Maryland FIRST 700mhz TRS

[baydog]

I've downloaded and installed the "beta" release w/o any problem.
Where do you set the option to display the site info

Thanks for the help.

[dpcain]

Advanced tab. Also FYI under Help is the EzScanDG manual. It will help you find your way around those questions enormously.


EDIT: Troy RE 7308, definitely M TAC based on fleetmap and traffic. Submitted as such.

[troymail]

Originally Posted by baydog

I've downloaded and installed the "beta" release w/o any problem.
Where do you set the option to display the site info

Thanks for the help.

Any luck? Success??

See also: How does PSR-800 handle multi site trunking?

[baydog]

Originally Posted by troymail

Any luck? Success??

See also: How does PSR-800 handle multi site trunking?

Some.

The transmissions I do hear ( mostly the Bay Bridge TG) have garbled audio.

Last PM and again this AM the scanner stopped on the Ft McHenry TG for what sounded like a continuous soft clicking sound.

Today we drove to Rehoboth Beach for a day trip and heard nothing on the FIRST system on the way over or the way back while in the vicinity of the Bay Bridge.

David

[dpcain]

FYI They're not constantly talking. BAY sometimes has very little to do- I've had many a day passing through going to the eastern shore where I've heard one or zero transmissions in the entire time I'm in range of either FiRST or UHF when they were using that. In fact, I took a 30 minute ride to Severna Park today and only heard them once. So for them to not show up at all in that time is not especially surprising.

[maus92]

IDK, I hear tons of traffic on the 700Mhz system here in Annapolis, but then again I live not far from the MdNG tower site. MdTA Bay Bridge, Harbor, and Port come in fine and very clear for a P25 system.

[Spleen]

Apparently I'm too far away from other sites but the Baltimore site is very strong...what sort of traffic (if any) should I be hearing from it?

[troymail]

Originally Posted by Spleen

Apparently I'm too far away from other sites but the Baltimore site is very strong...what sort of traffic (if any) should I be hearing from it?

I hear McHenry (tunnels), Port (Key bridge), and MSP JFK on the Baltimore site -- nearly constant most times.

[troymail]

Originally Posted by baydog

Some.

The transmissions I do hear ( mostly the Bay Bridge TG) have garbled audio.

Last PM and again this AM the scanner stopped on the Ft McHenry TG for what sounded like a continuous soft clicking sound.

Today we drove to Rehoboth Beach for a day trip and heard nothing on the FIRST system on the way over or the way back while in the vicinity of the Bay Bridge.

David

The control channel on the Phase 2 is the same as is on the Phase 1 systems -- so, what that means is that receiving the CC is somewhat as bad as receiving the CC for the Baltimore City and County systems (and you probably know how bad that has been). I've given up on reception at some locations.

However, once you get a good lock on the CC, the voice reception and decoding is pretty good.

For best results, put only one site in a scanlist and also lock out all frequencies except that site's control channel frequency.

Try this:

1. Use EZ Scan and import the Maryland FiRST system.
2. In the "Trunked System Site Informaton" tab, lock out all of the sites except 102 (Anne Arundel).
3. Lock out all frequencies under Anne Arundel except 773.83125
4, Create a WILDCARD talkgroup object.
5. Load the configuration onto your radio and turn it on.
6. Browse to the WILDCARD object for this system - then hit SEL (you should now be parked on and monitoring the WILDCARD object for Maryland FiRST
7. Move the radio around to various locations until you get a solid lock on the CC (could mean different rooms, floors, etc. of your location).

[Spleen]

Thanks. It turned out to be pilot error. But in the process of troubleshooting, I accidentally left PRO96Com running overnight....anyone needs the files, let me know. Of possible interest are some frequencies mentioned that aren't in the RRDB, but I didn't know if that matters in this case....

"01-1148","i",769.18125,"01-1148",799.18125,0,39
"01-1192","d",769.45625,"01-1192",799.45625,0,0
"01-1234","d",769.71875,"01-1234",799.71875,0,0
"01-1806","d",773.29375,"01-1806",803.29375,0,0
"01-1846","d",773.54375,"01-1846",803.54375,0,0
"01-1888","c",773.80625,"01-1888",803.80625,0,0
"01-2012","a",774.58125,"00-0000",851.00625,1,0
"03-1806","v",773.29375/0,"00-0000",851.00625/0,1,488
"03-1807","v",773.29375/1,"00-0000",851.00625/1,1,494
"03-1846","v",773.54375/0,"00-0000",851.00625/0,1,470
"03-1847","v",773.54375/1,"00-0000",851.00625/1,1,464

Originally Posted by troymail

I hear McHenry (tunnels), Port (Key bridge), and MSP JFK on the Baltimore site -- nearly constant most times.

