Why MARCS Tower Addresses Dropped

[Swipesy]

I just noticed today that the specific MARCS System tower addresses have been eliminated from the RadioReference database. Why and who made that decision? Some of us use specific tower information and despite the towers being simulcast doesn't mean that some of us don't use that information in programming our scanners. More loss of transparency!

 

[N2YQT]

I just noticed today that the specific MARCS System tower addresses have been eliminated from the RadioReference database. Why and who made that decision? Some of us use specific tower information and despite the towers being simulcast doesn't mean that some of us don't use that information in programming our scanners. More loss of transparency!

Did they erase it off the FCC license to?

 

[jonwienke]

Probably because with simulcast, it's impossible to only program one transmitter in the cell, because they all transmit the same signal on the same frequency. You're not going to get signal from just one location.

 

[Swipesy]

Jon you are not correct. I happen to live at the fringe of 4 major P25 systems and I can only hear 1 tower for each system at my base station.

 

[northernsummit]

Probably because with simulcast, it's impossible to only program one transmitter in the cell, because they all transmit the same signal on the same frequency. You're not going to get signal from just one location.

Jon, I've actually built a yagi that I can swing 180 degrees and choose from three different transmitters. Knowing the physical location of each transmitter has it's benefits. If the OP is referring to the actual address of a transmitter those are public record. I suspect, clicking through to a couple of FCC licenses in the RRDB, that this may be a technical issue and not a conscious decision. I can find licenses under a given site, but if i click on them it's a dead link.

 

[Swipesy]

Northernsummit you are correct that the exact tower location can be found outside the RR. My point is that you used to be able to click on the County for the System in RR and see the exact location of each tower, simulcast or not. You can see the location for non simulcast systems. Someone knocked out the simulcast locations without informing RR users such action was being taken.

 

[jonwienke]

Jon you are not correct. I happen to live at the fringe of 4 major P25 systems and I can only hear 1 tower for each system at my base station.

You have no way of verifying that for simulcast, because all of the transmitters are on the same frequency. Even in a fringe area, you're usually getting a mix of signal from at least 2 transmitters.

 

[eorange]

Unless of course you take a LSM-distortion-susceptible radio like a 396XT to an area where you are truly receiving signal from just one tower, and the LSM distortion suddenly goes away. I've done this as @northernsummit correctly points out, in multiple states no less.

 

[Swipesy]

Jon, your response has nothing to do with my original post that simulcast tower sites addresses have been taken off RR. Start your own thread about your vast knowledge about simulcast.

 

[northernsummit]

Northernsummit you are correct that the exact tower location can be found outside the RR. My point is that you used to be able to click on the County for the System in RR and see the exact location of each tower, simulcast or not. You can see the location for non simulcast systems. Someone knocked out the simulcast locations without informing RR users such action was being taken.

I wasn't disputing that, I was just saying if they're publicly available I can't think of any reason to remove them. Is this what you're talking about? If I click on the Summit County site, and then click on a license under FCC Licenses, such as WNNE207 (or RadioReference.com) it takes me to a dead end.

Is that what you're looking at, or something else?

 

[RandyKuff]

Swipesy, I see what you mean... Your right... It used to be there,,,

 

[Swipesy]

I wasn't disputing that, I was just saying if they're publicly available I can't think of any reason to remove them. Is this what you're talking about? If I click on the Summit County site, and then click on a license under FCC Licenses, such as WNNE207 (or RadioReference.com) it takes me to a dead end.

Is that what you're looking at, or something else?

That is what I am referring to - yes.

 

[u2brent]

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/licenseLocSum.jsp?licKey=1302392

It's still publicly available

License Search

If you look in the right place.. The RR FCC database is handy for most jobs, but sometimes you need to go to the source for accurate info.

 

[ecps92]

Seems the RRDB is having issues, as I just tried it for my area and the links are DEAD as well [Non Ohio]

I wasn't disputing that, I was just saying if they're publicly available I can't think of any reason to remove them. Is this what you're talking about? If I click on the Summit County site, and then click on a license under FCC Licenses, such as WNNE207 (or RadioReference.com) it takes me to a dead end.

Is that what you're looking at, or something else?

 

[kf8yk]

The RR FCC database has its ups and downs:

FCC database is down 1/6/2021

I’m traveling this week which means the FCC database is down because it likes to do that and can’t be fixed until Friday. murhpys law. Thanks for your patience

forums.radioreference.com

FCC database

Am attempting to access the database but I see no files.

forums.radioreference.com

FCC Grants blank page

I am a preium member, but I get a blank page for grants or licenses with just the the header for any county I try.

forums.radioreference.com

 

[MtnBiker2005]

That RRDB FCC problem should be fixed on Thursday morning, if the regular scheduled update goes well.

 

[wa8pyr]

I just noticed today that the specific MARCS System tower addresses have been eliminated from the RadioReference database. Why and who made that decision? Some of us use specific tower information and despite the towers being simulcast doesn't mean that some of us don't use that information in programming our scanners. More loss of transparency!

Just to make it official. . . RadioReference hasn't dropped or deleted anything. As noted above, sometimes the FCC database links have issues, but that's outside our control as RR pulls the data from the FCC.

 

[RandyKuff]

Just checked... Back up and working again...