Charles County Maryland fire and police go dark.

[w3rsl]

I noticed a lack of activity on the Charles County Md fire and police frequencies programed in my Uniden 996 scanner. I have another Uniden 996 and fired it up and it too had no activity. I noticed the screen would indicate during scanning "searching for control channel". I suspect that the local government has changed the control channel frequency but have exhausted all efforts to find it, even on Radio Reference!
Has anybody else noticed this and found out the apparent new control channel? Any ideas are appreciated!

 

[doctordialtone]

Has anybody else noticed this and found out the apparent new control channel? Any ideas are appreciated!

Is your scanner a 996XT or a 996P2?

 

[maus92]

I noticed a lack of activity on the Charles County Md fire and police frequencies programed in my Uniden 996 scanner. I have another Uniden 996 and fired it up and it too had no activity. I noticed the screen would indicate during scanning "searching for control channel". I suspect that the local government has changed the control channel frequency but have exhausted all efforts to find it, even on Radio Reference!
Has anybody else noticed this and found out the apparent new control channel? Any ideas are appreciated!

You are the second person who has mentioned an issue with Charles County over the past week or so. They are replacing their SmartNet system with a P25 simulcast system over the next few years using the slow growth model. They may have moved their control channel to one of their new frequencies and may have assigned a new site for a SmartX migration controller. One of my contacts down that way says nothing has changed, but something seems to be going on. They do use P25 voice on their current SmartNet system.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Its also very possible a certain site has a bad transmitter and your not hearing the control channel. Normally control channel will roll daily in the old smart net systems. If your using an indoor antenna maybe move the scanner around. I recall similar issues in another area that had a bad transmitter. Half the county was great but in the one area nothing on a handheld scanner.

 

[maus92]

The easy check is to make sure that all control channels are programmed into the scanner, not just the primary cch.

The current control channel in use is 853.375, one of the alternates. I’m receiving the system from Huntingtown in Calvert County.

I do not see 856.5625 being advertised as a system channel.

 

[w3rsl]

Thanks all for the quick responses. I'll have to dig out the manual and see how to check for the control channel and see if that current control channel 853.375 is programmed in there somewhere! Thanks again and 73 to all.

 

[w3rsl]

Greetings all!
Am unable to get any activity on the 996T after many hours of searching the web. I did find out that Charles County has added 4 new frequencies to their system. I loaded them into the 996T to no avail. The frequencies are: 854.6625, 858.0125, 858.1625 and 859.1875. I figured someone might be interested. 73 de RSL.

 

[maus92]

As I stated above, the system is working normally with the freqs listed in the RRDB - which I verified yesterday. The issue is with your radio: it is either programmed incorrectly or has developed a hardware fault.

 

[maus92]

Greetings all!
Am unable to get any activity on the 996T after many hours of searching the web. I did find out that Charles County has added 4 new frequencies to their system. I loaded them into the 996T to no avail. The frequencies are: 854.6625, 858.0125, 858.1625 and 859.1875. I figured someone might be interested. 73 de RSL.

This section of the 996T manual explains setting site freqs / control channels properly.

These are the valid control channels for the system. All must be entered into the radio for it to function with resiliency.

853.2625c

853.375a

853.650a

853.900a

853.375 was the active control channel yesterday, but it is possible that it rolled to one of the other freqs today. This is why all control channels need to be entered into the radio, as it enables the radio to continue to operate if the active control channel changes.

 

[w3rsl]

As I stated above, the system is working normally with the freqs listed in the RRDB - which I verified yesterday. The issue is with your radio: it is either programmed incorrectly or has developed a hardware fault.

That is really interesting maus92! When I checked my other Uniden BCD996T it to was absent any activity. I called two other friends that have BCD 996 rigs and they reported no activity on their scanners. I am hesitant to inform my two friends that all four 996 scanners are either programmed incorrectly or have developed a hardware fault simultaneously. Thanks for your reply anyway.
73 de W3RSL.

 

[maus92]

Hopefully @Chris52 chimes in as he is also not experiencing any issues with Charles County from just over the border in St Marys. It really does sound like the alternate control channels were not entered into the radios - it is a common mistake.

 

[Chris52]

Good evening

So I run a Whistler TX1 and a recently purchased Uniden SDS100 ALONG with TWO different SDR set up’s that one now as of today has became an official feed for Charles County. NOTHING had changed with Charles County. It’s been on and well. I’d check you’re settings and or control channels as @mause92 has suggested.

