CLMRN Scanning

[jsm201]

Day before yesterday I was scanning the CLMRN network. There is a repeater site near my location and I could see that I was picking up the control channels for that site. So I scanned only that site and was able to receive State Police calls and calls from CLMRN member communities. Then yesterday there was nothing on that site, I did not see any activity on the control channels or hear any calls.

What happened? Why would I be able to pick up transmissions one day and then nothing the next? Not even the control channels?

Maybe I just don't understand how that particular system works.

Regards,

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What make & model scanner are you using? It may be an example of simulcast distortion but I don't want to draw any conclusions without this info. You're sure you have all the control channels programmed in?

 

[doctordialtone]

Maybe I just don't understand how that particular system works.

Read this description of Affiliation on a trunked system for an explanation.

Good luck!

 

[jsm201]

I am using a Uniden SDS100. I downloaded the frequencies for the site from the Database and have verified that they are all there, especially the control channels.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

How close are you to the nearest site? Any luck scanning outdoors away from any potential sources of RFI? Are you able to pick up other signals (NOAA weather, etc)?

 

[jsm201]

How close are you to the nearest site? Any luck scanning outdoors away from any potential sources of RFI? Are you able to pick up other signals (NOAA weather, etc)?

I am pretty close to one of the sites, maybe two miles. I am able to pickup local police on their conventional system as well as a nearby airport.

I have scanned from outside on my porch and on the first and second floor of my house.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Maybe the site went offline? Do you have another receiver at your disposal you can use to test each control channel?

 

[jsm201]

Read this description of Affiliation on a trunked system for an explanation.

Good luck!

If I understand this correctly, this would explain what is happening.

But wouldn't the control channels still be active? I am not even picking up the control channels.

Just to verify that I understand, the only time there would be transmissions on the site I could hear is when there is an active radio, State Police for example, making calls on on that site? What if a State Police radio is, like me, just waiting for a call? Does that radio negotiate with the site somehow to let it know it is present? Which of course I can't do with my scanner?

 

[jsm201]

Maybe the site went offline? Do you have another receiver at your disposal you can use to test each control channel?

Yes, I considered this. If I wait it may come back. Yes, I have another receiver I can use to check the control channels. I will do that when I get a break and post the results here.

 

[scanningct]

Which site and control frequencies are you referring to?

 

[Dave520]

Is it possible that you activated an attenuator filter? Just a thought!

 

[jsm201]

I

Maybe the site went offline? Do you have another receiver at your disposal you can use to test each control channel?

I just used another radio to check the four control channels. They do not appear to be broadcasting, I did not hear the characteristic sound one hears for control data.

 

[jsm201]

Which site and control frequencies are you referring to?

Troop A Simulcast.

769.08125	770.68125	771.53125	772.73125	773.05625c	773.95625c
851.275	852.700c	853.3125c

 

[jsm201]

Is it possible that you activated an attenuator filter? Just a thought!

A good thought! Global Attenuation is off. I just checked it after I saw your post.

 

[scanningct]

Troop A Simulcast.

769.08125	770.68125	771.53125	772.73125	773.05625c	773.95625c
851.275	852.700c	853.3125c

I'm in the Troop A area (Newtown) and picking up with no issue at this time., normal amount of traffic. We may be receiving from different towers though.

 

[scanningct]

Are you able to pickup any other sites? If you were able to pickup Troop A maybe your in range for Troop G, L, I. Possibly creating a new Favorite List on the SDS and importing Troop A again would reset any inadvertently changed settings.

 

[n1chu]

Day before yesterday? New Year’s Day. Activity may have been curtailed due to the holiday…

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Day before yesterday? New Year’s Day. Activity may have been curtailed due to the holiday…

This wouldn't explain why the OP can no longer pick up control data on more than one receiver. Activity or not, control channels should remain online

 

[n1chu]

This wouldn't explain why the OP can no longer pick up control data on more than one receiver. Activity or not, control channels should remain online

Ok. Just thought it might be at least part of the issue…

 

[jsm201]

Are you able to pickup any other sites? If you were able to pickup Troop A maybe your in range for Troop G, L, I. Possibly creating a new Favorite List on the SDS and importing Troop A again would reset any inadvertently changed settings.

Yes, I have another Favorites List with some other sites in it. I have never gotten any activity on any site except Troop A and Troop L Simulcast. Today I am seeing no activity on either, not even control channels.

Thank you all for your timely and informative responses. I am going to keep fiddling with my SDS100 and see what I can figure out. For me the tweaking and fiddling is part of the fun of scanning.