NAC decoding ?

[BOBRR]

Hello,

New at this.

I have read several posts where they talk about "NAC decoding"

Can someone explain what this is, where and by who utilized, etc., please ?

Does my 996 have this capability ?
Will the new GRE 500 have it ?

Live in Boston metro area. Do I need it now ?
Later ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[SCANdal]

> I have read several posts where they talk about "NAC decoding"
> Can someone explain what this is,

Analog system users have the option of not hearing others who share their frequency by protecting their radios with CTCSS or DCS tones. Project 25 digital system users have the same capability, but instead of using CTCSS or DCS, they use what's referred to as a Network Access Code (NAC).

> where and by who utilized,

Unlike analog users of frequencies, who can get away without using CTCSS or DCS (called carrier squelch, csq), anyone who uses the digital mode of transmission must use a NAC. So if someone is transmitting digitally, they are using a NAC.

> Live in Boston metro area. Do I need it now ?

Do you monitor P25 users? If so, do you suffer from interference from analog users of the same frequencies?

I will leave the remaining questions to be answered by others who are more familair with the products.

SCANdal

 

[NYRHKY94]

Bob:

I'm not sure about the 996, but the new GRE's definitely have the NAC functionality built in. Here's what the user guide for the new GRE handheld has to say on this.

P25 NAC Functionality - Much like CTCSS and DCS with
analog signals, P25 Network Access Code (NAC) is used to
provide selective squelch operation on conventional digital
channels. Your 0715 will detect the NAC that is being used on a
P25 conventional digital channel, and allow you to program NAC
codes to block transmissions that do not have a matching NAC,
including analog traffic on the same frequency!

Thanks - Mike

 

[DaveNF2G]

There are no scanners currently on the market that can decode NAC. There is some beta software available from the folks who are developing UniTrunker. See the Scanner Software Forum for details.

There's probably information in the RR Wiki, too.