Help with APCO (ALMR)

[itslarryagain]

OK, maybe I'm an idiot, but I was under the impression that you only need the control channels to monitor APCO transmissions, right ? Well, doesn't seem like that to me, I have the control channels for Fairbanks Alaska programmed into my Pro 96 scanner... I do believe it's set up right, but maybe someone can help. The control channels do absolutely nothing. I have them set up as MO (Motorola). I got the freq's from the "free" database on RR... however, I DO get voice transmissions from the "other" freqs listed as "backup" channels, without any of the "talkgroup" ID's... I entered those on a whim to see if anything would happen... and it did. Can someone help out, 'cause the manual is worthless, and trying to find help online is confusing...

 

[hankv]

OK, maybe I'm an idiot, but I was under the impression that you only need the control channels to monitor APCO transmissions, right ? Well, doesn't seem like that to me, I have the control channels for Fairbanks Alaska programmed into my Pro 96 scanner... I do believe it's set up right, but maybe someone can help. The control channels do absolutely nothing. I have them set up as MO (Motorola). I got the freq's from the "free" database on RR... however, I DO get voice transmissions from the "other" freqs listed as "backup" channels, without any of the "talkgroup" ID's... I entered those on a whim to see if anything would happen... and it did. Can someone help out, 'cause the manual is worthless, and trying to find help online is confusing...

In this case you need to enter the Base, Step, & Offset that are found here: http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2447 under Misc System Information.

 

[itslarryagain]

I've done that, and it still doesn't work... only the "backup" freqs have voice transmissions... nothing else...

 

[hankv]

I've done that, and it still doesn't work... only the "backup" freqs have voice transmissions... nothing else...

I don't know what backup frequencies you are referring to. the listing:

202 Fairbanks* 154.67500 154.82500* 154.98750 155.51250 155.78750 155.98750 156.16250*

Shows 2 Control channels and 5 voice frequencies. If you don't hear anything with only the Control Channels programmed in, then maybe you don't have the Control Channel option turned on?

 

[itslarryagain]

I've got the control channels programmed in, with the Motorola setting, the base freq, the offset, and the step... but isn't there supposed to be a channel HI and LO setting ? I thought those were needed for it to work... I still don't hear anything on the control channels, and yeah, the voice channels I refer to those as the "backup" ones... sorry, should have made it clear... thanks for your help, I might add...

 

[DaveNF2G]

If you hear nothing on the control channels, then you won't be able to track the system. Sounds like you're simply out of range.

 

[hankv]

I've got the control channels programmed in, with the Motorola setting, the base freq, the offset, and the step... but isn't there supposed to be a channel HI and LO setting ? I thought those were needed for it to work... .

FUNC + 3 = 3600 Baud Control Channel
FUNC + 4 = 9600 Baud Control Channel <<<< you probably want this one.

I still don't hear anything on the control channels,

You should never hear anything ON the Control Channel except [size=+1]The Noise[/size].