WS1065: Completely Lost In Trunking AEP

[Timothyb196]

Scanning is great, except when it sucks. Like now. I live in rural Kentucky, and although I've had a scanner for 30 years, just recently a handful of public safety and utility companies have gone to trunking. So while I may know quite a bit about conventional scanning, I'm a newbie when it comes to trunking. At first I did it the easy way, paid my dues to radio reference, paid some more dues to some private individual for some software, and let the automated process do its thing. Downloading frequencies is easy, and for the most part, it worked. I learned enough to be dangerous to myself and my scanner, and got everything working in a rudimentary sort of way. But now, I'm at my wits end, and I need some real help. AEP was an EDACS system, at least that what my scanner called it. They changed to a P25. Let me stop here and say I have a Whistler 1065. I contacted Whistler and they say a 1065 CAN monitor a P25 Phase II system unless its a "T" system (it is important to note that I know nothing about what any of that means, but I know it will be important to some). They changed right after Christmas, and I stopped hearing anything. At first I didn't even notice, because let's face it, listening to AEP can be boring. But if there's a local emergency, then AEP is very important. I have tried everything I know to do. I got a program called "Unitrunker" which is obviously made by an MIT graduate FOR an MIT graduate. But I muddled through it enough to find AEP's three control channels. I can hear the signal! The digital squabble. And Unitrunker tells me there's activity. But I hear nothing. I don't know how to work Unitrunker and the online user guide looks nothing like the software on my computer. I don't know if its a P25 Auto or a P25 Manual. What is the difference anyway? I know its eastern Kentucky and unless you are living in eastern Kentucky you can't just give me the frequencies to plug in. But I'm like a well trained dog; I may not know why I'm doing things, but I know what to do. I can set up a new trunking system on my scanner. I can plug in the control channels, I can set up talkgroups, including a Wildcard group. Here's what I don't know. If its Auto or Manual. How do I find the frequencies they might be using? How can I discover new trunking frequencies being used on a system? Does it matter what order you put the frequencies in? What are Peer frequencies? When Unitrunker says "Frequency Needed!" what do I do? How do I get that frequency? I'm serious: Is there a "Trunking For Dummies" book? Anything someone would like to contribute to my knowledge would be appreciated. Please don't assume I know anything, even the most basic information is appreciated. For the record I'm trying to get the AEP for eastern Kentucky and Southwestern West Virginia, as I live on the border. I did get a letter from Kentucky Power that they were being sold to another company. I looked through FCC records and found no new frequency allocations for this area of either Kentucky Power, AEP or the new company.

 

[Randyk4661]

I'm guessing AEP stands for American Electric Power?

They are a P25 Phase 2 system. Where you may be at they might not use TDMA at this time however if you look at the database they are using TDMA control channels for some of their system. These are not compatible with any scanner out there currently. You might be lucky and not have that yet in your area.
They are using phase 2 on the voice channels and you yourself said the the 1065 can't receive that mode. I will let users of the 1065 correct me if I'm wrong on this.
I don't think the Whistler 1065 will be the scanner to monitor this system.

 

[K9ZV]

What county do you live in?
Have you tried looking at the Radio Reference data for your county? Most of your questions will be answered by reading in that area.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Is there a "Trunking For Dummies" book?

Hi & welcome to the RR forums:
There are a series of wiki pages right here on Radioreference devoted to understanding how trunked radio works. Start here. Lots of useful info to absorb.

I don't know if its a P25 Auto or a P25 Manual. What is the difference anyway?

This is explained in the Easier to read WS1065 manual. I'd suggest reading this throroughly as it should answer this and other questions you've asked.

How do I find the frequencies they might be using?

When Unitrunker says "Frequency Needed!" what do I do? How do I get that frequency?

I know its eastern Kentucky and unless you are living in eastern Kentucky you can't just give me the frequencies to plug in.

Check your state/county's Radioreference database of course! If you let us know what county in Eastern Kentucky you reside we can point you in the right direction. If you have any questions specific to monitoring what's in your area perhaps they may be better addressed in the Kentucky Radio DIscussion Forum

 

[fredva]

I'm afraid you have the wrong scanner. The 1065 only does P25 Phase 1 trunking systems, and AEP's new system is Phase II. This is the AEP system as currently documented: American Electric Power (AEP) P25 Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies If you look at all of the identified talkgroups, they are listed as T (for the TDMA format associated with Phase 2).

The design of the 1065 goes back approximately 15 years. When it was first introduced, it was sold as the GRE PSR-600 and the Radio Shack PRO-197. At the time, all P25 systems were Phase 1. AEP's system is very new, using the newer digital format. Whistler bought the designs of these scanners after the original manufacturer (GRE) went out of business, and Whistler is trying to make money selling GRE-designed products for as long as possible.

 

[K9DAK]

Don't forget about the P25RX-II, available here... https://bluetailtechnologies.com/

It WILL do Phase 2 control channels... and handles simulcast... might be just the ticket!