SDS100/SDS200: Finally got my sds100 need some guidance on programming it.

[RMason]

Ok @RMason had said sdrtrunk ...but anyways' here it is i have not used it much accept for maybe the last hour so thats where u will see the most with the honaker trunk site.

why do you need this anyways?

The p25data file contains information that helps us to understand the systems you are monitoring.

You may find the information in DSDPlus.P25data useful. For each site you have monitored in a P25 trunked system, it logs the system name, site number, control channel frequencies, voice channel frequencies, list of neighboring sites, etc.

For instance: The p25data shows that you have received the following networks while using dsd+:

Network: 92715.1F7 (American Electric Power (AEP) P25)​

Network: BEE00.170 (WV SIRN: West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Radio Network)​

Network: BEE00.19E (Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS))​

​

It looks like you have loaded the information for the STARS network into the DSD+ DSDPlus.groups file and DSDPlus.sites files from the RR downloads. I suggest you download the groups and sites information from the RR database for the AEP and WV SIRN networks. You can cut/paste the contents of these files to the end of the appropriate file in DSDPlus. (It is recommended to save a backup copy before editing these files) DSD+ will read the file contents and update its data. DSD+ will display the site names in addition to the site numbers. This should improve your experience using DSD+. It will also make it easier to compare sentinel and dsd+ data.

 

[RMason]

Also i put in the same freqs into the sds100 that i have in sdrtrunk and it's showing traffic in sdrtrunk but the scanner isn't picking it up .it's 854.1375 it's the AEP everything else is being picked up but that i don't know if i have a setting wrong or what

Following up on this one:
Did you program the Lick Creek site instead of the Culver site for the 854.1375 control frequency? DSD+ is receiving the Lick Creek site - not Culver (as Enjoi19 pointed out)

American Electric Power (AEP) P25 Site: Lick Creek

American Electric Power (AEP) P25 Site: Lick Creek Details

www.radioreference.com

 

[RMason]

And something that just bothers me to no end. i have dsdplus running and the sds100 running both on the same antenna both on the same channel and the sds100 will miss traffic sometimes and dsdplus picks it up. any clue why this might be .

What is an example of traffic that you are missing?

Here is one scenario that can explain why the sds100 misses traffic that dsd+ receives:

When you say you are on the same channel on both dsd+ and sds100:

• Are you monitoring a P25 system?
• On the sds100, are you only scanning the 1 site that dsd+ is tuned to? Or are you scanning other sites as well?

Keep in mind that the scan speed is impacted by programming multiple sites on the same system. The scanner will attempt to check each site for activity. It takes 1-2 seconds to check for traffic on each site before moving on. If it is tuned to a site that does not carry the talkgroup that is being received by dsd+, the transmission will be missed. (This is an example of “The more you scan, the less you hear.”)

 

[AngWay]

What is an example of traffic that you are missing?

Here is one scenario that can explain why the sds100 misses traffic that dsd+ receives:

When you say you are on the same channel on both dsd+ and sds100:

• Are you monitoring a P25 system?
• On the sds100, are you only scanning the 1 site that dsd+ is tuned to? Or are you scanning other sites as well?

Keep in mind that the scan speed is impacted by programming multiple sites on the same system. The scanner will attempt to check each site for activity. It takes 1-2 seconds to check for traffic on each site before moving on. If it is tuned to a site that does not carry the talkgroup that is being received by dsd+, the transmission will be missed. (This is an example of “The more you scan, the less you hear.”)

Ok i added the things u said into dsdplus. and i have lick creek added as well

 

[AngWay]

Following up on this one:
Did you program the Lick Creek site instead of the Culver site for the 854.1375 control frequency? DSD+ is receiving the Lick Creek site - not Culver (as Enjoi19 pointed out)

American Electric Power (AEP) P25 Site: Lick Creek

American Electric Power (AEP) P25 Site: Lick Creek Details

www.radioreference.com

I found this new site and it's nexedge96 when i hover over it it says it's honaker but when i search for in the RRDB it comes back something totally different and not even in the same area as me . any idea what it is and will my sds100 pick it up i have the nxdn upgrade but i can't figure out where in my area it's coming from the freqs is 858.6125

 

[mtindor]

I found this new site and it's nexedge96 when i hover over it it says it's honaker but when i search for in the RRDB it comes back something totally different and not even in the same area as me . any idea what it is and will my sds100 pick it up i have the nxdn upgrade but i can't figure out where in my area it's coming from the freqs is 858.6125

SDS100/SDS200: - Finally got my sds100 need some guidance on programming it.

Ok @RMason had said sdrtrunk ...but anyways' here it is i have not used it much accept for maybe the last hour so thats where u will see the most with the honaker trunk site. why do you need this anyways? The p25data file contains information that helps us to understand the systems you are...

forums.radioreference.com

L170 NXDN is Professional Communications LLC (ex Sibley Communications)

Professional Communications NXDN Trunking System, Various, Multi-State

Professional Communications NXDN Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Site 2 - Honaker WPVR257 - 858.6125 (channel 608 I think)

Professional Communications LLC NXDN Google Map

 

[AngWay]

SDS100/SDS200: - Finally got my sds100 need some guidance on programming it.

