Hawai'i County Radio System Upgrade

[DeDawg]

Watching with a spectrum analyzer and can see the Kona control channel very strong at 151.3925

151.15 seems to be the most active frequency popping up, with 151.0175 periodically coming on. Not sure what you call those frequencies, but they are active.

No P2 scanner yet, so no idea what to do with this info. Dunno if you have to enter in these channels along with the control freq or what. Sure I saw them listed somewhere here when the switchover happened and they are indeed up.

 

[ccs247]

Watching with a spectrum analyzer and can see the Kona control channel very strong at 151.3925

151.15 seems to be the most active frequency popping up, with 151.0175 periodically coming on. Not sure what you call those frequencies, but they are active.

No P2 scanner yet, so no idea what to do with this info. Dunno if you have to enter in these channels along with the control freq or what. Sure I saw them listed somewhere here when the switchover happened and they are indeed up.

Recommend programming all frequencies for each site as the control channel can switch to any of the frequencies at any time.

 

[DeDawg]

So, anyone had any luck listening to Kona HPD or Fire? Waiting to pull the trigger on a P2 scanner when I know it will work.

Got a boatload of grief coming from the wife about another radio, so want to make sure it is worth it.

 

[scan18]

So, anyone had any luck listening to Kona HPD or Fire? Waiting to pull the trigger on a P2 scanner when I know it will work.

Got a boatload of grief coming from the wife about another radio, so want to make sure it is worth it.

I was able to listen to District 6 Kona police on the North Kona site today. I was in Waimea and reception was a bit spotty, but I could still hear the communications pretty well. So I would think you shouldn't have any problems.

However, if I was going to give a recommendation to someone looking to buy a new phase 2 scanner immediately, I can say that I've only had luck so far with the Uniden models. I am unable to receive any voice traffic on my Radio Shack Pro-668. Another member on here has a Whistler WS1088 and I believe they have not had any luck receiving an that model either, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

 

[SCPD]

I was able to listen to District 6 Kona police on the North Kona site today. I was in Waimea and reception was a bit spotty, but I could still hear the communications pretty well. So I would think you shouldn't have any problems.

However, if I was going to give a recommendation to someone looking to buy a new phase 2 scanner immediately, I can say that I've only had luck so far with the Uniden models. I am unable to receive any voice traffic on my Radio Shack Pro-668. Another member on here has a Whistler WS1088 and I believe they have not had any luck receiving an that model either, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

My Whistler 1088 got something this morning (locked onto the control channel in Kailua and few transmissions on HFD and HPD, but very garbled and signal had cut out after that.), but My Uniden HP-2 finally got hit on HFD and HPD in Kona, Kohala, and Kau. Kau was spotty but able to hear them with no issues other than distorted signal. Kohala similar to Kau, but better signal strength. Kona heard loud and clear (Don't live far from the Kailua site). I'll confirm 6504 HFD Kona OPS, 6505 HFD Dispatch, and 6108 HPD Kona OPS/District 6.

Whistler had to list all the sites under the EZScan software and organized by number figured out from Data Decoded on Pro96Com. Locked out alternate control channels on all and got it to work for short-time. So far I have to say the Uniden is decoding this P25 better so far, hopefully I'll hear something soon. I'll probably waiting till this upgrade is finalized and download it into my Whistler or switch it for a Uniden 436HP.

 

[ccs247]

Bcd325p2 & bcd996p2

Reception is greatly improved by manually setting the P25 threshold level to 8. The threshold level will reset to Default each time the scanner is turned on.

Press and hold down the HOLD key while pressing the Power key.
After the scanner starts up, press the MENU key and scroll to Settings and press the E key.
Scroll to P25 Threshold and press the E key.
Scroll to Level 8 and press the E key.
Press the MENU key until the scanner resumes scanning.

I also level 8 for the BCD436HP and BCD536HP. They retain the manual setting and do not have to be reset each time the scanner is turned on.

