Anchorage AK ALMR APCO VHF P-25 SYSTEM?

[gregmoss]

I'm using my bcd396t to enter 5 ALMR P-25 control channels into 1 bank. Without any success. It will only trunk-track or decode only one CC. It will ignore the rest of the CC'S in the bank, unless you separate them into different banks. I was trying this because of the talk groups switching from site too site or Control Channels mute. I thought it would be easier too do this. I don't seem too have any of these problems using the Pro-96

[RagnarD]

Hi GregMoss,

The current firmware for the BCD396T does not support multiple simultaneous control channels in the same system.

Once the rig processes the first control channel in a system it finds it does not look for another one (control channel in that system) and goes on to the next system.

The PRO-(20)96 does support multiple active control channels in the same bank.

Hope I explained this right...

73
de
chris
kq4z

[kikito]

Originally Posted by gregmoss

I'm using my bcd396t to enter 5 ALMR P-25 control channels into 1 bank. Without any success. It will only trunk-track or decode only one CC. It will ignore the rest of the CC'S in the bank, unless you separate them into different banks. I was trying this because of the talk groups switching from site too site or Control Channels mute. I thought it would be easier too do this. I don't seem too have any of these problems using the Pro-96

Like "kq4z" mentioned, the BCD396T is behaving normally. That's what all the Unidens will do when programmed with multiple CCs in the same bank or system, they'll "latch on" to the first CC it finds and stay there. You'll have to program each CC in its own system. That's what I do up here in the Fairbanks area. It's takes more work and memory since you also have to duplicate the TG list in each system but that's the best workaround at this time and using the software is not as painful.

That will change with the release of the mobile BCD996T and hopefully with the next generation of handhelds from Uniden. Some of us are hoping that there could be a way to have a firmware update to add this "Multiple CC" feature to the BCD396T....

[gregmoss]

How will the soon to be release of unidens upgrade effect trunking in the AK? Will their enhancement improve trunking abilities within AK, with our ALMR APCO-P-25 systems? My minor gripe would be the darn Audio AGC, it's really terrible compared to the pro-96. Improvements too scanning when there are adjacent strong signals. That would be great also! Also the ability too dim the back-light. Great! As for the P-25 band plan setting for Implicit Mode systems. I don't know about it.


Add P25 band plan setting for Implicit Mode systems.
Improve Audio AGC.
Adjust the Volume Table for smaller increments at low volumes.
Change P25 Individual Call display format (Source and Destination) ([Before] DST – SRC; [After] SRC - DST (as same as analog individual call)
Fix an issue where EDACS beeps are sometimes not detected and suppressed.
Fix an issue where, If you are doing an ID Search or Scan with the 396T on an EDACS Wide system (and just that one system), once it acquires the system and shows you the control channel, it will NEVER lose that indicator that it's locked on. The problem occurs only if system hold time is 0 or 1. The problem goes away if hold is set to 2 or higher.
Fix an issue where Close Call and Wx Priority do not work when in ID SCAN/SEARCH Mode if there is no TGID information on control channel (no traffic on the system).
Improve scanning when there are adjacent strong signals.

Add Digital End Code Option for P16 Systems Motorola 3600 bps digital systems, bad end code detection. Systems with stuck repeaters hang the scan cycle.

To add the menu item, press HOLD while powering the scanner. Now, there is a “Digital End Code” option in the Motorola systems. The next time you cycle power, the menu item will disappear, but the last setting will persist. No provision in UASD to change this setting, but if you read from the scanner, then write to the scanner again the setting will persist.

[gregmoss]

The AGC change sounds like a PRO-96
1. Press [HOLD] while turning on the scanner.
2. Turn on the Digital AGC option.
3. Tune to a digital channel.
4. While receiving a P25 signal, hold F then tap the scroll knob. The scanner displays the current P25 RES TIME parameter setting (see below for option details).
5. Rotate the scroll control to change the setting.
6. F+rotate the scroll to select another setting.P25 Response Time: -6
P25 Reference Gain: +3

[kikito]

Originally Posted by gregmoss

The AGC change sounds like a PRO-96
1. Press [HOLD] while turning on the scanner.
2. Turn on the Digital AGC option.
3. Tune to a digital channel.
4. While receiving a P25 signal, hold F then tap the scroll knob. The scanner displays the current P25 RES TIME parameter setting (see below for option details).
5. Rotate the scroll control to change the setting.
6. F+rotate the scroll to select another setting.P25 Response Time: -6
P25 Reference Gain: +3

Hello Greg,

I've been using the new firmware and definitely noticed a change for the best on the AGC. I have the Pro-96 running side by side and the BCD396T is definitely sounding pretty much the same on digital transmissions. I also like that we can adjust several parameters of how the AGC reacts. I haven't done any adjustments yet because it's working pretty good with the defaults.


About the procedure, which you quoted some of it above, here's some of my observations:

First, after doing the Hold and Power button thing, you need to press Func + hit the Scroll knob TWICE not just once like the procedure says. Second, if you already had both AGCs enabled (Analog and Digital), then when you do the button pressing (Func + Scroll knob TWICE), then only the digital options would show up, you need to turn off the Digital AGC like the notes say but not in the most logical way.

Maybe before beginning the procedure, the notes should say something like: " Turn on ONLY the AGC option you'll like to adjust i.e. ONLY the Analog or ONLY the Digital should be on at a time"