396xt Number Tagging Design Flaw

[Stevenme]

I believe there is a design issue with number tagging. If I tag a MOT trunked system as "1" and a TGID in the system as "1", when I enter "1.1" from another system (trunked or conventional) the 396 goes to the correct TGID but the only site selected is the first site in the system (even if there are multiple sites in the SQK). This is regardless of the SQK(s) which are currently selected. So in my case since I can't receive the control channel in the first site, rather than receiving traffic on the TGID I've jumped to, I get the infamous "Finding CtrlChan" message.

It seems like either the SQKs should determine the currently enabled site(s) as they do in scan mode, or, the tag should be by site and not system. I'd prefer the former, but the later will work as well.

Steve

 

[KE4ZNR]

This is not a flaw, this is how System/Channel Tagging works.
Remember you are not tagging the individual site, you are tagging the system...so whenever you select 1.1 you are selecting system 1, channel tagged 1 NOT site 1->channel 1. The scanner will then track whichever sites are unlocked and able to be received in System Tag 1.
I think you are actually asking for Site Tagging instead of System Tagging.
Marshall KE4ZNR

edited to add: Just lockout the sites you cannot monitor and unlock the ones you can.

 

[Stevenme]

Nope, what I'm saying is that it does not track unlock sites, only the first site in the system as determined by going into Progam Mode.

I'm proposing it *should* track all unlocked sites, but it does not. Try it for yourself, just make sure the first site does not contain a control channel.

Steve

 

[KE4ZNR]

Nope, what I'm saying is that it does not track unlock sites, only the first site in the system as determined by going into Progam Mode.

I'm proposing it *should* track all unlocked sites, but it does not. Try it for yourself, just make sure the first site does not contain a control channel.

Steve

Ok, I think I understand what you are asking for now Steve.
Basically you want the radio to sample all sites instead of just the first one it comes to, right?
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[Stevenme]

I want it to scan any site that is SQK enabled, just as if I hit the Scan button, or if I had hit hold while there was a conversation on the TGID. Instead, when I enter "1.1 Menu" I get my TGID but the only site that is enabled is the first physical site in the system (I can see the site name displayed in the top line with the system name). This is the site that appears first when you do Menu/Program System/(Name of System)/Edit Site. That site is the only one enabled and if it isn't the site with a control channel you get the "Finding CtrlChan" message.

I guess if the first site has a control channel you might never notice the issue. In my case the first site is in a tunnel in Boston (MA State Police Trunk) which I would only receive if I was in the tunnel.

 

[jnewell]

Interesting. I need to go back to the manual - but here's a question: does the firmware support tagging multiple sites with the same number tag, as can be done with SQKs and GQKs?

 

[KE4ZNR]

Interesting. I need to go back to the manual - but here's a question: does the firmware support tagging multiple sites with the same number tag, as can be done with SQKs and GQKs?

Again:
Sites are NOT tagged. Only Systems and channels are tagged.
You tag a system and a channel within the system.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[bpsmicro]

Yeah, the number tagging of systems rather than sites is a bit unfortunate. Seems like the feature wasn't fully thought out before implementation. For now, I'm dancing around it by making all my "systems" only contain 1 site, and duplicate the groups and set the same SQK/GQK across the board. A waste of memory, but currently I can get away with it. Over time, I'll judge how often I actually use the quick-access stuff.
Luckily, this looks like the kind of thing that could be fixed in a future firmware update.

Brad.

P.S. For those unclear on the difference, a "bug" is something that's not working the way it was specified or documented. A "design flaw" is something that *is* working as documented, but the original design is, well, flawed. So the OP's description of this issue is exactly correct.

 

[Stevenme]

Is there a representative of Uniden that frequents this site? If not, how can I make Uniden aware of this issue in the hopes of getting it resolved in a future firmware release? Thanks!

