BC296D or BC796D Owners in Alaska

[kikito]

Anybody that owns either radio that has also upgraded to the latest firmware can maybe confirm if it tracks the ALMR system properly. Here are the settings that work for me:

Base: 136.000
Space: 12.5
Offset: 380

 

[loumaag]

Kitko, I hate to bring up old topics, but since this is impacting directly on a situation I am trying to help with, maybe you (or someone else with a Uniden in AK) can help.

Louis & Clark Co., MT is about to go live with a VHF, APCO-25 system, however it appears that they are using (at least announcing at this time via Pro96Com) tables 2 through 12 with VHF channel information. None of them have much in common with any of the other ones. As a matter of fact here are the tables as being announced:

Tbl  Base       Spacing  Bndwdth  TxOffset
 0   851.00625  0.00625  0.00625  -45.00000
 1   762.00625  0.00625  0.00625  30.00000
 2   149.23000  0.00500  0.01250  -20.76250
 3   149.05000  0.00500  0.01250  -12.51250
 4   149.02000  0.00500  0.01250  -13.33750
 5   146.00500  0.00500  0.01250  -12.51250
 6   136.00500  0.01000  0.01250  -6.23750
 7   136.00000  0.01250  0.01250  -4.60000
 8   145.01500  0.00500  0.01250  -10.26250
 9   144.11000  0.00500  0.01250  -8.87500
 A   136.00500  0.01000  0.01250  -2.45000
 B   136.00500  0.01000  0.01250  -1.96250
 C   136.00500  0.01000  0.01250  -1.47500

Okay for the specifics, is it true that the Uniden models cannot take any offset other between 380 and 759? If that is true, does the radio really use the announced channels, since obviously that is not anywhere close to what is factual as a channel grant. I have a 796 on the way (should arrive on Wed, 21st) but that really won't help since I don't have direct access to a VHF (or UHF) APCO-25 system. The SD system is a Smartzone using P-25 modulation.

Based on the above info, I came up with a table set for the ones presently actually being used (4 & 7-11) so far for the Pro-96, but I fear that this system may prove to be too much for the Uniden.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

 

[kikito]

Okay for the specifics, is it true that the Uniden models cannot take any offset other between 380 and 759?

That's true (at least with the current ones), however, is no longer an issue ever since the last update to the radios came out. The radio, as it should, doesn't even pay attention to whatever you set as Table/Offset, as I personally confirmed (This only applies strictly to 9600 CC systems). My BC296D will track it just fine presently. However, and this is my personal opinion and results: My BC296D doesn't track as reliable as my Pro-96 and from what I can tell is a signal reception thing more than anything. Like I said, that's just my personal experience in my area. There's many people that couldn't be happier with theirs in other systems and states.

Based on the above info, I came up with a table set for the ones presently actually being used (4 & 7-11) so far for the Pro-96, but I fear that this system may prove to be too much for the Uniden.

It seems like you got the hardest part figured out already! Is the Pro-96 tracking good for you? You know, I've been wondering for a long time if the latest CPU upgrade to the Pro-96 fixed this anomaly/bug because with 9600 systems you shouldn't need to enter all those Tables, maybe not even a single one. So the Unidens got the upper hand on ease of setup for 9600 VHF/UHF systems at the moment. Again, on the Uniden, Your Mileage Will Vary. If you have a strong signal, most likely the Uniden should and will work fine WITHOUT entering any Base/Offset values or leaving the factory defaults.

Anyway, if I babbled too much and didn't quite answer your question or need more details, let me know. I don't mind babbling some more.... :lol:

 

[loumaag]

Well, first, I am not close enough to Helena, MT to get the signal. :lol:

However, I have been helping another fellow who hunted up a Pro-96 and ran the Pro96Com program on the system. He actually owns a 296. I emailed him the post address, so maybe he will jump in with results based on your post.

 

[wr7agt]

Hello all, I am that fellow in Helena. First, the system has been figured out as far as control channels at all seven sites, Alternate Control Channels, and the table value (Pro 96) that all voice channels and control channels are using. After getting them all logged, all of the VHF tables that lou posted are being used. The system consists of one 5 channel system and 6 3-channel systems.

The bad news is they are not using it yet, just an occasional test count or person calling "Hey Dave, you here me on SO Admin", kind of stuff. I have heard calls on both the 296D and on the Pro 96.

