Bill’s N.S. Scanning Site

NON-TRUNKED PUBLIC SERVICE 800 MHz FREQUENCIES USED IN THE MARITIMES, INCLUDING THOSE

ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARITIMES 700 MHz TRUNK SYSTEM.

Last updated June 9, 2015

As most scanner listeners in the Maritimes are aware, there are several trunked repeater systems utilizing 800 MHz frequencies and as well now the 700 MHz Maritimes-wide P25 system. 800 MHz systems include the Nova Scotia Trunked Mobile Radio System (TMR1), the PEI PICS system, the Michelin systems, the Irving pulp mill, and as well Bell commercial or hybrid commercial/public service systems in Halifax, Saint John, and Moncton. This page will be covering only the frequencies associated or potentially associated with the TMR systems.

It is possible and common for users of trunked systems to also have simplex and/or conventional repeater frequencies installed on their radios as auxiliaries to the main trunked service. One purpose is to have short-range communications between mobile or portable units without tying up trunk channels. A second reason is in cases where the trunk system has proven to have dead areas, and fill-in conventional repeaters are installed by particular users for their own use in those areas. A third scenario is digital vehicular repeaters which typically would have a portable radio on a conventional frequency channel, inputting to a transceiver on a nearby vehicle, which then connects the communications into the trunk system. In effect the DVR acts as a booster to weak portable signals.

In selecting these conventional frequency channels, there is really no difference for the user as compared to selecting a trunk talk group. The conventional channels are simply in the dial positions just like the talk groups.

The chart below is intended to show the conventional frequencies licenced to public bodies in the Maritimes that are, will be or could possibly be associated with the outgoing NS TMR1 or, of more consequence, with the new NS/PEI 700 MHz P25 trunk system. Note that this means that 800 MHz conventional channels are an important adjunct to a 700 MHz system, and in modern radios there is not a problem in having both frequency ranges in one unit.

DFO repeaters listed are parts of a conventional system serving the Fundy coast of New Brunswick but with one licenced for Clarkes Harbour, NS. These are thought to be auxiliary to DFO use of the NS Trunk throughout the rest of the Fundy and Atlantic coastal areas. Note that these DFO repeaters use frequencies that are also Control Channel frequencies in TMR1, so that if you enter them into your scanner you will, depending on your location, receive the TMR data stream rather than DFO traffic.

Similarly, the CBSA simplex frequencies shown are most likely adjuncts to CBSA use of TMR1, but this is not confirmed. CBSA is partially encrypted, i.e. they are occasionally not encrypted, at least on some channels, whereas DFO appears to be 100% encrypted.

The two RCMP frequencies shown are dual purpose complements to use of the NS TMR. They are presumed to be present as simplex frequencies but also as a set of repeater frequencies. It is known that the RCMP in Nova Scotia established a set of several fill-in repeaters in various areas of the province due to perceived weak spots in TMR1 coverage. It is not known whether these repeaters are continuing in operation with TMR2 but it could be assumed that they will do so until the coverage of TMR2 is well determined. Due to the RCMP being completely encrypted it is perhaps inconsequential to list these repeaters but for interest’s sake an incomplete list includes the following: Bear River (Digby), Halifax Airport, Kingsburg, Fundy Park, NB (to serve W. Cumberland County, NS), Tatamagouche, Antigonish, Fox Island, Mabou, Chapel Island, Whycocomagh, and Neils Harbour. I am not able to list which of the two frequencies each of these uses as I am not in range of any of these except the airport and it has been several years since I heard that one and have had only rare reports regarding the others, all from the pre-encryption days.

DFO = Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans

CBSA = Canada Border Services Agency

HRFES = Halifax Fire & Emergency Service

PNS = Province of Nova Scotia

DOT = Department of Transportation (may not be the current official name)

EMO = Emergency Management Office

VFD = Volunteer Fire Departments

DNR = Department of Natural Resources

AMT = Air Medical Transport

EHS = Emergency Health Services

GSS = Government Services Sector (= Miscl PNS agencies without their own specific channels)

HRP = Halifax Regional Police

HRM = Halifax Regional Municipality (cross-department use)

Note that the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service originally set aside several frequencies for vehicle repeaters but in the proposed new TMR2 system there are only five designated. The others are listed here as being obsolete, but you may wish to enter them, like other obsolete frequencies, in case some use remains. All or most of the obsolete frequencies listed remain as licenced by Industry Canada but with no apparent use.

Unless noted, all frequencies shown (except RCMP) do appear in TAFL as of June 2015, and therefore are licenced even if no particular usage is indicated. In some cases these frequencies with no known use are orphan frequencies that the agency concerned continues to pay for but does not use.

Frequencies shown in the 861 to 862 range are in general also used separately by the NS 800 MHz trunk but are geographically remote from each other to avoid interference.

At this time it is unclear as to which frequencies are analog and which are digital, or digital encrypted.

