InterceptRadio.com Forums :: View topic - Ft. Lewis analog or digital???

I'm trying to figure Fort Lewis Fire Dept. out. My Brother is a Firefighter there. I know they use E.F. Johnson Radios. Still not sure if they are digital, conventiona, trunked, vhf, uhf, or trunked. He keyed the mike for me and he got the two beeps, so from my experiance this trunked.

I can confirm that the Fort Lewis 400 MHz trunked system is no longer on the air.

- Chris

Were you able to monitor the 380mhz clearly? I seem to pickup a bunch of TGIDs, and maybe pickup a second of chatter before I either lose it, or it just stays choppy. Once in a while I will hear a conversation clearly but that is the exception not the rule. I thought it might be the range, but getting closer to Lewis doesnt seem to make it come in better.

There are going to be some A-10s and C-130s flying around for a few days starting Monday night.

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT/R6703A SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703B SFC-5,000'MSL/R6703C SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703D SFC-5,000'MSL/RAINIER MOA 2,000'-9,000'MSL
ACFT:2XA10 2XAH6 1XCIVILIAN CESSNA 14 MAR 02:00 UNTIL 14 MAR 11:00

PARACHUTE JUMPING EXERCISE WILL TAKE PLACE
ROGERS STATLINE/CDS/RAD:1NM/ALT:SFC-1,300'MSL
ACFT:3XC-130 13 MAR 04:00 UNTIL 13 MAR 06:59

olowy wrote:

Yes I was, but using my 396T I had to do some experimenting. First, I was just monitoring the system using the Search & Control Channel Only monitoring function. I was experiencing the same problem with only getting bits and pieces of transmissions. So then I actually built a new System with the control channels I found, and it worked fine. I set the P-25 decode level to "Default" instead of "Auto", which I had heard sometimes is needed on the 396 and 996 radios.

The control channels that are carrying Fort Lewis traffic are:

Tower 101
380.0750 - Primary Control Channel
380.3875 - Alternate Control Channel

Tower 102
380.2125 - Primary Control Channel
380.5500 - Alternate Control Channel

And I was able to confirm at least one talk group. TG8332 is Ft. Lewis Range Control, which is simulcast on 40.2 MHz and 165.0875 MHz. I also heard "Gate Control" calling units for check-ins, but didn't write down the talk group.

One last thing - I'm ot sure where you are located, but I did notice that the 380 trunked system coverage is much "tighter" to the base than the 400 MHz system. I completely lost the Tower 101 control channel once I got north of McChord AFB on I-5. However, I could still pick up Tower 102 well south of Olympia on I-5 headed home.

Author:	Louie [ Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Ft. Lewis analog or digital???
Hey has Ft. Lewis gone digital?? or are they still analog I was in lakewood and I could barely get the control channel. It also sounded different. Someone can privetly message me or email me at eclipsecivic2002@yahoo.com Thanks -Louie-

Author:	FlashP [ Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:38 am ]
Post subject:	Changes?
Here are some wav files that might help identify the new systems: http://www.bensware.com/scandfw/trunked.htm Are the new signals in the same band? Ft Lewis and McChord were both Motorola 400 MHz systems, one was rumored to be going to EDACS, and now there are a lot of 380 MHz sites appearing that are part of a larger system (includes Navy Region NW). Flash

Author:	the Outlaw [ Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:40 am ]
Post subject:	dig
A couple years ago when I worked on the base. they were replacing the 400 with the 380 digital. So they probably 'threw the switch' now. But I can't confirm this.

Author:	Sean [ Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:33 am ]
Post subject:
Sounds like BSTRS has evolved.

Author:	FlashP [ Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:46 am ]
Post subject:	what was it?
The other thread talks about 380 MHz, but the original question was about a signal that sounded different - and that wouldn't be a 380 Motorola system, even if he stumbled onto it. Is there an EDACS 406-band system? Flash

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Author:	FireDawg89 [ Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:
I'm trying to figure Fort Lewis Fire Dept. out. My Brother is a Firefighter there. I know they use E.F. Johnson Radios. Still not sure if they are digital, conventiona, trunked, vhf, uhf, or trunked. He keyed the mike for me and he got the two beeps, so from my experiance this trunked.

Author:	olowy [ Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:
FireDawg89 wrote: I'm trying to figure Fort Lewis Fire Dept. out. My Brother is a Firefighter there. I know they use E.F. Johnson Radios. Still not sure if they are digital, conventiona, trunked, vhf, uhf, or trunked. He keyed the mike for me and he got the two beeps, so from my experiance this trunked. I dont think it is on the 400mhz anymore. I havent seen any activity on those channels, not even an active control channel. My guess is it is on the 380 mgz but my recpetion comes in too choppy to pine specific freqs down.

Author:	cparris2 [ Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:
I can confirm that the Fort Lewis 400 MHz trunked system is no longer on the air. - Chris

Author:	Renton [ Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:
Did you enter right in the talkgroup bank

Author:	olowy [ Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:29 am ]
Post subject:
cparris2 wrote: I can confirm that the Fort Lewis 400 MHz trunked system is no longer on the air. - Chris Were you able to monitor the 380mhz clearly? I seem to pickup a bunch of TGIDs, and maybe pickup a second of chatter before I either lose it, or it just stays choppy. Once in a while I will hear a conversation clearly but that is the exception not the rule. I thought it might be the range, but getting closer to Lewis doesnt seem to make it come in better.

