Lynchburg Va and the TRX-1

[bavass]

Has anybody had any luck picking up Lynchburg Police, Lynchburg Fire/EMS with the Whistler TRX-1? I used the software to program the scanner and have no problem picking up anything else. Lynchburg and Bedford I can't get anything. Every now and then I get some static or a mumbo jumbo break up with Lynchburg Dispatch but that's it. I do have the 800mhz boost antenna SA-800 from Whistler on order.

Thanks in advance.

 

[troymail]

What is "and have no problem picking up anything else"? Can you elaborate?

You're probably dealing with this:
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Simulcast_digital_distortion

That system appears to be a Harris system which is worse than most when it comes to simulcast.

Also, the TRX will lock onto a site and not scan others... You'll need to create 3 copies of the system - one site per copy - to force the radio to try to scan all three sites consistently (but that won't overcome the simulcast issue).

Also, given it's Harris (I believe), make sure you program ALL of the site frequencies and not just the listed control channels. On these systems, generally, any frequency can be used as a control channel.

 

[bavass]

What is "and have no problem picking up anything else"? Can you elaborate?.

Thanks for the reply. I can pick up Va State Police, Charlottesville Police(when traveling through), Campbell County, Waynesboro etc... I live in Waynesboro during the week and Lynchburg on the weekend. But anything on the Central Virginia Radio Communications System I am not receiving. When I program the scanner I use the software that comes with TRX-1.

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=9074

 

[n4jri]

Thanks for the reply. I can pick up Va State Police, Charlottesville Police(when traveling through), Campbell County, Waynesboro etc... I live in Waynesboro during the week and Lynchburg on the weekend. But anything on the Central Virginia Radio Communications System I am not receiving. When I program the scanner I use the software that comes with TRX-1.



https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=9074

I've been through the area with the TRX-1 and the system itself is difficult listening. Next time through I may try attenuation.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[bavass]

I've been through the area with the TRX-1 and the system itself is difficult listening. Next time through I may try attenuation.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think I tried attenuation, but can't 100% remember. I will give this a try this weekend.

Is there anybody in the area that can program the TRX-1? If what Troymail is saying may be my problem that kind of programming may be over my head. I would love to find someone to show me how to do this. I am pretty computer literate. However scanner wise I am not with the new system. I did have a Uniden Pro-94 and figured out how to program that myself.

 

[bavass]

What is "and have no problem picking up anything else"? Can you elaborate?

You're probably dealing with this:
https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Simulcast_digital_distortion

That system appears to be a Harris system which is worse than most when it comes to simulcast.

Also, the TRX will lock onto a site and not scan others... You'll need to create 3 copies of the system - one site per copy - to force the radio to try to scan all three sites consistently (but that won't overcome the simulcast issue).

Also, given it's Harris (I believe), make sure you program ALL of the site frequencies and not just the listed control channels. On these systems, generally, any frequency can be used as a control channel.

Are you suggesting putting the Central Virginia Radio Communications System into 3 different scan lists so that it scans it three times?

I also noticed that some frequency's in some cities are set to FM and Central Virginia is set to NFM. Should I set Central Virginia to FM in EZscan software?

 

[troymail]

Are you suggesting putting the Central Virginia Radio Communications System into 3 different scan lists so that it scans it three times?

I also noticed that some frequency's in some cities are set to FM and Central Virginia is set to NFM. Should I set Central Virginia to FM in EZscan software?

Yes - in some cases.

Assuming "perfect" reception, your TRX is only going to find and remain on one of the three sites. Again, assuming perfect reception, it will ignore the other two even if they are in range.

By splitting the three sites into three systems, you can force the radio to try all three sites.

Of course, this might only make sense if you can receive more than one site --

I'd typically import the entire system into EZ Scan assigned to scanlist 1 and lock out all but one site.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a second copy of the system. Lock out all but another site. Assign all objects to scanlist 2.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a third copy of the system. Lock out all but the final site. Assign all objects to scanlist 3.

Then, toggle each scanlist on - but only one at a time - 1, 2, or 3.

Which one(s) find activity and/or show the radio is tracking the system ("T" on the display)?

If more than one, which seems to have better reception and/or more activity?

But keep in mind, the simulcast will still be a problem even using this method.

