[Scan-DC] Richmond Rally

[John Wilson]

* I live 25 miles away from Richmond but have good area reception.  
Regarding yesterday's rally,  STARS Talkgroup 96 Div 1 channel 3 was the 
main TG with in the clear comms.  It is rarely ever used probably so as 
not to interfere with other more busy trs.  The problem with all the trs 
comms on TG 96 first was the city location at the Capitol sucks for 
radio comms.  You are on the top of the hill with acceptable comms and 
then 300 ft. down you are in a hole in the street across from some big 
buck hotel. 85% of TG96 comms were VSP HTs to a control op with an 
occasional VSP mobile comm to control.**
**
** There were two possible STARS sites for affiliation. The one I 
thought would be closest was Glen Allen which I first monitored 
including the trs voice frequencies.  But after four radios scanning 
different prior known frequencies I added the Midlothian STARS site's 
trs voice frequencies and scanned them also even with HT input audio 
occasional drop out in sync while monitoring TG 96 on my 536 scanner. 
The Midlothian STARS site is located approximately 3-4 air miles west of 
downtown Richmond and I guessed maybe the HTs had 2-3 watts ERP 
omni-directional.  I also concluded maybe 6 out of 10 HTs' radio comms 
were having ATD/DTA conversion issues due to weak signal inputs which 
ranged from "sing song" not understandable audio to almost 100% 
robotic.  At first I thought the HT comms were encrypted until I heard a 
control op comm but they weren't. **
**
**It never really got any better except occasionally a HT may have 
relocated and found a "sweet" spot and at least the control op could 
understand his transmission.  The TG 5030 Safety Traffic guy must have 
been told not to respond to the inner city. Afterwards the TOC told him 
change to his normal routine.  If there was any pre-event testing, it 
must have been on site simplex.  VSP likes to temporary low power 
repeater or trs ops so those pesky radio monitors have may not be able 
to receive them but none were heard yesterday. **
**
**Read my post on the RR Va. forum thread from yesterday. **
****
**John**
**W4UVV**
**Prince George, VA*

Joseph M. Durnal wrote:
> I didn't think of this until after I scrolled through some pictures of the
> rally and spotted more than a handful of Baofeng radios ;)  Adding the FRS,
> GMRS, & MURS frequencies probably would have yielded some interesting
> listening.  Specifically the 3's  FRS/GMRS channel 3 462.6125 & MURS
> channel 3 151.94 as they seem to be the favorite hang outs for a certain
> crowd.
>
> J
>
> On Fri, Jan 17, 2020 at 4:47 PM Lee Williams <leonzo at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Richmond City, Henrico and Chesterfield County law enforcement is 100%
>> encrypted.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 17, 2020, at 16:06, Bob Pugh <blindspotnews at cox.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Good afternoon all! l considering attending / covering the rally in
>> Richmond on Monday.
>>> I'd appreciate any information and assistance with monitoring the
>> responders communications.
>>> Thanks in advance for any help!!
>>>
>>> Bob Pugh
>>>
>>> 703-843-7857
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