Control Channels

[Rolfman]

This is a minor extension to some other threads of late about trouble getting units to scan but mostly for my own understanding.

I personally run Control Channel Only because as I understand it when the unit scans that "system" as it is programmed in even if you input all the frequencies from a particular tower it will stop scanning as soon as it gets to the control channel, unless there is someone on the voice channels. But sooner or later it will get to the CC and stop scanning and lock on to the data coming from that site. It takes that data and reads it and then tunes to the voice channel active for a particular TG. I have had no problems pre-rebanding or post rebanding using my little BC246. I use it everyday and drive from Tooele to Utah County work days and take it with me so I get signals off several sites it’s always seamless.

So what I do not understand is what it the need or benefit of programming in all of the frequencies from the sites for the system you are creating? I know there are older model units that needed all the frequencies but all these new units support CC only.

Thoughts? Comments? Insight?

 

[KT7L]

Rolfman -- good to see you back on this site....

Now, to your question. Short answer, 'your'e right' for your operating mode -- The audio frequencies do nothing, but take time slices from the CC frequency when in 'Search -- CC only' mode. The re-banded 246T follows the CC generated audio channel -- and that's it. If you are driving across the Valley, you can have multiple Systems, each with their own single, CC frequency, and you can turn them all on to Search. Just remember that the new firmware requires the new, custom bandplan for each system....

The reason, I suspect, people talk about programming in audio frequencies in a Trunked system, is that their radio is NOT re-banded, and to get around the limitations of 4th digit zeros not working, they put in all the audio freqs., and just scan as a Conventional system. I would assume this works pretty well, as long is the traffic volume is low, since you don't get the benefits of Trunk TG selection. There are also scanners, I suspect, that require the programmed audio channels -- but I am no expert there.

Of course, doing it your way -- Trunk Search -- you have the same problem to a lesser degree - You still get freq. "handoff" say, between a TG and dispatch. Too much traffic, and you miss the TG's you are interested in. I do it the same way with my 246T -- but here in Summit Co, traffic volume is not very high.

 

[JoeyC]

The only reason you would actually NEED to program all the channels is if you wanted to hear stuff when the system drops into FAILSOFT mode - which is (hopefully) a rare occurance. People who tell you that they program in all the freqs instead of relying on control channel only trunking are fooling themselves.