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[Astrak]

I used to live in Tucson about 6 months ago but I am now moving to Mesa. I just purchased a PRO-106, what is the best way for me to receive PRWN and MCSO? I am new to P25 and have no idea how to set this up, I am looking for some help, I'll be moving to Mesa in a month or so from Lincoln NE...Cellphone...do you have any advice? Just looking for some help. Thanks in advance.

 

[cellphone]

Hey Aaron,

Welcome to the valley!

I am not familiar with the Pro-106, but I would be glad to help you figure it out. Programming the scanner will be much easier with software. www.butel.nl or http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win500/default.asp are 2 good software packages. The Pro-106 should be a decent performer for the PRWN since it is based on the GRE 500. This will outperform the current Uniden scanners on receiving the PRWN.

Here is the link to the PRWN on RR. Program the Simulcast D: Mesa site for the best results in the Mesa area. Program the system as a Motorola P25. Programming this will be almost identical to any Motorola 800mhz system if you have monitored them in the past.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=2508
You can also practice your programming by trying the Omaha system. The Omaha system is very similar to the PRWN. You can receive some signal from Lincoln around the 84th and Hwy 6 area.

Here is the MCSO system. For best results in Mesa, program the Thompson Peak site. This is the closes site that will carry all of the MCSO traffic. If you do not receive this site well, you can try the Southeast Center or Bronco Butte sites, but these may not always carry all of the talkgroups. Program this system as a Motorola 800mhz system.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=848

When you get here, I would be glad to meet you somewhere sometime to help you out, and to share other scanner information about the valley. Another great resource for valley scanning is http://www.scanarizona.com/. This book is currently unavailable, but the new version should be available soon.

Send me an e-mail sometime, and we can meet somewhere to get you set up to listen in the valley. There is no shortage of stuff to listen to.

Cheers,

--Joe
joebadura@hotmail.com

 

[Astrak]

Ok Joe thanks for the info, just arrived to the area yesterday. Been messing around a bit with the different sites trying to see what works best here in NE Mesa. The Thompson peak site works great, I am having a little trouble with PRWN. I receive the Mesa simulcast fine but it seems only Mesa PD and public works is on that system. I am now monitoring simulcast C, but decode will be sporatic from 30% to 100% and sometimes while on a TG it seems that the scanner can't receive well enough so it cuts out some or all of the conversation switching from digital to analog a lot during the conversation.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

You need a yagi antenna on the roof or in the attic that you can hook to so that Simulcast A comes in well. Then just point it at your nearest site.

 

[Astrak]

So is all of Phoenix PD broadcast on C? Because I am receiving C just fine now.

 

[KE7VJW]

I have a 106 and live in Tucson. I was in Phoenix a few weeks ago and tried the 106 out I got Tempe and Glendale, but didn’t get anything from Phoenix PD or MCSO. Any help would be appreciated or could someone send or post a win500 file so I can see what the heck I am doing wrong. I was mobile mostly around the central and West sides of the valley.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[AZScanner]

So is all of Phoenix PD broadcast on C? Because I am receiving C just fine now.

No, not all of it. To pull in all you need to use the Simulcast A control channels.

Stinks - I used to be able to monitor Phoenix from anywhere in the valley. Now you have to be in range of the dumb sites or hope someone near you has an official radio tuned to the channel you want. Hate the new system. :evil:

-AZ

 

[Astrak]

Yeah I'm not really liking digital, the EDACS system in Lincoln NE was so easy to monitor, I understand that NE is pretty flat and radio isn't too hard to propagate throughout the county there. The radio always came in loud and clear. Even in Omaha on that P25 system I never had any problems receiving from anywhere in the metro area. I still don't like the sound of digital versus analog, probably just me but I can understand the analog better than digital for some reason.

 

[Astrak]

Just tried simulcast A and I am receiving a control channel on there at about 80% decode, I'll try that. I am still able to receive C deck A deck and B deck TG's on simulcast C. I'm also getting some TG ID's that I'm not seeing in the database.