PRO-97 ??? That is an analog-only scanner not capable of following the system.
If it's a PRO-197, then that's another story... Set the system to P25 AUTO and you'll be good to go...
- Status
PRO-97 ??? That is an analog-only scanner not capable of following the system.
If it's a PRO-197, then that's another story... Set the system to P25 AUTO and you'll be good to go...
wxwarn285
Member
I ment the PRO-197, thanks for the info.
You will not be able to hear Davidson Co as they are digital. The Pro-97 does not work on digital systems. As for Rutherford Co you just program in the frequencies exceot for Smyrna which you need to program as trunked and Lavergne which is on Metro's system. Big hill between Ruth and Franklin may make hearing tougher.
folks plans are being made for THP to switch over to this TRS be on the lookout for new sites to pop up out east in the chattanogga fall branch and knoxville troops
Herad the Morgan county Pentos TDOC prison talk groups on the Nashville site. pretty weird to hear that tg all the way here.
Programming Chattanooga System
Guys when I am programming the Chattanooga System on Radio Reference I know I should do the Tenn Valley Frequencies....Should I also program the simulcast frequencies too or will they conflict on my scanner.. I originally just programed the Tenn Valley trunking channels???
Guys when I am programming the Chattanooga System on Radio Reference I know I should do the Tenn Valley Frequencies....Should I also program the simulcast frequencies too or will they conflict on my scanner.. I originally just programed the Tenn Valley trunking channels???
Simulcast Question
Please excuse me if this is something I should already know, but I am very new to P25 scanning (just got the scanner today for Christmas). Will the Northwest Georgia Simulcast control channels (which I can get at 99% at my house) also broadcast the Chattanooga and Hamilton County talkgroups? I have heard Chattanooga Fire Main, Hamilton County EMS, and CPD Baker and Charlie talkgroups some today (as well as HCSO East) but it seems almost like I am not hearing every conversation.
Like I say, I apologize if this is something I should already know.
Thanks for your help and Merry Christmas,
Christian KF4ZMB
Please excuse me if this is something I should already know, but I am very new to P25 scanning (just got the scanner today for Christmas). Will the Northwest Georgia Simulcast control channels (which I can get at 99% at my house) also broadcast the Chattanooga and Hamilton County talkgroups? I have heard Chattanooga Fire Main, Hamilton County EMS, and CPD Baker and Charlie talkgroups some today (as well as HCSO East) but it seems almost like I am not hearing every conversation.
Like I say, I apologize if this is something I should already know.
Thanks for your help and Merry Christmas,
Christian KF4ZMB
I see this is a 3 site system and if it is like most you have to have a talkgroup radio active on that site for the system to broadcast on that site. You will hear chat PD if a Chat PD car is in the range for that site. The trunking radios act like cell phones and talk to the nearest site so the system knows where to find them at. If no PD or FD radio is in the area of site 3 then site 3 does not transmit the PD or FD traffic.
SDavis90
Member
Thanks for explaining this. It makes sense now, why I hear LifeForce comms overhead when they are flying between Nashville and Chattanooga - on the Murfreesboro site which I monitor.
Thanks so much for the quick response. This explians why I am only hearing certain talkgroups at certain times. The audio quality is wonderful on them when they come in though which I am very happy with, and I can once again monitor all the traffic here in the LaFayette area which is nice. All in all I am very happy with the PRO-106 and can't wait to see how it does when I take it with me to Chattanooga tomorrow.
Thanks again for the help,
Christian KF4ZMB
Trouble scanning this system
On Christmas Day I got a PRO-106 which scans everything well except the Digital Trunked System in Northwest Georgia. At my house (in LaFayette) the audio comes in great when it comes it. I have 99% on the Northwest Georgia simulcast system and usually 80 to 90% on at least one other control channel, however, the digital reception is sporadic. Walker County Sheriff Tac 3 comes in from time to time (which is used as dispatch for LaFayette Police among others). Catoosa is usually fairly well received. Once I get in my vehicle, however, all bets are off. I did upgrade the stock antenna to a Radio Shack 800 MHz portable antenna which has allowed me to get control data from more sites at the house, but did nothing for mobile use on the digital system (all other frequencies and analog 800 MHz system performance was improved). I added a mobile antenna to my vehicle which once again improved reception on everything (including the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Type II system which I could not get here on a portable antenna) except the TVTRS digital system.
