Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System

sacscan · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 08:22 PM

Sac City has been running two control channels for the past few days. A few minutes ago I heard digital testing on 40944, a new talkgroup. The digital control channel is 868.825 (for now, I know they will probably change it in a few hours when they rotate frequencies).

servo_fan · #2 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I don't have a digital capable scanner, so the day I stop hearing things, I'll know they've made the switch to digital. I'm already going to have to buy a new scanner when they reband and I'm hoping I won't have to buy a digital one, but I guess to make sure I can hear things for a long time to come, I should start saving up for a Uniden 396, (or whatever will replace that). But $500+....ouch!

antfreq · #3 (**permalink**) 01-21-2006, 10:40 PM

When you get a chance, can you fill us in on your P25 settings.. what you ARE or are NOT getting.

Digital Control Channel on 868.825
System ID = C116h-0001

Analog Control Channel on 868.900
System ID = 4428h

[ this was at 1947hrs )

kma371 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2006, 10:14 PM

Update, They are still using 868.825 as a control channel. My trunker data says "May also be using Cell #1 868.6625" and "May also be using Cell #1 868.900" I didn't receive any activity during the 15 or so minutes I tried. But my signal wasn't very strong so not even the control channel came up in the program (though I knew it was 868.825).

Ant, any clue when SSD might be testing their system like SPD is?

-Bill

RolnCode3 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2006, 10:36 PM

How can you tell it's a digital cc? Unitrunker says the 868.825 is analog...unless I'm not reading it correctly.

Trunker says it's "NetWkd"...is that SmartZone?

*edit* This is what unitrunker is showing as of right now (1947 hrs)
type Type II 800
tone 83.72
analog yes
encrypted no
astro no
VOC no
wide no

at one point the Astro was "yes"

*double edit* the CC seems to be resetting itself about every 10 minutes. It'll go silent, decode rate goes to zero, and then it starts back up. is this testing, or normal?

wayne_h · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2006, 11:38 PM

Both control channels are 3600. The new one is for the SmartZone Controller that was just brought online for the impending switch to mixed mode trunking.

SmartZone controllers don't rotate their control channels automatically like the older controllers did every 12 hrs; it's done manually or in the event of a fault. Motorola, who is no doubt in the mix with something this big, should have disabled the control channel(s) used by the new control channel within the older system's controller to prevent conflict. Can someone verify if 4428 is not assigning specific control channels as voice? (indicating they're disabled)

**ETA: For those new to the thread, and don't want to read it all, there is the option to search just this thread for information. Click "Search This Thread" next to the thread rating up above at the start of each page**

-Wayne

antfreq · #7 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kma371

Ant, any clue when SSD might be testing their system like SPD is?

-Bill

I'll send my contact an e-mail - hopefully get some kinda timeline.

RolnCode3 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne_h

Can someone verify if 4428 is not assigning specific control channels as voice? (indicating they're disabled)

-Wayne

Dunno what you mean by this, or I'd check it out. Do you mean that the 4 frequencies usually rotating thru as CCs, are exempt from voice traffic?

mkewman · #9 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 11:48 AM

thanks for the updates guys! dispite being a little sad (we're all going to have to go get digital scanners

) this is all very exciting!

keep us updated! and keep those eyes on unitrunker, trunker, etc.

antfreq · #10 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkewman

thanks for the updates guys! dispite being a little sad (we're all going to have to go get digital scanners

) this is all very exciting!

keep us updated! and keep those eyes on unitrunker, trunker, etc.

Rememeber, it's a Hybrid system. The preliminary word I got for the County side, only "some" of the channels will be digital. Fingers crossed that it will be a few "sensitive" channels, not patrol channels.

johncoleman · #11 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 06:58 PM

I Have All The Radio Shack Pro 96 Scanners You Want For 435.00 No Tax Plus 10.00 Shipping. All Dated 12/05 And 1.4 I Am In Marin County Calif 22 Min North Of The Golden Gate Bridge

wayne_h · #12 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johncoleman

I Have All The Radio Shack Pro 96 Scanners You Want For 435.00 No Tax Plus 10.00 Shipping. All Dated 12/05 And 1.4 I Am In Marin County Calif 22 Min North Of The Golden Gate Bridge

John, not a good idea to come into a thread not about sales of digital scanners and advertise yourself. Please restrict it to the For Sale forum. Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolnCode3

Dunno what you mean by this, or I'd check it out. Do you mean that the 4 frequencies usually rotating thru as CCs, are exempt from voice traffic?

Since the old Sac system rotates through all of its control channels disabling a channel within its database would keep the controller from assigning the channel for voice or control. If it did you could have two completely different control channels on the same freq and/or a voice channel (on the old system) assigned to the freq which is being used as control for the new system. Once the channel was assigned subscribers would get a blast of data. So if someone is watching Trunker they shouldn't see 4428 show activity on the frequency that's used on the new sys as a CC. Make sense?

