Harris County Texas SMARTNET Trunk scanning help

[Rotornator]

I have a Uniden Bearcat 780XLT and I am having receiving issues while scanning trunked talkgroups. I have programmed all the frequencies from the Houston and Tomball area towers into my scanner, but when I scan the Sheriff's department, I miss most of the replies. I have all the talkgroup ID's programmed, and hear some of the radio traffic, but miss most of it. I am using an Austin Spectra antenna, so I know it is not an antenna issue. Is anyone else having this problem? If not, what am I doing wrong?

 

[mfn002]

I suppose you are referring to the TxWARN Type II system. I've never used a 780, so I don't know how they work. It might be that the scanner is getting "confused" by the two seperate control channels, since it probably cannot monitor multiple sites in one system like the newer scanners (396T and later) can. In reality, I don't really know, but I thought that I'd mention this.

 

[Rotornator]

Yes I am referring to that system. I live in NW Harris County, so I only programmed the TOMBALL tower control channels into my scanner, along with all the freqs in the HOUSTON and TOMBALL tower section. I can only store 50 freqs per bank, so maybe I have to put the entire list of freqs into my scanner and not just the ones listed above. I really don't know because I have never had this type of problem before.

 

[mfn002]

Did you put in all 31 of the frequencies for site 001? Also, you need to put in all of the frequencies for the Tomball tower. The missing frequencies are probably why you are having trouble monitoring the system.

 

[hiegtx]

Yes I am referring to that system. I live in NW Harris County, so I only programmed the TOMBALL tower control channels into my scanner, along with all the freqs in the HOUSTON and TOMBALL tower section. I can only store 50 freqs per bank, so maybe I have to put the entire list of freqs into my scanner and not just the ones listed above. I really don't know because I have never had this type of problem before.

Your BC780 will only use the first active control channel it finds, so you can only program one site, per bank, if you are intending to let the scanner trunk-track it. You also must program the frequencies, as trunked frequencies, and for the correct trunking type (Mot type 2), and be in trunking mode when scanning. With the 780, you must either enter all the site's frequencies, or, if choosing "control channel only", choose the correct channel plan. More on trunk programming can be found in the manual. The PDF version is here; trunk programming starts on page manual page 37, which looks to be about page 45 of the PDF file
If you've put all the other frequencies in a bank, and, possibly, are not scanning in trunked mode. that may be why you are not hearing replies. Are you using any software, or programming by hand, manually, through the keyboard on the scanner.

Note that while you can only enter the trunking frequencies for one site in a back, you can enter conventional frequencies in the remainder of that bank.

 

[Rotornator]

Did you put in all 31 of the frequencies for site 001? Also, you need to put in all of the frequencies for the Tomball tower. The missing frequencies are probably why you are having trouble monitoring the system.

Every freq from site 001 (except the control channels) and every freq from site 002 (with control channels) are in there. I don't have the control channels from site 001 because I am closer to the Tomball tower.

 

[Rotornator]

Your BC780 will only use the first active control channel it finds, so you can only program one site, per bank, if you are intending to let the scanner trunk-track it. You also must program the frequencies, as trunked frequencies, and for the correct trunking type (Mot type 2), and be in trunking mode when scanning. With the 780, you must either enter all the site's frequencies, or, if choosing "control channel only", choose the correct channel plan. More on trunk programming can be found in the manual. The PDF version is here; trunk programming starts on page manual page 37, which looks to be about page 45 of the PDF file
If you've put all the other frequencies in a bank, and, possibly, are not scanning in trunked mode. that may be why you are not hearing replies. Are you using any software, or programming by hand, manually, through the keyboard on the scanner.

Note that while you can only enter the trunking frequencies for one site in a back, you can enter conventional frequencies in the remainder of that bank.

Yes I understand what you are saying and I already ruled out that possibility due to me troubleshooting.

 

[mfn002]

Every freq from site 001 (except the control channels) and every freq from site 002 (with control channels) are in there. I don't have the control channels from site 001 because I am closer to the Tomball tower.

That's probably why you are having trouble. Each site has its own seperate set of frequencies. You can't just enter the frequencies for the Harris County site without the control channel present. The scanner won't track the system properly. What I suggest you do is give each site its own seperate bank. That way, you can listen to both.

 

[Rotornator]

That's probably why you are having trouble. Each site has its own seperate set of frequencies. You can't just enter the frequencies for the Harris County site without the control channel present. The scanner won't track the system properly. What I suggest you do is give each site its own seperate bank. That way, you can listen to both.

So I only need to use the 10 freqs listed for the TOMBALL tower site 002? OK, I'll try that and see if I can hear anything. Thank you for your assistance so far!