Anybody have any suggestions?
Christian KF4ZMB
On Christmas Day I got a PRO-106 which scans everything well except the Digital Trunked System in Northwest Georgia. At my house (in LaFayette) the audio comes in great when it comes it. I have 99% on the Northwest Georgia simulcast system and usually 80 to 90% on at least one other control channel, however, the digital reception is sporadic. Walker County Sheriff Tac 3 comes in from time to time (which is used as dispatch for LaFayette Police among others). Catoosa is usually fairly well received. Once I get in my vehicle, however, all bets are off. I did upgrade the stock antenna to a Radio Shack 800 MHz portable antenna which has allowed me to get control data from more sites at the house, but did nothing for mobile use on the digital system (all other frequencies and analog 800 MHz system performance was improved). I added a mobile antenna to my vehicle which once again improved reception on everything (including the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Type II system which I could not get here on a portable antenna) except the TVTRS digital system.
Anybody have any suggestions?
Christian KF4ZMB
beeeno
Member
Same problem here, I've tweaked and tweaked to no avail for over a year now. I'm in Ringgold. My solution, before I bought a Pro197, was, to set up "two systems" Only put the NW Georgia simulcast in one, and put all in the other. Use the one when you are at home, and the other when your mobile. This is the only solution I have figured out. The Chattanooga site I've always had trouble with, until I get into Fort Oglethorpe or up toward Chattanooga. It has drove me crazy because I cant Pick up Chattanooga from here. Gonna try a Yagi when I get time. I mainly monitor Catoosa County @ home and the 197 never misses a beat.
Last edited:
Thanks for the help, and, even though it is frustrating I know, at least I now know I am not the only one having this issue.
One quick question, do you use the Northwest Georgia only "system" more succesfully while mobile or the one with all the sites?
Also have you noticed on the Walker County Talkgroups (specifically the Sheriff's Office and PD Operations (Walker Sheriff Tac 3)) that there seems to be a loud "clunky" sound at the end of the dispatcher's transmission that is not present on Catoosa's or Chattanooga's transmissions? I turned off the DIG AGC and this helped some.
Thanks again for your help,
Christian KF4ZMB
Single "System" Instead of MultiSystem
I have found, thanks to the recommendation above, that setting my PRO-106 up in such a way that the Northwest Georgia Simulcast is treated as its own "system" has dramatically improved reception at the house. I don't have to worry about multisite issues that way. However, the performance in the car is still sporadic. Has anyone had any experience with the Radio Shack mobile magnetic mount scanner antenna with regards to this radio system? The price is not bad, however, it will get very expensive very quickly if I had to keep buying different antennas every other day. Someone suggested I try a mobile magnetic mount cellular antenna with a TNC to BNC connector; however, I can not find anyone local that sells one for a reasonable price (the Radio Shack here in town wanted $199 to $299 to order one for me). I don't want to spend a large amount of money to find out it doesn't help. Not to mention that money is not exactly flowing freely at this point in my life.
Like I say, I am very happy with the way this radio performs on this system at the house now that I have tried the above suggestion, but I would still like to be able to use it mobile at least on trips around town or to Chattanooga.
Thanks for all the help,
Christian KF4ZMB
I have found, thanks to the recommendation above, that setting my PRO-106 up in such a way that the Northwest Georgia Simulcast is treated as its own "system" has dramatically improved reception at the house. I don't have to worry about multisite issues that way. However, the performance in the car is still sporadic. Has anyone had any experience with the Radio Shack mobile magnetic mount scanner antenna with regards to this radio system? The price is not bad, however, it will get very expensive very quickly if I had to keep buying different antennas every other day. Someone suggested I try a mobile magnetic mount cellular antenna with a TNC to BNC connector; however, I can not find anyone local that sells one for a reasonable price (the Radio Shack here in town wanted $199 to $299 to order one for me). I don't want to spend a large amount of money to find out it doesn't help. Not to mention that money is not exactly flowing freely at this point in my life.
