Sorry, but more help needed.

[hotticket61]

I'll try to keep this short with 4 questions so I don't drive everyone nuts.
1. Which frequency would go into the Uniden BCT8 program for a trunking system in EDACS? I don't know if it's a priority freq. in the 800 Mhz range or the actual frequency given for any of the analogs that APD uses?
2. Are the avaliable analog transmissions that APD has in EDACS?
3. If I want to label/program talkgroups do I use the DEC or AFS number?
4. Does "type" of communications have any bearing for programming trunking frequencies?, or is it all about the frequency numbers, the DEC, or AFS?

I see on our city/county trunked systems at this site that we are "EDACS Networked Standard". So I guess that answers part of my question(s). Any other help is greatly appreciated and thanks again.

[ampulman]

Originally Posted by hotticket61

I'll try to keep this short with 4 questions so I don't drive everyone nuts.
1. Which frequency would go into the Uniden BCT8 program for a trunking system in EDACS? I don't know if it's a priority freq. in the 800 Mhz range or the actual frequency given for any of the analogs that APD uses?
2. Are the avaliable analog transmissions that APD has in EDACS?
3. If I want to label/program talkgroups do I use the DEC or AFS number?
4. Does "type" of communications have any bearing for programming trunking frequencies?, or is it all about the frequency numbers, the DEC, or AFS?

I see on our city/county trunked systems at this site that we are "EDACS Networked Standard". So I guess that answers part of my question(s). Any other help is greatly appreciated and thanks again.

I have no experience with the BCT8, but have a 396 and briefly owned a PRO96. I don't know if your scanner supports EDACS.

In any case, EDACS systems are programmed by entering all of the frequencies in the database, along with the Logical Control Number (LCN), shown as 01, 02, 03, etc. Some scanners require that the LCN be matched to a channel number (PRO96).

Don't know what APD is. Some EDACS systems may transmit Analog as well as (selected) non-analog talk groups. Are you referring to NON-TRUNKED frequencies listed separately for the city/county? It would help if you could tell us exactly what you wish to monitor (County/city/system or descrete frequency as listed in the RR database.

There are 3 types of EDACS systems: Standard (wide), narrow, and scat. I only have experience with standard.

Once you have the EDACS system properly programmed, you may find it easier just to 'save' talk groups as you encounter them. Once saved, you can change the label (which ever format is displayed) to read anything you wish.

AM

[abqscan]

Originally Posted by hotticket61

I'll try to keep this short with 4 questions so I don't drive everyone nuts.
1. Which frequency would go into the Uniden BCT8 program for a trunking system in EDACS? I don't know if it's a priority freq. in the 800 Mhz range or the actual frequency given for any of the analogs that APD uses?

You need to program all 15 freqs in for System 3, and all 9 in for System 2. Ensure you program them in the exact order they are listen in the DB. I think it might help you if you read up on what Trunking is, and How it works. This will clear up some of your confusion when it comes to Trunking.

Originally Posted by hotticket61

2. Are the avaliable analog transmissions that APD has in EDACS?

Yes, APD dispatch is in Analog.

Originally Posted by hotticket61

3. If I want to label/program talkgroups do I use the DEC or AFS number?

I don't think it matters too much. It might depend on how you have it set up in your radios. I personaly use Decimal.

Originally Posted by hotticket61

4. Does "type" of communications have any bearing for programming trunking frequencies?, or is it all about the frequency numbers, the DEC, or AFS?

I see on our city/county trunked systems at this site that we are "EDACS Networked Standard". So I guess that answers part of my question(s). Any other help is greatly appreciated and thanks again.

No, Once you program in the entire trunk system into your radio, it will search out TG's it can monitor. It will display them on your scanner in either DEC, or AFS. The purpose of tagging the TG is to make it easier to figure out who your listening to, then having to remember every TG ID.

[hotticket61]

Thanks ampulman and abqscan for the help. Saturday I programmed all 24 trunking frequencies into trunking bank 1 of my Uniden BCT8. Can't say I picked up very much. I even put in the AFS numbers for the analog TG's and got nothing with that. There's something I'm not doing and can't figure out what it is? I did manage to pick up Torrance and Velencia Sheriff's Saturday just by regular service scanning from Local Police bank. That was all luck no doubt. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[n7jei]

The EDACS frequencies need to be programmed in a separate bank for each system. I don't think it will work with all 24 in one bank. I don't know anything about programming the BCT8. You might want to re-check the manual for the particulars on the programming sequence. As mentioned, the freqs probably need to be programmed in specific memory slots. For example, for Albuquerque system 3, freq 1 (866.250 MHz) would need to be programmed into memory channel one, freq 2 into memory channel 2, etc. You may also need to tell the radio that these are EDACS trunking freqs. Once the system is set up properly and tracking the trunk (?) you'll only be able to hear APD dispatch and some fire dispatch (dispatcher only, not the field units) and a couple of airport maintenence talkgroups. Just look up how to place the radio in talkgroup "search" mode. Let us know how you do.

