BC796D VHF Control Channel Only

[motomeso]

I have seen a few references to the BC296D and BC796D being able to do VHF control channel only with some smoke and mirrors, can somebody tell me how or point me to the thread that shows how this is done.

 

[fmon]

Look in your owners manual.

The pdf version of the owner's manual list this statement on page 45. Your scanner has a powerful feature that lets you program in only the control channels for Motorola 800 and 900 MHz systems.

 

[grem467]

I have seen a few references to the BC296D and BC796D being able to do VHF control channel only with some smoke and mirrors, can somebody tell me how or point me to the thread that shows how this is done.

i didnt think that was possible either, hell id settle for CC only tracking from 406 - 500,

 

[motomeso]

You didn't read my post, I asked for VHF Control Channel only. 800-900mhz is not VHF. I read this in the Pro96/BC296D comparison thread seen here.
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12413

 

[loumaag]

I assume you refer to this line:
RE: Pro-96 advantages-

-- Control Channel only on VHF trunked systems (Although there's a way to do it on the BC296D)

If so, I too would be interested to hear how this is done; however, other than APCO-25 systems, I don't think it is possible. Not everything you read in a forum post should be taken as fact. BTW, this comparison was done by a single individual and has a lot of holes in it. For example on that line alone, why just VHF? What about UHF low, the Uniden won't do that either.

 

[fmon]

You didn't read my post,

Of course I did and now I'll answer your question with a question.

I asked for VHF Control Channel only. 800-900mhz is not VHF.

Why would the owners manual state only Motorola 800/900 but exclude VHF/UHF 400 if they too could be programmed using CC only?

I read this in the Pro96/BC296D comparison thread seen here.
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12413

Nothing under advantage listing for the BC296D in that feed indicates this procedure can be done. However it is strangely hinted at, as Lou pointed out, in brackets under the advantages for the Pro-96.

Maybe Voyager needs to comment, it is his listing.

 

[ChrisP]

I have seen a few references to the BC296D and BC796D being able to do VHF control channel only with some smoke and mirrors, can somebody tell me how or point me to the thread that shows how this is done.

I can state from personal experience that the BC-796 DOES do VHF control channel only trunking, but as loumaag suggested, it is an APCO-25 9600 baud trunked system.

As far as how it is done, I simply entered all the control channel frequencies in a Motorola trunked bank, selected VHF for the system type, and did not change the default base/step/offset settings in the radio.

I am assuming that the 9600 baud control channel contains much more information on the system voice channels than the 3600 baid data does, thus allowing this to be done!

- Chris

 

[grem467]

or the default base/offset of the system happened to be correct

 

[kikito]

I can also say from personal experience with my BC296D, that it does "Control Channel only" on Digital P25 VHF/UHF 9600 systems. You don't even need to enter Base and Offset tables. However, You do need to make sure that you have the latest upgrades to the radio and card.

It is very possible that it'll do CC only on Analog 3600 systems also BUT you do need to enter Base/Offset tables for those.

On a related note, I (kikito) was the one that made the original list and "hint" about this (and then later on Voyager modified it, it seems the list needs to be updated again):

-- Control Channel only on VHF trunked systems (Although there's a way to do it on the BC296D)

That was before the upgrades came out for the radio and card. Before that I could only "mess" around with the CC only feature on the Limit Searches to make it "magically" work until the radio was turned off. And I only mentioned it for VHF (at the time the list was originally made) because that was the only operational 9600 VHF system (in the U.S.) at the time and the only thing I could confirmed.

 

[loumaag]

Okay, let me step in again on two points.

1. I know of no way to get the BC796D to do CC Only trunking on VHF and UHF Motorola systems. If anyone knows of a way, please let us hear it.

2. APCO Project-25 systems (like kitko has in AK) have nothing to do with the CC only modes on Uniden scanners. P-25 systems CC has an entirely differnt format and all channel information, including the actual frequencies are inside the packet stream. Please don't confuse P-25 9600 bps systems with Motorola 3600 baud control channel implementation. They have nothing to do with each other.

Associating Motorola with 9.6kbs Project-25 systems is incorrect as Motorola has nothing to do with it. They are just another vendor selling APCO-25 compliant radios and systems.

 

[VORTAC]

It's true. Here in Montreal, a new P25 VHF 9600 is under radio tests and having the 796D in search mode, whith no base or offset, put you on the good frequencies. Nothing else to do like the 800 or 900 mhz.