Author:	cparris2 [ Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:09 am ]
Post subject:
olowy wrote: Were you able to monitor the 380mhz clearly? I seem to pickup a bunch of TGIDs, and maybe pickup a second of chatter before I either lose it, or it just stays choppy. Once in a while I will hear a conversation clearly but that is the exception not the rule. I thought it might be the range, but getting closer to Lewis doesnt seem to make it come in better. Yes I was, but using my 396T I had to do some experimenting. First, I was just monitoring the system using the Search & Control Channel Only monitoring function. I was experiencing the same problem with only getting bits and pieces of transmissions. So then I actually built a new System with the control channels I found, and it worked fine. I set the P-25 decode level to "Default" instead of "Auto", which I had heard sometimes is needed on the 396 and 996 radios. The control channels that are carrying Fort Lewis traffic are: Tower 101 380.0750 - Primary Control Channel 380.3875 - Alternate Control Channel Tower 102 380.2125 - Primary Control Channel 380.5500 - Alternate Control Channel And I was able to confirm at least one talk group. TG8332 is Ft. Lewis Range Control, which is simulcast on 40.2 MHz and 165.0875 MHz. I also heard "Gate Control" calling units for check-ins, but didn't write down the talk group. One last thing - I'm ot sure where you are located, but I did notice that the 380 trunked system coverage is much "tighter" to the base than the 400 MHz system. I completely lost the Tower 101 control channel once I got north of McChord AFB on I-5. However, I could still pick up Tower 102 well south of Olympia on I-5 headed home.

Author:	Matt Cawby [ Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:02 am ]
Post subject:
There are going to be some A-10s and C-130s flying around for a few days starting Monday night. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT/R6703A SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703B SFC-5,000'MSL/R6703C SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703D SFC-5,000'MSL/RAINIER MOA 2,000'-9,000'MSL ACFT:2XA10 2XAH6 1XCIVILIAN CESSNA 14 MAR 02:00 UNTIL 14 MAR 11:00 PARACHUTE JUMPING EXERCISE WILL TAKE PLACE ROGERS STATLINE/CDS/RAD:1NM/ALT:SFC-1,300'MSL ACFT:3XC-130 13 MAR 04:00 UNTIL 13 MAR 06:59

Author:	the Outlaw [ Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:
FireDawg89 wrote: I'm trying to figure Fort Lewis Fire Dept. out. My Brother is a Firefighter there. I know they use E.F. Johnson Radios. Still not sure if they are digital, conventiona, trunked, vhf, uhf, or trunked. He keyed the mike for me and he got the two beeps, so from my experiance this trunked. I believe they were on VHF when I was employed there a few years back. The gate guards and MPs were on the 400 trunk. There was talk back then of the 380 mhz digital high speed low drag system coming on when the new communications center was built.

Author:	icom1020 [ Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:36 pm ]
Post subject:
Matt Cawby wrote: There are going to be some A-10s and C-130s flying around for a few days starting Monday night. CLOSE AIR SUPPORT/R6703A SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703B SFC-5,000'MSL/R6703C SFC-14,000'MSL/R6703D SFC-5,000'MSL/RAINIER MOA 2,000'-9,000'MSL ACFT:2XA10 2XAH6 1XCIVILIAN CESSNA 14 MAR 02:00 UNTIL 14 MAR 11:00 PARACHUTE JUMPING EXERCISE WILL TAKE PLACE ROGERS STATLINE/CDS/RAD:1NM/ALT:SFC-1,300'MSL ACFT:3XC-130 13 MAR 04:00 UNTIL 13 MAR 06:59 They did a 'cessna' exercise a few months back over Olympia, it was something to see a fighter jet fly over and do various turns.

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Author:	olowy [ Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:
cparris2 wrote: olowy wrote: Were you able to monitor the 380mhz clearly? I seem to pickup a bunch of TGIDs, and maybe pickup a second of chatter before I either lose it, or it just stays choppy. Once in a while I will hear a conversation clearly but that is the exception not the rule. I thought it might be the range, but getting closer to Lewis doesnt seem to make it come in better. Yes I was, but using my 396T I had to do some experimenting. First, I was just monitoring the system using the Search & Control Channel Only monitoring function. I was experiencing the same problem with only getting bits and pieces of transmissions. So then I actually built a new System with the control channels I found, and it worked fine. I set the P-25 decode level to "Default" instead of "Auto", which I had heard sometimes is needed on the 396 and 996 radios. The control channels that are carrying Fort Lewis traffic are: Tower 101 380.0750 - Primary Control Channel 380.3875 - Alternate Control Channel Tower 102 380.2125 - Primary Control Channel 380.5500 - Alternate Control Channel And I was able to confirm at least one talk group. TG8332 is Ft. Lewis Range Control, which is simulcast on 40.2 MHz and 165.0875 MHz. I also heard "Gate Control" calling units for check-ins, but didn't write down the talk group. One last thing - I'm ot sure where you are located, but I did notice that the 380 trunked system coverage is much "tighter" to the base than the 400 MHz system. I completely lost the Tower 101 control channel once I got north of McChord AFB on I-5. However, I could still pick up Tower 102 well south of Olympia on I-5 headed home. Wow, thanks for the great advice. I will give this a try.