Fleetnet in BC245

[CaptainD]

I have an old BC245 scanner. Can it be set up to monitor EMS analogue talkgroups on Bell Fleetnet? I tried several times setting it up with no success. I realize I will not receive the OPP.
I aleady have the Fleetnet systems running on my 396 and 250 but wanted to know if I could use the 245 as a standalone EMS scanner.

 

[ka3jjz]

Technically speaking, I think you could. It appears that trick here is entering all 3 required offsets, unless I'm missing something (I'm a long way from Ontario...). Are you doing your programming by hand or with software? And the prerequisite obvious question - are you hearing the control channel nice and strong?

I still have a working copy of Scan Control. I'd just need which zone you want and a list of the talkgroups you want - keeping in mind that you have 10 banks of 10 talkgroups each, which makes it somewhat limited. Also the demo only allows you to use the first 3 banks.

Touch base with me at ka3jjz (at) verizon (dot) net if you want to proceed

best regards..Mike

 

[DaveH]

I have an old BC245 scanner. Can it be set up to monitor EMS analogue talkgroups on Bell Fleetnet? I tried several times setting it up with no success. I realize I will not receive the OPP.
I aleady have the Fleetnet systems running on my 396 and 250 but wanted to know if I could use the 245 as a standalone EMS scanner.

I don't have a BC245 but know they can indeed be used for Fleetnet analog (MOH and MTO
road ops). Only downside is the audio will be somewhat low, because Fleetnet uses narrow
analog v. regular.

You can only program one of the three frequency ranges shown in the Custom Tables
in the database. No problem, only two sites use one channel each that is not in the first
range. Just program the base frequency 141.015 and step (which I think in old terminology
they refer to as "offset", to 15kHz). You need to program all voice and control channels
per site, as this old scanner pre-dates control-channel-only mode.

Dave

 

[EJB]

I don't have a BC245 but know they can indeed be used for Fleetnet analog (MOH and MTO
road ops). Only downside is the audio will be somewhat low, because Fleetnet uses narrow
analog v. regular.

You can only program one of the three frequency ranges shown in the Custom Tables
in the database. No problem, only two sites use one channel each that is not in the first
range. Just program the base frequency 141.015 and step (which I think in old terminology
they refer to as "offset", to 15kHz). You need to program all voice and control channels
per site, as this old scanner pre-dates control-channel-only mode.

Dave

As mentioned above it can do Analogue fleetnet but you might have problems for the Toronto tower which is out to the offset range but it was a fine scanner, I had one for about 3 years.

The audio is a bit weak though.

 

[EJB]

Technically speaking, I think you could. It appears that trick here is entering all 3 required offsets, unless I'm missing something (I'm a long way from Ontario...). Are you doing your programming by hand or with software? And the prerequisite obvious question - are you hearing the control channel nice and strong?

I still have a working copy of Scan Control. I'd just need which zone you want and a list of the talkgroups you want - keeping in mind that you have 10 banks of 10 talkgroups each, which makes it somewhat limited. Also the demo only allows you to use the first 3 banks.

Touch base with me at ka3jjz (at) verizon (dot) net if you want to proceed

best regards..Mike

Mike: I think that 10 dedicated banks would be fine for Fleetnet. If you mix and match towers, a bunch use the same frequencies you can make do. I was able to cover just about all of the Zone 1 towers using 5 or so banks.
Just as long as you keep the towers in one area apart from each area you can do it.

 

[VA3JWO]

i use a bc245 for monitoring EMS all the time and i'm in zone 2

TO PROGRAM FOR FLEETNET

Step 1: press and hold the TRNK button so all of the banks are flashing at the same time( approx. 2 seconds)
Step 2: select the bank you want to trunk by pressing the bank Number

Step 3: select the trunking type, for fleetnet, its E2-HI, press E

step 4ress the DATA button on the bottom right hand of the scanner, it should say bas 137.000, enter in 141.015 and press E; you just entered the base frequency
step 5: press DATA again, it should say OFS in the left side of the screen, enter in 15.0 and press E

step 6: Press DATA Again and all of the band numbers should be flashing, press the bank number you just programmed, if you cant remember, you have very short memory... enter in ALL of your data and control channels for the tower you wish to listen to

NOTE: make sure you put in ALL of your data and control channels in for the tower you wish to montior, or you will miss conversations

 

[CaptainD]

Thanks to all. I set it up as Hondaus90 suggested and it appears to be working fine. I am wondering if this info can be added to the WIKI for programing Bell Fleetnet?
Again, thanks to all...

 

[mciupa]

Thanks to all. I set it up as Hondaus90 suggested and it appears to be working fine. I am wondering if this info can be added to the WIKI for programing Bell Fleetnet?
Again, thanks to all...

Hi CaptainD I've added that info to the wiki: Programming your BC245XLT for Fleetnnet - The RadioReference Wiki

Actually, all of us have full access to create and edit pages in the wiki. Give it a try sometime.