Ok @RMason had said sdrtrunk ...but anyways' here it is i have not used it much accept for maybe the last hour so thats where u will see the most with the honaker trunk site. why do you need this anyways? The p25data file contains information that helps us to understand the systems you are...

forums.radioreference.com

L170 NXDN is Professional Communications LLC (ex Sibley Communications)

Professional Communications NXDN Trunking System, Various, Multi-State

Professional Communications NXDN Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Site 2 - Honaker WPVR257 - 858.6125 (channel 608 I think)

Professional Communications LLC NXDN Google Map

Ok thanks now i am looking in sentinel and i cannot find This at all. is some stuff just not in sentinel or am i dumb and can't find it? it's the abingdon and washington one that is my area

 

[mtindor]

Ok thanks now i am looking in sentinel and i cannot find This at all. is some stuff just not in sentinel or am i dumb and can't find it? it's the abingdon and washington one that is my area

Not listed in Sentinel for multiple reasons:

1. No talkgroups known/published for the system. Can't pull a system in via sentinel if it has no talkgroups
2. If it did have talkgroups, site #2 isn't in the DB (that requires somebody to submit an update to the DB)

So you'll have to manually add it as a favorite if you actually want to monitor it. I doubt there is much activity on it.

 

[AngWay]

Not listed in Sentinel for multiple reasons:

1. No talkgroups known/published for the system. Can't pull a system in via sentinel if it has no talkgroups
2. If it did have talkgroups, site #2 isn't in the DB (that requires somebody to submit an update to the DB)

So you'll have to manually add it as a favorite if you actually want to monitor it. I doubt there is much activity on it.

Alright thanks. maybe i can find something new and submit it. Hope your having a great day.

 

[mtindor]

You could submit those last four lines in the Event Window that showed the various L170 neighbors

You could submit 858.6125 as 170-2 (aka system 170, site 2)

Those would be helpful. Of course you've have to type out those four lines at the bottom of the Event Window in order to submit them.

 

[AngWay]

You could submit those last four lines in the Event Window that showed the various L170 neighbors

You could submit 858.6125 as 170-2 (aka system 170, site 2)

Those would be helpful. Of course you've have to type out those four lines at the bottom of the Event Window in order to submit them.

alright i'll get that done now

 

[mtindor]

alright i'll get that done now

Just for future reference -- this is espcially true with NXDN -- if you are on an NXDN control channel, the channel number associated with that frequency is listedin the Channel Activity window. If there is active talkgroups in use, you may even see more channels. It's important to ntoe that stuff. Too late now, because you likely aren't parked on 858.6125. But if you were, make note of the channel # showing up in the channel activity as that is associated with that particular frequency. For instance, 858.6125 is probably channel # 608 (if a standard bandplan is being used). You'd be able to verify that if you parked on 858.6125 and looked at the Channel Activity window.

 

[AngWay]

Just for future reference -- this is espcially true with NXDN -- if you are on an NXDN control channel, the channel number associated with that frequency is listedin the Channel Activity window. If there is active talkgroups in use, you may even see more channels. It's important to ntoe that stuff. Too late now, because you likely aren't parked on 858.6125. But if you were, make note of the channel # showing up in the channel activity as that is associated with that particular frequency. For instance, 858.6125 is probably channel # 608 (if a standard bandplan is being used). You'd be able to verify that if you parked on 858.6125 and looked at the Channel Activity window.

Alright understood

 

[AngWay]

I have my sds100 set up and i'm scanning just one fav list and inside that fav list i have several counties and inside those counties are a bunch of freqs under each county but watching the scanner scan it's just going through each county one by one pretty fast but you can see in sentinel that each county has a lot under each one.

And when watching the freqs as it's scanning through the counties it doesn't seem to be scanning through all those freqs that you would think it would. i'll add a pic showing the layout in sentinel kinda showing what i mean i have circled in red. What is going on here? Thanks

 

[hiegtx]

I have my sds100 set up and i'm scanning just one fav list and inside that fav list i have several counties and inside those counties are a bunch of freqs under each county but watching the scanner scan it's just going through each county one by one pretty fast but you can see in sentinel that each county has a lot under each one.

And when watching the freqs as it's scanning through the counties it doesn't seem to be scanning through all those freqs that you would think it would. i'll add a pic showing the layout in sentinel kinda showing what i mean i have circled in red. What is going on here? Thanks

The scanner will blow through conventional channels very fast, so you might not see a specific screen that directly shows the conventionals being scanned, especially if there are only a few channels.

