How did you program for MARCS?

[Circa]

Hope this fits in the Ohio forum and not the programming forum.

I was thinking about programing my Pro-651 with every frequency of the MARCS and MARCS-IP system so it will scan closest towers while traveling.
The problem that came up was my RadioShack scanner only has 32 available frequencies per system and the MARCS system has way more frequencies than that.
I could just make multiple systems that cover all of the frequencies and set them to the same scan list, but it seems like there should be a better way.
I know a RR subscription would probably make this easy, but it's not an option.

Does anyone have any tips on how they programed the MARCS system into their scanner?
How does a RR Sub program all the MARCS frequencies in?

 

[mikewazowski]

Circa, I haven't deleted your message as per your request as it might be helpful to others if you replied and let everybody know how you solved your problem.

 

[Circa]

Circa, I haven't deleted your message as per your request as it might be helpful to others if you replied and let everybody know how you solved your problem.

Fair enough. I just saw I was stupid for not checking the wiki before making this thread. :-/

There are two maps, one for each system, MARCS and MARCS-IP.

The MARCS-IP tower map can be found:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=ztDnIlkXU3eA.konRnu8PLRfw
and you can look up the frequencies for the necessary towers:
Ohio MARCS-IP: Multi-Agency Radio Communications (P25) Trunking System, Various, Ohio - Scanner Frequencies

The MARCS (old system) is located:
State of Ohio MARCS - Multi-Agency Radio Communications - The RadioReference Wiki
With google maps links for each zone at the bottom of that wiki. [Zone-1] [Zone-2] [Zone-3] [Zone-4]
You can make a list of nearby sites and get the frequencies from:
Ohio MARCS - Multi-Agency Radio Communications Trunking System, Statewide, Ohio - Scanner Frequencies

Since the thread isn't going to be deleted, I would still like to see how the RR Subscription organizes all of the systems.
How does the RRDB import program in all the tower's frequencies into a scanner?

 

[budevans]

The following is the manual method for entering necessary information.

First take a look at the RR Database.
Go to the top of any RR web page and click on Databases.
Next click on Ohio.
Next click on a County. Now scroll down to the bottom of the County you will find the trunk radio systems available for that county. Click MARCS or MARCS-IP.
You will see each tower/site has a name. From here you identify which tower/sites you want to monitor and then just enter the CC (control channel) freq's. You don't need the other voice freq's, the CC handles that.

As an example I have a MARCS-IP scan list for i71, from Cleveland to Cincinnati. ID the towers closest to i71, right down their CC's, create a MARCS-IP Trunk System, enter the CC's and create a Group Wildcard and a Private Wildcard. The Wild card groups will capture everything on the MARCS-IP system that comes from those towers. If you like you can look over each Counties area and specifically enter any TG's you are interested in monitoring, like OSHP or County Sheriff, etc..

Note: If you have a software program like WIN500 you can do a download. In the case of WIN500 you select Web import - Radio Reference, select Conventional or Trunk Systems. You will be prompted to login to the RR Database. From there you select the State, County, etc... and download your selections into your program. Then do any editing, save it and last but not least upload it to your scanner.

 

[Circa]

First take a look at the RR Database.
Go to the top of any RR web page and click on Databases.
Next click on Ohio.
Next click on a County. Now scroll down to the bottom of the County you will find the trunk radio systems available for that county. Click MARCS or MARCS-IP.
You will see each tower/site has a name. From here you identify which tower/sites you want to monitor and then just enter the CC (control channel) freq's. You don't need the other voice freq's, the CC handles that.

As an example I have a MARCS-IP scan list for i71, from Cleveland to Cincinnati. ID the towers closest to i71, right down their CC's, create a MARCS-IP Trunk System, enter the CC's and create a Group Wildcard and a Private Wildcard. The Wild card groups will capture everything on the MARCS-IP system that comes from those towers. If you like you can look over each Counties area and specifically enter any TG's you are interested in monitoring, like OSHP or County Sheriff, etc..

So I don't actually have to have every frequency added? Just the primary control channel?

I was just listening to an apparently silent frequency from a really close by tower (using analyze so I could hear the trunking sound) and all of the frequencies that weren't Primary have some Morse code traffic and what sounds like someone keying up. No trunking sound though. It's an 850mhz range freq, so no one should be on it.

 

[budevans]

So I don't actually have to have every frequency added? Just the primary control channel?

I was just listening to an apparently silent frequency from a really close by tower (using analyze so I could hear the trunking sound) and all of the frequencies that weren't Primary have some Morse code traffic and what sounds like someone keying up. No trunking sound though. It's an 850mhz range freq, so no one should be on it.

For MARCS (Motorola Type II system) and MARCS-IP (Project 25 system) you only need to load the Control Channel (CC) frequencies.

FYI, MARCS (Motorola Type II system) is currently slated to be shut down by the end of April. So it your decision if you want to spend time setting MARCS up. The MARCS-IP Project 25 system is replacing MARCS.

Regarding the 850 Mhz, that should be the correct range. 800 Mhz was rebanded last year, with public safety that was on the middle 860 Mhz moving down 15 Mhz to the 850 Mhz range.

Two questions for you. Do you use software to setup your scanner? Do you know the required steps to setup a Trunk (TSYS) System?

 

[Circa]

For MARCS (Motorola Type II system) and MARCS-IP (Project 25 system) you only need to load the Control Channel (CC) frequencies.

