FIRST POST!!! WOO HOO!!! anyways, my name Michael...and i absolutely love scanning, just like the rest of us here, and i have been trying to enjoy my new bct15 scanner which i ordered and had programemd for me by the company. Anyways, the probelm i have here and its driving me nuts is, that i think i went overboard with programming, and i think i have to much in my "1" bank that im getting cut off from transmissions. Example would be like when the southeast dispatch channel which is "1648" gives a call out, other channels become active within that 2 second window of time and i never hear the unit to which the call was intened for respond, i believe i need to incorporate another bank, possibly a 7th(since i already have 6) and split some of the frequencies from bank1 into a continuous monco 800 bank....i usually just keep a hold on "bank1" since that has all my favs in it, the other banks are for delco, and psp and lower merion edacs...any suggestions to eliminate this, im thinking of sending it back and telling them the addition i would like to have added, in so far as a another bank.
Montco East/West Dilemma.
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ab3ai
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Welcome aboard!!
It's not a good idea to put two trunk sysytems into the same bank. I would make another bank and put all the East System info in one and the West System info in the other. What you can try is activate the delay function on some of the talkgroups. This way when the dispatcher calls a unit it monitors that talk group for 3-5 seconds (deprnding on model) for activity on that talk group before it starts going through the scan list.
It's not a good idea to put two trunk sysytems into the same bank. I would make another bank and put all the East System info in one and the West System info in the other. What you can try is activate the delay function on some of the talkgroups. This way when the dispatcher calls a unit it monitors that talk group for 3-5 seconds (deprnding on model) for activity on that talk group before it starts going through the scan list.
Just to re iterate
For example, when a norristown police unit(norristown pd has a lot of radio traffic) calls into dispatch, well in between the time dispatch replies another channel, like lower providence or 1648(the county) will cut in with radio traffic...and i have southwest, northcentral, northwest and northeast locked out, so only southeast dispatch is active as well as G east local PD TG's. and of course my p-tac channels and event channels, all the above mentioned is in one bank, but like i said, not all active at the same time...i think i will send this back for a revamping of banks, how can i request it laid out so i can hear county dispatch as well as the TG's...(its important to me that i hear the car to car responses which are frequently used by west norriton east nprriton and whitpain....please tell me someone understands..
For example, when a norristown police unit(norristown pd has a lot of radio traffic) calls into dispatch, well in between the time dispatch replies another channel, like lower providence or 1648(the county) will cut in with radio traffic...and i have southwest, northcentral, northwest and northeast locked out, so only southeast dispatch is active as well as G east local PD TG's. and of course my p-tac channels and event channels, all the above mentioned is in one bank, but like i said, not all active at the same time...i think i will send this back for a revamping of banks, how can i request it laid out so i can hear county dispatch as well as the TG's...(its important to me that i hear the car to car responses which are frequently used by west norriton east nprriton and whitpain....please tell me someone understands..
Okay, the control channel for the East system is 867.2625. If you go into the Montgomery County, PA database here in RadioReference, you will see under "East" that frequency and a series of others. This is separate from the West system which has a control channel of 867.65. In the database under the "West" section you will see that freq as well as a series of others.
Now, just so you know, Norristown PD, Upper Dublin PD, Cheltenham, Abington, Horsham, East Norriton, West Norriton, Upper Moreland, lower providence, Springfield Twp, Whitpain Twp, P-Tac 1-5, Countywide PD, North Central Region PD, Region 4 (Southeast) and Region 5 (Northeast) ALL operate on the EAST system. You will also get EMS Dispatch, EMS hail, and EMS unit-unit operations on the east system (they're actually simulcast on both the East and West Systems). So put all this into one bank of your scanner using the EAST frequencies. Then input the WEST frequencies in a SEPARATE BANK. On the West system you get all the EMS channels, North Central Region 5 PD, Southwest, and Northwest Regions.
I find that listening to Montgomery county can be frustrating, because even with a delay, there is just so much going on at one time. But I think separating the two systems and locking out what you wont miss listening to will definitely alleviate the problem of conversations getting interrupted when someone drops the carrier for a split second. Good luck, Welcome Aboard and Happy Scanning {:>D
Now, just so you know, Norristown PD, Upper Dublin PD, Cheltenham, Abington, Horsham, East Norriton, West Norriton, Upper Moreland, lower providence, Springfield Twp, Whitpain Twp, P-Tac 1-5, Countywide PD, North Central Region PD, Region 4 (Southeast) and Region 5 (Northeast) ALL operate on the EAST system. You will also get EMS Dispatch, EMS hail, and EMS unit-unit operations on the east system (they're actually simulcast on both the East and West Systems). So put all this into one bank of your scanner using the EAST frequencies. Then input the WEST frequencies in a SEPARATE BANK. On the West system you get all the EMS channels, North Central Region 5 PD, Southwest, and Northwest Regions.
