[Scan-DC] Virginia State Police Mobile Repeater

[Andy]

Andy,

You might find some answers to these and other questions which will arise at 
RadioReference.com.  According to the RR database for the VA STARS system 
they have 17 sites set up currently with an additional for a mobile site. 
Here is the link: 
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=3783 
(http://tinyurl.com/youj5v).   Additionally, the Radio Reference site has a 
Wiki which explains SmartZone systems and multi-site trunking: 
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking 
(http://tinyurl.com/2hmdyn).  I hope that helps answer some of your general 
questions.

As for FutureCom and Pyramid vehicular repeaters, a simple Google search 
turned up these interesting sites:  http://www.futurecom.com/mbx_nf.htm & 
http://www.pyramidcomm.com/svr214.html

Have fun with it.

Andy L.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Clegg" <w4jecom at w4je.com>
To: "MTC Communications" <mtcomm at starpower.net>; <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 10:07 AM
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] Virginia State Police Mobile Repeater


> Mike,
>
> Thanks for the info. I am new to the whole STARS concept, so I have a few
> questions to help me understand your response. Anything to help me
> understand the system would be most appreciated!
>
> You wrote: "I believe that VSP is installing full STARS radios in new cars
> that are in districts that don't have the
> fixed systems installed or the car may be roaming in Northern Virginia."
>
> Does that mean that the STARS infrastructure is presently only installed 
> in
> Northern Virginia? What infrastructure is required? You refer to "fixed
> sites," does that refer to the infrastructure that is needed to support
> STARS?
>
> You wrote: "Some zones
> are for their new STARS system when they are in the Richmond area." I 
> don't
> understand that. Can you explain what a zone is? (I know what the VSP 
> zones
> are, but those don't make sense to me in the context of what you wrote.)
>
> What is Futurecom?
>
> Thanks for any help you can provide. As you can see, this is all new to 
> me.
>
> Thanks!
> Andy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: scan-dc-bounces+w4jecom=w4je.com at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:scan-dc-bounces+w4jecom=w4je.com at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of
> MTC Communications
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 11:49 PM
> To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Virginia State Police Mobile Repeater
>
>
> I have seen all your posts and questions about hearing a VSP mobile
> repeater.  As a number of you
> know I am the local Uniden dealer.  I also sell EF Johnson radios which 
> are
> the only Motorola
> Smart Net/Smart Zoned compatible units.  I also sell Pyramid mobile
> repeaters which is what
> Maryland State Police use.  I have tried doing some marketing to VSP who
> awarded the STARS
> contract sole source to Motorola.  Therefore, I may know what is going on.
>
> First, I was glad to see that many of you are enjoying the BCD396's and 
> the
> 996's.
>
> I believe that VSP is installing full STARS radios in new cars that are in
> districts that don't have the
> fixed systems installed or the car may be roaming in Northern Virginia.  I
> believe the Moto
> Mobiles are VHF XTL5000's which can have as many as 850 
> channels/talkgroups.
> Some zones
> are for their new STARS system when they are in the Richmond area.  When
> elsewhere
> they  use the conventional analog channels.  They bought 700/800 MHz 
> XTS5000
> portables so
> they can talk on all the SN/SZ systems in Northern Virginia and when they
> are out of  the car.
>
> Now for the mobile repeaters.  They have bought from Motorola $12,000+
> Futurecom full duplex
> mobile repeaters.  These units either are digital capable.  VSP claims 
> they
> need
> to pass the emergency ID of the portable and they claim they can't do that
> with analog.  Know the
> vehicle ID is not enough.  My guess is that they use analog mode on the
> vehicle repeater when
> using the conventional VSP radio system.  I went to some of the Region 20
> meetings where VSP
> tried to get some 800 channels but failed so they went with  764 MHz 
> which
> is permitted by the
> FCC as long as the power is 2 watts or less.   Futurecom can do 10 watts.
>
> I have a customer in Virginia also using 764 MHz with our Pyramid 
> repeater.
> The Pyramid sells for about
> $1,200.
>
> DC Fire has Futurecoms on all engines and Montgomery County has them is 5
> Battalion vehicles.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Mike
>
>
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