[troymail]

Never really listened to MdTA or MSP much before this system came on line -- lots of activity and obviously a dangerous place to work:

Two MdTA police officers struck by vehicle on side of I-95 - baltimoresun.com

[joepricebelairvfc]

I have reviewed the various scanner radios on the market. Seriously considering the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT over the GRE PSR-600 model. Both provide for monitoring the 700mhz frequencies. Additionally, upon reading several forums, both units have their pros and cons. Once the new Harford County, MD frequencies are finalized, I want the best unit and software to monitor Fire/EMS and the various law enforcement agencies in the county.

[joepricebelairvfc]

I have reviewed the various scanner radios on the market. Seriously considering the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT over the GRE PSR-600 model. Both provide for monitoring the 700mhz frequencies. Additionally, upon reading several forums, both units have their pros and cons. Once the new Harford County, MD frequencies are finalized, I want the best unit and software to monitor Fire/EMS and the various law enforcement agencies in the county.

[troymail]

Originally Posted by joepricebelairvfc

I have reviewed the various scanner radios on the market. Seriously considering the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT over the GRE PSR-600 model. Both provide for monitoring the 700mhz frequencies. Additionally, upon reading several forums, both units have their pros and cons. Once the new Harford County, MD frequencies are finalized, I want the best unit and software to monitor Fire/EMS and the various law enforcement agencies in the county.

Odd post for this thread -- neither radio you referenced will monitor this (Maryland FiRST) system.....

[maus92]

Originally Posted by joepricebelairvfc

I have reviewed the various scanner radios on the market. Seriously considering the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT over the GRE PSR-600 model. Both provide for monitoring the 700mhz frequencies. Additionally, upon reading several forums, both units have their pros and cons. Once the new Harford County, MD frequencies are finalized, I want the best unit and software to monitor Fire/EMS and the various law enforcement agencies in the county.

PSR-800 would be a better radio for you.

[fourwd1]

I've been trying to install the Beta Update2 Firmware but the PC doesn't recognize the scanner.
I can up/download V-Scanner folders though.
I tried going into Control Panel > Device Manager > PORTS tab per the instructions, but the problem is that neither my VISTA or WIN 7 machines have a PORTS tab under Device Manager.
Anyone have any ideas ?
The main reason I bought this radio was to receive the FIRST system.

[maus92]

Does the scanner's display say "Waiting for USB?" Make sure that you are plugging the programming cable into an USB port that is mounted directly to the mainboard (motherboard) of the PC - and not through any hub device or spider cable. That worked for me. Also, Win7 does have a "Ports(COM & LPT)" object - it is listed alphabetically under Network adapters" and before "Processors."

[fourwd1]

Originally Posted by maus92

Does the scanner's display say "Waiting for USB?"

Yes

Make sure that you are plugging the programming cable into an USB port that is mounted directly to the mainboard (motherboard) of the PC - and not through any hub device or spider cable. That worked for me.

Yes, it is.

Also, Win7 does have a "Ports(COM & LPT)" object - it is listed alphabetically under Network adapters" and before "Processors."

I'll check that out tonight. Thanks

[EyeSpy]

Not sure if it is operator error or what... Was getting transmissions earlier, then later, I was getting "hits on the FiRST system and now, not getting anything... tried different locations in house and in car as well as a couple different antennas...

Earlier, per the Wiki, I tried a few different decode settings (Low:70 High:98, then Low 80 High 95) - I didn't see a difference in Baltimore Co much, so restored it back to my back up from last night (which defaults it to 88-95 respectively)... Nothing...

Still getting Harford Co fine... just nothing on the FiRST site... and the only difference was adding the Wildcard to that system...

And just to clarify... I am using a PSR-800 with all updated firm and software...

[troymail]

Originally Posted by EyeSpy

Not sure if it is operator error or what... Was getting transmissions earlier, then later, I was getting "hits on the FiRST system and now, not getting anything... tried different locations in house and in car as well as a couple different antennas...

Earlier, per the Wiki, I tried a few different decode settings (Low:70 High:98, then Low 80 High 95) - I didn't see a difference in Baltimore Co much, so restored it back to my back up from last night (which defaults it to 88-95 respectively)... Nothing...

Still getting Harford Co fine... just nothing on the FiRST site... and the only difference was adding the Wildcard to that system...

And just to clarify... I am using a PSR-800 with all updated firm and software...

Ah- You're listening in Harford County, right? It appears that the only frequency listed on RR (and therefore in the 800's library) is 773.58125. Perhaps they switched to an alternate CC frequency?

You can run a SEARCH across 769-775mhz and see if you can find additional frequencies that may be in service up there.

According to CAPRAD PUBLIC SAFETY DATABASE, there are several other yet unverified (or submitted) frequencies for Harford County:

772.981250
769.918750
770.418750
770.681250
774.818750

Add these to your programming via EZ Scan and see if that helps.