ATX scanning

[silverf0x]

Hi all, I'm new to digital and trunk scanning with my "new" Pro 96 (my previous scanner was a Uniden BCT7) and am exciting to being able to listen to agency transmissions again. I am in north Round Rock and primarily want to receive RRPD, CPPD and DPS.

I downloaded the data (all of WilCo, RR, CP, and DPS) from the RRDB via Butel's Arc96 software. From all appearances, I did everything correctly. However so far I have only received the following:
- a few WilCo EMS dispatch transmissions
- static
- a few key-ups but then nothing
- barely a word or two at other times

I have both the 800 MHz antenna as well as the telescoping RS antenna. I'm wondering if:
- are the antennas too weak (am I too far out to use these?)
- I don't have the scanner configured correctly

Anyone in the central Texas area successfully getting any of those agencies? I would appreciate any guidance for improving my reception/settings.

Thanks!

[jhooten]

Williamson county agencies have mostly migrated to GATRRS. Hate to say it but I do not believe a PRO-96 will monitor GATRRS.

[silverf0x]

Hi Jerry, thanks for the reply. The Pro 96 is supposed to get GATRRS because it's APCO 25, which the Pro 96 supports. Only Williamson Co. Sheriff is supposed to be encrypted.

My main concern is when I hear the "key-up" and then maybe half a second of an inhale or something, but then nothing and the scanner moves on. Kinda frustrating when I think I'm about to hear a transmission but don't. Not sure what it is, or what's causing it.

[W5JER]

Check your squelch settings. Might be something as simple as that.

[W5TWX]

Williamson Co. Sheriff, GTPD, GTFD, RRPD, CPPD are all encrypted and have been for about a year. You can still hear RRFD, Taylor FD, EMS to area hospitals, and DPS and that's about all you will hear other than road crews, city and county utilities.

[silverf0x]

Do you know what settings/data I should be using to get DPS? I feel like I'm fumbling around in the dark when I'm importing data through ARC96. You can see my settings here ( Round Rock PD ), which I realize you have seen already.

Is there a certain Sites/TalkGroups combination I should be using?

[texasemt13]

For a Pro-96 the P25 conventional frequencies, as seen in this link, will need to be programmed in "FM" mode.

For receiving DPS on the GATRRS system, you will have to program the trunking system as "MO" (Motorola). Then in the talkgroups, will need to program their list of talkgroups (decimal format is easiest), seen at the bottom in this link, under "State Agencies".

Use the GATRRS site closest to you, probably the Williamson County Simulcast being the best, since a lot of troopers from up north probably affiliate with that site (thereby requiring that site to carry the traffic of the listeners affiliating with those talkgroups).

Hope that helps.

[W5TWX]

Here's what I've got on both my scanners. I have all 17 control channels for Williamson County programed in and then I have the talkgroups for RRFD, DPS, and EMS. Everything else I have eliminated because of encryption or I'm just not interested in like utilities and road crews,

On one of my scanners I have the Austin control channels programed in and sometimes I listen to the Pflugerville P.D. but sometimes they are hard to pick up. I live on the far NE side of Round Rock.

Most all DPS dispatchers and units are on 3522 around here. I also have these other DPS talkgroups programed in and I pick up units on these as well. 3523, 3524, 3525. You can find these in the database. I have heard DPS units from all over Central Texas. Even some as far out as 100 miles away.


I'm using Uniden BCD 396XT and a BCD396T handheld scanners.

All I'm using is a Radio Shack 800 MHz handheld antenna on both scanners. I'm on the bottom floor of a three story apartment complex. I get the same reception when I'm outdoors, which is a lot, and when I'm in my car around town.

I've lived in Round Rock for over 35 years and I've been monitoring RRPD, RRFD, and other agencies in Wm.Co. all this time. I was extremely upset when the PD and the SO went to encryption after monitoring them all these years.



Hope this helps.
Roy

[silverf0x]

Thanks to both texasemt13 and W5TWX - I've adjusted the setting to both of your input. Now I will listen for a bit to see what I can receive! BTW: I live on the far NW side of Round Rock, so I'm hoping I have similar reception.

