Control Channel fix?

[ldhuber]

Hey all. I just got a BCD996T. This is the first digital scanner I've worked with. I got the system all entered into the scanner for South Dakota's statewide APCO-25 system, but I'm still getting the Cannot Find Control Channel error and not hearing anything...can anyone help me out with this? I've checked over the programming a couple times and think I'm up to par with what I'm supposed to be doing, but I'm not overly familiar with this process.

If anyone could lend some advice or steer me in the right direction, I'd appreciate the help!
Lee

 

[scg]

I would guess missing frequency or weak signal.

 

[floydpink999999]

How many miles do you think you may be from the nearest radio transmitter you want to monitor?

Change the P25 system type to Motorola Type II VHF, as per the RR database and see if this works.

Let us know how you make out.

Anabella M.

 

[DaveIN]

Hey all. I just got a BCD996T. This is the first digital scanner I've worked with. I got the system all entered into the scanner for South Dakota's statewide APCO-25 system, but I'm still getting the Cannot Find Control Channel error and not hearing anything...can anyone help me out with this? I've checked over the programming a couple times and think I'm up to par with what I'm supposed to be doing, but I'm not overly familiar with this process.

If anyone could lend some advice or steer me in the right direction, I'd appreciate the help!
Lee

If you post the question in the South Dakota forum you may get some help with the setup. If you hold on the control channel do you hear the "buzz-saw" sound? If so, you should be able to track the system provided you have the system settings correct for the base, spacing, and offset set correctly for VHF trunking. See the custom frequency table on the SD database page:

http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2315

 

[hankv]

Hey all. I just got a BCD996T. This is the first digital scanner I've worked with. I got the system all entered into the scanner for South Dakota's statewide APCO-25 system, but I'm still getting the Cannot Find Control Channel error and not hearing anything...can anyone help me out with this? I've checked over the programming a couple times and think I'm up to par with what I'm supposed to be doing, but I'm not overly familiar with this process.

If anyone could lend some advice or steer me in the right direction, I'd appreciate the help!
Lee

The South Dakota system is a Motorola Type II SmartZone, and might need to be programmed as Motorola VHF, with the Base, Step, and Offset listed here

 

[loumaag]

As Annabella and Hank point out, the SD State TRS is NOT a APCO-25 system. It is a Motorola Type II Smartzone system that uses 100% CAI P25 digital modulation. Hence it requires a digital capable scanner to receive.

When setting up a TRS in the BCD396T and BCD996T, the insistence of Uniden (and GRE for that matter) to associate Motorola and P25 systems leads to this confusion; they have nothing to do with each other. When setting up a system, use the "System Type:" line from the RR Database to determine what to set up as the system type. For South Dakota, this reads, Motorola Type II SmartZone; for an APCO-25 system, it would read, Project 25 Standard.

 

[ldhuber]

got it

I was totally convinced it was apco-25, thanks for setting me straight!

Now i'm getting it to lock on and pick up traffic, but it'll kick back to "finding control channel"...must be a reception issue?

The comm.center for the site i'm using (Vermillion, SD) is only 10 blocks from my house...so i would think i'd be able to get adequate signal...is there anyway to lock in the control frequency or will it constantly continue to search for it if there is no traffic coming across?

Thanks everybody!
Lee

 

[loumaag]

I was totally convinced it was apco-25, thanks for setting me straight!

Now i'm getting it to lock on and pick up traffic, but it'll kick back to "finding control channel"...must be a reception issue?

The comm.center for the site i'm using (Vermillion, SD) is only 10 blocks from my house...so i would think i'd be able to get adequate signal...is there anyway to lock in the control frequency or will it constantly continue to search for it if there is no traffic coming across?

Thanks everybody!
Lee

Yeah, sounds like it. But since you have a 996T, take advantage of the "site" settings and build in some more sites. Also being that close, try attenuating those CCh's.

 

[Comint]

The comm.center for the site i'm using (Vermillion, SD) is only 10 blocks from my house...so i would think i'd be able to get adequate signal...

But is the Trunking Site you are trying to monitor actually located at the comm.center?