Is Frederick County going to change to digital?

[ka3jjz]

Originally Posted by freqhopping

I was on the river in Brunswick today and monitored the system perfectly fine on my 396XT. There is no 700Mhz site in the area though like the DB says.

Do make sure to get this to the database - observations like yours are the only way things like this get cleaned up

Perhaps the 700 Mhz site is something set aside for FIRST or a reservation for a future need - a quick check of the FCC DB would be a step in the right direction...Mike

[RUSTY_SHACKAFORD]

Originally Posted by k781789

Currrent Pro 94 user and with the Frederick new P25 system in place, it is time to purchase a new scanner. Which is the better scanner to scan the new system, PRO 106, Pro 18 or PSR 800? Thank You for your feedback.

I would look into a Uniden because everyone with a Radio Shack/GRE scanner are having the same problem here and the Uniden scanners are working fine

[vhctruckie6]

Originally Posted by WaveJam

vhctruckie6, One thing that I noticed is that when broadcasts come through on 853.7500 its *always* hosed. When it comes through on almost any of freq, it sounds fine. I think there is one other freq that gets hosed. But, like I said 853.7500 is always garbled. Do you see that too?

Yes...IF I recieved anything it can be load and clear to nothing or garbled. I am 4 miles from tower and had great reception in the Emmitsburg area...now it sucks...and badly...I own 3 scanners and they are worthless...I have great signal strength the portable 800 radios work here but scanner reception sucks...I have an out door discone antenna and I now get nothing at home!

I am clueless!

[vhctruckie6]

Originally Posted by WaveJam

I'm seeing 853.700 today. Its as garbled as ever. I'm wondering if this is an interference issue? Maybe cell towers? My signal is very strong with the attic antenna but garbled. I put my whip antenna on (that came with the scanner) it was still as strong but a tad less garbled. I'm at wits end with this. Give me the analog system back please FAR better.

AGREE!...Digital is HORRIBLE!!!!...I too have 3 paperweights!!!!

Bob Rosensteel
Emmitsburg, MD

[freqhopping]

One thing I've noticed is that on the new system the MSP sounds way better than before.

[4909]

Originally Posted by freqhopping

One thing I've noticed is that on the new system the MSP sounds way better than before.

I concur. As does FCSO. Did some ID scanning today, found Animal Control on 5491. Transit buses on 5523.

NO city PD though. I heard that they won't be coming on line with the system until November.

[WaveJam]

Originally Posted by RUSTY_SHACKAFORD

I would look into a Uniden because everyone with a Radio Shack/GRE scanner are having the same problem here and the Uniden scanners are working fine

Looks like I now have a Pro-197 in excellent shape for sale. Any buyers???

[hescominsoon]

They have gone digital..and changed their talkgroups. it appears that only dispatch is now available and the rest is encrypted on streaming?

[k781789]

Originally Posted by RUSTY_SHACKAFORD

I would look into a Uniden because everyone with a Radio Shack/GRE scanner are having the same problem here and the Uniden scanners are working fine

Thank You for the suggestion on the Uniden, what is the best model?

[ka3jjz]

Of the modern Unidens, there are 3 that are digital capable - the BCD396XT, the BCD996XT and Home Patrol. You can find the links for all of them here...

Uniden Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

[RUSTY_SHACKAFORD]

I have downloaded the P25 system from the RRDB and I notice that this table had showed up.
Is this the correct table for the P25 system?
If not what is the correct table?

Lo------------Hi-----------Offset--------------Base------------Step
0-------------- 0-------------- 0-------------- 25.000000-----000.000
0-------------- 0-------------- 0-------------- 25.000000-----000.000
0-------------- 0-------------- 0-------------- 25.000000-----000.000
0-------------- 0-------------- 0-------------- 25.000000-----000.000

I have read not to worry about the table when P25 Auto is used but with the trouble we are having with this system has me wondering if something in the table is not right in the ARC 500 program.

I would like to use P25 Manual with the correct table and see if that will change the problem with that the vc 858.08750 & 859.48750 are clean and clear, But vc 853.75000 & 856.48750 are not clear and sometimes there is nothing. I have 90% to 99% sys and 63 to 70 signal strength.

I see that other people have 853.22500 as a vc but I have never had a hit on that freq.
Wouldn't all the vc freq's be the same on every tower site with a simulcast system?

[ka3jjz]

Those look like default values set in the program. A P25 system needs no additional table entries, AFAIK, even with rebanding, because the CC carries all the data necessary.

Mike

[freqhopping]

0: 851.00625 / 6.25
1: 762.00625 / 6.25

Is what the Unidens automatically populate the bandplan with for this system.

[mike_s104]

Originally Posted by RUSTY_SHACKAFORD

I would look into a Uniden because everyone with a Radio Shack/GRE scanner are having the same problem here and the Uniden scanners are working fine

My PSR-800 sounds fine with the new system.