 

[808djmkona]

Encription

Recommend programming all frequencies for each site as the control channel can switch to any of the frequencies at any time.

does it seem like any of the police frequencies are encripted at this point. I dont have the scanner I am going to get yet BCD 436HP i am new & dont want to invest in a scanner if the frequencies are encripted. I am mainly interested in Police & fire.

 

[DeDawg]

Reception is greatly improved by manually setting the P25 threshold level to 8. The threshold level will reset to Default each time the scanner is turned on.

Press and hold down the HOLD key while pressing the Power key.
After the scanner starts up, press the MENU key and scroll to Settings and press the E key.
Scroll to P25 Threshold and press the E key.
Scroll to Level 8 and press the E key.
Press the MENU key until the scanner resumes scanning.

I also level 8 for the BCD436HP and BCD536HP. They retain the manual setting and do not have to be reset each time the scanner is turned on.

Was really thinking about the 996P2, but having to reset the threshold manually every time I turn it on would be a PITA. The higher price of the 536HP may be worth it for that if it ends up being successful decoding Kona.

Clarity of speech is of great interest to me. The old Kona repeater system was very overmodulated and difficult to understand.

Listened to the old system with a Pro-2045, R-100, BC780, and BCT15X, all had very harsh voice.

 

[scan18]

If you've never listened to a P25 system before, then it may take some getting used to. The 996P2 has good audio, but there are some mobile units that are difficult to understand on the new system. Sometimes the dispatch is very soft. I think it just depends on who is using the radio, some people's voices come through very clear and easy to understand. Some of the users tend to mumble which doesn't help.

 

[ccs247]

does it seem like any of the police frequencies are encripted at this point. I dont have the scanner I am going to get yet BCD 436HP i am new & dont want to invest in a scanner if the frequencies are encripted. I am mainly interested in Police & fire.

No encryption on Kau, Puna, Hilo or Hamakua police and fire talk groups so far. No guarantee that it won't happen.

 

[mmartinfan]

I will be in Kona April 23 to April 28. I will have my 436 with me and should be able to Ill try to record some audio and put it up on Youtube for everyone to hear.

 

[808djmkona]

Hi I live in Kona and am thinking about getting the 436 scanner also. I wonder if you would be willing to help me by going over it with me. I am certain I will need your advice and any pointers you can give. Or if I haven't gotten it by than with yours. I am concerned about Hawaii County going to encryption which would make it impossible to monitor. Danny

 

[SCPD]

Submitted WQVS949 Papa Bay Estates (Ohia Mill) site for Hawaii County database. Got a hit on it earlier today while decoding from HP-2. I locked onto to listen to Ka'u Ops and got a pretty good signal all the way from Kailua-Kona. I had a weak signal from Captain Cook and Moanuiahea sites. Drive around Kona again later today and see if I get anything from the 2 sites. Whistler 1088 finally began hearing some traffic on the Kona OPS for HFD and HPD yesterday, still little garbled, going to tweak a few more settings and see the end results hopefully soon. Had to leave on Browse Mode and had better results than using Scan Mode, I don't know why, but it's little weird.

 

[namrogorman]

Uniden BCD325P2

I just got my BCD325P2 and programmed the control frequencies using freescan software. I got two events of voice transmission last night even though the scanner locked into the talk groups several times and the signal strength was good. I should have gotten more conversations when comparing listening on the analog version. At first the band plan I entered was left blank and it filled in automatically after locking into a frequency. band plan frequencies for lines 4 through B were identical to what was listed in a previous thread but for some reason line 0 with a frequency of 851.00625/6.25 was added. I am at a loss as to why my scanner picks up voice intermittently and why a 800 mhz frequency is added to my band plan after locking into a talk group. I changed my threshold from 8 to 3 thinking that it may help but there was no change. I also fiddled with the delays and it did not help. If someone with a BCD326P2 can give advice on how to tweak my settings to get voice that would be great. I have a few theories: my scanner settings are wrong, the transmission is going to the 800 mhz range with a dual system in place or the broadcast is encrypted but occasionally transmits unencrypted which I read can happen.

