Im sort of new here. Got the BCD325P2 and BCD996P2 digital scanners and need it programmed to get Cushing PD. Is the RadioReference site updated with the new frequencies where I can just use FreeScan to program? Or are there new frequencies now for Cushing PD? I understand they just went to the OKWIN system last week. So I used RadioReference to download the programming for Payne County and Cushing PD, Fire etc and I hear nothing on my BCD325P2. What am I doing wrong?
Cushing PD P25 switch
- Thread starter lisa25266
- Start date
When you say "Nothing" do you mean Cushing wise or literally nothing? Are you scanning in ID mode or search mode? If your in ID mode switch to search mode and see if you hear anything that way.
Search Mode. I programmed Payne County, Cushing, Creek County and also the conventional mode and I literally have not heard anyone talk.
Looking at the Payne County site in the database, it appears that the site is Simulcast. Simulcast can cause issues with many scanners, including both the 325P2 as well as the 996P2. See this Wiki page for more on simulcast.
Look at the map of the site locations (on the link above, as well as here). If you can take your 325P2 with you, and get close to one of the towers (say, a quarter mile or less), see if you start hearing traffic on that site. If so, then simulcast distortion may be your problem. The only scanners designed to deal with simulcast problems are Uniden's SDS series scanners.
The "home" system for my location (Dallas County) is NTIRN, which also has simulcast sites. While I have an SDS100 & SDS200 to handle the simulcast, I can also monitor much of the activity on my 325P2. I do that by using an older antenna, instead of a "gain" type antenna for the 700 & 800MHz bands. I also lay the scanner flat on my desktop. The "poor" antenna, and the horizontal positioning, instead of vertical means that the scanner gets a weaker signal. That helps the strongest site (relative to my location) overcome & drown out the weaker, conflicting, signals from other locations. No guarantee that this would work for you, but it's worth a try. Read the Wiki article for more details, & remember that when fighting simulcast, "less" antenna can be better than a more efficient one. Also, try moving the scanner around at your location. Sometimes, a difference in location of only a few feet can make a big difference. Perhaps something like a file cabinet, or the refrigerator on the other side of a wall, might block the out of sync conflicting signals, allowing you to hear radio traffic despite the simulcast.
What software are you using to program your radio's?
I will read the Wikipedia article tonight after work. I have heard Cushing PD once or twice but not the chatter like it used to be on analog. I'll try placing it by diff spots.
FreeScan with help from RadioReference.
Is it 297 or 287 for Cushing PD? I thought it was 287. I have been getting some conversation now but its not like how it used to be.
That's the problem with trunking systems and scanners, even if you hold on a trunking ID, the scanner is having to decipher the system info and can miss traffic. When the old analog non trunking frequencies you could hold on them and catch everything.
Ok..I didnt know this. So if I only put in 1 or 2 talk groups, chances of me hearing more increases? Is that right?
I'll try programming 297 and see what happens. How did you find that out? Im curious.
Perfect. Thank you. Is Payne County Sheriff encrypted?
Also, what are the frequencies for Cushing. I am finding 700 Mhz frequencies instead of 800
