CSP on the BCD396T

[MarkEagleUSA]

I just got the 396. As this is my first digital scanner, and CSP is the first trunked system I'm trying to program, can anyone tell me in plain english how to go about setting it up?

Do I enter Control Channel only, or do I need to enter the Talkgroup details?

 

[KC1UA]

Hopefully there will be some software forthcoming that will allow you to easily program your 396 with the slew of CTSP talkgroup info. In the interim, why not use the databases at this site to pick out the control channels you'll be using for your area, and then run the 396T in ID search mode to get a feel for the way it sounds.

I popped the CTSP CC's into mine and was rewarded with a band opening that allowed me to hear most of the state from my location on Cape Cod. The 396T did a nice job decoding the audio, sounded very good.

Make sure to program the system as a normal 800 MHz system and NOT a P25 system. CTSP is not a pure APCO-25 system and will only work properly when programmed as normal 800.

Best of luck with it. Pray for software to come soon.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

use the databases at this site to pick out the control channels you'll be using for your area, and then run the 396T in ID search mode to get a feel for the way it sounds

I just did this for 1 CC and am getting a few (3?) active TG's. One of them sounds like the transmission is coming from underwater, but the others are very clear.

Do TG's only work within certain CC's, or do they overlap?

Pray for software to come soon.

Oh I am... after only entering about a dozen frequencies, I'm almost ready to give up and wait for someone to release something!

 

[KC1UA]

I am not intimately familiar with the CTSP system but there are certainly talkgroups that are used statewide, and very likely some that appear on different smartzones as well.

The "underwater" sound you heard might have been someone transmitting that was in a poor location. You'll hear dispatchers or other units asking people to repeat, telling them that "you went digital". Digital transmissions are either there in their entirety, garbled, or nonexistent. There is no static, no fading. Just the nature of the beast.

CTSP has always been a fun system to listen to. It's structured somewhat like the Massachusetts State Police (which is analog).

Sounds like you're on the right track, though.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Sounds like you're on the right track, though.

I picked a hell of a day to quit sniffin' glue! :shock:

Can't wait for some programming software to become available.

I have another point of confusion regarding CSP. There are 16 sets of System Frequencies listed. Each set has a CC and AltCC listed. To setup the entire CSP, does each CC need to be entered as an individual system in the 396?

 

[KC1UA]

When I programmed CTSP (and MASP for that matter) I put all CC's and alternate CC's in the same bank. I then program all of the talkgroups by category, each under a unique quick key. Then, if I travel the state I should have seamless operation as I go. You could certainly program each zone individually as well. I guess it depends on your preference. At a minimum you will want to ensure that you have both CC and alternate CC programmed.

 

[Al42]

I have another point of confusion regarding CSP. There are 16 sets of System Frequencies listed. Each set has a CC and AltCC listed. To setup the entire CSP, does each CC need to be entered as an individual system in the 396?

The scanner will only use the first CC it finds, so either only put in the CCs for the system closest to you or put each set in as a separate system. (You'll have to duplicate all the TGs in each system, but that's not too time-consuming.)

 

[SCPD]

now that uniden has gotten over the bank hurdle, you can program all 16 sites that are listed.
butel says that their software can take the info from radio reference and put it into their database to send to the radio. i am sure that scancat lite will also have that feature as well.

if you want, i can try to write up a instruction set to get you going quickly.
i am sure that scott can help with this as well (hint) with my typos, etc.

now that i have one, i can try to do this and maybe you guys can enjoy this radio.

comments?
maybe another sticky?

bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

you can program all 16 sites that are listed

That's what I did using only the CC and AltCC frequencies in 1 System. I then created 5 Groups based on the RRDB tables (Intersystem, Statewide, Eastern, Central, Western). I typically disable Eastern and Western and just scan the other 3. It seems to be working as intended.

 

[cg]

When programming a comm trunked radio, you have to enter the 4 designated CC for each zone. Just because CSP doesn't rotate regularly doesn't mean there aren't more CC. I have seen some days go where the CC is jumping back and forth to the alternate (likely due to a problem with the primary).

Also note that there are only 15 zones. Zone 16 listed on RR database is not a separate zone but an additional simulcast site on Zone 4 (look at the frequencies). I have submitted it for correction twice but it never got corrected.

chris

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

When programming a comm trunked radio, you have to enter the 4 designated CC for each zone. Just because CSP doesn't rotate regularly doesn't mean there aren't more CC. I have seen some days go where the CC is jumping back and forth to the alternate (likely due to a problem with the primary).

Does this mean that I need to add ALL the System frequencies listed in the RRDB and not just those shown as CC and AltCC? I thought the others were voice channels...

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

add ALL the System frequencies

Should each site be setup as a seperate system with all the TGID's for each, or can all the listed frequencies be lumped under one system?

 

[cg]

With the dynamic memory of the 396 I can't think any reason why I would not create 15 banks. I would then duplicate all the talkgroups in every bank (for ease). Not all the traffic goes over all the zones.
As far as the frequencies go, since you can only guess which four of the maximum of five frequencies in each zone are control channels, I would just put in all the ones listed for each zone. Some folks argue that they rarely change so it isn't worth doing that, I feel it is minimal extra effort to get all the freqs in
If I were doing the MSP where there are over 20 zones with as many as 11 freqs each and over 300 talkgroups ..... well, I think that's a good reason for CC trunking and being selective on entering talkgroups.

chris

 

[bmeehan282]

CSP // MSP

I recently received this scanner and it works well. I programmed in the CSP into groups as "Western District", "Central District" and "eastern District". I programmed it with the control channels only and it receives incredibly well. I have travelled from one end of the state to the other recently and i have received all the troops. The interesting thing to do is to have the radio do "ID Scan". This way you hear very interesting private calls between troopers, and you also receive traffic squads, etc.

I was also in Massachusetts recently and a few observations there: One, the preprogrammed system works well, however it says "Troop H S" which doesnt tell you where the Troop is. Also, while on Cape Cod, this system has the Fire Depts and Police Depts on Cape Cod pre-programmed on the MSP trunking system, works great.

bernie

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Re: CSP // MSP

The interesting thing to do is to have the radio do "ID Scan". This way you hear very interesting private calls between troopers, and you also receive traffic squads, etc.

I think you mean ID Search since ID Scan will only stop on TG's that are setup in the Group. ID Search allows you to hear ANY TG that's active, whether you have it entered or not. I've also enabled ICall and get to unit-to-unit transmissions as well.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Does the CSP system use a "status bit" as offered by the 396?