Franklin county - Page 11

Squad101 · #**201** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 1:04 AM

I was in Franklinton tonight off of E Green Street and I was monitoring with my PSR-500. I didnt have a problem following the system, I could hear dispatchers and field units with good signal coverage but I do agree with everyone the audio is horrible compared to Viper and other P25 VHF systems.

murrayustud · #**202** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 7:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squad101

I was in Franklinton tonight off of E Green Street and I was monitoring with my PSR-500. I didnt have a problem following the system, I could hear dispatchers and field units with good signal coverage but I do agree with everyone the audio is horrible compared to Viper and other P25 VHF systems.

So from what I've read the only scanner made that can receive this crappy system is a PSR-500 so everyone needs to purchase one of these just for this system? I take it those of us with Uniden stuff just won't be able to monitor it unless we get the PSR-500? Not worth the expense, I'll just monitor the paging channel...

NCFire11 · #**203** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 8:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrayustud

So from what I've read the only scanner made that can receive this crappy system is a PSR-500 so everyone needs to purchase one of these just for this system? I take it those of us with Uniden stuff just won't be able to monitor it unless we get the PSR-500? Not worth the expense, I'll just monitor the paging channel...

I dont think the PSR500 has any advantage over any other digital trunking scanner. I have a PRO197 and if i am sitting still relatively close to a tower (up to 2 miles, so it washes out the other towers) I can pick up TGIDs and hear dispatchers and field units alike.

We were offered a spot on VIPER for $4 million, including infrastructure and radios, however we decided to go our own route. If its not meant to provide a radio system, HP and whoever else controls it shouldn't offer it so easily.

trunktracker71 · #**204** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 8:46 AM

i agree these new p 25 systems arent worth anything espesally the 800 systems i think that the counties should just work on what they have and upgrade that system back in the day i used to be able to hear several counties from where i live and now since they have went 800 i cant hear anything take charleston county here in sc for example i live in florence when they were vhf and ran on just one tower i could hear them fine all the way up here now since they went p 25 and have close to 16 towers through out the county i cant hear them hardle at all even when i was there and horrry i used to hear them anywher i went now since they went 800 and have euther 5 or 6 towers i cant hardly hear them here waste of money if you ask me all the tax money for a system that used to have one tower and did fine for yrs

WB4DAV · #**205** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 9:09 AM

Yeah I'm not sure what's going on with my PRO-96 trying to track this system. Last night I messed around and discovered something strange happening. I could lock onto the CC of 151.2800 with 75% signal. While scanning the system it would stop on TG 101 (Law 1 Dispatch) and occasionally on TG 102 (Law 2) for a few seconds with no sound at all. The PRO-96 shows the VC (voice channel) frequency that is in use when it stops on a TG. Here is the strange part, the VC frequency that was showing up was 137.5250. So needless to say I was scratching my head over that one. Next I locked my scanner on the CC, and realized even with a 75% signal it would never show the System ID. Then I programmed the remaining frequencies for the system and was in manual mode. I sat on one of the frequencies and waited and eventually started receiving some voice activity. It even showed DG on the screen showing it was receiving a digital signal...so at least one of my problems is my PRO-96 just wont track this system properly using the CC.

So, next I programmed the State VIPER Project 25 system just to see if my programming skills were to blame. I immediately starting scanning and picking up the Duke University System with no issues at all picking up Duke PD activity. The CC signal was around 80-85% all the way from the Durham site.

At this point I haven't had the chance to move to other areas of the county to see if my issues are signal related but hopefully this weekend I will have some free time.

trumpetman · #**206** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 11:11 AM

WB4DAV,

Sounds like your tables may not be programmed right if it's jumping to a different frequency than what it should be. Review your table settings and see if that helps anything. Could be the issue for the other folks, make sure you're actually hearing something first. It is an LSM issue if it's poor decode, it's a bandplan issue if you're not hearing anything at all.

Also, bear in mind, scanners suck compared to professional grade radios. I wish they worked better, we all do, but these systems were not designed to keep the public informed on what's going on down the street. They were designed to allow reliable communications for public safety, which they have a pretty good success rate with. Franklin County is still teething just like any other system and it will get better for the PS users. Just because you can't hear the police talking on your $300 scanner doesn't mean the end users can't hear on their $3,000 radios. It also doesn't mean the system sucks or is a waste. Technology, requirements, and capabilities are changing daily, and these new systems offer new reliable equipment when implemented properly and maintained. Experiment with equipment, and find what works for you, that's what a large part of this hobby is about.

/rant

WB4DAV · #**207** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 12:24 PM

trumpetman thanks for the input. I'm pretty sure the issue is on my end too. Good points regarding the system and the teething pains, like you I am confident it will improve. In the meantime all we can do is continue to make improvements and tweaks on our end as much as possible and be patient.

With so much to listen to here in the Raleigh/Durham area, there is no way we'll be bored while the FC system matures.

NCFire11 · #**208** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpetman

WB4DAV,

Sounds like your tables may not be programmed right if it's jumping to a different frequency than what it should be. Review your table settings and see if that helps anything. Could be the issue for the other folks, make sure you're actually hearing something first. It is an LSM issue if it's poor decode, it's a bandplan issue if you're not hearing anything at all.

Also, bear in mind, scanners suck compared to professional grade radios. I wish they worked better, we all do, but these systems were not designed to keep the public informed on what's going on down the street. They were designed to allow reliable communications for public safety, which they have a pretty good success rate with. Franklin County is still teething just like any other system and it will get better for the PS users. Just because you can't hear the police talking on your $300 scanner doesn't mean the end users can't hear on their $3,000 radios. It also doesn't mean the system sucks or is a waste. Technology, requirements, and capabilities are changing daily, and these new systems offer new reliable equipment when implemented properly and maintained. Experiment with equipment, and find what works for you, that's what a large part of this hobby is about.

