Can a Pro96 receive any current public service transmissions in Fulton County

[kn4hh]

I recently found my Pro96 scanner and am wondering if it is capable of decoding any of the currently used protocols. I went Ahead and purchased ARC96 software and I have a premium subscription to RadioReference. Could someone point me to a step by step tutorial on how to program the Pro96. I am assuming I will have to do rebranding. I live in the Atlanta, GA area.
Many thanks for any help.

kn4hh
Bob W

 

[aprswatcher]

Look on YouTube, just enter ARC96. There should be a few videos.
73, Rex

 

[ka3jjz]

It's REBANDING, not rebranding. Why does everyone get that wrong? Anyway it doesn't apply here.

In addition the 96 is highly limited, being a 30+year old scanner, as to what it will hear in the Atlanta area. This is our list of trunking in the Atlanta area...

Fulton County, Georgia (GA) Trunked Systems

All Trunked Radio Systems in Fulton County, Georgia (GA)

www.radioreference.com

The only things it might cover are the Fed Protective Service (assuming it's unencrypted) and US BOP Atlanta. Anything else - even the various LTR systems - are out of reach as the 96 doesn't do LTR in any case (according to our wiki). Look at the other Phase II systems and see if they are running in phase 1...see a little below to tell you how....

This is possible so long as this system remains in Phase 1. The 'D' in the mode tells you this. If / when they transition the scanner will be unusable here. Anything that has a 'T' in the mode is Phase 2 which the 96 can't handle

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System, Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

In addition the system is evidently simulcasted, which the 96 may not handle very well depending on where yo are. Only the SDS100 and 200 are known to handle these kinds of systems well

Conventional stuff for your county is here...

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System, Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Anything that says DMR in the mode can't be copied with the 96.

I'd suggest going to our Georgia forum to find a more compatible scanner for that area. Local scannists are always a better resource

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Our Georgia forum

Georgia Radio Discussion Forum

Forum for discussing Radio Information in the State of Georgia.

forums.radioreference.com

MIke

 

[kn4hh]

It's REBANDING, not rebranding. Why does everyone get that wrong? Anyway it doesn't apply here.

In addition the 96 is highly limited, being a 30+year old scanner, as to what it will hear in the Atlanta area. This is our list of trunking in the Atlanta area...

Fulton County, Georgia (GA) Trunked Systems

All Trunked Radio Systems in Fulton County, Georgia (GA)

www.radioreference.com

The only things it might cover are the Fed Protective Service (assuming it's unencrypted) and US BOP Atlanta. Anything else - even the various LTR systems - are out of reach as the 96 doesn't do LTR in any case (according to our wiki). Look at the other Phase II systems and see if they are running in phase 1...see a little below to tell you how....

This is possible so long as this system remains in Phase 1. The 'D' in the mode tells you this. If / when they transition the scanner will be unusable here. Anything that has a 'T' in the mode is Phase 2 which the 96 can't handle

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System, Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

In addition the system is evidently simulcasted, which the 96 may not handle very well depending on where yo are. Only the SDS100 and 200 are known to handle these kinds of systems well

Conventional stuff for your county is here...

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System, Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Public Safety P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Anything that says DMR in the mode can't be copied with the 96.

I'd suggest going to our Georgia forum to find a more compatible scanner for that area. Local scannists are always a better resource

Mike

Thank you so much Mike and Rex for your valuable comments. I realize the limited capability of the Pro96 in receiving current protocols. I do hear Some Fulton County activity from the last database refresh 5 years ago. I thought the unit might need to be rebanded (my dumb smartphone changed it to rebranded). I will go to the Georgia forum.
Again, many thanks and 73,
Bob, KN4HH

 

[kn4hh]

I was wondering if my old Pro96 can receive any current public service (or any services) in Fulton County.
Many thanks for any comments.
Bob
kn4hh

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The Pro 96 doesn't handle P25 Phase-II which Fulton County's system is. Looking at your county's database page I'm seeing numerous other Phase-II systems and a smattering of DMR here & there, the latter also not handed by the Pro 96. Anything listed as mode "FMN" should be able to be tracked by the Pro 96 assuming said stations are still in use & I'm sure if you tune around you'll find other undocumented stations to listen to, although some may be a bit mundane

Fulton County Public Safety P25 Trunking System, Atlanta, Georgia

Fulton County Public Safety P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

If you're looking for a scanner recommendation, consider the Uniden SDS100 (or SDS200 base) which will not only handle Phase-II but will overcome simulcast distortion you'll likely face while monitoring this system

 

[RaleighGuy]

You asked this and got good responses explaining what was available in your other thread

Step by step tutorial for programming a Pro96 scanner using ARC96

I recently found my Pro96 scanner and am wondering if it is capable of decoding any of the currently used protocols. I went Ahead and purchased ARC96 software and I have a premium subscription to RadioReference. Could someone point me to a step by step tutorial on how to program the Pro96. I...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[kn4hh]

Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, I am looking to upgrade to a SD100.
kn4hh
Bob

 

[MTS2000des]

Most of the talk groups on the Fulton system are DDM, but some are strapped TDMA. In short, yes, if one wants to listen to currently unencrypted talkgroups, a TDMA capable scanner/SDR/receiver is necessary. Not sure about Atlanta and NFRRSA as far as talk group strapping, but it's fair to say in metro Atlanta, one should be using TDMA capable hardware or one may miss many transmissions.

 

[kn4hh]

Thanks so much for the great comments. I uploaded the latest RR data for Cherokee, Fulton, and Cobb counties and I am receiving a number of signals with a display as shown in the attached image.

 

[k2epm]

That Pro-96 might work fine for monitoring the Air Traffic Control frequencies.

 

[kn4hh]

Yes. I do hear the KATL air traffic frequencies and there are still some P25 services I have been able to receive. Thanks for your comments.
Bob. KN4HH

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Thanks so much for the great comments. I uploaded the latest RR data for Cherokee, Fulton, and Cobb counties and I am receiving a number of signals with a display as shown in the attached image.

Any talkgroup ID'ed in the RRDB as mode "D" as the one in your screenshot is (or partially-encrypted "De") will be able to be tracked with a Pro-96. You won't be able to track anything mode "T" or "Te" without a TDMA capable receiver

 

[MTS2000des]

Any talkgroup ID'ed in the RRDB as mode "D" as the one in your screenshot is (or partially-encrypted "De") will be able to be tracked with a Pro-96. You won't be able to track anything mode "T" or "Te" without a TDMA capable receiver

The database is not 100 percent static as far as TDMA/FDMA on the Fulton talkgroups. All are DDM. I know. I'm the guy who did the fleet map and loaded them into PM and care and feed for this system since 2015 when it went live.

FCPD MAIN, for example, is often downgraded to FDMA as there are a couple legacy radios out there. One day, OP may hear it, but when that portable is turned off, the TG reverts to TDMA and the OP will stop hearing/miss traffic. Mutual aid talk groups are also DDM, and thus, may be TDMA or FDMA depending on whos' radio is affiliated. FCF MAIN is almost always FDMA as there are legacy radios at most fire stations for alert audio, but this will eventually change as they are being replaced with TDMA capable radios. (FWIW my GenWatch 3 upgrade just completed and using iVista, I have a clear view of talkgroups that are operating in FDMA. I also can now run a historical report in iVista that shows me exactly WHO the FDMA subscribers are, so I can target replacements)

The only sure way to not miss any traffic on this system is to use a TDMA capable receiver/SDR/scanner.