Sunday, April 28, 2013

VADATA FCC License

VADATA, a company which runs data centers for Amazon.com, was recently licensed for MOTOTRBO frequencies at several locations in Northern Virginia:

4100 Westfax Dr., Chantilly: 451.4000R, 451.7750S, 462.1500S
45360 Severn Way, Sterling: 462.0500R, 463.5000S, 468.5000S
22360 Dulles Summit Ct., Sterling: 461.3500R, 461.9250S, 466.9250S
43481 Devin Shafron Dr., Ashburn: 451.9250R, 451.9875S, 461.8875S
7505 Mason King Ct., Manassas: 451.9000R, 452.0000S, 462.3750S

Sidwell Friends School FCC License

Sidwell Friends School was recently licensed for a repeater on 452.2250 at its Bethesda campus, and a repeater on 462.2000 and simplex on 461.5750 at its DC campus. The frequencies are coded for analog and MOTOTRBO. The school currently uses a repeater on 461.3875 [100.0].

1120 Vermont Ave. FCC License

1120 Vermont Ave., an office building in DC, was recently licensed for a base/mobile configuration on 461.5000, and simplex on 463.7250, 467.7625, and 467.8125.

Drill in Fredericksburg Area

This afternoon, there was a shooter drill in the Fredericksburg area. It may have taken place at the Fredericksburg Area Campus of Germanna Community College. A couple of talkgroups and a VHF frequency appeared to be patched together. Spotsylvania Sheriff used Tac 2 (talkgroup 02-023) on the Spotsylvania trunked system. Virginia State Police used Culpeper 3 (talkgroup 98) on the STARS trunked system. And Fredericksburg Police used 155.7150 [156.7], which is supposed to be Fredericksburg Fire Channel 7.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

United Medical Center FCC App

United Medical Center, located at 1310 Southern Ave. SE in DC, has an application to its license pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 461.7875. The repeater is listed with an analog emission designator, but the hospital currently uses MOTOTRBO on 464.8250, so it wouldn't be surprising to see MOTOTRBO on this frequency as well.

Baltimore Major Update

Took a trip to Baltimore last Saturday, and updated many frequencies on the Baltimore page. Some observations:
  • Johns Hopkins University continues to migrate to MOTOTRBO. Interestingly, they seem to use Color Code 5, Slot 2, Group 40 on many of their frequencies.
  • The frequencies used by the Maryland Stadium Authority and Oriole Park at Camden Yards remain analog. (The licenses had the MOTOTRBO emission designators added to them recently.)
  • The National Aquarium MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus system is somewhat hard to figure. DMRDecode reports the same LCN for 464.4750 and 464.8250.
  • Harborplace uses three UHF repeaters, but they all seem to have security traffic on them at one point or another. They may have a separate frequency for each part of the complex (Pratt St. Pavillion, Light St. Pavillion, and Gallery at Harborplace).
  • The Hotel Monaco is using frequencies that are still in the application process.
  • The Hyatt Regency has switched to MOTOTRBO.
  • The Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards is finally using their frequencies.

Unknown MOTOTRBO in Tysons Corner Area

Here are some unknown MOTOTRBO frequencies monitored in the Tysons Corner area:

463.2125 [         ] Rockwell Collins or Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (MOTOTRBO - Color Code 12, Slot 1, Group 1000)
463.5375 [         ] Suburban Hospital? (MOTOTRBO - Color Code 5, Slot 2, Group 202)
463.5875 [         ] Verisign or Norwood School (MOTOTRBO - Color Code 3, Slot 1, Group 1)
463.7750 [         ] Charles E. Smith - Reston? (MOTOTRBO - Color Code 1, Slot 1, Group 13)

MOTOTRBO Connect Plus Systems

FleetTalk Partners appears to be converting their LTR/LTR PassPort systems to MOTOTRBO Connect Plus systems. Here are some frequencies monitored from the Crystal City/Pentagon City area:
  • 495.9625 - Connect Plus control channel; strong signal. Originates from Silver Spring. RadioReference page.
  • 496.2125 - Probable MOTOTRBO voice channel; strong signal. May originate from Falls Church or Silver Spring.
  • 496.6625 - Connect Plus control channel; weak signal. May originate from Waldorf, Independent Hill, Upper Marlboro, or Falls Church.
I did not run DMRDecode on the frequencies, so I don't have information on system IDs, sites, etc.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Potomac Mills Swaps Security/Housekeeping Frequencies

Potomac Mills Mall has swapped the frequencies used by security and housekeeping. Security now uses 461.3000 [ d043], and housekeeping uses 463.6000 [ d723]. 461.3000 has the emission designator for MOTOTRBO on the license, but as of a few days ago, continues to operate analog. 463.6000 has never been licensed.

