Control Channel Only P25 Scanning Question

[jr3792]

So I've seen people do both. Enter in every frequency and only enter in the control channels. My local trunked system is a Harris system where in theory everything can be a control channel so I put everything in. However I am traveling around again for work and my local state system (CSERN/CLMRN) is much bigger. Would only programming the control channels help or hurt me? I could see it helping by improving the scanning times but hurting becuase its not looking at every frequency.

Thoughts? What do you do? I know my Unication Pager only needs control channels.

 

[doctordialtone]

Would only programming the control channels help or hurt me?

I monitor CLMRN from Middletown.

Though the control channels seem to never change for me, it can't hurt to program more frequencies in to experiment as you drive around.

It will only stop momentarily for active control frequencies.

After you note what happens, you can always remove the inactive CCs

 

[jr3792]

I monitor CLMRN from Middletown.

Though the control channels seem to never change for me, it can't hurt to program more frequencies in to experiment as you drive around.

It will only stop momentarily for active control frequencies.

After you note what happens, you can always remove the inactive CCs

So how do you have them programmed up? Every frequency or just CC? did you notice any loss with the CC
with my 563 it just seems to hover longer on the system than I think I like so was thinking this might speed it up.

 

[doctordialtone]

Every frequency or just CC?

with my 563 it just seems to hover longer on the system than I think I like

I have just the Primary and Secondary CC programmed, yet I have traffic logged on between 3 or 4 sites and about 20 frequencies.

If you watch the display on your scanner, you'll see what CC it's receiving and how long it dwells on the frequency while it's actively scanning.

What's a "563"?

 

[RandyKuff]

What's a "563"?

I think thats callled brain says one thing... Fingers do another...

 

[dave3825]

I think thats callled brain says one thing... Fingers do another...

I have that too except with me, wife says one thing and I do another, usually something with the scanner.

 

[jr3792]

What's a "563"?

I think thats callled brain says one thing... Fingers do another...

yeah basically that and a self diagnosed case of lexdisa

 

[jr3792]

I have just the Primary and Secondary CC programmed, yet I have traffic logged on between 3 or 4 sites and about 20 frequencies.

If you watch the display on your scanner, you'll see what CC it's receiving and how long it dwells on the frequency while it's actively scanning.

What's a "563"?

Thanks Doc Ill see how it goes with the summer travels

 

[tvengr]

with my 563 it just seems to hover longer on the system than I think I like so was thinking this might speed it up.

I think thats callled brain says one thing... Fingers do another.

Apparently, not the only one with that problem:
(318) BCD563hp scan speed | RadioReference.com Forums
(318) BCD563HP Bug | RadioReference.com Forums

 

[JoeBearcat]

So I've seen people do both. Enter in every frequency and only enter in the control channels. My local trunked system is a Harris system where in theory everything can be a control channel so I put everything in. However I am traveling around again for work and my local state system (CSERN/CLMRN) is much bigger. Would only programming the control channels help or hurt me? I could see it helping by improving the scanning times but hurting becuase its not looking at every frequency.

Thoughts? What do you do? I know my Unication Pager only needs control channels.

The subscriber radios only use the control channels (Harris and Explicit systems excluded), and the scanner operates the same way.

Years ago I had a trunked system that shared a control channel with another that was pretty close. I could never control which was being scanned. That is why I never program voice-only channels (except as noted above). I don't need another system that may use those voice channels as their control channels hijacking my scanning. This may bot be an issue in more rural areas.

These days, I even have a statewide system that uses sites that can be heard in the same area that use the same control channel. Which site you receive depends on the location or direction of your antenna.

This is one reason I pushed for NAC support. Now I know I am scanning only the site I want to be scanning. But I still never program frequencies that will not be used as control channels. The odds of one of those frequencies being re-assigned as a control channel is lower than the odds a completely new frequency will be added.

 

[tvengr]

But I still never program frequencies that will not be used as control channels.

Joe, please correct me if I am wrong. I always program just the control channel and alternates, especially with simulcast systems. I believe that if the scanner loses reception of the control channel, it will find the control channel again much faster if it doesn't need to waste time searching through all of the voice frequencies.

 

[hiegtx]

The subscriber radios only use the control channels (Harris and Explicit systems excluded), and the scanner operates the same way.

Years ago I had a trunked system that shared a control channel with another that was pretty close. I could never control which was being scanned. That is why I never program voice-only channels (except as noted above). I don't need another system that may use those voice channels as their control channels hijacking my scanning. This may bot be an issue in more rural areas.

These days, I even have a statewide system that uses sites that can be heard in the same area that use the same control channel. Which site you receive depends on the location or direction of your antenna.

This is one reason I pushed for NAC support. Now I know I am scanning only the site I want to be scanning. But I still never program frequencies that will not be used as control channels. The odds of one of those frequencies being re-assigned as a control channel is lower than the odds a completely new frequency will be added.

Years ago, the Arlington, TX old analog system, as well as the ETMC site in Waxahachie, had a common voice channel (not used as a control for either system). I'm roughly the same distance from the two sites, and could receive both systems. That did cause a bit of head scratching when the scanner picked up traffic from the system other than the one the scanner was monitoring at the time. That's no longer an issue, since the Waxahachie site was decommissioned after ETMC merged into TxWARN and went P25, and there were no longer any users for TxWARN in Ellis County. Since that point, Arlington has upgraded to a P25 Phase II system that is part of FWRRS. They still use the same frequencies as their old analog system.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Joe, please correct me if I am wrong. I always program just the control channel and alternates, especially with simulcast systems. I believe that if the scanner loses reception of the control channel, it will find the control channel again much faster if it doesn't need to waste time searching through all of the voice frequencies.

That's exactly how I program them (again, Harris and Explicit excluded).

 

[tvengr]

That's exactly how I program them (again, Harris and Explicit excluded).

Is it true that it will find the control channel faster if the voice frequencies are eliminated?

 

[JoeBearcat]

Is it true that it will find the control channel faster if the voice frequencies are eliminated?

Yes, as it has fewer frequencies to check. Of course, assuming the site is still in range, it will first check the last active CCh frequency.

It will also 'skip' out of range sites faster - again since it has fewer frequencies to check for activity.

 

[tvengr]

Yes, as it has fewer frequencies to check. Of course, assuming the site is still in range, it will first check the last active CCh frequency.

It will also 'skip' out of range sites faster - again since it has fewer frequencies to check for activity.

Thank you!

 

[jr3792]

Yes, as it has fewer frequencies to check. Of course, assuming the site is still in range, it will first check the last active CCh frequency.

It will also 'skip' out of range sites faster - again since it has fewer frequencies to check for activity.

Wow I even got Joe's attention thanks for everyone's help

 

[darkness975]

So I've seen people do both. Enter in every frequency and only enter in the control channels. My local trunked system is a Harris system where in theory everything can be a control channel so I put everything in. However I am traveling around again for work and my local state system (CSERN/CLMRN) is much bigger. Would only programming the control channels help or hurt me? I could see it helping by improving the scanning times but hurting becuase its not looking at every frequency.

Thoughts? What do you do? I know my Unication Pager only needs control channels.

CLMRN works best for me with having only the CC and ACC programmed. It's location dependent, though.

 

[jr3792]

That's exactly how I program them (again, Harris and Explicit excluded).

Ironically thats what my local trunking system is and the reason I bought a G5 pager.

 

[jr3792]

CLMRN works best for me with having only the CC and ACC programmed. It's location dependent, though.

Thats my thought espicaly when I travel for work and sites overlap also again reduces scanning time. Just wondeing if people are having issues with doing it.