Frequency	Designation	Comments
851.0125	Simplex licenced to PNS PSFCO	Usage Unknown
852.0125	Simplex licenced to PNS PSFCO	Usage Unknown
852.5125	Simplex licenced to PNS PSFCO	Usage Unknown
853.5125	Simplex licenced to PNS PSFCO	Usage Unknown
857.6125	HRM Transportation and Public Works TPW Simplex
859.9875	DFO Repeater. Unknown location NB
861.2875	DFO Repeater, Bethel, NB
861.4875	DFO Repeater, Grand Manan, NB
861.5375	DFO Repeater, Spruce Lake, NB (western Saint John) and Quispamsis
861.7375	DFO Repeaters, Maces Bay and Fundy Park, NB
861.9875	DFO Repeater, Wilsons Beach (Campobello Island), NB
862.1375	Saint John Parking Commission Simplex
862.2125	CBSA Simplex
862.6375	Licenced to HRM FIRE/EMO but no recent usage noted	Formerly were repeater frequencies in the old Halifax municipal trunk system prior to TMR1
862.8875
863.1375
863.2375
863.6375
866.0125	Simplex All 1 (public service users on TMR1, and all users of TMR2)	USA I-Tac Calling
866.0500	CBSA Simplex 1
866.0625	RCMP Local (Simplex) 1 and Repeater 2	Part of NS fill-in repeater system
866.1875	Fredericton FD Simplex
866.2125	HRFES Simplex 2	Not in TAFL. Might be obsolete
866.2500	DFO Simplex 1 and repeater at Clarke’s Harbour, NS Moncton FD HRP Simplex (likely obsolete)	HRP usage most likely was part of old municipal trunk.
866.3125	PNS EMO 2
866.3750	Repeater licenced to NS PSFCO.	Usage Unknown
866.4750	HRFES	At Maritime Ctr, most likely obsolete
866.4875	HRFES	Most likely obsolete
866.5125	Simplex All 2 (public service users on TMR1, and all users of TMR2)	USA I-Tac 1
866.5375	Formerly listed as DFO Repeater at Spruce Lk, NB; but now licenced to Bell Mobility
866.5500	CBSA Simplex 2
866.5625	PNS Simplex	Formerly DOT Simplex 2
866.6125	HRFES Shubenacadie/Tangier/Prospect Backup Repeaters
866.6250	HRFES Simplex 1	Thought to be an obsolete frequency associated with former HRM municipal trunk
866.7125	HRFES Simplex 3	Thought to be an obsolete frequency associated with former HRM municipal trunk
866.7500	DFO Simplex 2
866.7875	Saint John FD
866.8125	VFD Simplex
866.8625	Repeater licenced to NS PSFCO.	Usage Unknown
866.9625	HRM Simplex 1
866.9875	HRFES Simplex	In TAFL but usage unknown
867.0125	Simplex All 3 (all users of TMR2)	Formerly DNR simplex 1. USA I-Tac 2
867.0500	CBSA Simplex
867.0625	PNS AMT Simplex
867.1125	HRFES Chaplin/Tantallon Backup Repeaters
867.1625	PEI Simplex
867.1875	Fredericton FD
867.2500	HRM EMO/EOC	May be obsolete, but remains licenced.
867.2875	Bell Mobility Repeater, Bloomsbury Mtn, NB
867.3125	PNS GSS 1
867.4625	HRM Simplex 2
867.5125	PNS MCS Trucks CONV RPTR 2 also Fredericton City Simplex	Formerly DNR2. USA I-Tac 3.
867.5625	PNS EHS SIMPLEX
867.6125	HRFES Marinette/Sackville Backup Repeaters
867.7875	Bell Mobility Repeater, Spruce Lake, NB
867.8125	PNS MCS Trucks CONV RPTR 1	Formerly PNS GSS 2 & Hazmat Rptr (most likely a portable repeater system)
867.9750	HRP DVR 1	not yet known what TG this will link to
867.9875	HRFES DVR 1	Links to OPS 5
868.0125	DOT 1 also Fredericton City	USA I-Tac 4
868.0375	Bell Mobility Repeater, Saint John, NB
868.0625	PNS EMO 1
868.1125	HRFES Ecum Secum/Preston Backup Repeaters
868.1625	PEI Simplex
868.2875	Bell Mobility Repeater, Saint John, NB
868. 3125	PNS Justice 1 (Sx and Rptr)
868.4625	HRFES DVR 2	Links to OPS 6
868.4750	HRFES DVR 3	Links to OPS 7
868.4875	HRFES Vehicle Rptr?	Apparently Obsolete
868.5250	RCMP Local 2 & Rptr1	Part of NS fill-in repeater system
868.5875	HRFES Simplex 4
868.6125	HRFES Musquodoboit/Queensland Backup Repeaters
868.6625	Prince Edward Island govt DVRS
868.9625	HRFES DVR 4	Links to OPS 8
868.9750	HRFES DVR 5	Links to OPS 9
868.9875	HRFES Vehicle Rptr	Listed in TAFL but not listed in current HRFE documents.