If you need help, let me know. I can send you a "CDAT" (configuration) to try.... you'd ten need to copy it into your TRX-1 folder and transfer it to your radio/SD card.

 

[bavass]

Yes - in some cases.

Assuming "perfect" reception, your TRX is only going to find and remain on one of the three sites. Again, assuming perfect reception, it will ignore the other two even if they are in range.

By splitting the three sites into three systems, you can force the radio to try all three sites.

Of course, this might only make sense if you can receive more than one site --

I'd typically import the entire system into EZ Scan assigned to scanlist 1 and lock out all but one site.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a second copy of the system. Lock out all but another site. Assign all objects to scanlist 2.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a third copy of the system. Lock out all but the final site. Assign all objects to scanlist 3.

Then, toggle each scanlist on - but only one at a time - 1, 2, or 3.

Which one(s) find activity and/or show the radio is tracking the system ("T" on the display)?

If more than one, which seems to have better reception and/or more activity?

But keep in mind, the simulcast will still be a problem even using this method.

If you need help, let me know. I can send you a "CDAT" (configuration) to try.... you'd ten need to copy it into your TRX-1 folder and transfer it to your radio/SD card.

I believe I understand what you are saying. This Central Va system has Amherst, Lynchburg and Bedford together. I need to divide each up as a different list but locking out the others in the list. So copy all into one Scanlist but lockout all but Amherst in Scanlist 1, copy that into Scanlist 2 and lockout all but Bedford, copy that into Scanlist 3 and lockout all but Lynchburg. This will not fix the issue but allow for a better chance in picking up.

 

[troymail]

I believe I understand what you are saying. This Central Va system has Amherst, Lynchburg and Bedford together. I need to divide each up as a different list but locking out the others in the list. So copy all into one Scanlist but lockout all but Amherst in Scanlist 1, copy that into Scanlist 2 and lockout all but Bedford, copy that into Scanlist 3 and lockout all but Lynchburg. This will not fix the issue but allow for a better chance in picking up.

Just about - what it does is make sure the radio tries all sites and not just finding and holding on one....

 

[bavass]

Just about - what it does is make sure the radio tries all sites and not just finding and holding on one....

Thanks!

I think I am also going to give Whistler a call this evening and see what they suggest. I bought the scanner a week ago from Zipscanners and I can say the support there has not been great. There suggestion was to call Whistler.

 

[bavass]

Yes - in some cases.

Assuming "perfect" reception, your TRX is only going to find and remain on one of the three sites. Again, assuming perfect reception, it will ignore the other two even if they are in range.

By splitting the three sites into three systems, you can force the radio to try all three sites.

Of course, this might only make sense if you can receive more than one site --

I'd typically import the entire system into EZ Scan assigned to scanlist 1 and lock out all but one site.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a second copy of the system. Lock out all but another site. Assign all objects to scanlist 2.

Then, use the Duplicate button to make a third copy of the system. Lock out all but the final site. Assign all objects to scanlist 3.

Then, toggle each scanlist on - but only one at a time - 1, 2, or 3.

Which one(s) find activity and/or show the radio is tracking the system ("T" on the display)?

If more than one, which seems to have better reception and/or more activity?

But keep in mind, the simulcast will still be a problem even using this method.

If you need help, let me know. I can send you a "CDAT" (configuration) to try.... you'd ten need to copy it into your TRX-1 folder and transfer it to your radio/SD card.

So using the TRX-1 Software I set up Scan list 7 as Lynchburg, 8 as Amherst, and 9 as Bedford. Under Lynchburg, Amherst and Bedford is locked out. Bedford I have Lynchburg and Amherst locked out. Same goes for Bedford. Under the tab "Trunked Systems" I created a Lynchburg, Bedford and Amherst system separate and made sure each is assigned accordingly to the scan appropriate scan list. Is this correct?

 

[troymail]

So using the TRX-1 Software I set up Scan list 7 as Lynchburg, 8 as Amherst, and 9 as Bedford. Under Lynchburg, Amherst and Bedford is locked out. Bedford I have Lynchburg and Amherst locked out. Same goes for Bedford. Under the tab "Trunked Systems" I created a Lynchburg, Bedford and Amherst system separate and made sure each is assigned accordingly to the scan appropriate scan list. Is this correct?

Sounds right

 

[bavass]

Sounds right

Thanks for the help. I’ll try it out tomorrow and see how it does.