The new Nextel systems, however were using frequencies right along- side the public safety systems, with relatively high power from transmitters located much closer to the ground. With normal cellular telephone systems this is not a problem, as they use frequencies above 869MHz. After Nextel took these systems over, they were reconfigured into a more cellular-like system, with many short towers located much closer together. Prior to Nextel, trunked business systems were much like most public safety systems operating in the same band, generally a single-site system serving a fairly limited geographic area from tall antenna towers. These systems used frequencies throughout the 800 MHz band, but were especially concentrated in the 861-866 MHz frequency band a sizable percentage also used the 854-861MHz frequencies, and this is where the trouble began. Nextel began on a fairly small scale, but expanded nationwide largely by purchasing trunked business systems in major metropolitan areas. The problem began with the rise of the cellular-type business radio systems, primarily the well-known (and sometimes reviled) Nextel. In general, each segment of the band has had a specific type of service using it, as follows:Ĩ51-854 MHz: Mainly small conventional and slow-growth trunked users.Ĩ54-861 MHz: Government and business systems (mainly trunked)Ĩ61-866 MHz: Primarily business systems (mainly trunked)Ĩ66-869 MHz: Government systems ( Conventional and trunked) The origins of the problem begin in the way the 800 MHz band has been used. This interference is being caused mainly by cellular-type business radio systems. The reason for this is a process called "rebanding." Rebanding is a process initiated by the FCC in response to many complainsts from government entities of major interference being caused to their 800MHz radio systems. If it hasn't happened already, in another year or so, your scanner may no longer properly track Motorola trunked systems.