BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Can I search for the Digital codes with a Uniden BCD436HP? I have the frequency only

[powderchaser]

Teton National Park has begun taking conventional frequencies and adding Digital tones to them. How can I determine what the digital code is? It is an existing frequency and not sure if it will ever show up in radio reference forums. Can this scanner simply scan all digital codes or am out of luck?

 

[ecps92]

Likely the same Frequencies, just use them and put your radio into "Tone or NAC" search to capture them

Teton National Park has begun taking conventional frequencies and adding Digital tones to them. How can I determine what the digital code is? It is an existing frequency and not sure if it will ever show up in radio reference forums. Can this scanner simply scan all digital codes or am out of luck?

 

[tvengr]

When you say digital tones, do you mean DCS tone on an analog frequency? They most likely would be switching to P25 digital audio using NAC codes. To find the NAC code, set audio type to digital only and search. The NAC code will be displayed when a transmission occurs. I found one P25 frequency:

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming south of Yellowstone in Teton County.

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
171.67500		RM	123.0 PL	GTNP Ops 1	Park Operations 1	FMN	Federal
172.58750		RM	526 NAC	GTNP Ops 2	Park Operations 2	P25	Federal
163.12500		M	CSQ	GTNP Car/Car	Car/Car	FMN	Federal

 

[natedawg1604]

Also if you do find a new NAC code being used on a repeater, if you can verify which repeater go ahead and submit a DB update.

 

[trentbob]

You may be talking about them converting those channels to conventional p25 digital. It's one frequency at a time... try the standard Fed code which is NAC 293. Worth a shot. LOL.

 

[powderchaser]

Just reading this. So yes, they are converting channel by channel. The one I am interested in is the conventional 163.125 that has been converted to P25 I think. Are you saying that my $$ Uniden scanner can scan for those codes if I program that frequency or do I need to digital search all frequencies? Can it search just 163.125 for the digital code?

 

[natedawg1604]

.... Can it search just 163.125 for the digital code?

YES, just put the frequency in question in a conventional scan list and select the audio type as "digital search", this will automatically display the P25 NAC being used. Keep in mind if the audio type is "digital" it won't allow you to hear any analog transmissions. If you're not sure if the frequency is analog or digital, select the audio type as "All" and you'll catch everything.

In Southern Colorado there is a National Park service frequency for the Sand Dunes National Park that operates in P-25 AND conventional mode on the same frequency. AFAIK, different users use the conventional side vs. the P-25 side, and they've been doing it this way for quite a few years. I really don't understand the logic for such a setup, I'm assuming some idiot at an administrative office thousands of miles away decided they didn't want to buy P-25 radios for all users.

I'm not sure how common this in other National Parks, I would hope most parks give everyone P-25 radios or just setup another P-25 repeater.

 

[INDY72]

YES, just put the frequency in question in a conventional scan list and select the audio type as "digital search", this will automatically display the P25 NAC being used. Keep in mind if the audio type is "digital" it won't allow you to hear any analog transmissions. If you're not sure if the frequency is analog or digital, select the audio type as "All" and you'll catch everything.

In Southern Colorado there is a National Park service frequency for the Sand Dunes National Park that operates in P-25 AND conventional mode on the same frequency. AFAIK, different users use the conventional side vs. the P-25 side, and they've been doing it this way for quite a few years. I really don't understand the logic for such a setup, I'm assuming some idiot at an administrative office thousands of miles away decided they didn't want to buy P-25 radios for all users.

I'm not sure how common this in other National Parks, I would hope most parks give everyone P-25 radios or just setup another P-25 repeater.

All you need to know is this is the United States Federal Government. Logic matters not, only that its working. Analog could be for interop with agencies that are not P-25 yet. If this freq is being used by multiple divisions, or agencies, then that is your reason. Example: LE (Rangers) P25, Fire/Rescue (Rangers) P25 when not doing interop/Analog when working with locals, Maintenance Analog, Outside Agencies such as USFS, local LE/FD/EMS analog..... Also just to clarify for you... Conventional is being used in Analog and P25 modes. There is no conventional vs P25. There is Trunked vs Conventional. Conventional can be used in multiple modes, DMR, NXDN, P25, Analog, and yes conventional systems can be set up to function in multiple modes at the same time. The older trunking systems had "mixed mode" also, but the newer systems are "pure" digital, or analog.

 

[powderchaser]

Thanks everyone. I will try and figure out on my scanner how to program this per the replies. I find the Uniden scanner to be very confusing honestly. Other than Uniden Support (Pretty worthless) any other suggestions?

 

[Ubbe]

any other suggestions?

Go into the scanners menu and go to that frequency and change it's audio type to All. Then you hear everything on that frequency regardless of what is transmitted, analog or digital or any kind of codes.

If you then look at the display when they transmit you'll see the code they are using and can report that to RR's frequency admins.

/Ubbe