 

[KE4ZNR]

Is there a representative of Uniden that frequents this site? If not, how can I make Uniden aware of this issue in the hopes of getting it resolved in a future firmware release? Thanks!

UPMan is the product manager for Uniden and he is all over this forum...try looking at all of the sticky threads and the thousands of other posts in which he participated.
And it works the way it was intended to so there is nothing to get resolved.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[Stevenme]

I disagree, as designed it does not work as expected. Let me try one more time to explain.

I have the Massachusetts SP programmed in a system. They are a MOT II SmartZone system with 20+ sites. Because there are more sites than SQKs, I have assigned more than one site per SQK. In SQK #1, I have 3 sites that are ordered by FreeScan in the order received from the RadioReference WebService. The first site is Ted Williams Tunnel, the second is Metro Boston Simulcast, and the third is Liberty Tunnel. Having these in one SQK actually makes sense since most of the time it's the Metro Boston site that is received, but if I drive through the Ted Williams Tunnel I want to automatically truck that site without having to push buttons on the scanner. So far, so good!

So here's the problem, since the Ted Williams Tunnel is ordered as the first site for the active SQK (#1), if I push the "Hold" button and the 396XT stops on a system other than MA SP, then I enter "2.1" Menu (number tag for MA SP system/TGID for Troop H South), the scanner will select the first site and select the TGID for Troop H. The problem is that the first site is only receivable in the Ted Williams Tunnel and since the 396XT will not scan the other sites in the SQK group, I get the message "Finding CtrlChan" and I'll never hear a transmission. I'll mention I use CC Only mode given the large number of frequencies in use in the system. I'm not sure if this make a difference or not.

To resolve this issue I recommend that the 396XT scan the active sites (all active SQKs) until a control channel is found after a System.TGID Number Tag is entered. I'd like to hear from UPMan his thoughts. Thanks!

 

[ems170]

I feel your pain. I wrote about the same request in another thread. I really think the radio would function so much better if it would check all active sites for activity on the TG you are holding on. I hate having to scroll throught the sites until I find the next active one, when I only want to listen to one TG.

 

[Stevenme]

I feel your pain. I wrote about the same request in another thread. I really think the radio would function so much better if it would check all active sites for activity on the TG you are holding on. I hate having to scroll throught the sites until I find the next active one, when I only want to listen to one TG.

How do you scroll through the sites? Thanks!

 

[ems170]

press function and then as you turn the knob it will scroll through each site.

 

[Stevenme]

press function and then as you turn the knob it will scroll through each site.

The only problem is that when you scroll to a new site it doesn't trunk it, you just here the control channel. It may be becuase I use CC Only mode, I'm not sure.

 

[Stevenme]

I keep hoping UPMan will chime in. Maybe the fact that he hasn't responded is a good sign that Uniden is planning to resolve this issue in a future firmware release.

[Fingers crossed]

 

[DaveIN]

The only problem is that when you scroll to a new site it doesn't trunk it, you just here the control channel. It may be becuase I use CC Only mode, I'm not sure.

Are you seeing the "F" flash on the display when you scroll? You may be holding the button too long and the Function key latched causing the radio to stop on the control channel. If I recall correctly, you just tap the Func key and scroll to the system it should start tracking as normal. If you just want to hold on that system, press and hold the "Hold" button, and it will stay on the system you wish to monitor until you press and hold the "Hold" button again.

 

[Stevenme]

Are you seeing the "F" flash on the display when you scroll? You may be holding the button too long and the Function key latched causing the radio to stop on the control channel. If I recall correctly, you just tap the Func key and scroll to the system it should start tracking as normal. If you just want to hold on that system, press and hold the "Hold" button, and it will stay on the system you wish to monitor until you press and hold the "Hold" button again.

What you describe is how it works in Scan mode. The trouble is when you enter a Number Tag you have to be in Hold mode. Try this, press Hold, then tap Func, then scroll to a site with an active control channel. What do you hear? On my XT I hear the control channel not the tracked conversation.