ARC396 Question

[wjf]

What is the significance of a blue vs red icon in the system browser?

[kreepus]

A red icon is for a P25 Exclusive System and a blue is for a mixed-mode system (P25 and analog). If a system uses P25 ONLY, you have to program it as a P25 system. If it is a Motorola system that uses analog and P25, you have to program it as a Motorola system. Found this out the hard way when I programmed a mixed-mode system (P W County) as a P25 system and I never heard any traffic. Reprogrammed it as Motorola 800 and it worked fine.

[wjf]

Originally Posted by kreepus

A red icon is for a P25 Exclusive System and a blue is for a mixed-mode system (P25 and analog). If a system uses P25 ONLY, you have to program it as a P25 system. If it is a Motorola system that uses analog and P25, you have to program it as a Motorola system. Found this out the hard way when I programmed a mixed-mode system (P W County) as a P25 system and I never heard any traffic. Reprogrammed it as Motorola 800 and it worked fine.

Thanks for the quick answer. The systems I'm trying to program are APC0-25. Does that make a difference?

[kreepus]

P25 is short for APCO-25. If it says "APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive" in the database listing, program it as a P25 System in ARC396.

[wjf]

Originally Posted by kreepus

P25 is short for APCO-25. If it says "APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive" in the database listing, program it as a P25 System in ARC396.

Thanks.

[UPMan]

The more definitive designation for an APCO25 system is the line just above the one you highlighted. If System Type is "Project 25 Standard" then it is an APCO 25 system. If it is "Motorola Type II..." then it should be programmed as a Motorola Type II system.

There are a few Motorola Type II systems which use APCO 25 CAI Exclusive...setting them up as APCO 25 would result in the system not tracking.

[loumaag]

Originally Posted by UPMan

The more definitive designation for an APCO25 system is the line just above the one you highlighted. If System Type is "Project 25 Standard" then it is an APCO 25 system. If it is "Motorola Type II..." then it should be programmed as a Motorola Type II system.

There are a few Motorola Type II systems which use APCO 25 CAI Exclusive...setting them up as APCO 25 would result in the system not tracking.

Correct, South Dakota is a prime example. It would be better if the software designer(s) and scanner manufacturers quit the confusion they have caused and started to specify APCO-25 (P-25) systems as having nothing to do with Motorola instead of lumping them together. Uniden has taken the first step in this direction (in the newer scanners) by having a separate selection for P-25 systems. (Take a bow Paul )