EZ Scan Programming

mrlindstrom · #1 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:17 PM

I am trying to import a P25 (Phase I) system into my PSR-800. When I browse to the location it just shows an "X" next to the system and does not allow me to select any sites/talkgroups. Does anyone know why this might be happening? Does it depend on the "County" I selected while browsing to the system? Here is what the screen looks like:

IowaGuy1603 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:25 PM

The X signifies that the system is encrypted and therefore unable to be monitored.

Ed_Seedhouse · #3 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:26 PM

The "X" means that they have decided you will not be able to receive the system from the county you are importing from. Assuming this is the county you live in they are saying there are no broadcast antennae near enough to your county for that system to be received with acceptable quality. You can probably find another county that does have enough signal and import it from that, but chances are you won't hear anything unless you have one heck of an antenna way up high.

Also the previous reply is probably correct as well.

mrlindstrom · #4 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:27 PM

That's odd since the system is not encrypted...

mrlindstrom · #5 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_Seedhouse

The "X" means that they have decided you will not be able to receive the system from the county you are importing from. Assuming this is the county you live in they are saying there are no broadcast antennae near enough to your county for that system to be received with acceptable quality. You can probably find another county that does have enough signal and import it from that, but chances are you won't hear anything unless you have one heck of an antenna way up high.

I'm selecting a County that I am adjacent to, less than 2 miles, that uses the P25 system exclusively for their police... and it will still not let me select that system.

mrlindstrom · #6 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:30 PM

I can successfully monitor this system on my Pro-106.

N8DRC · #7 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaGuy1603

The X signifies that the system is encrypted and therefore unable to be monitored.

I thought the same thing, I tried importing a local casino not long ago while there and it also had the X so I was unable to import the system..

Ed_Seedhouse · #8 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlindstrom

I'm selecting a County that I am adjacent to, less than 2 miles, that uses the P25 system exclusively for their police... and it will still not let me select that system.

Well you can always enter the control channels based on the information on the actual RR database and see if it works. I did not say you couldn't receive the system, but that the database for your county likely has a flag saying that in their opinion you can't. Their opinion might, of course, be wrong.

There is a database forum here on RR and you could post a query there and likely get better information. Or check the forum for your area of the country.

N8DRC · #9 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlindstrom

I'm selecting a County that I am adjacent to, less than 2 miles, that uses the P25 system exclusively for their police... and it will still not let me select that system.

Did you try it manually through the software??

IowaGuy1603 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:34 PM

When a local system first came out several talk groups were in the clear P25........then they went encrypted.
The database manager then marked those talk groups with an x so they could no longer be downloaded

buddrousa · #11 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:36 PM

It looks like an error in the database that needs to be changed.

JoeyC · #12 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_Seedhouse

The "X" means that they have decided you will not be able to receive the system from the county you are importing from. Assuming this is the county you live in they are saying there are no broadcast antennae near enough to your county for that system to be received with acceptable quality. You can probably find another county that does have enough signal and import it from that, but chances are you won't hear anything unless you have one heck of an antenna way up high.

Also the previous reply is probably correct as well.

The software doesn't know what county you are importing from. I tried importing this system from california and worked fine with library version 111. When I updated it to 116 (current) it is X'd out.

buddrousa · #13 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 12:41 PM

Sent a message to database admins.

scannerfreak · #14 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 1:15 PM

This is happening because the system is set to Phase II TDMA. From what I have read here, most talkgroups are using FDMA, but a select few could use Phase II TDMA from time to time, which no current scanner can decode and thus the radio will not let you import it.

Here is another thread on the issue:

tx warn p 25 database error

The X doesn't always mean encrypted talkgroups. It could also mean a system or voice type the scanner cannot receive, such as the above. If there are encrypted talkgroups, it won't prevent you from importing the whole system, just the individual encrypted talkgroups. But it will give also you the option to import them and lock them out.

I am sure GRE will be made aware of this shortly and do what they can to rectify the situation.

buddrousa · #15 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 1:48 PM

Why lockout a scanner that does phase II TDMA look at the database map it is not all encripted plus read the scanner manual it will decode it and track it just not the encripted groups.

scannerfreak · #16 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 1:51 PM

The radio will not currently decode Phase II TDMA . Yes, it will decode X2 TDMA , but this system isn't set up as X2, it's set up as Phase II TDMA. They are not the same.

IowaGuy1603 · #17 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 2:31 PM

Then I guess the answer is that the big X means that the database administrators have decided that we don't need those TG, SYSTEMS or frequencies.

mrlindstrom · #18 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 3:30 PM

I guess it's true that SOME TG's are using Phase II... but not all/most on this system as I can manually enter in the info.

mrlindstrom · #19 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 3:45 PM

Originally I was on the v111 library and was able to select the system from the menu, but now I see in v116 that it shows an "S" instead of a checkbox indicating what we were all speculating... The database sees it as completely unsupported, although at best it is only partially unsupported. I will just enter it in manually.

scannerfreak · #20 (**permalink**) 12-25-2011, 4:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaGuy1603

Then I guess the answer is that the big X means that the database administrators have decided that we don't need those TG, SYSTEMS or frequencies.

The DB admins have nothing to do with it really. The system is apparently using some Phase II TDMA voice and the system was recently updated to reflect that. Thus it appears the new system type is causing some fits. I believe this was the first system set to this type. I am sure GRE will work it out soon, as Don did with his WIN500.