[silverf0x]

When importing the data from the RRDB, the mode defaults to "MOT". I tried changing it to "FM/P25" as texasemt13 suggested, but I kept getting a lot of static. I switching the mode back to "MOT" and now it's very quiet.

W5TWX - can you confirm which mode you are in?

Thanks.

[texasemt13]

Nope, if you're trying to listen to the trunking system (GATRRS), leave it in "MOT." It has to be in that setting to decode digital trunking systems. Keep with us, we'll get your problem solved.

[silverf0x]

Thanks, much appreciated. I've changed mode back to MOT and will see what I get and will update soon.

[silverf0x]

Nope. If I got anything at all, it was very short and sounded encrypted. I was just reviewing the specs for the BCD396XT and noticed it decodes NAC, which the Pro 96 does not. Looking at the DPS page here on RR.com, most of DPS uses NAC. Think that's it?

I just sold the Pro 96 on ebay, and will get a BCD396XT soon. I think that's the only way to go if I want to pick up any local public safety systems.

Thanks for all your helps guys!

[revclstoner]

In my area, I can receive traffic from the DPS on my Pro-2096, which is the base/mobile version of the Pro-96.

[NC5267]

DPS is all P25 and all the channels use NAC with is the digital version of PL/DPL for analog Freqs

[hiegtx]

Originally Posted by revclstoner

In my area, I can receive traffic from the DPS on my Pro-2096, which is the base/mobile version of the Pro-96.

The Uniden BCD396T (handheld) and BCD996T (base/mobile) also will receive TX DPS, but neither has NAC capability. These were replaced by the BCD396XT & BCD996XT.

Originally Posted by silverf0x

Nope. If I got anything at all, it was very short and sounded encrypted. I was just reviewing the specs for the BCD396XT and noticed it decodes NAC, which the Pro 96 does not. Looking at the DPS page here on RR.com, most of DPS uses NAC. Think that's it?

Texas DPS reuses the same set of frequencies, many times, with multiple different NACs assigned to various locations to separate the transmissions. For the older scanners, such as the Pro-96 or BCD396T, which can receive those channels, but cannot utilize the NACs, you may not be able to identify which DPS dispatch center or mobile repeater you're hearing simply by the text tag. Look at the database. In the top section, 'Common Statewide Channels', you'll see two main mobile repeater frequencies are in use, 159.2100 and 159.2175, but, among the various repeater numbers, there are nine different NAC codes in use, on each frequency.

The 396XT and 996XT, or GRE's PSR-500 & PSR-600 (same as the Radio Shack Pro-106 & Pro-197 respectively), allow you to text tag the frequencies, with the NACs, to sort things out. This is also part of the built in database used by the Uniden Home Patrol-1 & GRE's PSR-800.

Besides DPS being all digital, a number of the smaller cities and counties are also migrating over using digital transmission on conventional (non-trunked) channels. That does not seem to be prevalent in your immediate area, but is becoming more common in other areas, such as this one.

I just sold the Pro 96 on ebay, and will get a BCD396XT soon. I think that's the only way to go if I want to pick up any local public safety systems.

Thanks for all your helps guys!

See this thread in Uniden forum about a sale at Radio Shack on the 396XT.

[TrickyRicky]

do i need to program both sim1 and sim2 for austin tx

[samson512]

Depends on what you want to listen to. As I understand it, Simulcast one is the primary layer. Thats where you will find most Police/Fire/EMS . Simulcast 2 you will see talkgroups that are not priority, such as water/electricity groups.

Originally Posted by TrickyRicky

do i need to program both sim1 and sim2 for austin tx

[TrickyRicky]

what about IR's? should I program in the IR sites along with the simulcast?

[texasemt13]

Only program the IR sites near you, but most of the "good" stuff is on Sim 1. The IRs are "Intelli-Repeaters" and will be carrying most of the municipality traffic in that area.