KCK Fire problems

[jayhwker01]

Pro- 107

Issue: I am unable to hear dispatch, dispatch the initial call but I hear the units go in route, arrive, and clear calls. I can hear the calls if I skip the dispatch channel and just leave the individual stations on my scanner, but soon as I put dispatch back in the mix I am unable to hear the initial dispatch. Any ideas?

 

[cinsu]

I will start this with I do not regularly scan this system and I do not know how KC does their dispatch however here is my experience with a similar system.

Topeka Fire uses a similar Motorola Type II system and they use a zetron system for station PA and controlling the lights in each station. When TFD first went to this radio system they had a talkgroup for each fire station as KCK Fire appears to have. If the unit is in station dispatch will simulcast on the main channel and the individual station channel. When this occurs on a type II system the system is creating a status bit that would essentially read this simulcast as a new talkgroup. See Motorola Type II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sometimes the trunktracking scanner will read this properly and automatically know sometimes it will not.

In other words you will always hear Topeka fire units going to a call on TG 3408 (TFD-1 or if they are busy, TFD-2). When dispatch is putting out a call you won't always hear it on TG 3408 even though it really is being broadcast there and the units with Motorola radios are hearing it there. The scanner user will hear the dispatch on TG 7088.

 

[n0lqt]

I believe the Pro-107, like all GRE made radios, ignores all status bits except the encrypt bit (4). Radioshack and GRE consider this a "feature," not a "bug".....

 

[jayhwker01]

Well thanks for your guys help. I guess I have to live with it.

 

[JTR604]

Do you have the correct talk groups ? entered for kckfd check for them here.

 

[mgolden2]

Mr. Rankin is correct in how KCKFD is dispatched. On the dispatchers radio screen, they have their main talkgroup always selected. When a call comes in and they are about to dispatch a response to it, they click on the station number located on the radio screen, then key the mic and proceed with the dispatch. By doing this, they are dispatching on the main talkgroup (# 1392) and also on the specific talkgroup for whichever station is being dispatched. When that stations talkgroup is selected and used, it activates the main overhead loud speakers at that station so that the message comes thru loudly and clearly. Once the units are dispatched, the station number on the radio screen is unselected and only the Fire Dispatch (1392) talkgroup is used.

Example - a medical call that station 6 is dispatched to. The dispatcher would select station 6 on their radio screen, push the icon to sound the tone, dispatches the call (which is multicast on the fire dispatch talkgroup AND on 6's talkgroup), then unselects "station 6" from the radio screen so that they continue to use only fire dispatch for communications. If it is a medical call and Quint 6 and EMS 19 are needed, the dispatcher simply selects station 6 and station 19 on the radio screen to dispatch the call. Same if its a full alarm fire. They can select any or all of the stations to broadcast to all at once.

My advice, and this is just the way I do it, is to not try to program in each individual stations talkgroup. All you really need is Fire Dispatch (1392), Tac 1 (1424), Tac 2 (can remember off the top of my head at the moment) and Tac 3 (816 I believe.....again Im drawing a blank here). If you monitor 1392, you'll hear both sides of every call every time. Another suggestion is to make sure you have all of the frequencies programmed into your scanner. Maybe you missed one?

If all else fails, someone on RR is streaming KCKFD online, so you could always listen online or from one of the many apps available for smart phones!

I hope this helps. Happy scanning!

Matt N0ZOJ
(former KCKPD dispatcher)

 

[jayhwker01]

I got it working. Thanks guys!

 

[jayhwker01]

My new problem is deciding which scanner to keep. I have a pro 18 and a pro 106. I'm trying to see which one receives the p25 signal better/stronger.

 

[JTR604]

kck fire problem

You do know that kck is not P-25 at this time don't you ?

 

[jayhwker01]

Yes I do know that. I enjoy listening to KCMO and JOCO as well. I have done a few days worth of research and it looks like my pro 106 receives KCMO a lot better than the pro 18. I'm curious when KCK will go p25.