DMR question

[kc5igh]

Hello, everyone.

I've encountered an interesting DMR problem with my BCD325P2 that I'm not experiencing with my TRX-1.

I recently programmed a UHF frequency that I found for a nearby casino in my BCD325P2. The BCD325P2 indicated it is a DMR Tier III (DTR3) system. After entering the frequency, I heard calls and responses very clearly, but the radio won't resume scanning when the voice traffic stops. It just gets hung up on that frequency, presumably on some sort of control channel that I can't hear at all.

Just for the heck of it, I programmed the same frequency in a TRX-1, which gives me the color code (10) and the slot number being used. The TRX-1, however, resumes scanning when the voice traffic stops.

I thought I'd try programming the color code for that system in the BCD325P2 to see if that would make a difference . . . it doesn't.

The frequency is programmed as a conventional channel in both radios.

Does anyone out there have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

-Johnnie (KC5IGH)

 

[GTR8000]

DMR Tier III systems use a control channel, similar to MOTOTRBO Connect Plus. As the control channel frequency has two slots, one for control functions and the other for traffic, if you program that frequency as a conventional channel, the 325P2 will indeed dwell on it forever since there is an active carrier on slot 1. You should be able to verify this by observing that the signal bars do not drop after the voice transmission ends.

 

[kc5igh]

DMR Tier III systems use a control channel, similar to MOTOTRBO Connect Plus. As the control channel frequency has two slots, one for control functions and the other for traffic, if you program that frequency as a conventional channel, the 325P2 will indeed dwell on it forever since there is an active carrier on slot 1. You should be able to verify this by observing that the signal bars do not drop after the voice transmission ends.

Thanks for the quick response!

Two questions, if you please:

-Can I program that frequency in the BCD325P2 as a
DMR Tier III system?

-Why isn’t the TRX-1 having the same problem?

Thanks!

 

[GTR8000]

Yes, you can program it as a DMR T3 system, that is the preferred method. You will probably need to figure out the other frequencies in the system, as well as the LCN's, in order for it to trunk track correctly.

GRE/Whistler scanners do not decode DMR or NXDN control channels, instead they simply look for activity on any frequency programmed. Think of it like programming all voice channels of a P25 system conventionally, and scanning that way. Not ideal, especially on busy systems, but it probably works fine on slow systems.

 

[kc5igh]

Yes, you can program it as a DMR T3 system, that is the preferred method. You will probably need to figure out the other frequencies in the system, as well as the LCN's, in order for it to trunk track correctly.

GRE/Whistler scanners do not decode DMR or NXDN control channels, instead they simply look for activity on any frequency programmed. Think of it like programming all voice channels of a P25 system conventionally, and scanning that way. Not ideal, especially on busy systems, but it probably works fine on slow systems.

Thanks!

I’ll try searching for other frequencies on that system, and programming it accordingly.

It’s a small system, and so far, I seem to be picking up all the traffic on both radios with one frequency. I believe there is such a thing as a single-channel DMR TRS, but if I remember correctly, the BCD325P2 identified this one as a DMR Tier III system when I found it in custom-search mode.

Thanks again!

-Johnnie (KC5IGH)

 

[GTR8000]

Most single channel DMR systems are not going to be Tier 3 or Connect Plus, as that is a waste of site controllers and the like. You'd find that more with Cap+ or Hytera XPT, those sorts of smaller scale systems.

Find the license for that UHF frequency, and you'll likely find the rest of the traffic channels for that site/system. Could be licensed under a local or regional radio shop vs the casino itself, that's fairly common for businesses to purchase a turn-key solution that is already licensed.

 

[kc5igh]

Most single channel DMR systems are not going to be Tier 3 or Connect Plus, as that is a waste of site controllers and the like. You'd find that more with Cap+ or Hytera XPT, those sorts of smaller scale systems.

Find the license for that UHF frequency, and you'll likely find the rest of the traffic channels for that site/system. Could be licensed under a local or regional radio shop vs the casino itself, that's fairly common for businesses to purchase a turn-key solution that is already licensed.

Thanks, GTR800!