BC785D Trunking Woes continue....

[CZ]

Still no luck Trunk programming BC785D. Here’s what I did last few times I tried & quit in frustration. Have had it since January, & still no luck

1 press Menu
2 Go to Service Option, press Enter
3 Goto Chain Search (Enter)
4 Chain Search OFF (E)
5 Search Range – (E)
6 Select Range 2 (E)
7 “Search Range 2” (E)
8 Lower Search Frequency: 855.000 MHz (E)
9 Upper Search Range: 868.000 (E)
10 AUTO select frequency spacing (E)
11 Mode: AUTO (E)
12 TRUNK Set: ON (E)
13 TRUNK PLAN: Plan 1 (E)
14 Hit Search Button. Several minutes later, on 865.7125 I get MOT ID: 8176
15: While this is showing I press Trunk on front panel And ALL that happens is it takes me back to where it appears that it wants me to program the frequency in Bank 1 -- which I don’t want to do, since I have all my public safety freq’s in Banks 1 & 2.
I don’t recall what I did, but a couple times its asked me to program in the next frequency – which can’t be done, since I only have 865.7125

 

[RolnCode3]

Get ARC250 software. You'll be surprised how easy it is to use. That's probably not the answer you want, but it's by far the easiest. It's only like 30 or so bucks (trial version for bank1 only is free). Awesome software.

Also, I'm no expert, but it looks like you're combining functions. The search is looking for freqs. What you want to do is scan. I think you're mixing up the functions on the scanner. Try reading the manual regarding how to scan trunks. It should work there. And if you did find the CC and get a tg id (MOT ID), you're part way there.

Another issue is: Why would a system trunk with only 1 frequency?? Defeats the purpose/isn't possible(again, I'm no expert, but I believe you HAVE to have a CC and at least one voice channel). You should be able to do a CC only if that's the CC, but if not, you'll need to dig/ask around for other frequencies for that system.

 

[CZ]

I was trying to follow the Manual. That plan 1 thing mentioned above, I just made a stab at it -- figured if that didn't work, then try Plan 2 then plan 3 Had 785D 6 months as of last week.

Another headache is "Fleet Map" Codes. Manual lists 15 on pages 85 & 86. I suppose, if you don't know what Map is used on a frequency, you just have to go thru them all, the manual doesn't reall make this clear.

Another irritation in Trunk programming attempts is it asking for the next frequency when all you have is ONE, and no idea how many others there may be, or what they are.

That software... I assume the cable has to be bought seperately? I would have to run at least a 6 foot cable from scanner to Computer behind radio, monitor, speakers.
Bank 1 only freeware wouldn't be too useful I'd think--of course, I might be wrong--to me because all my frequencies are in Bank 1 with bank 2 being used to keep new ones in until I decide whether or not to put them in Bank 1.

 

[RolnCode3]

Alright. Sounds like you're having lots of problems here. There's a few issues that you're going to have to sort out before this is going to work. I'm new at this too, but mine's up and working.

First, you're not going to have a trunking system with only one frequency. In fact, two frequencies won't be trunked either. Defeats the purpose. The frequency that you DO have, are you sure it's a control channel? It should sound like a running diesel engine (best description I've heard so far). There won't be ANY talking on it at all. In other words, you need to find more frequencies for the system you're trying to listen to. Where do you live and who are you trying to listen to? We might be able to help you.

The fleet maps are only needed for Motorola Type I trunking systems (which I've read are relatively rare). Most are Type II, and you don't need to worry about the fleet maps. You just have to find Control Channels (CC).

Now, with the trunking systems, there's 2 things: Frquencies and Talkgroups. You'll need the frequencies and then you'll be able to get talkgroup ID's (unless you look them up first). They each have their own banks. There's a frequency bank and then the talkgroups assigned to the bank.

As far as the software goes, you would have to buy a standard DB9 Serial Cable (RS-232C) from Radio Shack or whereever. The 232C cable from Radio Shack has worked just fine for me, and it's only about 6 bucks.

Good luck.
Keep posting if you're not getting it. These forums and other sites like this are invaluable to getting this going.

 

[Voyager]

Another issue is: Why would a system trunk with only 1 frequency?? Defeats the purpose/isn't possible(again, I'm no expert, but I believe you HAVE to have a CC and at least one voice channel).

There ARE single frequency trunks out there. Most are used as part of a larger system to give coverage in low-use areas. These are commonly called Voice On Control (VOC) or Single Channel Autonomous Trunking (SCAT). However, it could also be the initial starting point of a larger trunk system. When that one channel is 'allocated' (in use), the system is 'busy' for all other TGs - just as if 4 TGs were using all 4 voice channels on a typical system.

Joe M.

 

[RolnCode3]

Ahh, I see. I imagine this is not a typical setup, however. Most likely he is just missing the other freqs for that system? Am I wrong to suppose that?

I guess the answer really lies in: Where he is, and who he's trying to listen to/what their setup is.

 

[DJ88]

To CZ

First we have to find out which system you are trying to program. Go to the home page of this site and click on "RR Database" in the left hand column. Then, on the map that appears at the top, click on California. You will then see a list of all the counties and cities that information is available for on the database. Click on the city or county you want the info for and you should see all the information (system type, frequencies, talk group IDs, etc) pertaining to the system there.

That's the first step, getting all the necessary info about about the system. Then you can begin the process of programming the system into your scanner. I have a BC785D and have programmed 4 different types of trunked systemsm Motorola Type 2 UHF, Motorola Type 2 800, Motorola Type 2 900 and LTR. I did them all manually. It's a little work, but they all work fine. And, by programming them manually, I found that it also teaches me how my scanner operates. That's just my opinion. Others prefer the software.