Weekend Events

  • The Nationals play Friday at 7:05 PM, Saturday at 1:05 PM, and Sunday at 1:35 PM at Nationals Park.
  • The Capitals play Saturday at 7:00 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The Nike Women Half Marathon is Sunday, beginning at 7:00 AM. The race begins and ends at Pennsylvania Ave. and 11th St.

Rosslyn Metro Center FCC App

Rosslyn Metro Center, an office building located at 1700 N. Moore St. in Arlington, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a MOTOTRBO repeater on 451.9625, and MOTOTRBO simplex on 451.4375, 451.6875, 451.7125, 456.4375, and 456.7125.

Fairmont Gardens Apartments FCC App

Fairmont Gardens Apartments in Annandale has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for simplex on 456.7125, 457.8125, 457.8625, 462.1125, and 467.1125.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Providence Hospital Update

Providence Hospital is using repeaters on 451.7750 [ d265] and 451.9750 [ d265]. The hospital also continues to use 462.3500 [100.0], and may use 462.1125 [100.0]. The hospital may be undergoing some frequency reorganization; their license also lists a few additional frequencies.

Colonial Place Using MOTOTRBO on 461.2250

Colonial Place, an office complex in Arlington, is using MOTOTRBO on 461.2250. The license actually lists the emission designators for NXDN (and not for MOTOTRBO), but no NXDN has been monitored on the frequency.

Virgin America Confirmed Using NXDN at DCA

Virgin America has been monitored using NXDN at Reagan National Airport on 452.7625. The application to add the NXDN emission designator to the license is still pending.

Hyatt Regency Crystal City Changes Tones

The Hyatt Regency Crystal City has changed the subaudible tones on their frequencies. Here's the current line-up:

461.4000 [ d271] Hyatt Regency Crystal City - Security
462.0750 [ d331] Hyatt Regency Crystal City - Engineering/Housekeeping
463.4500 [ d226] Hyatt Regency Crystal City - Banquets?

These repeaters are focused on the hotel; it is difficult to monitor them from even a few blocks away.

Southern Towers Switches to Unlicensed MOTOTRBO

Southern Towers, a big apartment complex in Alexandria, has switched to an unlicensed MOTOTRBO repeater on 452.0250. Previously, the complex used 151.6550 [192.8].

Monday, April 22, 2013

George Mason University FCC License

George Mason University was recently licensed for frequencies at its Arlington and Prince William campuses for "fire safety coordination." 453.1625 and 458.1625 were licensed at Arlington. 453.2375 and 458.2375 were licensed at Prince William.

Additionally, 460.2125 and 465.2125 were licensed for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), located near Front Royal. George Mason has a partnership with the SCBI.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

400-444 N. Capitol St. FCC App

400-444 N. Capitol St., an office building in DC, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 451.9625, and simplex on 456.1875, 456.4625, 456.4875, 456.6625, and 457.0625.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Here's what I found yesterday at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade:

452.1125 [ d131] Primary (R)
461.2250 [ d624] Route
461.5125 [ d152] CSC Event Staff
463.4250 [ d723] "crew"
464.2125 [ d371] Sponsors/Hospitality
468.4125 [ d306] Golf Carts
468.6750 [ d516] Volunteers
DC Fire used talkgroup 2112 (Special Events 2). DC EMA used talkgroup 33872.

450.3875 [ CSQ] was used for interruptible feedback (IFB); unknown which media outlet.

Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival

Here's what I found yesterday at the Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival:

452.4875 [ d412] Primary (S)
452.8625 [ d412] Money (S)
457.4875 [ d412]
DC Fire used talkgroup 2112 (Special Events 2).

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Four Seasons Hotel FCC App

The Four Seasons Hotel, located at 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in DC, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 463.6125, and simplex on 451.3125, 451.4125, 451.5875, 451.6375, and 452.1125.

The hotel has been using a repeater on 461.2000 [ d073], and simplex on 464.0125 [ d073]. Both of these frequencies are unlicensed.

