Friday, March 30, 2012

Weekend Events

Sports and cherry blossom events dominate the weekend:
  • The Wizards play Friday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • DC United plays Friday at 7:30 PM at RFK Stadium.
  • The Blossom Kite Festival is Saturday from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Organizers have used Family Radio Service radios in previous years.
  • The Capitals play Saturday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is Sunday at 7:30 AM on the grounds of the Washington Monument. In previous years, organizers have used a repeater on a UHF business frequency. Also check DCFD on their Special Events talkgroups, and Park Police on 166.7250.
  • Bruce Springsteen performs Sunday at 7:30 PM at Verizon Center.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Montgomery County Rebanding Hits a "Snag"

Montgomery County was in the process of rebanding, but has hit a "snag," according to Lt. Dallas Lipp of MCFRS, who wrote this post on RadioReference.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Weekend Events

The usual slate of Verizon Center events, plus a music festival:
  • The Capitals play Friday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The ShamrockFest is Saturday at RFK Stadium. Look for event organizers to probably use UHF business simplex frequencies, and CSC Event Staff to possibly use 461.5125 [ d152].
  • The Wizards play Saturday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The Capitals play Sunday at 5 PM at Verizon Center.

Montgomery County Rebanding Next Week

According to posts on Scan-DC, the Montgomery County trunked system will be rebanded next week. All frequencies will shift down 15 MHz.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

464.3250 [210.7] - UMD-College Park

464.3250 [210.7] (R) is used by the University of Maryland-College Park for Parking Services. Note that there is already a talkgroup (9936) on the university's trunked system that is supposedly for Parking Services.

Warner Theatre Update

The Warner Theatre was recently licensed for five new simplex frequencies. In monitoring on Saturday evening, 466.8375 [ d134] and 469.7250 [ d134] were in use. 469.7250 may have been the input for 466.8375, which would make for an unusual repeater pair. More monitoring is required to determine if the Warner is definitely running a repeater.

Circus Frequencies

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was at the Verizon Center this past weekend. I found two frequencies: 151.9250 [167.9] and 151.9550 [167.9]. In a previous year, 153.0200 [167.9] was also in use. Note that these frequencies are probably used nationwide for the circus.

Rock 'n Roll USA Marathon Talkgroups Found

Here are talkgroups found on the DC trunked system for last Saturday's marathon:

2096 DCFD Special Events 1
2112 DCFD Special Events 2 (transports)
21232 MPD 3 (encrypted)
35536 EMA (analog simulcast on 59216)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Good List of Analog Frequencies

From Alan Henney on the Scan-DC list comes an excellent list of analog frequencies for the DC area. These are handy for those without a digital scanner, or for popping in a secondary or older radio.

VHF: 160.26-METRO, 160.23-CSX, 160.32-CSX, 154.19-DCFEMS, 154.28-FMARS2, 153.95-MOGOFD1, 154.16-MOGOFD2, 151.28-MDPK/DNR, 155.685-PGFD, 159.0-VSP, USCAP: 169.225, 165.5375, 170.175, 162.25, USPARK: 166.725, 166.925, 154.01-AAFD, 161.295-APD, 155.085-CFD, 154.295-FMARS1, 154.25-HFD, 159.48-MED*, 154.325-PWFD, 159.18-TALBOTFD.

UHF: 453.7-SUSSEX F/EMS DISP, 462.95-EMSCALL1, 462.975-EMSCALL2, 451.9125-BETHESDA, 464.15-CNMC, 452.975-CITYWIDE, 461.4-SIL SPG, 462.5-SIL SPG, 464.775-SIL SPG/SUB HOSP, 463.725-GT UNIV, 464.2-GWU, 461.45 HOLY CROSS, 462.4 H-MARS, 463.225 NAT CATH/FT LINCOLN, 461.2 NAT'L SHRINE, 464.25 PGH, 464.375-PG PLAZA/RFK, 464.525 UNION STATION, 464.475 WAH, 463.8 WHC/FEDEX, 464.625 WHEATON, 450.0875-WUSA/LNS, 455.9125-MTC

Friday, March 16, 2012

Rock 'n Roll USA Marathon

The Rock 'n Roll USA Marathon begins at 8:00 AM Saturday at RFK Stadium. The race winds through the District, before ending back at RFK. Expect to see many talkgroups on the DC trunked system active. Last year, organizers used talkgroups 20432 and 20464.

Watergate at Landmark FCC App

Watergate at Landmark, a condo in Alexandria, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for repeaters on 461.6750 and 463.8000, and simplex on 464.5750. The frequencies are coded for both analog and MOTOTRBO. Note that the property already is licensed for these frequencies, albeit only for analog.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Hillwood Using MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus?

The Hillwood Museum appears to be using a MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus system on 461.5875 and 464.7875. This system probably replaces 151.7450 [ d516]. Note that the license for this system does not indicate a trunked system.

Silver Spring Update

I spent some time in Silver Spring on Saturday evening, and was able to update several frequencies. Here are some highlights:

457.3125 [ d114] The Fillmore Silver Spring
457.4125 [ d116] The Fillmore Silver Spring
462.1875 [ d072] The Fillmore Silver Spring

464.5500 [  67.0] Downtown Silver Spring - Whole Foods
464.8250 [100.0] Downtown Silver Spring - Regal Majestic 20 Theater
464.8750 [100.0] Downtown Silver Spring - Regal Majestic 20 Theater - Managers?
464.9250 [100.0] Downtown Silver Spring - Regal Majestic 20 Theater - Concessions?
467.8750 [  67.0] Downtown Silver Spring - AFI Silver Theater

151.5350 [         ] Crowne Plaza Silver Spring (MOTOTRBO) (R)
461.1250 [ d072] Courtyard Silver Spring Downtown (S)

Friday, March 9, 2012

Weekend Events

Sports are the focus this weekend:
  • The Wizards play Saturday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • DC United plays their home opener on Saturday at 7:30 PM at RFK Stadium.
  • The St. Patrick's Day Parade is Sunday at noon on Constitution Ave. from 7th to 17th Sts.
  • The Capitals play Sunday at 5 PM at Verizon Center.

City of New Carrollton FCC App

The City of New Carrollton (MD) has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for simplex on 160.0800 and 469.9375. The frequencies will be used for "trash collection, street and parks maintenance, tree removal, and administration use."

Thursday, March 8, 2012

McPherson Building FCC App

Mullen Management, which manages the McPherson Building at 901 15th St. NW in DC, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 461.6125.

1100 Connecticut Ave. FCC App

1100 Connecticut Ave. has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for simplex on 456.2875, 456.7125, 457.6875, and 463.3625.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Blessed John Paul II Shrine FCC App

The Blessed John Paul II Shrine (formerly the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center) has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for repeaters on 462.1500 and 462.5000.

Washington Adventist University FCC License

Washington Adventist University, located in Takoma Park, was recently licensed for three repeaters (451.8750, 461.7125, and 463.2375) and one simplex frequency (464.8750).

Friday, March 2, 2012

Weekend Events

Lots of action at Verizon Center:
  • The Capitals play Friday at 7 PM.
  • The Wizards play Saturday at 7 PM.
  • The Capitals play Sunday at 7 PM.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Activity on 163.1000 in Fredericksburg Area

This morning, there was activity on 163.1000 [NAC 167] in the Fredericksburg area. It appeared to be one or more airplanes testing an imaging system. NAC 167 is commonly used by the FBI.

Renaissance Arlington Capital View FCC App

The Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 461.7375. The hotel already has several frequencies licensed; this may be a channel for banquets, which does not have its own repeater.