[hotticket61]

Okay. Will do, and thanks n7jei.

[abqscan]

Originally Posted by hotticket61

Thanks ampulman and abqscan for the help. Saturday I programmed all 24 trunking frequencies into trunking bank 1 of my Uniden BCT8. Can't say I picked up very much. I even put in the AFS numbers for the analog TG's and got nothing with that. There's something I'm not doing and can't figure out what it is? I did manage to pick up Torrance and Velencia Sheriff's Saturday just by regular service scanning from Local Police bank. That was all luck no doubt. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Okay! Only program in the 15 Freqs in for System 3. Don't worry about programing any TG's yet. Lets take baby steps and see if we can get you to program your radio to trunk.

[hotticket61]

Okay, looks like I'm finally starting to make some progress ! Each bank in my Uniden trunking system will hold 50 frequencies/channels. Do these 15 frequencies go all into Bank 1? Or should I split them up and maybe put 7 in Bank 1 and the other 8 in Bank 2 or vice-versa? Also, will I have to program in any of the so-called "tone(s)" like PL or CSQ? I already know that DPL is DCS digital and I doubt my scanner would recognize those anyway. Thanks again abqscan. I'm almost there!

[abqscan]

Yes, put all 15 frequencies into one bank. You don't have to worry about setting up any PL tones on a trunking system.

[abqscan]

Here are the steps to program a Trunking system into your scanner.

STEP 1: Selecting Trunking System Type

The first step in a Trunk Tracking system is storing the frequencies in one of the five
available banks in your scanner.
1. Press

TRUNK for 1.5 seconds.
You will hear two beeps, and “BANK” and “TRUNK” will begin to flash on the display.

2. Select the bank you want to store the frequency by using the
keypad.

3. Select the system you want to track by using the or  key,
then press E.

List of trunking systems as follows:
Ed (EDACS® Wide Band: 9600 band)***
*** Requires programming of frequencies in exact order and location.

STEP 2: Programming Trunking Frequencies

1. Select and press

E. Use the keypad and (decimal key) to enter a frequency
for the trunked system.
For example, enter .

Note

: To clear a mistake while entering a frequency, press
(decimal key) twice, and start over.

2. Then press E.
The “E” (EDACS), “M” (Motorola) or “L” (LTR) appears depending on the trunked
system selected.
If the frequency is out of the range of the system chosen in this step, you will hear an
error tone, the channel number flashes and an error message appears on the display.

3. Use the or  key to select the next channel in the bank and press E.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all frequencies have been entered.

5. Press SRCH to begin searching the bank you‘ve
programmed.
Then select the programmed bank by using the keypad.

[hotticket61]

Thanks again abqscan!! Will go through these steps when I program next Sunday night. Going to be out of town over Thanksgiving so won't get to it until then. Had a question about your website: How do I print out all those pages of the APD 10-codes? Thanks again for the help and look for your response next Monday. Have a good Thanksgiving!

[hotticket61]

abqscan:

Was able to shrink your web site page 50% in Windows Printing Properties and that gave me the whole 10-code list. Thanks again. I'll check for your response to my labeling talkgroup questions tomorrow.

[abqscan]

Did you get your radio truning the EDACS yet???

[hotticket61]

Yes, as far as I can see it's trunking the EDACS. Not sure what you mean by "trunking the EDACS"? I put a question in last thread asking about how and why for labeling the APD talkgroups?, which I began receiving after inputting all 15 frequencies for system 3 in Bank 1 of my Uniden this past Sunday.

[abqscan]

You never said if you actually got the scanner working. When I say trunking, I mean where the scanner is following the trunk system, and not just scanning the freqs. Just follow the directions when it comes to entering the TG's and labeling them.

[hotticket61]

After getting 15 freq.'s from system 3 into Bank 1 and hitting my "PVT" button the scanner now scans the APD talkgroups that are analog, and that's pretty much what I was looking for. It's scanning from groups 0421-0426, and I'm also picking up an AFD talkgroup ( 08021 I think it is ). It's funny though, picking up the sheriff's in Sandoval, Torrance, or Valencis Co.'s I pick up with no pre-programming from my Service bank in LP ( Local Police ?). What is the advantage to labeling TG's?