 

[w3rsl]

[TQUOTE="Chris52, post: 3657799, member: 291947"]
Good evening

So I run a Whistler TX1 and a recently purchased Uniden SDS100 ALONG with TWO different SDR set up’s that one now as of today has became an official feed for Charles County. NOTHING had changed with Charles County. It’s been on and well. I’d check you’re settings and or control channels as @mause92 has suggested.
[/QUOTE]

Thanks Chris52, I'll try again to download the RR data base using my ARC program. Still mystified that 4, 996T rigs went silent at the same time.
I have two 996T rigs and two of my friends have 996T's as well. Appreciate everyone's input. 73 de W3RSL.

 

[Chris52]

Let me know if any of files may be of any use to you. I can figure out how to send them to you to compare.

 

[w3rsl]

Ok Chris 52!
I have been on my computer all afternoon and have a Tec getting the 996 software now. Will let you know how it goes. Appreciate your kindnes!

 

[jeepsandradios]

My 436 worked fine on Monday driving thru Charles on the way to Calvert. As said makes sure you have all 4 control channels and it should be fine. Nothing has changed.

 

[w3rsl]

Ok Chris 52! I have been on my computer all afternoon and have a Tec getting the 996 software now. Will let you know how it goes. Appreciate your kindnes!

My 436 worked fine on Monday driving thru Charles on the way to Calvert. As said makes sure you have all 4 control channels and it should be fine. Nothing has changed.

My 436 worked fine on Monday driving thru Charles on the way to Calvert. As said makes sure you have all 4 control channels and it should be fine. Nothing has changed.

Ok Chris 52! I have been on my computer all afternoon and have a Tec getting the 996 software now. Will let you know how it goes. Appreciate your kindnes!

Let me know if any of files may be of any use to you. I can figure out how to send them to you to compare.

HI Chris52.
Well after 8 hours communicating with a half dozen of possible "solutions" still no progress. I did get the computer "cleaned" of a lot of corrupted files but that didn't help either. I did purchase a new copy of ARC 996 and it downloaded fine. However, it wants me to register by using the "demo" program which I never received. Enough of that. Yes, I would greatly appreciate peeking at any of your files that you believe would be of use to me. You can send them to my email if possible. Email is pcj3bw@yahoo.com. Thanks for taking an interest in my dilemma. May God bless you and your family. 73 de w3RSL.

 

[maus92]

You could try this software to program your 996T. It's free and doesn't have all the issues that the ARC developer uses to secure his software. Works really well.

Sixspot Software - FreeSCAN

FreeSCAN, the award-winning Freeware program for programming the Uniden SC230, BC246T, UBC3500XLT, BR330T, BCD396T, BC346XT(C), BCD396XT, BCT15X, BCD996XT, BCT15 and BCD996T, BCD996P2 public safety scanners (The 436 & 536 will not be supported). FreeSCAN allows to download and uploading

sites.google.com

If you want, I can meet you somewhere like a Starbucks or other place with access to 120V power to plug your radio in, and I will program it for you. Bring your ac adapter and an antenna. Would have to be a weekend.

 

[w3rsl]

You could try this software to program your 996T. It's free and doesn't have all the issues that the ARC developer uses to secure his software. Works really well.

Sixspot Software - FreeSCAN

FreeSCAN, the award-winning Freeware program for programming the Uniden SC230, BC246T, UBC3500XLT, BR330T, BCD396T, BC346XT(C), BCD396XT, BCT15X, BCD996XT, BCT15 and BCD996T, BCD996P2 public safety scanners (The 436 & 536 will not be supported). FreeSCAN allows to download and uploading

sites.google.com

If you want, I can meet you somewhere like a Starbucks or other place with access to 120V power to plug your radio in, and I will program it for you. Bring your ac adapter and an antenna. Would have to be a weekend.

I appreciate your offer but I have Parkinsons and 73 years old. Hard to get around. I live near LaPlata Md and don't know of any Starbucks in the aera. Very much thanks for your offer, it is appreciated!!!

 

[w3rsl]

Is your scanner a 996XT or a 996P2?

My scanner is a Uniden BCD 996T. I notice that I can log in to the new Butel software from the demo version, but I never got the demo software which is required for registration! I just need to get the demo software and from there my problem is solved! Thanks doctordialtone for your attention!