FYI, MARCS (Motorola Type II system) is currently slated to be shut down by the end of April. So it your decision if you want to spend time setting MARCS up. The MARCS-IP Project 25 system is replacing MARCS.

Regarding the 850 Mhz, that should be the correct range. 800 Mhz was rebanded last year, with public safety that was on the middle 860 Mhz moving down 15 Mhz to the 850 Mhz range.

Two questions for you. Do you use software to setup your scanner? Do you know the required steps to setup a Trunk (TSYS) System?

Thank you for clearing that up.
I've been adding every frequency for each tower, some even have 7 to 8 frequencies listed!

The only people who went to MARCS-IP so far was an ambulance company who I think it state wide.
State patrol and Sheriff still haven't been present on the P25 system and only are using the old MARCS.

Any downside to not adding all the frequencies?
My closest tower only makes the trunking sound on the Primary control. But the other frequencies are also getting Morse Code and the keyed up sound often.

I have been using PSREdit500 to program and I do already have a system set up for all towers in range of my house using all frequencies for each tower.

 

[budevans]

Thank you for clearing that up.
I've been adding every frequency for each tower, some even have 7 to 8 frequencies listed! Any downside to not adding all the frequencies?.

There are two downsides. First your scanner will check each frequency for control information. This will slow down your scanners response time. Second each item you add takes up space in your scanners usable memory. So you can just enter the CC and ACC (alternate control channel) 2 items or enter 7, 8 or more totally unneeded freq's reducing the number of available memory spaces. FYI there are a total of 1800 memory spaces. Each item entered uses one space. So it can be used up faster than you might think.

My closest tower only makes the trunking sound on the Primary control. But the other frequencies are also getting Morse Code and the keyed up sound often..

It sounds like you entered the Frequencies as Conventional objects. They should be entered as Trunk System objects.

I have been using PSREdit500 to program and I do already have a system set up for all towers in range of my house using all frequencies for each tower.

Again a waste of memory space, a P25 Trunk System only needs the CC and ACC entered. The CC tells your scanner what frequency to monitor for each Talk Group (TG).

I don't use PSREdit500 but the basic step for setting up a Trunk System should be the same. There should be a Conventional area for setting up single frequency conventional usually analog frequencies/channels. There should also be a (TSYS) Trunk System area.

1. Give the Trunk System a name, usually less than 15 characters.
2. Select the type of trunk system. For MARCS-IP it should be P25 or P25 Auto.
3. There should be a place (System Frequencies) to enter the CC and ACC freq's, it typically has 32 spaces.
4.There should be an area to enter Talk Groups (TG's). Enter the TG numbers, Alpha name (talk group name) usually 15 or less characters, all of the other settings trunk group settings.

Since I don't have PSREdit500, I'm attaching a picture of the WIN500 TSYS screen. You will see a layout of the details. I hope this helps. Maybe someone with PSREdit500 can jump in and give you a hand.

Here's a link to a PSREdit500 web page showing what a Trunk System setup should look like.
http://psredit.com/psredit500/screenshots.html

 

[W8WCA]

The following is the manual method for entering necessary information.

From here you identify which tower/sites you want to monitor and then just enter the CC (control channel) freq's. You don't need the other voice freq's, the CC handles that.

.

I did not know this!

My PRO-668 RS Software loads all the site frequencies.

AFAIR MY Butel Software for a BCD396 I used to have, did the same thing for MARCS added all freq's

So I can save a bit of scanning time by deleting all frequencies but CC ones - interesting

Thanks

 

[budevans]

I did not know this!

My PRO-668 RS Software loads all the site frequencies.

AFAIR MY Butel Software for a BCD396 I used to have, did the same thing for MARCS added all freq's

So I can save a bit of scanning time by deleting all frequencies but CC ones - interesting

Thanks

W8WCA,

The above information is with regards to the State of Ohio MARCS and the way they setup and operate Motorola Trunk Systems. There's almost always an exception..

In Cuyahoga County the Harris trunking systems (EDACS & P25) operated by the City of Parma change their CC freq in an on going manner. So to be safe with the Parma Harris systems you need to load all of the systems frequencies.

 

[Circa]

W8WCA,

The above information is with regards to the State of Ohio MARCS and the way they setup and operate Motorola Trunk Systems. There's almost always an exception..

In Cuyahoga County the Harris trunking systems (EDACS & P25) operated by the City of Parma change their CC freq in an on going manner. So to be safe with the Parma Harris systems you need to load all of the systems frequencies.

You mention this is because of how the moto system is set up.

Does the same apply about only needing the CC to the MARCS-IP system since it's a P25 type system and not a Moto system?

 

[budevans]

You mention this is because of how the moto system is set up.

Does the same apply about only needing the CC to the MARCS-IP system since it's a P25 type system and not a Moto system?

Yes, both MARCS (Moto Type II) and MARCS-IP (Motorola Astro P25) only require the CC's. P25 trunk systems (no matter who makes them) only require the CC's.


I only mentioned the City of Parma systems because it is an exception to the rule. For some unknown reason their radio support likes to play musical chairs with their CC's. So the easiest precaution the end user can take is to load all of the frequencies.

Regarding downloading from the RR Database. The main reason for that, is to get all of the Talk Groups (TG's). Setting up a system is easy, give it a name, select the system type and enter the CC's. The hard or time consuming part is the entering of dozens, hundreds or thousands of Talk Groups.

Once a system is setup, from that point on it's just maintenance (adds, updates, deletions).