 

[scan18]

A couple of suggestions:

If you are monitoring from home, try monitoring just one site, the one that is closest to you.

If you are very close to the site you are monitoring, try turning on attenuation. I noticed at first my BCD996P2 (which is the base version of the 325P2) would appear to be receiving talkgroups but no audio similar to what you describe. As soon as I turned on ATT, everything started coming through. I realized because I was so close to the tower, I think the receiver was getting overloaded.

Don't worry about the band plan settings, you shouldn't have to touch those on a P25 trunked system. I see those 800 MHz channels in mine also, not sure why they are there.

 

[namrogorman]

Thanks for the reply. I am in Hilo now at work and set the threshold to auto and monitored the values as they adjusted and after awhile they settled in and I am getting voice on the following three control channels 156.1650 151.2350 151.4225. I changed the delay to Zero and my attenuation is on.

 

[SCPD]

A couple of suggestions:

If you are monitoring from home, try monitoring just one site, the one that is closest to you.

If you are very close to the site you are monitoring, try turning on attenuation. I noticed at first my BCD996P2 (which is the base version of the 325P2) would appear to be receiving talkgroups but no audio similar to what you describe. As soon as I turned on ATT, everything started coming through. I realized because I was so close to the tower, I think the receiver was getting overloaded.

Don't worry about the band plan settings, you shouldn't have to touch those on a P25 trunked system. I see those 800 MHz channels in mine also, not sure why they are there.

Pretty Much what I had to do to just get voice transmissions on my Whistler 1088. I also changed the Dwell time from 0.8 secs to full 25secs and notice significant differences in quality. Also changed the Data Threshold levels from 80 to 99 on the data decode. I noticed that as well on my HP-2 and Whistler 1088 as well, seeing 800 Mhz channel for all the talkgroups. I noted it down for future reference, in the event they switch over to Simulcast system similar to Maui.

And I also submitted the tower info for Moanuiahea site. I got a good signal from it today after adjusting my antenna at my house. Didn't get any information from the Captain Cook site yet. In Kona, Got strong signals from Ohia Mill, Moanuiahea, and Even the Kahua Ranch site. Able to Hear the entire West Hawaii talkgroups.

 

[namrogorman]

I work at the summit of Mauna Kea and will bring my BCD325P2 with me on Monday 4/10. Will report what I receive. Should be able to reach Hilo, Waimea and North Kohala and Maui. Anyone know the Hana side of Maui control frequency?

 

[ccs247]

I work at the summit of Mauna Kea and will bring my BCD325P2 with me on Monday 4/10. Will report what I receive. Should be able to reach Hilo, Waimea and North Kohala and Maui. Anyone know the Hana side of Maui control frequency?

You should get a very strong signal from the Humuula site.

Database shows Hana control frequency as 852.7375. Other frequencies include: 851.2125 851.4625 852.4625 and 853.7125.

 

[scan18]

Pretty Much what I had to do to just get voice transmissions on my Whistler 1088. I also changed the Dwell time from 0.8 secs to full 25secs and notice significant differences in quality. Also changed the Data Threshold levels from 80 to 99 on the data decode. I noticed that as well on my HP-2 and Whistler 1088 as well, seeing 800 Mhz channel for all the talkgroups. I noted it down for future reference, in the event they switch over to Simulcast system similar to Maui.

And I also submitted the tower info for Moanuiahea site. I got a good signal from it today after adjusting my antenna at my house. Didn't get any information from the Captain Cook site yet. In Kona, Got strong signals from Ohia Mill, Moanuiahea, and Even the Kahua Ranch site. Able to Hear the entire West Hawaii talkgroups.

On your WS1088, would you be willing to share what you are using for the Trunking Tables option on the Site Options tab in EZScan? Do you have it set to "Auto-Fill" or do you have it set to "Custom"? If it is set to Custom, would you be willing to share (perhaps post an image if possible) of the table entries?

I'm wondering if my Pro-668 is not pulling in the trunking tables automatically from the control channel data.