POCSAG
| Paging Modes | |
|---|---|
| AFSK Paging Link - POCSAG - Glenayre Paging Link - FLEX - ReFLEX - Golay Paging (GSC) - European Radio Message System (ERMES) |
 | |
|---|---|
| Frequencies | 932 MHz,25 MHz |
| Frequency Range | 25 MHz - 932 MHz |
| Mode | NFM |
| Modulation | FSK |
| ACF | — |
| Emission Designator | — |
| Bandwidth | 9 kHz |
| Location | Worldwide |
| Short Description | POCSAG (Post Office Code Standardisation Advisory Group), also known as Super-POCSAG, Radio Paging Code No. 1 or RPC1, is a one-way 2FSK paging protocol that supports 512, 1200, and 2400 bps. |
| I/Q Raw Recording | Download file |
| Audio Sample | |
POCSAG (Post Office Code Standardisation Advisory Group), also known as Super-POCSAG, Radio Paging Code No. 1 or RPC1, is a one-way 2FSK paging protocol that supports 512, 1200, and 2400 bpsBits per second (bps). POCSAG transmissions of different speeds and different paging protocols (e.g. FLEX) on the same paging channel are supported. POCSAG's official designation is "CCIRComité Consultatif International pour la Radio (Predecessor of the ITU-R) Recommendation 584, Radio Paging Code No. 1".
The Post Office Code Standardisation Advisory Group was from the British Post Office, which used to run nearly all telecommunications in Britain before privatization.
Characteristics[edit]
POCSAG supports tone, numeric, and alphanumeric data transmission. POCSAG cannot transmit binary data. POCSAG has three speeds, 512 bpsBits per second (bps), 1200 bpsBits per second (bps), and 2400 bpsBits per second (bps). all three use FSKFrequency-Shift Keying modulation.
The 512 bpsBits per second (bps) mode was the original and standard POCSAG speed mode. Faster modes constituted the upgraded version, Super-POCSAG, which supported 1200 bpsBits per second (bps) and 2400 bpsBits per second (bps) speeds.
The modulation used is FSKFrequency-Shift Keying with a ±4.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz shift on the center carrier. The frequency at +4.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz represents a 0 where the -4.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz represents a 1.
Samples[edit]
In the following sound file first is a POCSAG 512 sound then the second is POCSAG 1200.
Each of POCSAG's 3 speed modes:
POCSAG 512
POCSAG 1200
POCSAG 2400
A variant of POCSAG 1200:
Frequencies[edit]
Note: In many of these regions, the paging frequencies and bands listed below are shared with other radio services, including land mobile two-way radio. In some areas of the United States, the VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz)/UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) paging bands listed below are used for land mobile communications. The low-band 35 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz/43 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz frequencies and 929-931 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz frequencies are exclusively allocated to the paging services in the USA. In the United States, 27.255 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz is available for unlicensed paging and telemetry services under Part 95 of the FCC rules (sections 95.207 and 95.210) on a shared basis with the CB radio service. The UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) (454-467 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) allocations are often "interleaved" with land mobile services. For example, 462.850 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz is used for paging, while adjacent frequencies 462.8375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz and 462.8625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz are used for low-power business radio service communications. Same goes for the "high side" of those allocations. 467.750 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz is often used for low-power on-site paging in restaurants, etc, while 467.7625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz is a heavily used low-power business radio service frequency. Target Stores (USA) often use the 467.xxx frequencies for in-store voice communications. 467.750 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz, 467.775 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz and 467.800 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz are the most commonly seen. Some systems use the same frequency for voice and POCSAG paging.
In Europe the 26-28 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz region is heavily populated by land mobile, Citizen's Band (CB) and telemetry traffic in addition to paging systems. The 26.225-26.935 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz European band is shared with CB in Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia and elsewhere.
In Ireland and the UK, the 26.96-28.0 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz band is used for Church radio/religious broadcasting services (Wireless Public Address Service - WPAS in Ireland, Community Audio Distribution Service - CADS in the UK) in addition to CB and specialized paging services.
