Learning CPS

[erdsav7827]

First post here so excuse any mistakes. I recently took over as communications manager of our small town VAC and have very little comms programming knowledge. We use mostly MotoTRBO XPR radios and have a fully licensed CPS subscription. Currently I don't touch anything other than change radio ID's or clone a radio. I'd like to learn how to use CPS so I can better understand our system, and understand what our paid comms service provider is doing to our radios. (IE I do not plan to experiment with a public safety trunk system)

I have tried looking at current channels and adding additional RX only channels (pre-authorized by our county) but can't seem to translate the database info here to CPS.

Any ideas on how to learn this software would be appreciated, short of taking thousands of dollars worth of Motorola classes which our VAC cannot afford.

 

[N1GTL]

You mention that you have a MotoTRBO system, you mention a trunked system then mention RX only channels.

You really do not provide enough information on what the system is but if your using a TRBO trunked system (Capacity Plus, Linked Capacity Plus or Connect Plus) and the RX channels are conventional (not part of a trunked system), there is really no good way to monition conventional channels as the radio must continuously be monitoring the controlling time slot of the trunked system. You can monitor (scan) talk groups in the system.

The best thing to do, short of taking classes, is to read a radio and go through it, menu by menu and learn that way. Save the original code plug so you can always put it back in the radio.

 

[Firebuff880]

Motorola Learning Services has both CPS an Radio Manager classes online..

 

[tdeater]

If you want to send me a pm, I'd be happy to try and help you out.

 

[W2PDX]

I sent you a PM

 

[W2PDX]

Disregard, I see you aren't set up for PMs. I would caution you not to play around with the CPS if you don't know what you're doing, especially with your primary TX frequencies. From what I remember from a friend who worked for PRPD, the PD and VAC share the same VHF frequency so you wouldn't want to do anything that would cause interference with LE ops.

What "additional RX only channels (pre-authorized by our county)" are you referring to?

 

[erdsav7827]

I've changed my PM settings. You are correct in frequency knowledge. Yes I agree 110% hence my initial disclaimer that I am not touching in any way existing settings. I merely would like to add surrounding towns as RX only because of the way ALS flycars receive our BLS tones. This enables us to utilize other towns repeaters to still hear our local calls. Because of the heavy tree cover and terrain, our repeater signal does not travel far. Being able to hear our tones from a nearby town if the radio is set to scan helps tremendously.

 

[cmdrwill]

One rule is: ALWAYS read the radio FIRST, and save that original 'codeplug' in an archive location. Then you will have the original to fall back on.

 

[W2PDX]

I've changed my PM settings. You are correct in frequency knowledge. Yes I agree 110% hence my initial disclaimer that I am not touching in any way existing settings. I merely would like to add surrounding towns as RX only because of the way ALS flycars receive our BLS tones. This enables us to utilize other towns repeaters to still hear our local calls. Because of the heavy tree cover and terrain, our repeater signal does not travel far. Being able to hear our tones from a nearby town if the radio is set to scan helps tremendously.

So for example you would want to add Lewisboro VAC as RX only to hear the 45 Medic get toned out for Pound Ridge?

 

[erdsav7827]

So for example you would want to add Lewisboro VAC as RX only to hear the 45 Medic get toned out for Pound Ridge?

Exactly(though we already have LVAC on our radios since we work mutual aid with them). And knowing just the RX frequency is not enough as I cannot make sense of the CPS settings.

 

[W2PDX]

Can you post a screen shot or send me a PM screen shot of your Channels? I'm guessing you probably only have one or two zones?