MPSCS Control Freqs

gg750 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 06:49 PM

I do a lot of driving around the state. Today, while sitting around bored, I thought that maybe I would just program all the control freqs for the entire MSPSCS system into a bank on my 296D. It works out to 46 freqs all together (many are used in multiple locations). The way I see it, no matter where I went in the state, I would have a control freq to lock onto. Does anyone forsee a problem with doing this? Please share thoughts.

G

joseph · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2005, 09:43 PM

Hey do you have a Win96 of those you can upload ?

mikey60 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 01:32 AM

The only problem I would forsee is those odd locations where another system's control channel is active in the area you are in. There are a few frequencies used by the MPSCS in one area, that are used as control channels for other systems in other areas..

Mike

n211cr · #4 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 01:48 AM

Would that really cause a problem you would not know which tower that was by the label you put on it but it will still work as a control channel. As far as I know no control channel buts up against another towers control channel.

k8tmk · #5 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 01:07 PM

If you study the control frequencies for each tower in Michigan, you should notice a pattern. In Southwest Michigan (at least) a particular control frequency is not used again until it is at least two counties (roughly) away.

You may be able to split them up in a similar manner in the banks of your scanner so that only one particular control channel in a given area is in the same bank. For example, Berrien County is covered by towers in Coloma, Sawyer, and Sumnerville. You would make sure those control channel frequnecies are in different banks, along with control frequencies in other non-adjacent areas.

Does this make any sense, or am I missing something? It would take a lot of preparation beforehand, but it seens like it would be feasable.

Randy

RyltnVFD · #6 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 03:20 PM

This is how I had my PRO-96 set up, and it works fine.

WU8Y · #7 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg750

I thought that maybe I would just program all the control freqs for the entire MSPSCS system into a bank on my 296D.

Are the control frequencies all that are necessary? I have programmed into my scanner all of the frequencies for the local two towers; it works but if that workload can be reduced...

seamusg · #8 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc8dqh

Are the control frequencies all that are necessary? I have programmed into my scanner all of the frequencies for the local two towers; it works but if that workload can be reduced...

All I program is the primary and secondary CC for the towers.

rdale · #9 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 06:26 PM

"Are the control frequencies all that are necessary? I have programmed into my scanner all of the frequencies for the local two towers; it works but if that workload can be reduced..."

If you only program the freq's for your local towers, you won't have much luck when traveling the state.

gg750 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc8dqh

Are the control frequencies all that are necessary? I have programmed into my scanner all of the frequencies for the local two towers; it works but if that workload can be reduced...

Yeah. For most digital P25 system, the control channel is all that is needed for listening to the system.

Well, no one seems to think that it won't work, so I'll start on it tonight and see what happens. I'm planning a trip to Cedar Point next weekend, which will take me through most of the lower peninsula (I live in Traverse City). I'll have to take the TG list with me so I know who I'm listening too.

The only problem I can see is the scanner taking forever to find an active control frequency. I was just going to put them in order from lowest to highest, but I'm now thinking that I'll put the local control tower freqs in first, then go from there.

I'll post with updates.

G

rdale · #11 (**permalink**) 09-08-2005, 06:51 PM

It scans the bank in less than a second, so it won't be an issue. I travel all across the state with one "travel" bank and have never had an issue (unless I'm really in the boonies.)

Doesn't matter at all how you enter them...

k8tmk · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 09:29 AM

As I have said in several other threads, inputting all of a tower's frequencies into your scanner is a big waste of time. It takes a fair amount of time to enter them, you gain nothing from doing so, and it could possibly even slow the scanner down because it has to "look" at each frequency for activity.

Information in the digital stream transmitted on the control frequency will tell the scanner which working frequency to switch to.

Randy

gg750 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k8tmk

As I have said in several other threads, inputting all of a tower's frequencies into your scanner is a big waste of time. It takes a fair amount of time to enter them, you gain nothing from doing so, and it could possibly even slow the scanner down because it has to "look" at each frequency for activity.

Information in the digital stream transmitted on the control frequency will tell the scanner which working frequency to switch to.

Randy

Big waste of time? It doesn't take that long to enter 46 frequencies (ever hear of copy and paste?). Also, I did not say I was going to enter every TOWER...just all the CONTROL FREQUENCIES....there is a big difference...46 vs 200?. Gain nothing from doing so? Please explain. If i'm in Marquette or Grand Rapids or Detroit and don't have their control freqs programmed, then how am I goning to hear them? If you read my original post, it says that I travel around the state a lot. How am I going to hear other locations without all the control frequencies programmed? If you have a better way of listening from anywhere in the state without all the control freqs entered, I'd like to hear it. Also, the BC296D doesn't keep scanning every control freq. Once it has found a control freq with a signal strong enough to lock onto, it DOES NOT leave that frequency until it can no longer receive a signal from it.

I have finish programming all the control frequencies, and the scanner works fine. When I turn it on, it immediatly finds my local tower and stays there until I'm too far away from it, then locks onto the next one it finds. We'll see just how much of my time I just wasted next weekend when I go downstate.

rdale · #14 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 11:10 AM

I think he's responding to the other poster in this forum who talked about entering all freq's for his local two towers. Yes, that is a waste of time...

WU8Y · #15 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdale

I think he's responding to the other poster in this forum who talked about entering all freq's for his local two towers. Yes, that is a waste of time...

In my defense ;-) at the time I didn't know any better.

What about a tower such as #209, Detroit, which is listed without control frequencies marked?

Whoops, never mind...

mikey60 · #16 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc8dqh

In my defense ;-) at the time I didn't know any better.

What about a tower such as #209, Detroit, which is listed without control frequencies marked?

Whoops, never mind...

Yeah, 209 has been shut down, and 868.9375 and 868.4375 have been absorbed into 701.

Mike

k8tmk · #17 (**permalink**) 09-09-2005, 12:50 PM

Yes, rdale was correct. I was only referring to not entering all of the "working" frequencies. Of course the control channel frequencies need to be entered.

Randy

jdc50 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-27-2005, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg750

I do a lot of driving around the state. Today, while sitting around bored, I thought that maybe I would just program all the control freqs for the entire MSPSCS system into a bank on my 296D. It works out to 46 freqs all together (many are used in multiple locations). The way I see it, no matter where I went in the state, I would have a control freq to lock onto. Does anyone forsee a problem with doing this? Please share thoughts.

G

Say would you be able to send me a copy of the msp control channels?. I also use a 296 with the arc 250 software.

Thanks

brianw83 · #19 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 10:24 AM

I too travel around and so far I have virtually all frequencies and talkgroups programmed all the way up I-75. The files also contain the analog information for non-MPSCS towns. Many of the talkgroups programmed are from previous trips up north to Mackinac, traverse city, and Rose city. Banks are divided into counties and one for the MPSCS. I cant seem to upload the files to the forum. If you would like them Im more than happy to share but you will have to email me directly at

brianw83@msn.com

The great thing about the 96/2096 is that each file can be placed into a "virtual folder and easily accessed for the area in which you are in while driving. Note that if you shut off the analog banks and open up the squelch wide, you can pick up multiple towers in some areas. There is no conflict problems, you just pick up the talkgroups from that tower.
I also have the Ohio file for traveling to Cedar Point.

fleurycove · #20 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 08:52 PM

I sent you an e-mail