MSPZone4&6

Changes coming to MSP Trunk on Cape Cod

The Following info is from various internet sources (newsgroups, mailing lists, webpages) on the proposed changes planned for the combining of Zones 4 and 6 making one large zone of 15 frequencies for the entire Cape instead of the Upper and Lower Cape systems that exist now.

How the system looks now before these changes:
from Stephen Johnson's page (the best place on the internet for MSP trunk info)
Zone 4
Zone 6

Back in April of last year Tim Caldwell, Bill Dunn and Scott Halligan had reported that there was a plan to combine all the areas of the Cape into one Zone allowing it to share 15 frequencies to cut down on the overcrowding that the individual systems where experiencing between all the local towns and the state police usage.

from Tim Caldwell's Antenna:
04/24/01 More info is out on the MSP cape system change: existing frequencies will be combined except 853.0375 into one system with multi sites. Date is still uncertain.

from Tim Caldwell's Antenna Cape Update Page:

08/31/01 I HAD MOTOROLA TECHS WORKING IN PROVINCETOWN LAST FEW DAYS FIXING MAJOR RECEPTION PROBLEMS SINCE THE NEW TOWER IN TRURO WAS TURNED ON AND THE OLD ONE DISMANTLED. THOSE PROBLEMS HAD TO DO WITH THE DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA ARRAY BEING USED. I HAVE IT STRAIGHT FROM THE TECHS MOUTH THE UPGRADE OF ZONE VI (TRURO) TO A FULL SITE IS A YEAR AWAY……….

05/30/01

THE NEW FCC APPLICATION CAME THROUGH 5/24/01. 14 OF THE EXISTING FREQUENCIES (LESS 853.0375) WILL BE COMBINED TO MAKE A NEW SYSTEM FOR THE CAPE. II IS SUPPOSED TO BE UP BY SUMMER-STAY TUNED…5/30/01 STILL WAITING…

MOTOROLA IS IN THE PROCESS OF REPROGRAMMING ALL 800 PORTABLES & MOBILES ON THE CAPE SO THEY WILL CORRECTLY VOTE FOR AND RELEASE SITES WHEN TRANSMITTING. THIS SHOULD IN ITSELF DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE RECEPTION. PHASE TWO, THE IN BUILDING MODE, SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING SOMETIME THIS SUMMER ACCORDING TO SOURCES. THIS WILL INVOLVE THE TRURO SITE BEING SHUT DOWN. A NEW SITE WILL BE PUT UP IN WELLFLEET AND ONE SET OF FREQUENCIES WILL BE IN USE CAPE WIDE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE DATA CHANNEL AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU ARE ON THE CAPE ALL USERS WILL BE HEARD. CURRENTLY LOWER CAPE USERS ONLY MIGRATE TO THE MAIN SYSTEM WHEN THEY ROAM INTO THAT AREA. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL, AT LEAST AT FIRST, ANY NEW CHANNELS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING ALL EXISTING 14 CHANNELS WILL BE USED CAPE WIDE. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES AS THIS EVENT NEARS.

from Scott Halligan's ScanMass Messageboard Cape Area:

ScanCapeCod

Group: Super Administrators
Posts: 561
Joined: Feb. 2002

Posted: Oct. 05 2002,09:15

An inside source revealed to me earlier this week that the Zone 06 "absorption" into Zone 04 is still in the plans. The apparent delay right now is due to the attempted establishment of a microwave link between Zone 04's Orleans tower and the Zone 06 system. There is no word on a firm date that this may occur but it is apparently the stumbling block at the moment.

I am also advised that a new tower is in the works at Exit 8 on Route 6. This tower will replace the current monopole that can be seen adjacent to the eastbound off-ramp and should significantly enhance coverage in the Yarmouth and Dennis areas, sections of the Cape that currently suffer with regards to trunked system coverage. Again, unknown on a target date for this project.

My inside source also advised me that despite the apparent close-to-saturated condition of Zone 04, logging software for the area only showed 3-4 busy signals over a period of several months. Interesting, as I watch the system with Trunker and sometimes see every voice channel active at once. Nontheless, the addition of the Zone 06 frequencies can be nothing but beneficial. Currently there is a freeze on any more departments being granted access to the system as a result of the traffic use, which has apparently been logged as the busiest in the state. Once the Zone 06 system has been integrated more stations will be allowed to come online. These stations could possibly include some of the conventional 800 MHz departments, although it is highly unlikely that all will make the switch.

Stay tuned!