| Paging Band | Frequency Range |
|---|---|
| HFHigh Frequency (3-30 MHz)-High/VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz)-Low Band | 25 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 54 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz) Mid Band | 66 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 88 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| VHFVery High Frequency (30-300 MHz) High Band | 138 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz- 175 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) | 406 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 422 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) High | 435 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 512 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| '900' Band | 929 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 932 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz |
| Frequency | Location |
|---|---|
| 26.200 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 27.995 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Europe-wide (shared with CB and other services) |
| 47.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 47.250 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | European Union Standardized |
| 169.400 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 169.800 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | European Union Standardized |
| 26.230 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 26.870 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (odd steps, 25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz wide channels) | UK Medical |
| 31.725 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 31.775 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | UK Medical |
| 49.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 49.4125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | UK On-Site |
| 49.425 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 49.475 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | UK Medical |
| 49.4875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK On-Site |
| 138 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK |
| 153 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 153.5 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK |
| 159.6375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 159.700 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | UK Medical |
| 161.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 161.125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | UK Medical |
| 164.200 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK Medical |
| 454 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK |
| 459 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | UK |
| 85.9550 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | France Fire |
| 173.5125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | France Fire |
| 173 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Germany Fire/Rescue |
| 466.075 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Germany Public |
| 465.970 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Germany Public |
| 169.625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Belgium |
| 26.175 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 28.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Ireland Private Low Power (On-Site Only, shared with CB and WPAS) |
| 30.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 37.500 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Ireland Hospital (ETS 300.224 Specification) |
| 153 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 154 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Ireland Wide Area |
| 458.500 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 459.500 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Ireland Private (On-Site) |
| 26.200 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 26.500 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Italy Medical |
| 40.0125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 40.0875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Italy Medical |
| 169.650 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | The Netherlands (P2000 - Medical) |
| 172.450 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | The Netherlands (KPN 3 - Public) |
| 27.255 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA Unlicensed Part 95 (up to 100w PEP, shared with CB Radio Channel 23) |
| 35.200 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 35.260 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 35.300 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 35.540 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (40 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 35.560 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 35.660 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 43.200 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 43.260 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 43.300 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 43.540 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (40 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 43.560 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 43.660 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 72.020 - 72.980 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 75.460 - 75.980 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (20 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 152.0075 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA Medical/Emergency |
| 152.030 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 152.270 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (30 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 152.480 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 152.840 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (30 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 154.625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA On-Site Business Paging |
| 154.640 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA On-Site Business Paging |
| 157.450 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA Medical/Emergency |
| 157.480 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 158.670 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (30 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 158.700 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA |
| 163.250 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA Medical/Emergency |
| 454.025 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 454.325 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 459.025 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 459.325 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 462.750 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 462.9250 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 467.750 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 467.9250 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA Low Power On-Site |
| 465.000 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | USA |
| 929.0125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 929.9875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 931.0125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 931.9875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | USA |
| 931.4375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Mexico |
| 931.9375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Mexico |
| 932.7825 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Argentina (thanks PVM) |
| 29.800 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 33.920 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (10 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada |
| 36.260 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Canada (On-Site) |
| 42.500 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Canada |
| 137 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 144 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (15 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada (shared with other services) |
| 148 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 151 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (15 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada (shared with other services) |
| 166 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 171 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (15 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada (shared with other services) |
| 415 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 422 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada Medical (shared with other services) |
| 465 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 466 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (12.5 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Canada Medical (shared with other services) |
| 29.725 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 29.995 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (10 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | Australia (shared with low power telemetry and R/C) |
| 148 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 149.25 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Exterior |
| 148.6625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Interior (SA Hospitals) |
| 149.7875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Exterior |
| 149.8375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Exterior |
| 149.8875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Exterior |
| 450.325 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Interior |
| 450.375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Australia Interior |
| 26.978 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP1A On-Site |
| 27.003 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP2A On-Site |
| 27.028 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP3A On-Site |
| 27.053 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP4A On-Site |
| 27.078 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP5A On-Site |
| 27.103 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP6A On-Site |
| 27.1375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP7A On-Site (27.137 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.138 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 27.1625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP8A On-Site (27.162 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.163 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 27.1875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP9A On-Site (27.187 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.188 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 27.2125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP10A On-Site (27.212 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.213 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 27.2375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP11A On-Site (27.237 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.238 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 27.2625 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP12A On-Site (27.262 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz or 27.263 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz) |
| 31.325 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 31.575 (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | New Zealand RP1B - RP11B On-Site |
| 157.950 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand |
| 157.900 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 158.100 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | New Zealand |
| 160.3375 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz - 160.5875 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz (25 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz steps) | New Zealand RP1C - RP11C On Site |
| 458.550 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP1D |
| 458.600 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | New Zealand RP2D |
| 929.061 Mhz | Allentown Pennsylvania |
| 155.520 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz | Wake County, North Carolina (Medical/Emergency) |
Encoders[edit]
This is a website that contains a POCSAG encoder for the soundcard. Please translate the page first, as its in German. You are able to type in 7-digit addresses, function numbers 1-4, and message types of alphanumeric, numeric and tone only messages. 5 messages max in the demo version. Runs on windows. Please extract first. There is also a full paid version as well, for additional features.
http://www.dsp4swls.de/sorfmon/sorfmon.html
Decoding Software[edit]
- Hobby Level Software
- Professional Software
Decoding Tutorials[edit]
Video Examples[edit]
- Pager Data Decoding with RTL-SDR -Tutorial
- 18 Minutes of Pager Traffic 2012 July 12 San Jose rtlsdr sdr# pdw flex
- POCSAG MiniCall
- POCSAG Pager system - 161.4375MHz Swedish "MiniCall"
