BCD 325P2 and ProScan, programming works, but not receiving?

[K7XRL]

I have a new BCD325P2 and I have been attempting to use Proscan to program it. I am trying to program the Utah Communications Authority conventional MOT system. I have an old Radio Shack Pro 96 that is receiving it right now, but the Uniden is not.

I have the Ford Ridge site programmed. I have line of sight to this tower site. And I have selected a handful of talkgroups relevant to my specific area of the state. The entire system will not fit in one of the system memories in the scanner.

I am at a loss as to why it is not receiving this system. I have the squelch turned down to 1. The radio shack scanner and the Uniden both have rubber duck antennas. I don't think it's a signal strength problem because I can receive analog VHF FM signals from the same tower site on this scanner, and because the other scanner is receiving this system.

 

[doctordialtone]

because the other scanner is receiving this system.

The first thing I would do is to see which frequency the 96 is receiving for a control channel.

Program that in and use the scanner in ID Search mode at first.

 

[tvengr]

I am trying to program the Utah Communications Authority conventional MOT system.

UCA is a trunked system, not conventional. Please attach your ProScan programming file so that we can take a look at it.

 

[wtp]

and the squelch is set to...?

 

[doctordialtone]

I have the squelch turned down to 1

Read above

 

[K7XRL]

Okay, I've attached the file UCA 1 which is the database I want to scan, with sites and talkgroups I am not interested in removed.

 

[wtp]

i missed that doc, and this is not the first time !
the wife might be right and glasses are in my future.
but he should turn it to 2 anyway.

 

[KevinC]

Okay, I've attached the file UCA 1 which is the database I want to scan, with sites and talkgroups I am not interested in removed.

I don't see any TG's in your file, only sites. Try changing to "ID Search" and see if you hear anything.

 

[KevinC]

I also think your band plan is not correct. Did you import the system or program it yourself?

 

[wtp]

to toggle between id scan and id search, hit the Function button and then the scan button.
(did i get that right doc ?)

 

[K7XRL]

I imported the database from RR. Does the band plan download along with it?

I was able to change to ID search. Now I am getting some traffic on the scanner, but not as much as the other one is receiving.

 

[wtp]

643E	019 (13)	Bruin Point	Carbon, UT	851.4375	851.8875	852.5875	852.900	853.375c	853.775c
643E	045 (2D)	Blackhawk	Carbon, UT	851.775c	852.1625c	853.1125	853.4125	853.6875	856.0875
7202	038 (26)	Ford Ridge	Carbon, UT	851.3875c	856.4625	857.4625	858.4625	859.4625c
7202	063 (3F)	Price Alternate	Carbon, UT	852.075c	852.450	852.750	853.3125	853.825

 

[tvengr]

I also think your band plan is not correct. Did you import the system or program it yourself?

The 800 MHz rebanded band plan is incorrect. It should be:

Band Plan	Base Freq (lower)	Base Freq (upper)	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.0000	440	+	25 khz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 khz

The Ford Ridge and Horn Mountain sites can use the standard band plan since the 4th decimal place of the 851, 852, and 853 MHz frequencies is a 5.

 

[K7XRL]

The 800 MHz rebanded band plan is incorrect. It should be:

Band Plan	Base Freq (lower)	Base Freq (upper)	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.0000	440	+	25 khz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 khz

The Ford Ridge and Horn Mountain sites can use the standard band plan since the 4th decimal place of the 851, 852, and 853 MHz frequencies is a 5.

So looking at the band plan settings in the scanner, I was seeing 859.0000 for the upper base freq.

I did change ford ridge and horn mtn to standard. We'll see if they work better that way.

 

[ProScan]

The 800 MHz rebanded band plan is incorrect. It should be:

Band Plan	Base Freq (lower)	Base Freq (upper)	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.0000	440	+	25 khz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 khz

The Ford Ridge and Horn Mountain sites can use the standard band plan since the 4th decimal place of the 851, 852, and 853 MHz frequencies is a 5.

How can you tell the band plan is incorrect? Is the band plan on this page or sub-page?

Utah Communications Authority Trunking System, Various, Multi-State

Utah Communications Authority Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

I see only Band Plan 1 imported and not Band Plan 2

trsbandplan(0)
851.02500
440
25

 

[tvengr]

How can you tell the band plan is incorrect?

I looked at the file the OP attached in post #6.

 

[ProScan]

I looked at the file the OP attached in post #6.

I mean Band Plan 2. Where did that come from?

The 800 MHz rebanded band plan is incorrect. It should be:

Band Plan	Base Freq (lower)	Base Freq (upper)	Offset	Polarity	Spacing
1	851.025	854.0000	440	+	25 khz
2	851.0125	868.9875	0	+	25 khz

 

[K7XRL]

There are a ton of sites in this system. I do a lot of travelling in the state for work and I'd like to bring the scanner along for entertainment (provided it's legal). How will I know if the band plan is standard or custom for the various sites? A few of the Carbon County sites are now working, notably Cedar Mountain and Price alternate. But I'd like to get the same system on several sites in Grand and Emery counties as well.

 

[tvengr]

How will I know if the band plan is standard or custom for the various sites?

Check if there are any 851, 852, or 853 MHz frequencies in each site. If the 4th decimal place of all 851, 852, and 853 MHz frequencies in a site is 5, you can use the standard band plan. For example: Ford Ridge has a frequency of 851.3875 MHz. That is OK for a standard band plan. If the 4th decimal place of any 851, 852, or 853 MHz frequency in a site is 0, the custom 800 MHz rebanded band plan is required. The Davis County Simulcast site requires a custom 800 MHz rebanded band plan. On 852.200, the 4th decimal place is a 0 (852.2000). On 852.225, the 4th decimal place is a 0 (852.2250). On 852.45, the 4th decimal place is a 0 (852.4500).

7202	002 (2)	Davis County Simulcast	Davis, UT	852.200	852.225	852.450	852.475	852.8125c	852.8375c	853.150
				853.175	853.600	853.850	854.4875

 

[wtp]

set up each tower as a separate system.
leave them on id search to hear everybody.
just hit lockout on the ones that you don't want to hear.
if you hit lockout once, it is a temporary lockout and it will be unlocked with a power cycle (off and on).
if you listen to what they say, you really don't need the whole system in.