Help with Phoenix system

[elephant]

I have the BC396T, and really love it. But I'm having one devil of a time getting Phoenix programmed in.

I live in west Phoenix around 43rd Ave & Glendale. I work out in Tempe. Those are the only two places I listen.

I have Simulcast "C" programmed in and listening out in Tempe is great. I can listen inside the office even with all the computers and network wiring.

But I can't seem to get the west side at home to work. Have tried different frequencies, but none of them seem strong enough and the error rate is very high. Transmissions are very choppy.

Also, once I get the west side to come in good (with your help), do I have to create two seperate USAD files? Or, will I be able to get everything into one file. I'd rather have one quick key for Phoneix PD and use that for both work and at home.

You expertise is greatly appreciated.

Doug

 

[ctrl]

867.9625 is what I primarily use at 75th/peoria, works great.

867.1375 Also works, pretty good over here.

p25 decode set at 7, on auto.

I dont know how well these work on the eastside.

You can, make 2 systems with the same quick key, also. It "should" switch over to the best control channel, however the jury is out on how well that works.

Good luck.

 

[SCPD]

867.9625 is what I primarily use at 75th/peoria, works great.

867.1375 Also works, pretty good over here.

p25 decode set at 7, on auto.

I dont know how well these work on the eastside.

You can, make 2 systems with the same quick key, also. It "should" switch over to the best control channel, however the jury is out on how well that works.

Good luck.

Yea, I think the best CC for your area would be the 867.9625, woiks well for me too.

As ctrl said it sould switch over to the best CC but with my experience that doesent work very well, so you might just have to lock out different control channels depending where you are. Thats what I have to do.

-Dylan

 

[rankin6]

Phoenix

I use the preprogramed ones for Phoenix and hear it fine in the Surprise , Elmirage area.

Mike

 

[khobbs]

Scottsdale Area

I am from the Midwest and plan on vacationing in Scottsdale soon. Since I am not familar with the area which PRWN system do you think covers that area the best?

thanks

 

[jasonpeoria911]

What you could do is, if you have a CC only tracking scanner. Just program all the CC's into one bank, then as you travel it'll pick up the strongest one. If your stationary and it happens to pick up a staticy one, just lock it out until you find one thats fairly strong. Or if you want, just look at the tower site list and find a good northern one like near Peoria. I havn't looked at the list in awhile but a northern one will suit you fine.

Jason

 

[AZScanner]

I am from the Midwest and plan on vacationing in Scottsdale soon. Since I am not familar with the area which PRWN system do you think covers that area the best?

thanks

You should be able to get simulcast C pretty well from there. A and B can also be received in Scottsdale.

Don't forget the county system. That's where you'll find the sheriff's dept and Scottsdale PD, among others. Use the Thompson Peak CC.

Enjoy your visit! Hope you like heat...we've already hit triple digits out here.

-AZ

 

[khobbs]

Thanks

Thanks for the info, that is just what I needed. Sounds like I might need to find some cold beverages to fight off the heat.


Ken

You should be able to get simulcast C pretty well from there. A and B can also be received in Scottsdale.

Don't forget the county system. That's where you'll find the sheriff's dept and Scottsdale PD, among others. Use the Thompson Peak CC.

Enjoy your visit! Hope you like heat...we've already hit triple digits out here.

-AZ

 

[elephant]

Problem pretty much solved

Thanks to all for your replies. Sorry it took so long to respond, got called out of town.

I programmed in the CC for Peoria as well as the CC listed for Chandler/Tempe. I works great without having to lock anything out. On the west side, the Tempe signal is too weak, so the scanner locks in on the west side. Vice versa for when I'm in Tempe.

I do wish I lived closer to a site at home. The Peoria site is the strongest of all the west sights, yet it still isn't strong enough to give the best reception. Lots of drop outs if I'm walking around. But, the good news is that in Tempe, even inside the office with all the computers and wiring, I always get a full 5 bars! Reception and decoding is perfect.

I must live in a dead zone. Working on trying to get a decent signal now for MCSO. Signal strength on all of their CC's is weak, too. Thompson Peak barely registers.
I'll experiment with different antenna's to see what will help. At least I know that the scanner is working perfectly. When I'm at work, sound quality is superb!

Now, for another question. If I use the control channel that I use in Tempe to hear Phx PD, can I use that same CC and put in the talk groups to listen to Phx Fire? Tried it the other day, but didn't get any hits for Phoenix Fire talk groups. Do I have to use a whole different set of control channels? Same question for Sky Harbor police. I was under the impression that the whole system was simulcast, or am I misunderstanding how it works.

Doug

 

[AZScanner]

Now, for another question. If I use the control channel that I use in Tempe to hear Phx PD, can I use that same CC and put in the talk groups to listen to Phx Fire? Tried it the other day, but didn't get any hits for Phoenix Fire talk groups. Do I have to use a whole different set of control channels? Same question for Sky Harbor police. I was under the impression that the whole system was simulcast, or am I misunderstanding how it works.

Doug

Doug,

I think you're misunderstanding how the system works. It is designed as a simulcast system for the users of the system, not us scanner moes. For you to hear a specific talkgroup, there must be an actual system radio also monitoring that same talkgroup on the same CC that you are locked on to. If not, you will not hear any comm's on that talkgroup. That is why sometimes you can hear Mesa FD on simulcast C and sometimes you can't, or sometimes you will hear Phoenix FD on simulcast D.

An example:

Let's say I'm a system user and you are a scanner listener. You are locked on to simulcast C in Tempe. In this example:

Simulcast C <---- my radio affiliates here.
Simulcast C <---- your scanner is decoding here.

You can hear what my radio hears.

But in this example:
Simulcast D <---- my radio affiliates here.
Simulcast C <---- your scanner is decoding here.

You will not hear what my radio hears (unless there's another radio on the same talkgroup as I am affiliated with C).

Hopefully that makes sense.

Once in a blue moon you might hear Sky Harbor FD Dispatch on C, but most of the time they use the Sky Harbor ISR. You might be close enough to pull it in if your on the west end of tempe. I can pick the Sky Harbor ISR up from my desk at 9th and Jefferson in Phoenix just fine.

To answer your other question (MCSO) try White Tanks instead of Thompson Peak. You should get better results.

-AZ