For trunked systems, you should see the scanner stop briefly on each system (and it's sites) to try and decode the control channel, then check for active talkgroups. If you are not seeing that brief 'pause', then either that system does not have a signal strength (at your location) to be useful, or else there is a programming error. You can manually tum the scanner to esch site on these neighboring systems, then use the 'System Status', under the Analyze option in the menu to verify if you are getting a usable signal on these neighboring systems.

 

[AngWay]

The scanner will blow through conventional channels very fast, so you might not see a specific screen that directly shows the conventionals being scanned, especially if there are only a few channels.

For trunked systems, you should see the scanner stop briefly on each system (and it's sites) to try and decode the control channel, then check for active talkgroups. If you are not seeing that brief 'pause', then either that system does not have a signal strength (at your location) to be useful, or else there is a programming error. You can manually tum the scanner to esch site on these neighboring systems, then use the 'System Status', under the Analyze option in the menu to verify if you are getting a usable signal on these neighboring systems.

Ok thanks thats good to know especially about it going through conv really fast.

I upped my delay time to 3 because i noticed when traffic would start it would take a little longer before the other person responded. now i did turn up the hold time to 2 on a p25 trunked system i have which i'm scanning 3 control channels is that a good idea ?

And if i get the DMR upgrade will the scanner automatically decode all DMR channels without me having to program anything on the scanner?

Thanks

 

[dmfalk]

The scanner will blow through conventional channels very fast, so you might not see a specific screen that directly shows the conventionals being scanned, especially if there are only a few channels.

Something like 80 channels per second.... Faster than the screen refresh rate!

 

[dmfalk]

And if i get the DMR upgrade will the scanner automatically decode all DMR channels without me having to program anything on the scanner?

You'll be able to receive and decode DMR channels and systems. No guarantee you'll have the systems in Sentinel.

 

[AngWay]

You'll be able to receive and decode DMR channels and systems. No guarantee you'll have the systems in Sentinel.

Ok reason i ask is because i was looking on youtube and they talk like there is extra steps you have to take

 

[RMason]

I found this new site and it's nexedge96 when i hover over it it says it's honaker but when i search for in the RRDB it comes back something totally different and not even in the same area as me . any idea what it is and will my sds100 pick it up i have the nxdn upgrade but i can't figure out where in my area it's coming from the freqs is 858.6125

There is a lot of information included in the log included in your screenshot if it is correctly interpreted. I know you have learned some of this, but this might help provide a deeper understanding. Lets dissect the activity shown in the activity log:

• 15:08:32: You started DSD+ Fastlane
  
  
• 15:08:44 - 45: DSD+ tuned to the Honaker site on STARS network
  • Network = BEE00.19E (STARS)
  • Site = 2.13 (Honaker)
• 15:08:46 - 49: Neighboring sites are reported
  • 2.32 : Unknown
    • Site 2.32 has a control frequency of 151.2425. This site is not in the database
    • From performing a "Query FCC Licenses by Frequency and State" at RRDB | FCC Data | Query : This site is: ULS License - Public Safety Pool, Trunked License - WRMS814 - VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE
    • FCC License Info shows this site to be
      • Call sign: WRMS814
      • Lat/Long: 37-03-15.1 N, 082-38-30.0 W
      • Location: 8206 GUEST RIVER ROAD; WISE, VA; WISE County
      • If you are able to receive this site, you can log the other frequencies on the site and submit this information to the database (you can find these frequencies logged in the DSDPlus.P25data file) Note that you will need to leave DSD+ tuned to this frequency for a period of time to receive enough transmissions to populate the list.
  • 2.14 : Norton
  • 2.28 : Big Walker Mountain
  • 2.10 : Whitetop Mountain
  • 2.12 : East River Mountain
  • 2.17: Oakwood
  • 2.16 : Abingdon
• 15:08:51: You tuned to 858.6125. License Information from VA.csv is reported
  • The location of this frequency is reported as:
    • 15.49miles, 159degrees from your location
    • atop Big A Mtn
    • 5miles NW of Honaker, VA
  • The licensee is reported as PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYS
• 15:08:58: The network and site are reported (this information is extracted from the control channel)
  • Network = L170
  • Site = 2
• 15:08:59: This frequency (858.6125) is not included in the DSDPlus.frequencies file
  • Limited information for this system is included in the RR database
• 15:09:56: Neighboring sites are reported (This information is extracted from the control channel)
  • 1 : Unknown
  • 3 : Narrows
  • 5 : Unknown
  • 9 : Abingdon

The status line at the bottom of the window summarizes this frequency:

• System Type = NEXEDGE96
• System / Site = L170 / 2
• RAN = 2
• Neighbors = 1, 3, 5, 9

This system is: Professional Communications NXDN Trunking System, Various, Multi-State
I see that the system has been updated with your submission to include the Honaker site which you found. You will want to download the site and frequency information and update your DSDPlus.sites and DSDPlus.frequencies files if you haven't already done so.