Trunking...300/400

[TheJerk]

OK, I have read the OM, I have loaded each trunk type into a different bank, and it does "work"...but...I can watch during scanning, the "T" illuminates only on one bank (again, during the scan process), like the other banks aren't set up correctly?

I think have entered the correct frequencies from RR, I think have entered the correct talk groups from RR...unfortunately, I am far enough from some of these that I may just not receive them to verify its working. I know the bank the "T" illuminates is working because I get reception on those frequencies...and I should be close enough to some of the others to hear them as well.

I have entered the frequencies through ARC300 by (as of last night) entering them in manually (because the ARC300/RR interface only pulls in the control/primary channels), all of the trunked channels are at the top of the list and in order they are listed on RR. I then pull the talk groups from RR. Again, each trunk type (Motorola, EDACS, etc) is in its own bank...and actually, each trunk is in its own bank (I didn't group multiple Motorolas into a single bank).

I guess my question is, will the "T" illuminate when scanning each bank with a trunked frequency?? Or does it only illuminate during reception of a trunked frequency (which doesn't make sense because mine illuminates, yet doesn't stop on any frequency)??

[Butelsoftware]

You only need to program the control channels. If you do want to program all trunk channels using ARC/RR webservice you can select 'import all control channels' under trunk options.
Edacs control channels must be programmed in the specific LCN order, the software will do that for you. Moving all edacs channels to the top of the list may not work.

Gommert
Butel Software

[TheJerk]

Thanks for that answer, that may be part of my problem...

I have that box checked ("all control frequencies"), but it still only seems to pull in the primary and secondary (red and blue) channels from RR?? Should I uncheck the other boxes ("import control", "import alternatives") as all three are checked.

I was wondering if moving things around would hurt (that may be part of my issues)...I notice that, even though I pulled into a "clear" bank, it would put the frequencies part way down the bank (instead of starting at zero, it would place them starting at "1" or "2", etc.).

Looks like I have some work to do...

On edit: if it pulls the trunked frequencies in lower on the list, can I plane conventional frequencies in the empty rows preceding the trunked channels??

[gmclam]

Originally Posted by TheJerk

OK, I have read the OM, I have loaded each trunk type into a different bank, and it does "work"...but...I can watch during scanning, the "T" illuminates only on one bank (again, during the scan process), like the other banks aren't set up correctly?

The "T" illuminates when the scanner is parked on an active control channel and reading data. It does not illuminate when receiving a voice call (although I think it should).

What I'd do is go to MAN mode, and step to each active control channel. What %% do you get? If you are getting below ~20%, then you need to get a better signal. If the signal is good, then you should see the scanner pause on those control channels - indicated by the "T". Keep in mind that typically the scanner will only look for a single active control channel in each bank.

... I think have entered the correct talk groups from RR... unfortunately, I am far enough from some of these that I may just not receive them to verify its working.

In MAN mode you can see how well your scanner is decoding control channel data. Also, you can put a bank in OPEN mode. That way it will stop on ANY active TG, not just what you've programmed. That can help you debug whether or not you have the TGs programmed correctly.

if it pulls the trunked frequencies in lower on the list, can I plan conventional frequencies in the empty rows preceding the trunked channels??

The order of frequencies does not matter for MO type systems. You can mix in conventional frequencies in the same bank. The order does not matter at all. The scanner will find an active control channel, if there is one, in each bank.

For sanity, I would keep things simple until you get them working. Put your conventional frequencies in another bank. If you are programming LTR or EDACS type systems, I'd reserve the first xx channels in each bank and not put anything there. xx would be at least 5 for small systems, or whatever the highest known repeater number is on the system you are programming.

[TheJerk]

OK, I redid all the banks...each one has its own trunk group, left in the row the software placed it. I then filled the remaining rows with conventional frequencies.

I think I'm far enough from the source that my GRE300 won't hear them...I will need to redo my GRE400 next, its got an external antenna.

Time will tell...

[TheJerk]

Oh, my handheld is too "weak" to pull out the nearest MO station...getting between nothing and 5% downstairs. I haven't been upstairs to see what the 400 (or even this 300 hooked to the external) will do.

[TheJerk]

I redid the 400, installed the trunked channels right where the ARC300 installed them. So far the one trucked band is giving 99% decoding...haven't heard any of the others.