--------------
Scott/KC1UA
Scan Cape Cod

from Rich McVicar's posts of FCC License grants to the mailing lists Scan-Mass-East and SME2

YP - TRUNKED PUB SAFETY & SPEC EMERGENCY

YP WPJH461

<WPFH682>

MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF - LT. RICHARD P. HANLON FRAMINGHAM, MA [we are a police agency and will use the proposed authorization to better coordinate our activities.] ctrl pt 1 - 470 WORCESTER RD FRAMINGHAM MA 508-820-2345 10/04/02 License Modified 1 - CAPE COD READY MIX, RT 6A BREWSTER (BARNSTABLE) MA 852.3625 498' FB2 300e 853.0375 498' FB2 300e 854.2125 498' FB2 300e 856.2125 498' FB2 300e 856.2375 498' FB2 300e 856.2625 498' FB2 300e 857.2125 498' FB2 300e 857.2375 498' FB2 300e 857.2625 498' FB2 300e 858.2125 498' FB2 300e 859.2125 498' FB2 300e 859.2375 498' FB2 300e 860.2125 498' FB2 300e 860.2375 498' FB2 300e 860.4625 498' FB2 300e 2 - OFF WORKSHOP RD YARMOUTH (BARNSTABLE) MA 852.3625 177' FB2 300e 854.2125 177' FB2 300e 856.2125 177' FB2 300e 856.2375 177' FB2 300e 856.2625 177' FB2 300e 857.2125 177' FB2 300e 857.2375 177' FB2 300e 857.2625 177' FB2 300e 858.2125 177' FB2 300e 859.2125 177' FB2 300e 859.2375 177' FB2 300e 860.2125 177' FB2 300e 860.2375 177' FB2 300e 860.4625 177' FB2 300e 3 - OFF RT 6 WELLFLEET (BARNSTABLE) MA 852.3625 78' FB2 300e 853.0375 78' FB2 300e 854.2125 78' FB2 300e 856.2125 78' FB2 300e 856.2375 78' FB2 300e 856.2625 78' FB2 300e 857.2125 78' FB2 300e 857.2375 78' FB2 300e 857.2625 78' FB2 300e 858.2125 78' FB2 300e 859.2125 78' FB2 300e 859.2375 78' FB2 300e 860.2125 78' FB2 300e 860.2375 78' FB2 300e 860.4625 78' FB2 300e 4 - BARNSTABLE County 807.3625 MO 1500x28e 809.2125 MO 1500x28e 811.2125 MO 1500x28e 811.2375 MO 1500x28e 811.2625 MO 1500x28e 812.2125 MO 1500x28e 812.2375 MO 1500x28e 812.2625 MO 1500x28e 813.2125 MO 1500x28e 814.2125 MO 1500x28e 814.2375 MO 1500x28e 815.2125 MO 1500x28e 815.2375 MO 1500x28e 815.4625 MO 1500x28e

from a post by Gary Saffer on Scott Halligan's ScanMass Messageboard Cape Area:

garys

Group: Members
Posts: 58
Joined: May 2002

Posted: Oct. 07 2002,09:26

Speaking of which;

Rich McVicar posted a message with new license issues for MA on the Scan MA East list. The listing includes MSP information on new licenses for the Cape.

Site are;

Rte 6, Brewster
Workshop Road, Yarmouth
Rte 6, Wellfleet

The frequencies are;

852.3625 498' FB2 300e
853.0375 498' FB2 300e
854.2125 498' FB2 300e
856.2125 498' FB2 300e
856.2375 498' FB2 300e
856.2625 498' FB2 300e
857.2125 498' FB2 300e
857.2375 498' FB2 300e
857.2625 498' FB2 300e
858.2125 498' FB2 300e
859.2125 498' FB2 300e
859.2375 498' FB2 300e
860.2125 498' FB2 300e
860.2375 498' FB2 300e
860.4625 498' FB2 300e

The listing also shows mobile frequencies on the inputs. Given the locations, does it seem likely that these licenses are part of the process of absorbing the zones?

Gary

from a post on Scan-Mass-East by Elmer Stanley

Trunking Sites on Cape Cod:

Is, the two new licenses for Cape Cod Ready Mix in

Brewster and Workshop Road in Yarmouth two additional

trunking sites for the Troop D Cape System?

There is 15 800 Mhz. frequencies licensed for these two

sites as listed under last weeks FCC license data.

Thank you for your comments.

Elmer Stanley

A reply on Scan-Mass-East by Stephen Johnson

Yep, I had known that the Yarmouth site was going online... the Brewster site is new to me though. I'm not sure if these will be part of the upper cape simulcast system or if they will be single site zones, and the FCC information really doesn't make that clear. Guess we'll have to wait for them to come online to know for sure.

Steve

I recommend everyone checking all the above sites as well as the "Internet Bible on the MSP's Trunk System" Stephen Johnson's Mass Trunking site to keep updated on all that is occurring with this change.