/rant

Try $4000 for the XG75 and $7000 for the Xg100 Unity. Can you say kickbacks? But there are problems on their end too, so hopefully when they correct the problems for it will help the problems for the scanner users. I have a few audio clips from one of the radios if anyone would like it

hiyudurin · #**209** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 3:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCFire11

Why would they go with VIPER? Do people not realize VIPER isn't mean to take on every county in the state and provide a radio system to them. I've said it once and I'll say it again. VIPER was meant to create interoperability through out the state, not take on every county and provide a radio system for them.

Then why are most counties going to VIPER with no problems?

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCFire11

We were offered a spot on VIPER for $4 million, including infrastructure and radios.

Then why spend 9 million on an inferior system?

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCFire11

Try $4000 for the XG75 and $7000 for the Xg100 Unity. Can you say kickbacks?

Exactly!!!

NC91 · #**210** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 3:44 PM

If anyone is able to successfully listen on a BCD396T let me know. I called Uniden and they said it's system related. I have two of these scanners and have tried every setting and adjustment to them and the P25 settings I could find. (Including different firmware currently on each unit) I'm having the same issues with choppy audio on all of the frequencies. I am noticing that .1525 is the worst and .2200 is the best. Not sure if someone can answer why that is. Patiently waiting for now to see if they get this all worked out.

ts548 · #**211** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 4:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiyudurin

Then why are most counties going to VIPER with no problems?

Most are not going to VIPER. While there are some small counties that may, the biggest part of them will not.

Quote:

Then why spend 9 million on an inferior system?

Harris is far from inferior. And believe me, VIPER has issues of it's own.

KE4ZNR · #**212** (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 4:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts548

Most are not going to VIPER. While there are some small counties that may, the biggest part of them will not.

Harris is far from inferior. And believe me, VIPER has issues of it's own.

Got to agree with TS above. VIPER was NEVER meant in its inception for day to day heavy usage. I have said it a million times here at RR.com. Hell, the name says exactly that "Voice Interoperability Plan For Emergency Responders". VIPER was designed to be an Interop plan, not a day to day system. Wake/Orange Counties are an anomaly.

And no system is perfect. But if configured correctly both a Harris and a Motorola system
can provide reliable and safe communications. Just depends on how the system is built out and how much money is put towards achieving a reliable system. Does not matter if it is Moto/Harris whatever if the system is not configured correctly or corners are cut during system buildout the system will fail expectations.
Marshall KE4ZNR

NCFire11 · #**213** (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 2:09 PM

Has anyone had better experience scanning this system? My PRO197 is significantly better today, could be from the weather conditions and cloudiness, however.

OldFisherman · #**214** (**permalink**) 11-04-2012, 2:57 PM

Just wondering if anyone has 'inside information' about the final testing of the Franklin County system. For the last two weeks I've heard testing off and on, especially late in the afternoon. At least what little I hear now seems not as distorted like it used to be, that plus it seems like they have apparently been testing signal strength throughout the county. Still nothing to brag about here on 96 just west of Rt. 1 - maybe someday.

NCFire11 · #**215** (**permalink**) 11-04-2012, 5:19 PM

What TGid are you hearing testing on?

The system is currently being actively used by FC Law Enforcement agencies.

OldFisherman · #**216** (**permalink**) 11-04-2012, 5:37 PM

Haven't really paid attention to the TGid's but know for sure I've seen 105 and 109 being tested. Most of the time it's a recording counting up and down, but have heard humans doing the counting also when they were out somewhere in the county. Just seems funny that surrounding counties have such strong signals and my own county takes all I can do to follow the trunking. Sure miss the old analog days already!

NCFire11 · #**217** (**permalink**) 11-05-2012, 6:57 AM

Those are LE talkgroups, not sure why they would be on those when there are a plethora of talkgroups they could test on.

Also when the telecommunicators dispatch on tg101, the officers sometimes reply on a random talkgroup(ie. 2421). Decode issue?

RMPDCOP · #**218** (**permalink**) 11-05-2012, 10:28 AM

Hey guys I am still trying to get the TGID layout down. so just bare with me.
I have heard EMS on 136= Possible EMS Dispatch
FIRE on 174= Possible FIRE Dispatch
177= Possible FIRE Ops Channel
Hang in the there, once everyone switches over we will be able to figure everything out.
Meanwhile try and keep up with any TGID's so we can get them down.

Thanks for all your help.

NC91 · #**219** (**permalink**) 11-08-2012, 9:50 AM

Just wanted to let all know that I have two BCD396T scanners and neither have been working more than 20% with this system. I just got a GRE PSR-800 scanner yesterday and immediately I seem to be getting 95-100% success scanning this system. (With the factory rubber duck antenna) I'm over near Cedar Creek Middle School in Youngsville so I'm in-between at least 2 tower signals.

murrayustud · #**220** (**permalink**) 11-08-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NC91

Just wanted to let all know that I have two BCD396T scanners and neither have been working more than 20% with this system. I just got a GRE PSR-800 scanner yesterday and immediately I seem to be getting 95-100% success scanning this system. (With the factory rubber duck antenna) I'm over near Cedar Creek Middle School in Youngsville so I'm in-between at least 2 tower signals.

Wow, glad we have a solution I just don't know that I'm ready to shell out a bunch more cash on yet another scanner just to be able to receive one system...