I find that listening to Montgomery county can be frustrating, because even with a delay, there is just so much going on at one time. But I think separating the two systems and locking out what you wont miss listening to will definitely alleviate the problem of conversations getting interrupted when someone drops the carrier for a split second. Good luck, Welcome Aboard and Happy Scanning {:>D
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Q-ball said:
The following talkgroups are active on both the east and west systems:
EMS Channels
P-Tac Channels
Lower Providence PD (due to coverage issue)
Event Channels
EMA Countywide
Fire Regions 3 and 4 (due to coverage issues)
PSCOORD
County Talkgroups (Sheriff, Parks, DPS, radio techs, etc)
Fire Regions 1, 2, 5, and 6 are east or west only as are the regional police dispatch channels and fire police channels. There's also an EMA talkgroup for east and west, but I don't know that I have ever actually seen them used.
EDIT - a few county talkgroups are west only - LGS Intercom, MCCF, MCGC since those facilities are in the west.
At this link, there are several maps that may be of interest.
http://www.montcopa.org/eoc/EDS/Maps/RadioSystemMaps.htm
Note that the previous link leads to a frame from within this site (which is why it looks bare bones):
http://www.montcopa.org/eoc/EDS/Default.htm
If you look at the maps, you will see that Lower Providence Township was originally planned to have primary coverage from the West system. When things came on line, the West system coverage in Lower Providence was not sufficient (and neither was East system coverage). So, the pertinent talkgroups (Lower Prov Police Dispatch and Fire Region 4) are now active on both systems, allowing for complete coverage within the township. A similar coverage issue was found in areas up in the Lansdale area (forget exactly where) which is why Fire Region 3, NC Police Dispatch, and Police Region 3 (NC) are carried on both systems instead of just the West system.
As far as the radios in the vehicles are concerned, there is nothing that needs to be done by the field user, so there is no impact to the user. The issue that arises, however, is on the system management end of things since talkgroups that were originally planned to be active mainly on one system or the other are now always active on both systems which adds to the overall loading on both systems. This can be an issue during times of very heavy radio traffic (think severe storms).
EDIT: Forgot to add that, yes, the fire regions are digital talkgroups. You can hear the traffic from most of these talkgroups on 152.945. The crossband on this freq was set up by LPFD for use as a channel in their highband pagers. This allows responding fire personnel to hear traffic from the radio system while enroute to the station.
http://www.montcopa.org/eoc/EDS/Maps/RadioSystemMaps.htm
Note that the previous link leads to a frame from within this site (which is why it looks bare bones):
http://www.montcopa.org/eoc/EDS/Default.htm
If you look at the maps, you will see that Lower Providence Township was originally planned to have primary coverage from the West system. When things came on line, the West system coverage in Lower Providence was not sufficient (and neither was East system coverage). So, the pertinent talkgroups (Lower Prov Police Dispatch and Fire Region 4) are now active on both systems, allowing for complete coverage within the township. A similar coverage issue was found in areas up in the Lansdale area (forget exactly where) which is why Fire Region 3, NC Police Dispatch, and Police Region 3 (NC) are carried on both systems instead of just the West system.
As far as the radios in the vehicles are concerned, there is nothing that needs to be done by the field user, so there is no impact to the user. The issue that arises, however, is on the system management end of things since talkgroups that were originally planned to be active mainly on one system or the other are now always active on both systems which adds to the overall loading on both systems. This can be an issue during times of very heavy radio traffic (think severe storms).
EDIT: Forgot to add that, yes, the fire regions are digital talkgroups. You can hear the traffic from most of these talkgroups on 152.945. The crossband on this freq was set up by LPFD for use as a channel in their highband pagers. This allows responding fire personnel to hear traffic from the radio system while enroute to the station.
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SO, Ben u agree with what policefreak said about my problem being most likely that i have both east and west operating in the same bank, and i need them separted into separate banks to eliminate transmission cutoffs, due to the fact that i have"too much action" in one bank. This will completely solve things?...cause when i ship this back this week to have this corrected, i wanna make sure im telling them what the actual problem is.
I believ that East police dispatch tg's 1648, 1904, 1936, 4016.as well as the east local pd tg's...need to be separate from 1616, 1680, 1712, 1808, 1840, and 1872....but i can keep my event channels and ptac in east or west, if i choose correct?
Thanks for the helping hand.
I believ that East police dispatch tg's 1648, 1904, 1936, 4016.as well as the east local pd tg's...need to be separate from 1616, 1680, 1712, 1808, 1840, and 1872....but i can keep my event channels and ptac in east or west, if i choose correct?