-Wayne

servo_fan · #13 (**permalink**) 01-23-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antfreq

Rememeber, it's a Hybrid system. The preliminary word I got for the County side, only "some" of the channels will be digital. Fingers crossed that it will be a few "sensitive" channels, not patrol channels.

I hope this is true also. While I could probably get by okay if the Sac City system were to go all digital, it would be more difficult for me if the county did. A new scanner is bad enough, but a digital one is a killer. Although, for what I just paid for new tires, I could have gotten a 396,

RolnCode3 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-24-2006, 01:39 AM

OK, thought that's what you might mean. I'm running trunker and Unitrunker, and neither is showing activity on the 868.8250. Digital system CC is still running strong on it, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne_h

John, not a good idea to come into a thread not about sales of digital scanners and advertise yourself. Please restrict it to the For Sale forum. Thanks.

Since the old Sac system rotates through all of its control channels disabling a channel within its database would keep the controller from assigning the channel for voice or control. If it did you could have two completely different control channels on the same freq and/or a voice channel (on the old system) assigned to the freq which is being used as control for the new system. Once the channel was assigned subscribers would get a blast of data. So if someone is watching Trunker they shouldn't see 4428 show activity on the frequency that's used on the new sys as a CC. Make sense?

-Wayne

antfreq · #15 (**permalink**) 01-24-2006, 06:32 AM

I monitored 868.8250 as control channel only from 1500hrs to 0330hrs and didn't hear a peep of a transmission. I'm probably missing all the "testing" that occurs while I'm asleep in bed 35 miles away from Sacramento.

antfreq · #16 (**permalink**) 01-26-2006, 07:56 AM

Weds afternoon I heard some open carriers for short periods of time and they did not show up as digital transmissions.

Analog Control Channel on 868.825
System ID = C116h-0001

80
144
176
2800
13872

There was a lot of static during these 'open mics' and during one transmission I could hear "fumbling" around in the background. I didn't hear any voices or anything like that.

This was heard at various distances, from Hwy 99 & Elverta to I-5 and Richards to 7th St & F St.

sacscan · #17 (**permalink**) 01-27-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antfreq

When you get a chance, can you fill us in on your P25 settings.. what you ARE or are NOT getting.

Digital Control Channel on 868.825
System ID = C116h-0001

Analog Control Channel on 868.900
System ID = 4428h

[ this was at 1947hrs )

I used my BC785D with card to listen to the digital transmissions during the testing. I heard a radio tech say "radio service testing". The digital signal sounded fine using the default sound quality settings of Low 0533, Mid 1985, and Upp 3342.

I haven't heard anymore digital transmissions since my original post. I have been using the BCT8 in control channel only mode with only 868.825 programmed in to listen for the telltale digital buzzsaw sound, the Pro-2052 with 868.825 deleted to listen to SPD's analog transmissions, and the BC785D in control channel only mode with only 868.825 programmed to listen for any digital transmissions.

I often hear the buzzsaw sound on the BCT8 and the display shows an SPD talkgroup that is broadcasting in analog on the Pro-2052. The BC785D shows an open carrier on 868.2625, but no audio. Weird.

wayne_h · #18 (**permalink**) 01-31-2006, 04:11 PM

Guys, I'm up for suggestions on how to name the new system within the DB. I also need some clarification too.

Should I leave the system name as "Sacramento, City of ..." or change it to "Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System?"

Will the new system (C116) absorb 4438 as a site under the new network, or will 4438 be completely separate (i.e., under its own controller/subscriber database)?

-Wayne

antfreq · #19 (**permalink**) 01-31-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne_h

Guys, I'm up for suggestions on how to name the new system within the DB. I also need some clarification too.

Should I leave the system name as "Sacramento, City of ..." or change it to "Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System?"

Will the new system (C116) absorb 4438 as a site under the new network, or will 4438 be completely separate (i.e., under its own controller/subscriber database)?

-Wayne

C116 and 4438 are one in the same systems, which serve the City of Sacramento.
SRRCS is the authoritive organization which governs two systems, City and County.

Once the upgrades are complete to 4438, it will become mixed mode system similar to the City of Davis. http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...TRSDB&sid=3469

If there is a way to have two Sysid's in the profile header, I think that would be an accurate way of tracking and searching for this system within the database.

Either that, just create a new system called C116 and have it refer to 4438 until the upgrades are complete. Once complete, drop 4438 ( once that control channel goes silent )

Thanks for bringing the admin issue forward to the readers, it's appreciated.

antfreq · #20 (**permalink**) 01-31-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antfreq

Once the upgrades are complete to 4438, it will become mixed mode system similar to the City of Davis. http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...TRSDB&sid=3469

Additionally,

When completed, there will be some new talk groups (unknown to what extent), both analog and digital talk groups, and the ability to have encryption ( very few talk groups ). The frequencies will remain the same until rebanding.