Like I say, I am very happy with the way this radio performs on this system at the house now that I have tried the above suggestion, but I would still like to be able to use it mobile at least on trips around town or to Chattanooga.
Thanks for all the help,
Christian KF4ZMB
CFD288
Member
Christian, I have noticed the "clunk" on the Walker Co dispatcher also. Seems as if it started a couple of weeks ago. The Rhea Co sheriff dispatch has a short squelch tail and the Cleveland PD dispatch has a chirp at the end of the transmission, though this could be related to Cleveland simulcasting on their old VHF high freq.
I will try turning off the digital AGC to see if this helps w/ Walker Co.
Scotty
I will try turning off the digital AGC to see if this helps w/ Walker Co.
Scotty
Like I say it has helped cut out some of the "clunk". I did turn on the Audio Boost, however, because some field units came in with really low volume.
The PD Operations Talkgroup (Walker Sheriff Tac-3) is still sporadic here in LaFayette at my house. I wonder if this has anything to do with units on the north end of the county (i.e. Rossville, Lookout Mountain) getting better reception on one of the Chattanooga towers.
Christian KF4ZMB
beeeno
Member
I'm currently using an old mag mount antenna that was used on my old Motorola Bag phone. It does work better than the 800mhz duckie antenna. Had to buy a couple of adapters. I would think you could find those cheap somewhere. As far as the control channels go, I've really got it made there, I work in Dalton, So I get the Ringgold Site great til about Tunnel Hill, Then pick up the Dalton Site. For Catoosa County, I get better performance in Dalton than anywhere else. I hit the Chattanooga site going into FO and at the 75/24 split. At Hamilton place, I'm back to the Ringgold site. All in All I would rate the mobile performance as OK but usable. Keep in mind with my antenna, this is only this 700/800mhz site, everything else is awful.
I'm currently using an old mag mount antenna that was used on my old Motorola Bag phone. It does work better than the 800mhz duckie antenna. Had to buy a couple of adapters. I would think you could find those cheap somewhere. As far as the control channels go, I've really got it made there, I work in Dalton, So I get the Ringgold Site great til about Tunnel Hill, Then pick up the Dalton Site. For Catoosa County, I get better performance in Dalton than anywhere else. I hit the Chattanooga site going into FO and at the 75/24 split. At Hamilton place, I'm back to the Ringgold site. All in All I would rate the mobile performance as OK but usable. Keep in mind with my antenna, this is only this 700/800mhz site, everything else is awful.
I am going to try to find either an attenna like this one, or adjust the length of my current mag mount antenna to be specific for 700/800 MHz (I have some older antenna elements that I think I can cut down to the right length and then replace the one I am currently using in the mag mount). I would be happy with "OK but usable" as I am currently getting more on the non-usable side of things.
Christian KF4ZMB
Walker County/La Fayette on the TVRTS
For anyone that is interested I did determine last night that the Canyon Ridge site produces a much better signal for the City of LaFayette when you are in the City or pretty much anywhere west of the "Bypass" in LaFayette. While mobile I could not receive the Taylor's Ridge tower simulcast on my PRO-106 with a mobile antenna, but when I switched to just the Canyon Ridge site I was able to get LaFayette PD's units perfectly.
Interestingly enough, however, from my home (off of 136 East in Walker County) I can receive the Taylor's Ridge site perfectly but cannot receive the Canyon Ridge site at all.
Christian KF4ZMB
For anyone that is interested I did determine last night that the Canyon Ridge site produces a much better signal for the City of LaFayette when you are in the City or pretty much anywhere west of the "Bypass" in LaFayette. While mobile I could not receive the Taylor's Ridge tower simulcast on my PRO-106 with a mobile antenna, but when I switched to just the Canyon Ridge site I was able to get LaFayette PD's units perfectly.
Interestingly enough, however, from my home (off of 136 East in Walker County) I can receive the Taylor's Ridge site perfectly but cannot receive the Canyon Ridge site at all.
