CPD Zone 13 Issue

[werinshades]

I have noticed for quite some time, when monitoring this Zone, it would frequently "chop". Not your normal bad signal "chop", but it would seem like another signal was cutting it off. Considering I have numerous scanners running, I assumed it was some intermod. Today, I was listening to the jumper I mentioned before and decided to try something. Took it out of CTCSS , and put back in CTCSS Search mode. I discovered the CTCSS tone was not always being transmitted. When it's in Search mode, and it picks up the tone(103.5), it would flash. I have noticed it's not always flashing the tone when a long transmission is in use. I have full bars, and it's neighboring Zone, so signal strength is not an issue. Checked this on the 996T and my 796D with similar results. Never heard of this happening, and if anyone wants to give it a try, feel free. My chopping issue has ended...so I think it's resolved.

[RADIOGUY2002]

I'll keep an ear out on the zone and see what I notice... Summer time cross interference from other users, is that the issue? For a while their I could see the fd's mdc1200 id's coming across, but now I can not anymore of the closest transmitter site. When I was working in Evanston I could see the id's, I was wondering if it was tower site based, or an option at omec had the ability to turn on or off for relay? Simplex, I can see the id's on, so I pretty sure it has somthing to do with the repeaters.

[ERIC-KC9MHE]

Zone 13 Dispatch has a "roger beep" after every transmission this morning. It's not the MDC that other radios send but just a simple beep. I don't hear this on any other zones or CWs.

[werinshades]

Yes, that started sometime after I posted this.

[werinshades]

The "beep" was gone as of this morning. I have been monitoring this alot today as a result of a couple incidents. The "chopping" I described has disappeared as a result of putting it in CTCSS/DCS Search. At times the tone of 103.5 is flashing, while their has been transmissions where no tone was showing for 30-45 seconds(The chopping I mentioned).

I experimented with other Zones and City-Wides today, and this has not happened. Very interesting issue I thought would share. Don't think this is scanner related, but transmitter related.

[flydream777]

What is the "squawking" noise after the user is done talking, and do the ofcs hear this on the actual CPD radios?

Speaking of which, what kind of radios does CPD use (Motorola, Kenwood?)?

[RADIOGUY2002]

The one is MDC600 for the older radios and the newer radios are mdc1200, thats the officers radios. The console has something else on it. Either a beep alert notification or somthing similar to that of mdc12000 stat alerts.

[ERIC-KC9MHE]

Originally Posted by flydream777

What is the "squawking" noise after the user is done talking, and do the ofcs hear this on the actual CPD radios?

Here's an article on MDC1200 MDC-1200 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Basically it identifies the radio with a unique four digit number. It also allows for additional flags like "emergency". If you stand close enough to an officer you will hear that the MDC codes or "squaks" broadcast on all of the radios.

Incidentally, you can decode the MDC with your computer's sound card and this program: antistatic.org - winmdcd (I'm not sure if this is legal, I seem to remember some statute about decoding digital data on the air)

[RADIOGUY2002]

Or get a radio that decodes it.....In any case its very cool feature have. Professional radios are much better scanners then scanners, food for thought if you can afford them.

[werinshades]

Um yea ok...about that Zone 13 issue. Three scanners confirmed they're not always transmitting a CTCSS tone...anyone that wants to listen to this one, may want to remove the CTCSS tone out so you will not expierience intermittent "chopping".