ETrunker USAGE_hex

Status
Not open for further replies.

cellphone

Silent key.
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
1,811
Location
Ahwatukee, AZ (Phoenix)
I cannot find any documentation about the USAGE_hex column for the ETrunker group files. There is documentation available for Motorola systems, but not EDACS.

From what I have observed, I am guessing this is what the numbers in the column signify:

0-Analog
1-Analog with Emergency Alert
4-Digital Unencrypted
5-Digital Encrypted

Can anyone confirm or deny if '4' truly means unencrypted and '5' truly means encrypted digital?

Thanks,
Joe
 

mam1081

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,102
Location
Next to a scanner...
I can't confirm the 5, but I can confirm that 4 is a digital non-encrypted transmission. If the talkgrounp has had that type of transmission anytime in the time monitoring the system, it will show the "highest" level for the TG. i.e: if it's usually just a non-encrypted digital group, it will be 4, until one day someone gets on with an encrypted transmission. From then on, your database will list it as a "5" - digital encrypted, even though they might not be always that way.

Hope that helps.
 

cellphone

Silent key.
Joined
Dec 28, 2002
Messages
1,811
Location
Ahwatukee, AZ (Phoenix)
Thanks for the info. I am interested in a Provoice radio, but not if talkgroups I want to listen to are encrypted. In Lincoln, NE there are several talkgroups with a '4', but only three with a '5'. There is one "SWAT" talkgroup and two "Radio Maintenance" talkgroups with a '5' in the usage column. I just want to clarify a little on the last post, '4' is definately non-encrypted?

Thanks,
Joe
 

mam1081

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,102
Location
Next to a scanner...
Yes, Provoice shows up as a "4" in etrunker. I have not seen any 5's in mine, so I don't know. You would think Provoice would be just about enough privacy for anyone. There aren't too many of us that have Provoice capable radios!

Good luck.
 

Forts

Mentor
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
6,823
Location
Ontario, Canada
I didn't think there was a way for ETrunker to distinguish between just digital and encrypted digital? I'll hafta go check my logs now and see whats there. The local PD here uses encrypted (as far as I know) AEGIS.
 

RF-Intel

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
107
cellphone said:
I cannot find any documentation about the USAGE_hex column for the ETrunker group files. There is documentation available for Motorola systems, but not EDACS.

It's essentially the same. I tried searching for the info, but I couldn't find it, so I'll throw an explanation together.

01 Emergency Call
02 DES Encrypted Call
04 Astro or other Digital Call
08 Encrypted Astro or other Digital Call
10 Phone Patch <EDACS only>
20 Digital Phone Patch <EDACS only>

The system is additive, and cumulative. If trunker/etrunk sees a radio "0" do a digital call, it'll be set "4", if it then sees the same radio do an analog emergency, it'll set "5" as it is now "4+1"

Another example: A radio that has at some point made an emergency call, a digital call, and an analog patch call will be "15".

Remember that trunker assumes any radio/group to be a 0 until it knows otherwise, so 0=Nothing/Analog call.

These numbers may also be seen in Hex, but I always use decimal. YMMV

Forts said:
I didn't think there was a way for ETrunker to distinguish between just digital and encrypted digital?

Correct, an encrypted digital call will only count as a "4" in etrunk. Etrunk cannot differentiate Secure and Clear calls.

-Mark
 

Forts

Mentor
Database Admin
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
6,823
Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks for the info... I thought that was the case. It's always a mystery on EDACS digital systems if they are just digital or encrypted as well, since you can't tell just by looking at the call type cateogory (ie G or g)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top