If you need any help accessing the RR Database let me know and I'll try to help. Once we find out what system you are trying to program I will help you get it in and working, providing it's one of the four I listed. If it's an EDACS or Motorola Type 1 I probably won't be of much help to you.

Regards
Ken

 

[vsny]

CZ you have more patience than me!!

If I was at this for 6 plus months, like you are, I would have put the Scanner back in the box and sold it.Prior however
Try what someone else suggested...do a complete reset on the entire scanner memory because unless you are totally gifted, you will not remember what you did 6 weeks ago let alone 6 frustrating months ago, and write down EVERYTHING you do prior to doing it.
I have a 785D with 2 trunked systems in it , in 2 different banks and as the previous post said,did it by hand.I have no software for it..the only way to learn it is to do it the hard way!!

 

[Junior08]

You spent good money on the 785D, now spend a bit more and get THE BEST software for that scanner. ARC250 from Butel. You will save yourself countless hours, and possibly carpal tunnel syndrome, by using this. It is very easy to use. Once you have the software, just go ahead and enter all the systems/frequencies for what you will be monitoring, then load them into the scanner and away you go! You can try some manual functions later, for practice purposes, but that software will keep you from chucking the 785D into a dumpster somewhere! Trust me. Good luck.

The Butel site can be found here;

www.butel.nl/

 

[JoeyC]

You are also never going to learn how to program a trunking scanner if you don't understand trunking in general. Therefore:

1. READ THE MANUAL

2. Do a web search on trunking. Better yet, I think theres an explanation on this site. Read it, and read it again.

3. READ THE MANUAL AGAIN

 

[CZ]

1: Frequency 865.7125 ..... metallic sounding Buzz
1A: Only Info I ever got from it is MOT ID: 8176 (No info on what KIND of Motorola system it is)

2 ... Couldn't find Freq. in Database

3 ... Am in Fresno County, CA

4 ... I can hear in the range mentioned in my first post about a half-dozen stations nearly full scale I think are Trunk (Metallic buzz) but the one above is only 1 I got an ID from.

5 ... Yes, I have read the Manual, several times to say the least, since I bought the 785D. in working on Trunking.

Another thing ... I think it says in the manual you have to assign each Trunk setup you listen to to a different bank, so since I'm currently using 2 banks for monitoring, that would leave 8 banks only for Trunking use?

 

[ECPD279]

I searched your freq in the FCC database, and you my friend have been NEXTELED!!!!! That frequency is licensed to Nextel STATEWIDE. Forget it, find another freq, the ID you got was probably just a fluke.

 

[RolnCode3]

D'oh. Explains a lot.

Yes, you can only listen to 10 different trunking systems. However, say your County has a trunking system (hypothetically) where every City in the County uses their system--say 5 Cities, that's only 1 trunking system. They'd each have their own talkgroups, but that's still only be 1 system, thus only 1 bank. 10 trunking systems (here in Sacramento, while travellling, I can only find 3 systems, and 1 is Roseville) is a lot. Should tide most people over, unless you travel.

Also, each of those banks can also hold conventional systems/freqs as well. Just because a bank is being used to trunk doesn't mean it's lost to conventional stuff as well.

 

[CZ]

Oooook.... skip the Freq. mentioned in my first post, and see if I can convince the scanner to give me an ID of some sort on another frequency.

If a Frequency has something that sounds like Trunking but doesn't give an ID, should I just go Mode by Trunking mode and see if I get an ID?
I gather that fleet maps have to be programmed in seperately, so with them it would be a case of: "Hmm, this map doesn't work, let's reprogram in the frequencies and try number two, hmm, no work - reprogram frequencies and try number three..." until a working Fleet Map is found??

 

[INDY72]

Why reprogram the freqs... just reprog the fleetmap untill you find the right one....or you can try to make your own fleetmap... plus fleetmaps are only helpful for Motorola Type I and IIi Hybrid systems. If your monitoring a true Type II system you will not need a fleetmap. And also you don't need maps for EDACS, or LTR. As to trying to figure oput what type of trs it is.. if there is no info here, then yes do the Mode flips thru all the flavors... Motorola Type I, or II, EDACS, or LTR,.. if you still get no lock on to the cc then its going to be a format that nothing can scan right now such as an VSELP, iDEN, or ProVoice. If you do start tracking it and vcan get info on it post it and let us know what you found.

 

[CZ]

Hmm, well then I would still need to program in or figure out a fleet map on some trunking; all I have been able to get re ID from the 785D is what was in first post, (and it turned out to be a Nextel) so don't know if I'd have to use map's anyway.....

 

[INDY72]

Nextel forget trrying they are iDEN digital and can't be trunktracked. And as I siad,.. if you find one of the few Type I's out there, or a Type IIi Hybrid, then yes you'd need a fleetmap

 

[CZ]

Hmm, the search for a Non-Nextel frequency continues
Trunking, at least with the continual problems it gives me, has to be one of the most aggravating modes ever designed to program in

 

[INDY72]

Once you get in the hang of it,.. trunking is also very rewarding! In some ways its far more complex but at the same time, once you get it down,... its simpler to monitor than some of the old mutlichan systems in some places.

 

[CZ]

I dunno, may be easy for some I guess, but I bought this thing in January & am no closer to getting it to Trunk than I was when I opened the box

Looked at that ARC250 software & 2 immediate problems:

1: $70 (US) to the Netherlands

2: Serial Port required and my comp doesn't have a extra serial port available. Only thing available is a Parallel which the printer would go to, but since the printer (Epson 880) also uses USB, I'm using USB thru a hub because comp only has 2 USB ports (Mouse in 1, hub to the other).