[ka3jjz]

You PSR-500/600/Pro-106/197 users might try putting in the table values freqhopping found - heck it can't sound any worse, and if it works, you've restored your paperweights....Mike

[ka3jjz]

Originally Posted by mike_s104

My PSR-800 sounds fine with the new system.

Mike just for winks and grins, can you see whether your 800 populated a custom table the way the Unidens apparently do?

It might well be an answer the other scanner users are looking for...Mike

[mike_s104]

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

Do make sure to get this to the database - observations like yours are the only way things like this get cleaned up

Perhaps the 700 Mhz site is something set aside for FIRST or a reservation for a future need - a quick check of the FCC DB would be a step in the right direction...Mike

I believe anyone else can check the FCC database too.

6 sites listed with GPS locations. 857.4875 and 858.4875 are listed in the FCC DB but not the RR DB. Might be worst seeing if any of those are a CC or just a VC. Those having issues, try to find a CC that works for you. You may need to find a weaker one to no get too hot of a signal.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/d...llsign=WQOX537

More data
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/d...llsign=WQOX538

I think this is what got in the RR DB some how. I believe Loudoun Co. VA has a 700MHz license as well and didn't use it.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/d...llsign=WQON288

Originally Posted by vhctruckie6

Yes...IF I recieved anything it can be load and clear to nothing or garbled. I am 4 miles from tower and had great reception in the Emmitsburg area...now it sucks...and badly...I own 3 scanners and they are worthless...I have great signal strength the portable 800 radios work here but scanner reception sucks...I have an out door discone antenna and I now get nothing at home!

I am clueless!

Originally Posted by vhctruckie6

AGREE!...Digital is HORRIBLE!!!!...I too have 3 paperweights!!!!

Bob Rosensteel
Emmitsburg, MD

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

Mike just for winks and grins, can you see whether your 800 populated a custom table the way the Unidens apparently do?

It might well be an answer the other scanner users are looking for...Mike

I really think some are making this harder than it really is. If you read about other multi-site simulcast systems, like Loudoun Co. VA, you'll see it's probably an issue of too much signal. Try a 0db gain antenna, no antenna or even just a paper clip and see if that helps. Others have posted that aiming a directional yagi AWAY from the tower seems to works.

I don't think you all understand that they installed that system for them to use, not for us to listen to. I bet they could care less if we can monitor it or not. The fact that they went with something that is monitorable (well, for some of us) and not something like MotoTRBO, ProVoice, or OpenSky and also be thankful they didn't encrypt 100%.

For the PSR-800, I simply imported it from the library on the scanner and it worked. To make sure, I updated my EZ Scan software database from the RR DB and imported the new system into it. Below is what got imported and works. You can set custom tables under site options, but none were necessary. Maybe you guys need to buy a PSR-800. I have since added the additional freqs for the system.

[jmarkey]

Originally Posted by RUSTY_SHACKAFORD

. . .
I see that other people have 853.22500 as a vc but I have never had a hit on that freq.
Wouldn't all the vc freq's be the same on every tower site with a simulcast system?

Trunked systems only use the number of channels required to handle the concurrent call load. Not sure if 853.225 lit up today, but some channels will only get hit when system traffic is really high.

Originally Posted by 4909

I concur. As does FCSO. Did some ID scanning today, found Animal Control on 5491. Transit buses on 5523.

NO city PD though. I heard that they won't be coming on line with the system until November.

Frederick Police Department will remain encrypted as they are now on UHF

Originally Posted by vhctruckie6

AGREE!...Digital is HORRIBLE!!!!...I too have 3 paperweights!!!!

Bob Rosensteel
Emmitsburg, MD

Looking to see if we can identify any interference sources in your area that might help address your issue. NEXTEL held license to 853.7500 in Adams Co. Shouldnt still have any equipment up, but . . . I'll defer to antenna experts, but you might get better results with different antenna. An omni discone could make any multi-path distortion that might be happening worse.

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

Do make sure to get this to the database - observations like yours are the only way things like this get cleaned up

Perhaps the 700 Mhz site is something set aside for FIRST or a reservation for a future need - a quick check of the FCC DB would be a step in the right direction...Mike

Brunswick 700MHz Astro standalone repeater (ASR) will be active by December to provide in-fill signal in valleys between the hills in-town. Traffic brought in on ASR site will also simulcast on the 800 on the appropriate talkgroup. The ASR is transparent to users (they dont change talkgroups).

------

WaveJam - Your closest site (though maybe not the best depending on your exact location and terrain) is I-70 @Rt. 75

Frederick County's system supports clear voice, encrypted voice, and data so you may have traffic on scanners with either no audio or encrypted gibberish. There is still work being done that may help clean up some of the odd issues on some of the channels like 853.7500.

[mike_s104]

Has anyone monitored any of the sites with UniTrunker?

[WaveJam]

Originally Posted by mike_s104

I don't think you all understand that they installed that system for them to use, not for us to listen to. I bet they could care less if we can monitor it or not.

You really didn't need to point that out. I'm sure everyone undertsands that. We are in the this forum just trying to figure out a problem since thats what forums are for.