Really? No way. I never in a million years would have guessed that. Thank you

Type IIs are what...30+ yrs old now?

You asking me? I don't know. Still laying on the floor from the discovery of analog was before digital.

 

[JamesBrox]

What does "not too far" mean? It could be it isn't designed for distance but only in the immediate vicinity of the campus, this is very common with amusement parks especially where a couple miles away you can't hear the trunked system.

I'd say around 10-15 miles. The kicker is that can hear a conventional UHF system from a retirement home that's literally right next door.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm not too far from this college and have never been able to get a hit on my base unit. Just got me thinking I may have something programmed wrong on my side. Thanks

Can you hear the control channel if you just tune to that frequency?

Usually those systems are designed to cover the campus and immediate area. Idea is to keep the radiation pattern of the antennas down below the horizon and get the signal inside the buildings where it is needed. Shooting power out towards the horizon isn't useful. Unless you are close to the campus, it's possible you won't hear anything.
If your scanner allows it, you'll still be able to see radio ID's and talkgroup ID's.

It would also be worth checking with others in your area to see if the system is still active. Last update on that page was 11 years ago. SmartNet systems are O-L-D and it is entirely possible it has been replaced with something else, possibly different frequencies, or on a local/regional system.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I'd say around 10-15 miles. The kicker is that can hear a conventional UHF system from a retirement home that's literally right next door.

That may be too far depending on how the system is set up. Don't be so quick to blame your programming.

 

[mmckenna]

"Well, there's your problem right there!"

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WPNS502 - UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA

Be careful relying on the Radio Reference Database. It's using information from scanner users in most cases, and sometimes it is out of date.
Looking at the FCC license link above, its still there, but showing P25 emission designator. It shows the current license grant in 2014, 2 years after the last update on the rr.com website.

Antenna is at 52 meters on top of a water tank. Depending on the antenna design/orientation, you may or may not be able to hear the system. It's about putting the power where it is actually needed, not 15 miles away for the enjoyment of a scanner hobbyist.

 

[RaleighGuy]

"Well, there's your problem right there!"
It shows the current license grant in 2014, 2 years after the last update on the rr.com website.

Great catch @mmckenna! If you do hear it now @JamesBrox please submit the new information from what you monitor to verify it is active, not from the license.

 

[mmckenna]

Looks like they added P25 in 2020, according to the transaction log. The old 20K0F3E emission designators ( would cover SmartNet ) are still on the license, so probably a transition from analog to P25 sometime around/after the 2020 update.

 

[JamesBrox]

"Well, there's your problem right there!"

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WPNS502 - UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA

Be careful relying on the Radio Reference Database. It's using information from scanner users in most cases, and sometimes it is out of date.
Looking at the FCC license link above, its still there, but showing P25 emission designator. It shows the current license grant in 2014, 2 years after the last update on the rr.com website.

Antenna is at 52 meters on top of a water tank. Depending on the antenna design/orientation, you may or may not be able to hear the system. It's about putting the power where it is actually needed, not 15 miles away for the enjoyment of a scanner hobbyist.

Outstanding info Sir. Really appreciate you digging into this.

 

[JamesBrox]

Looks like they added P25 in 2020, according to the transaction log. The old 20K0F3E emission designators ( would cover SmartNet ) are still on the license, so probably a transition from analog to P25 sometime around/after the 2020 update.


Yes sir, probably to interop with the local LE agency which is P25 Phase 2 (E). Just a guess though.

 

[JamesBrox]

Great catch @mmckenna! If you do hear it now @JamesBrox please submit the new information from what you monitor to verify it is active, not from the license.

Negative.....nothing from the base unit. But I surely will if I ever get a hit. Thanks