Franklin Township Trunking

[Moose]

I'm having a little problem understanding the tie-in between
Somerset County's trunking system and Franklin Township's.
I have a BC996T in which I have programmed both departments
as separate systems not one system with different sites. Can this
be why I cannot pick up Franklin Twsp? I do receive the control
channel and have correctly entered the base plans as well as the correct frequencies
and also set it to digital. Can't figure this one out. Any help would
be appreciated.

Thanks
Moose

 

[Joseph11]

Set it as UHF, not digital.

 

[robbinsj2]

Technically they are different zones within the same system, but there isn't much cross-affiliation and with different B/O/S configurations, you really can't go wrong programming them as separate systems.

The database here is a little confusing because the different sites have different configurations. Please make sure you have input the Franklin configurations located at the bottom of the "Misc. System Information" section (Base1=471.0000, Spacing1=12.5, Offset1=380; Base2=476.2500, Spacing2=12.5, Offset2=540).

You will only rarely Somerset County talkgroups on the Franklin side, so skip programming them here. The FPD is all encrypted so skip them too. Franklin Township EMS talkgroups are now routinely used, as are many of the ones under Franklin Township Services. The fire companies recently started getting their radios and can sometimes be heard testing them. The Franklin Township Interop talkgroups are used rarely but would be good to program in as well.

Let us know if any of the above fixes your problem. If not perhaps someone with a 996 can offer some tips.

Jim

 

[Moose]

Thanks Jim,

Don't know if you read NJ-scan forums, but I posted basically the same message over there to see if anyone would respond. No one yet, however I did mention in that post that there is a one frequency that is different on that board vs. here. They have it as 471.975 and here it's 471.925. I've got a BC796D with one set of freqs and the 996T with the other batch. I'm having the 996 do an ID search and occasionally I see it stop on the police ID but of course its encrypted. Nothing, though, regarding the other departments.

 

[robbinsj2]

The channel you reference should be 471.975, but it doesn't really matter when using control channel only mode because it is only a voice channel. The data coming over the control channel combined with the programmed base/offset/step data drive what frequencies the scanner tunes to for the voice channels.

Check to make sure you have Control Channel Only turned on -- Menu/Program System/(Franklin TRS)/Edit Site/(Frankin Site)/Set C-Ch Only/On.

I'm surprised that your 996 is stopping on encrypted transmissions. I thought that all digital trunktrackers were smart enough to skip over digital encryption on Motorola trunked systems. When you say you set it to digital, you mean the system type to MOT TYPE 2/P25, right?

Jim

 

[Moose]

The setting for audio type has all, analog only, digital only. I initially set it for digital
because I was only interested in the FD. But have since set it to receive all, that way I should be able to hear both the digital FD transmissions as well as the analog for everyone else, excepting PD. Control Channel Only is on.

 

[W2SJW]

Moose,

That 'digital only' option is only for conventional channels. It will stop analog co-channel users from opening the receiver (like with Lakewood PD on 453.325 - most people with other than the 996 would hear So. Plainfield PD as well with a good-enough antenna).

 

[robbinsj2]

W2SJW, from the 996 manual it appears that this setting is available for TGIDs as well as conventional channels. Since this system has been set up to not have mixed-mode talkgroups, this option isn't so important.

Moose, the scanner stopping on the encrypted police talkgroups makes me think something is fundamentally off, as if it is programmed as conventional (except then you wouldn't have a control channel only choice). I suggest you start from scratch:
1) Create a new system, of the type mentioned above.
2) Program in the four control channel frequencies, no more.
3) Program in the two base/offset/step configurations.
4) Set it to ID Search without programming any TGIDs.
5a) Monitor it for long enough to determine if it is receiving anything (duration depends upon time of day). Or,
5b) Set it for TGID auto-store and let it run for hours. Check later to see if it found anything. Or,
5c) Monitor 155.2350/100.0 for dispatches by Franklin, then listen closely to the trunked system for activity on the EMS dispatch channel.