Thanks for the helping hand.
Q-ball said:
Personally, I have the East and West systems in two different banks in my scanner. So, yes I agree.
I have all talkgroups programmed into the talkgroup lists in both banks. Depending on my location in the county, I will have both banks active or just one of the banks. My normal listening in Montco includes all fire/ems and typically just Lower Prov PD, Southeast PD Disp/Region 4, Norristown PD, and Plymouth PD. I'll listen to other police stuff if I know something is going on or if I am in a particular area. This can get pretty busy, but on top of that, I also usually monitor Delco police/fire, Chester Co fire, PSP and other state/fed stuff in the area (Norristown State Hospital, Valley Forge Park, etc). I'll sometimes have problems like what you're mentioning, but normally, I'll just hit the pause button on my PRO-96 if I hear somebody getting a call I want to follow.
Now there's something i also wanted to ask, PLYMOUTH PD dispatch, they are uhf...453.XXX...so where did u pu them in ur scanner, they are obviously not on the mont.800 system, so do u just go to their bank check the action and go back..?
Now, VF park, all i have from them is what 1648 gives them, cause i never believed they were all that active, and i figured 1648 would keep me in the loop when calling "58" cars...i have delco sectors also, but keep them locked out unless im down in bryn mawr or on the blue route...
When you say u have all TG's programmed in to the tg lists in both banks, im not understanding.
Now, VF park, all i have from them is what 1648 gives them, cause i never believed they were all that active, and i figured 1648 would keep me in the loop when calling "58" cars...i have delco sectors also, but keep them locked out unless im down in bryn mawr or on the blue route...
When you say u have all TG's programmed in to the tg lists in both banks, im not understanding.
Q-ball said:
I have Plymouth's UHF frequencies programmed in the same bank as the East trunked system.
I don't know how your BCT15 works, but in all the trunking scanners I have ever used, you can program in the list of talkgroups and then add alpha tags to the id numbers. So, instead of seeing 2600 on the screen for the West Norriton Police talkgroup or 2640 for Norristown, I will see my alpha tag on the screen (WNPD Car-Car and Nrstwn Dspch). I have identical talkgroup lists programmed into my scanner for both the East and West systems even though there are some talkgroups that will realistically never show up on both systems...never say never is my motto. Your scanner operates differently than mine, so what I am describing may not be necessary for you.
Out of curiosity, where are you sending this thing to get programmed?
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Scannermaster programmed it when i bought it and that way it was ready to go once ups dropped it on my step, i believe west norriton is 2800tg...I do have the alpha tags programmed, similar to what u typed..Norristown PD and Lower Providence...etc...all the tags are programmed. Some of the best action int his area, asyou very well know, comes over the car to car channels, especially with whitpain and west norriton. Im not a scanning expert by far, but i thought that a trunking system like montco's 800 and a freq. like plymouth pd...could not be in the same bank, since plymouth is not trunking, all my mont. 800 trunking is in bank 1 and plymouth is in bank 2 as well as some other depts like montgomery twp..
Q-ball said:
That depends entirely on the scanner. My scanners can be programmed with trunked and conventional frequencies in the same bank. Typically, you cannot have more than one trunked system in the same bank without problems.
The BCT15 does not have traditional "banks" like many other scanners. It has a newer style dynamically allocated memory. I've never used a scanner with this feature, so I don't know much about it.
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Q-ball said:
I'm not entirely sure what you're asking...but I'll answer with this....
My scanner has 10 banks of 50 channels each. I can turn those groups of channels on and off. Each bank can have one trunked system programmed into it along with conventional frequecies or it can have all conventional frequencies. For example, my banks in one scanner look something like this:
State Agencies
Montco East Trunked and Conventional
Montco West Trunked and Conventional
Delco
Bucks Trunked and Conventional (with some Northampton & Lehigh conventional)
Chester/Berks Conventional
Railroads/Medevacs
I can turn each of these groups on and off. If I just wanted to monitor trunked system activity in eastern Montco, I would have to manually lockout all the conventional frequencies in that bank as they came active. As far as missing traffic on the trunked system...that can certainly happen is I am passively scanning (i.e. scanner is on in the background and I am doing something else). If I am actively scanning (have the thing in hand or sitting next to me), I'll usually hit the scan button when there's traffic I'm not interested in on a conventional channel so the scanner will get moving again to check the trunked system.
Since I may potentially be listening to a lot of activity at any given time, I understand that there's stuff I might miss...comes with the turf. There's just no way to make sure you catch everything unless you have multiple radios and scanners running (which I sometimes do depending on the the circumstances).
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