Friday, April 12, 2013

LifeEvac 2 New Frequency

LifeEvac 2, a helicopter based at Stafford Regional Airport, is using 461.2500 [192.8]. This repeater is located on a tower off of Rt. 1 near the Fredericksburg City/Spotsylvania County line. LifeEvac 2 previously used the Communication Specialists LTR system.

Weekend Events

  • The Wizards play Friday at 7 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The Nationals play Friday at 7:05 PM, Saturday at 1:05 PM, and Sunday at 1:35 at Nationals Park.
  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is Saturday from 10:00 AM until noon on Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets.
  • The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is Saturday from 10:30 AM until 6:00 PM in the area around 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
  • The Capitals play Saturday at 7:00 PM at Verizon Center.
  • DC United plays Saturday at 7:00 PM at RFK Stadium.

Virgin America App Adds NXDN Emission Designators

Virgin America has an application pending to its license to add NXDN emission designators to its frequencies at Reagan National and Dulles International Airports.

Aeronautical Radio (DCA) 800 MHz Trunked System

The Aeronautical Radio Motorola Type II 800 MHz trunked system at Reagan National Airport has been off-the-air for a few years. The license is still active, and has had the emission designator for MOTOTRBO added to it. It's unknown if any airlines are on the system.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Universal Security FCC App

Universal Security has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 463.6125. The transmitter is located at 8040 Kennett St. in downtown Silver Spring. It's unknown if Universal Security is using the frequency for security in downtown Silver Spring, or another nearby location.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Washington National Cathedral FCC License Modification

Washington National Cathedral has an application pending to modify its license. The Cathedral is currently licensed for 464.5250 in a base/mobile configuration. The modification seeks to add repeaters on 461.2250, 461.3000, 461.6750, and 462.0250, and simplex on 457.1875, 463.2500, 463.7000, 463.8250, and 463.9500.

The Cathedral was last monitored using 463.2250 [107.2] (R) for security, and 462.0250 [ d445] (R) for engineering.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Sheraton Washington North FCC App

The Sheraton Washington North, located in Beltsville, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for simplex on 451.3125, 451.6375, 451.6625, 451.7125, and 452.0625. The hotel was last monitored on 462.5750 [141.3].

Monday, April 8, 2013

Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy FCC License

The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, located in Ashburn, was recently licensed for a repeater on 461.6875.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation FCC License

Overseas Private Investment Corporation, located at 1100 New York Ave. NW in DC, was recently licensed for a repeater on 462.1500, and simplex on 462.4250.

Watergate South FCC License

Watergate South, a co-op located at 700 New Hampshire Ave. NW in DC, was recently licensed for simplex on 467.1000 and 468.3500.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Washington, DC Mormon Temple FCC App

The Washington, DC Mormon Temple, located at 9900 Stoneybrook Dr. in Kensington, MD, has an application pending before the FCC. The app calls for a repeater on 451.8875.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Weekend Events

  • The Wizards play Saturday at 7:00 PM at Verizon Center.
  • The Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler is Sunday at 7:30 AM on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Check 461.4000 and/or 463.8000 for organizers, 166.7250 and/or 166.8500 for Park Police, and the DC Fire Special Events talkgroups.
  • The Capitals play Sunday at 7:00 PM at Verizon Center.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Falls Church Schools MOTOTRBO Frequency

Falls Church Schools are using MOTOTRBO on 152.2700 (Color Code 8, Slot 1, Group 101). This frequency is probably used for buses, and not for a specific school, but more monitoring is needed.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) Update

Here are some new/changed airline ground frequencies for Reagan National Airport (DCA):

460.8250 [ d115] Delta
460.7500 [ d315] Delta Shuttle
460.7750 [         ] US Airways - Baggage (MOTOTRBO - Color Code 1, Slot 2, Group 1007)

NCAA East Regional Final Frequency Found

The NCAA East Regional Final was this past Saturday at Verizon Center. The arena's MOTOTRBO frequencies were quite busy, but I didn't find anything in use by tournament organizers. 467.8125 [ 88.5] was used by some kind of video production team.

The Vern Express Using MOTOTRBO

The Vern Express, a shuttle service between George Washington University's main campus in Foggy Bottom and its Mount Vernon campus, is using MOTOTRBO on 464.9500 (Color Code 7, Slot 1, Group 1). The service is operated by International Limousine Service, which was recently licensed for the frequency. The license has a pending application for the MOTOTRBO emission designator.