On the 296D, I have only heard one call, and have not been using it the last few days as I have been gathering data from pro96com and the pro-96. But, I believe that all I did on the 296 was put in 136.000, 12.5, or 5.0 (not sure) and 380 in the appropriate place. Then I loaded all the channels I had in one bank (just for testing). That has really been the limit of playing with the 296D. Are you saying that the newer firmware and software will allow just the programming of the CC and ACC for use? If so, should they be in seperate banks or will it work with a Smartzone system if I program just the CCs and ACCs at each of the sites, in one bank?

Today I finished getting data from the 2 northern most sites that I cannot receive well enough at home to make the pro96com software work. After doing this, I was scanning in town and the pro 96 locked on some guy calling for anyone that heard him, several times, with no answer. So I am not able to truly verify much just yet because the folks are not in operation yet with normal amounts of dispatch, etc.

In the pro-96 I currently have each site, with all of there channels (3 or 5) programmed into individual banks. I also have all the CCs and ACCs programmed alone in bank 0. As I mentioned to lou, when I scan that bank only, and switch to manual, the scanner always seems to be locked onto the first control channel it is hearing and not actually scanning all the CCs. If I scan all the banks seperately, then at least there is a visual indication that it is scanning each bank briefly. So, I am not sure which is, was, the best way.

Now that I know about the new improvements, I can try programming a bank with just the CC and ACC of the "busy site", and then just sit on scan on that bank with nothing programmed in the base, space part of the pro 96. I did notice that if you use the "expanded" frequency tables, there is a "standard" setting for VHF systems. Is this possibly something added for the new improvements? I can also try it without any data in the frequency table area as well, if you are saying that may not be needed in the 96 as well.

Happy to provide any more info, just ask. Also attached is a basic system diagram so you will see what I am dealing with. Note also that each site will have a conventional (repeater maybe) with the trunked systems. How best to scan them at the same time? They are/will be APCO-25 digital as well.

 

[kikito]

Are you saying that the newer firmware and software will allow just the programming of the CC and ACC for use?

On the Uniden BC296D, Yes. I couldn't get the BC296D to track at all before the update. After the update, all I had to do was set it to VHF/P25 mode and program the control channel and it started working right away.

If so, should they be in seperate banks or will it work with a Smartzone system if I program just the CCs and ACCs at each of the sites, in one bank?

Well, if the system is like mine (which I assume it is) then in order not to miss some traffic is better to program each CC in a separate bank when using the Uniden. Since some users might affiliate to some sites and not others, etc. Or if you only care about monitoring the closest site just program all the CC's in one bank and let the radio pick the first one it can lock on to.

In the pro-96 I currently have each site, with all of there channels (3 or 5) programmed into individual banks. I also have all the CCs and ACCs programmed alone in bank 0. As I mentioned to lou, when I scan that bank only, and switch to manual, the scanner always seems to be locked onto the first control channel it is hearing and not actually scanning all the CCs. If I scan all the banks seperately, then at least there is a visual indication that it is scanning each bank briefly. So, I am not sure which is, was, the best way.

This is another area where the Pro-96 shines!
Different people get the following "trick" to work different ways. Here's how it works for me.

I have all 8 CC's I can receive in the same bank seperated by one conventional frequency in between. I start the bank with a conventional freq. and then a CC. Then another conventional and followed by a CC and so on....

To confirm is scanning all of them, I press Scan and wait 2-3 seconds and hit Manual. Everytime it should stop an a different one. It works great this way and I get to manage only one TG list.

Now that I know about the new improvements, I can try programming a bank with just the CC and ACC of the "busy site", and then just sit on scan on that bank with nothing programmed in the base, space part of the pro 96.

The improvements I mentioned are all related to the Uniden. Not able to test on a new Pro-96/2096. If you happen to have a Pro-96 with the latest V1.3 CPU upgrade, by all means, test and see if it works, especially without the "Multi-Tables" and/or using a single Table of:

Base Freq: 136.000
Offset: 0
Step: 12.5

I did notice that if you use the "expanded" frequency tables, there is a "standard" setting for VHF systems. Is this possibly something added for the new improvements?

Possible....

I can also try it without any data in the frequency table area as well, if you are saying that may not be needed in the 96 as well.

I can say that for sure about the BC296D and in general, like I said above, by all means try it if you have a newer Pro-96 and even if you don't. :wink:

Note also that each site will have a conventional (repeater maybe) with the trunked systems. How best to scan them at the same time? They are/will be APCO-25 digital as well.

Those conventional channels would be perfect to put in between the CC's like I mentioned above!