The Franklin fire companies aren't using the trunked system for anything more than sporadic testing. Most of the active Franklin talkgroups (excluding 911, main, and an OEM tac) are digital, even DPW and animal control and construction code officials.

 

[W2SJW]

W2SJW, from the 996 manual it appears that this setting is available for TGIDs as well as conventional channels.

Thanks Jim! You learn something new every day...

I just wish that Uniden would flash-upgrade the 396 on the next firmware to have that very same feature...

 

[Moose]

Jim,

Thanks for your help, but I think the problem may be out of my control. I programmed all the frequencies as conventional channels so I could listen to what is going on each individual freq. Today I am picking up the control channel on 472.35 but there is some type of interference from some other station that may well be in my immediate area and is bleeding over. I catch a few words in Spanish so I know it is not a Public Service radio. Secondly, on 472. 350 I am getting very heavy interference from something, but what I don't know. Electronic in nature and constant. Sounds like " duhduhduhduhdudhduhduhduh"
. This may be what is causing my inability to hear anything. Occasionally a talk group would appear, but very fleeting.

 

[W2SJW]

Moose,

Take a look at my site here: http://www.w2sjw.com/radio_sounds.html

Check sections 2, 3, & 4, and then tell us if the sound you hear matches anything I have...

 

[Moose]

Sound

Nice page Scott. My sound is not there. It's more of a steady, constant, never ending repetition "duhduhduh......". It's fast. But I don't think it has anything to do with trunking. Some otherworldy electronic sound.

Moose

 

[W2SJW]

Where are you located? I really want to hear this sound for myself...

I get around a lot for work, and if you are from the Franklin area. I'm over on the west side of the county.

 

[robbinsj2]

Moose,

I also sent you a PM. At around 2:30 today, and again now, the control channel has been on 472.325. (I haven't monitored continuously to be sure it hasn't changed and changed back.)

Are you receiving nothing on 472.325? I wonder if the 996 is getting thrown off by the interference on 472.350. If you do get the CC on .325, try deleting .350 from the control channel list and see if that helps.

Jim

 

[Moose]

Scott,

I'm up in Newark. Which may explain why adjacent channel interference would cause me not to hear Franklin correctly. This morning I did catch a few snippets of chatter from Franklin EMS, but nothing extended.

Jim,

My typo. I was hearing the CC on 472.325 where it is today. That is the frequency where I hear Spanish on occasion, not clearly though. 472.350 is where I hear the electronic noise which is very strong. Easily would cover over any transmissions by Franklin. Guess I have to live without hearing Franklin. Thanks for the help, though.

 

[W2SJW]

WOW! Damn, I'm jealous! I live in Branchburg, and can barely receive the system here.

I was told that the twp. only has two main transmitting sites - PD H.Q. on DeMott Ln., and the other down near the quarry close to Rocky Hill.

My buddy can get in from Hopewell/Ewing, but I can't hear squat when not in my truck...

 

[mikea7531]

Scott, don't feel bad. I live right over the boarder in South Bound Brook and I can barely pick them up on my 396. To get them clear, i have to use the antenna on my roof, or the one in my truck. I think their transmitters are very directional.

 

[williafa]

franklin trunking

Franklin township in somerset county is digital trunk and encrypted and no scanner radio will pick them up.

 

[W2SJW]

Franklin township in somerset county is digital trunk and encrypted and no scanner radio will pick them up.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=1318

OK, scroll down to the Franklin FD, EMS, & Twp. Services sections...

Please think twice before posting such a ridiculously blunt comment next time. EVERYONE in this thread is WELL AWARE of the operational status of Franklin's zone on the county TRS...

 

[kenisned]

Along the same lines, but a different question...

I hear Police TG's on the Somerset TRS. I do NOT hear any fire or EMS... I am even searching the system instead of TG Scanning.

Any ideas?