Christian KF4ZMB
ButchGone
Member
Couple of things in play. First the antenna thing. I have tried several different antennas with my Uniden 396xt. The stock duck, the RS 800 gain duck and a 1/4 wave 800 duck that's about 4 inches tall. The high gain RS antenna for me was a double edged sword. While it does enhance the signal strength level, it also enhances the crud I don't want like cell tower interference and multipath distortion that's a big problem with P25 simulcast systems. Yes, the RS duck helps for the stand alone sites like Canyon Ridge and Trenton but it can make distortion issues worse on the CHatt and NW Georgia simulcast systems. That's the rub with omnidirectional high gain antennas. They increase the signals you want but they can also increase the crud you don't want. But a high gain directional antenna (yagi) can work wonders.
The 1/4 wave 800 stub works OK with the simulcast systems and better In high interference areas.
Here's the unexpected part. The stock duck that comes with the 396xt actually woks the best for me on the simulcast systems around cell sites. The only reason I can speculate is the stock duck is helically wound wire. This kind of antenna can work better when signals are cross polarized. Remember with digital signals in the 700/800mhz range there is intense multipath distortion which can affect the timing of the desired signal. I have tried a mag mounted 800 3db gain mobile antenna too. Same as the RS high gain duck...better signal strength when no multipath or cell site interference.
Again this is with the 396xt which has a different receiver than the GRS/RS scanners.
Second, the issue of monitoring the different systems.
As long as you are in range of the Canyon Ridge and Trenton sites you will get a better consistent signal than from e NWGA simulcast system. Consumer grade scanners still have shortcomings listening to P25 siumulcast. But you will also hear the siumulcast system better at times. Mileage varies.
The GRE/RS scanners are programmed differently but yes, with those scanners you may hear better by programming the simulcast and stand alone sites as separate trunked systems rather than one system roaming control channels. I had a GRE psr 500 for a short while and found if I roamed one big system with different control channels the scanner would dwell too long on trying to affiliate with the distant control channels and thus miss transmissions from other sites I wanted to hear.
T he Chattanooga simulcast system does well into northern parts of Catoosa and Walker counties while the NWGA system works better from Fort Oglethorpe to Chickamauga and points south. But, the NWGA system does have a great signal into parts of Hamilton County like East Ridge and around the airport area.
Also, the Trenton stand alone site actually is better than the Chattanooga siumulcast system in Lookout Valley, Mountain Creek Road and lower Red Bank areas. That's why you hear so much Chattanooga traffic coming through on Trenton, the actual p25 radios hear the Trenton site better at times.
It's a complex system that takes lots of trial and error to find the best ways to hear.
BG..
The 1/4 wave 800 stub works OK with the simulcast systems and better In high interference areas.
Here's the unexpected part. The stock duck that comes with the 396xt actually woks the best for me on the simulcast systems around cell sites. The only reason I can speculate is the stock duck is helically wound wire. This kind of antenna can work better when signals are cross polarized. Remember with digital signals in the 700/800mhz range there is intense multipath distortion which can affect the timing of the desired signal. I have tried a mag mounted 800 3db gain mobile antenna too. Same as the RS high gain duck...better signal strength when no multipath or cell site interference.
Again this is with the 396xt which has a different receiver than the GRS/RS scanners.
Second, the issue of monitoring the different systems.
As long as you are in range of the Canyon Ridge and Trenton sites you will get a better consistent signal than from e NWGA simulcast system. Consumer grade scanners still have shortcomings listening to P25 siumulcast. But you will also hear the siumulcast system better at times. Mileage varies.
The GRE/RS scanners are programmed differently but yes, with those scanners you may hear better by programming the simulcast and stand alone sites as separate trunked systems rather than one system roaming control channels. I had a GRE psr 500 for a short while and found if I roamed one big system with different control channels the scanner would dwell too long on trying to affiliate with the distant control channels and thus miss transmissions from other sites I wanted to hear.
T he Chattanooga simulcast system does well into northern parts of Catoosa and Walker counties while the NWGA system works better from Fort Oglethorpe to Chickamauga and points south. But, the NWGA system does have a great signal into parts of Hamilton County like East Ridge and around the airport area.
Also, the Trenton stand alone site actually is better than the Chattanooga siumulcast system in Lookout Valley, Mountain Creek Road and lower Red Bank areas. That's why you hear so much Chattanooga traffic coming through on Trenton, the actual p25 radios hear the Trenton site better at times.
It's a complex system that takes lots of trial and error to find the best ways to hear.
BG..
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
