Waupaca P25

[1268]

Wondering if the system is fully encrypted or just P25 ? If encrypted no need to bring the scanner along on my next trip ?

[zeitgeist999]

Just P25

[towertech]

Both Waupaca & Waushara Counties are P25 simulcast, so depending on whether you are receiving more than one TX site at a time, the out-of-phase signals can make the the system almost unintelligible on a scanner that does not have sophisticated DSP capabilities to deal with the problem.

Winnebago County's new 800 Mhz. P25 TRS is also simulcast, as will be Outagamie County if they ever get their frequencies properly licensed.

[1268]

Originally Posted by towertech

Both Waupaca & Waushara Counties are P25 simulcast, so depending on whether you are receiving more than one TX site at a time, the out-of-phase signals can make the the system almost unintelligible on a scanner that does not have sophisticated DSP capabilities to deal with the problem.

Winnebago County's new 800 Mhz. P25 TRS is also simulcast, as will be Outagamie County if they ever get their frequencies properly licensed.

That explains a lot.....Thank you !

[MarcusDude]

I was in Appleton when Waupaca switched to P25. During that time, the Shawano County fair was going on, and the deputies working the fair were using SWSO 2 (155.64000) in P25 mode, and that sounded good, also Waushara (155.13000) sounded good, but Waupaca (154.86000) wasn't so good. I was up there again about a month and a half ago, and it sounded a little better, but still not very good from Appleton. Back in August, when I was up there, Waushara was testing on 151.1225 PL 186.2, I guess that's WSSO 2 now. I heard that Waushara SO 1 (155.13000) was 100% P25 now. Is it all encrypted, or is some of it in the clear? I know when I used to live up that way, they were mostly analog, with some P25, and the P25 was mostly (but now always) encrypted. Also, does WSSO 1 (155.13000) still have a NAC of 787, or did that change too? The reason I ask is because I no longer see it listed in Radio Reference.

[towertech]

Waushara County on 155.130 is using NAC 700 now, nearly 99% encrypted (I didn't realize all of Waushara's comms were so sensitive they needed that level of encryption).

Waushara is using Motorola Linear Simulcast Modulation (CQPSK) and with my GRE scanners anyway, there is NOWHERE I can go that I can receive their system without issues, on the few times it isn't encrypted.

Also, due to the simulcast distortion problems when receiving Waushara, the encryption mute on the PSR800 seldom works anymore.

Although Waupaca County is also transmitting simulcast CQPSK, they can be received quite a bit better.

It seems like the techs have spent considerable time tweaking the TX delay timing between sites, Waupaca can be received pretty well on most P25 scanners when you are within the county, or within the capture area of one specific site.

I have had luck with a handheld scanner, turning it horizontal on a table, and rotating it to null out all but the closest site.

I have not heard any encryption so far, but I am sure their Tait radios are capable of DES.

[Abb0]

DES and AES

[djeplett]

Originally Posted by towertech

...The system almost unintelligible on a scanner that does not have sophisticated DSP capabilities to deal with the problem.

Nothing but trouble here in New London. What scanners have the capabilities? Any suggestions?

[towertech]

My PSR-800 (P25 P2 Beta Firmware) does noticeably better than either my PSR 500 or PSR 600 on Waupaca County's simulcast system.

My PSR 800 gets about 95% or better decode on Waupaca County, regardless where I am.

None of these units work well on Waushara County's system.

All I can suggest is adjusting your antenna to try and null-out all but one transmit site. This will eliminate the simulcast distortion causing poor decode problems.

If you are listening from a fixed location, a directional VHF antenna (yagi) aimed at one of the transmit sites will help a lot.

That or buy an EFJ, Harris, Tait, Kenwood or Motorola P25 2-way portable.