Win500 700Mhz issue?

[budevans]

I've run into an issue trying to load the following 700 Mhz frequencies as Conv Objects.
799.50625
799.75625
800.00625
800.50625
800.78125
801.23125
801.95625
802.65625
802.98125

When I enter any of the following frequencies (799.50625 to 801.23125) and tab out of the field, 796.996875 is displayed in the field.

When I enter (801.95625 to 802.98125) 806.0000 is displayed.

The 9 frequencies above have been requested by Ohio MARCS from the FCC for use in the new Cuyahoga County 700Mhz system.

I checked the FCC website and the frequencies appear to be valid (part of 961 NFM channels set aside for mobile use).

Is there an issue with Win500v194 or is there something else wrong?
My scanner is a GRE PSR500, my computer O/S is Win7 Home Premium with Win500 version 1.94.

 

[rdale]

Can you program them directly into your scanner?

 

[puzzleriddle]

hmm They enter into psredit & upload ok to my pro197 & Psr500... do you have latest Firmware updates & latest version of ARC 500

 

[DonS]

Can you program them directly into your scanner?

That would depend on which firmware version he has in his scanner. One of the firmware releases removed those frequencies, and Win500 was modified to match.

 

[budevans]

I have the Firmware updates from March of this year (those are latest showing on GRE's website). CPU is 1.8 and DSP is 1.4.

The programming software I use is Win 500 which is version 194. But, I do have a current copy of ARC 500 version 114 build 5, which is the latest.

ARC 500 also changes the entries, based on the ranges of (799.50625 to 800.78125) and the ranges of (801.23125 to 802.98125). See my original post for the Win500 change. I didn't write down the ARC 500 change, but in each case it isn't the same as the Win 500 change.

The values change in both programs as soon as I tab or click out of the frequency field.

As for programming them directly (manually) into my scanner. I haven't tried that. I'll have to open the manual and write down the steps for a manual attempt. I guess I've been spoiled, using the software.

Even if manual entry works, won't it change (corrupt) when I do any updates using the software (Win 500)? There's far to much data stored to even consider doing everthing in a manual mode.

 

[DonS]

With CPU firmware version 1.8 (in fact, anything later than 1.5) in the scanner, you won't be able to tune to any frequency between 797.000000MHz and 805.996875MHz. It doesn't matter if the PC software lets you enter those frequencies - the scanner will not tune them.

 

[budevans]

Don, thanks for the quick reply. In that case I hope that the FCC denies the request.

I'm hoping someone at MARCS just looked up the wrong frequency table. Their previous request was for Freq's in the 763 to 775 range designated for use by Public Service for trunk/repeater tower use.

I am curious, any idea as to why the 797 to 805 range was dropped by GRE? I checked the FCC database and the range from 793 to 805 shows as allocated to Public Service for Mobile and Portable use.

 

[budevans]

Just for grins per puzzleriddle I downloaded an eval copy of PsrEdit500. It does allow me to enter the 799 to 802 range and upload it to my scanner. I was then able to successfully download the updates with Win500. I was also able to reload the 799 to 802 freq updates to my scanner with Win500. So I can continue using Win500 without worring about the 799 to 802 freq's being corrupted.

However, per DonS comment, while these frequencies may now show up on my scanner, they may not actually be working. I turned on the scanlist for the new 799 to 802 freq's and I'll see if I get any hits. The FCC did add the 799 to 802 freq's to MARCS call sign/license WQME391.

One last item, I did go to GRE's website and entered a ticket regarding the 799 to 802 range. I'll let you know what GRE has to say.

 

[puzzleriddle]

Good job Glad to uhm help hehe. those channels MAY NOT even be in se yet

 

[eorange]

If there was any doubt...just tried it with v1.8, and you can't enter those frequencies conventionally, or with TUNE, or SRCH.

I do remember when GRE removed those frequencies, but thought nothing of it at the time.

 

[budevans]

Here's the reply from my GRE:

Hi Bud,

The frequencies had to be removed to address a regulatory issue with the radios.

Fortunately this part of the 700 MHz band is used for repeater inputs, so losing these frequencies should not be a major impact for most users, at least we hope not. The only folks who will miss them are those who are interested in monitoring the repeater input frequencies, and this is of little use for most users since the range of transmissions on the input side is very limited.

Best regards,

Jack
GRE Support Team

The good news is, the FCC has added the 9 (repeater input) frequencies to the MARCS Cuyahoga County license (WQME391). Now with 9 repeater tower output frequencies and 9 repeater input frequencies MARCS can start the paring process and move on to Trunking.

I consider this issue closed.