BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Help with programming trunked system

[Tgrzes]

Hi everyone. I'm trying to manually program two P25 trunked sites into my BCD996P2. I've read the "easy" instructions and watched a couple of videos, but I'm not having any luck. Here's what I've done so far:

• I Created a System, selected P25 as the Type and set the ID Format to Decimal
• Created a Site and added all the Frequencies listed in Radio Reference for UHF North Simulcast shown here.

• Created a group and entered 1017 as the Channel ID

• I created another site under the same system and added the frequencies for Passaic County Simulcast

• Created a group and entered two Channel IDs: 5631 and 5633

When scanning, I can see it’s running thru the new sites, but I’m still not picking up any transmissions. I have access to a radio with these talk groups and when I key the mic, the scanner isn't picking it up. Did I miss something obvious? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!



When scanning, I can see it’s running thru the new sites, but I’m still not picking up any transmissions.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums. Have a read at wiki below about what simulcast distortion is. Chances are you're suffering from it if you're within range to two or more towers on the simulcast. There are a number of multipath mitigation workarounds you can try in the wiki but you'd be much better off with a Uniden SDS100 or SDS200 as these scanners were designed with simulcast in mind & can best mitigate the effects of simulcast distortion

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Tgrzes]

Welcome to the RR forums. Have a read at wiki below about what simulcast distortion is. Chances are you're suffering from it if you're within range to two or more towers on the simulcast. There are a number of multipath mitigation workarounds you can try in the wiki but you'd be much better off with a Uniden SDS100 or SDS200 as these scanners were designed with simulcast in mind & can best mitigate the effects of simulcast distortion

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Thank you! I'll have a look at that.

 

[a727469]

Probably simulcast, but if you are just scanning have you tried setting it to search to see if any other talk groups are received. The 996 can work on simulcast in unique situations usually where you are very close to a tower that is so strong it overshadows another one on the same frequency.

 

[Tgrzes]

I read thru the wiki on simulcast distortion that Whiskey3JMC mentioned. One of the suggestions was to open the squelch all the way up and that seems to have helped when it's at 2 since it's now picking up the 1017 talk group when I key the mic and I picked up some other traffic as well. It didn't pick up the other two talk groups when I keyed the mic on those channels, so I need to take another look at those. But at least I'm making some progress! Thanks!

 

[ecps92]

I read thru the wiki on simulcast distortion that Whiskey3JMC mentioned. One of the suggestions was to open the squelch all the way up and that seems to have helped when it's at 2 since it's now picking up the 1017 talk group when I key the mic and I picked up some other traffic as well. It didn't pick up the other two talk groups when I keyed the mic on those channels, so I need to take another look at those. But at least I'm making some progress! Thanks!

Keep in-mind, transmitting so close to the scanner, can a do damage, but also will impact the reception of the radio to hear the trunked system. Also key up more than 5ft away

 

[Enforcer52]

What town are you located in?

Are you using the indoor antenna or an outside antenna?

I can find Passaic Simulcast in NJICS system, how far away are you from Passaic?

What system is the UHF North Simulcast on, since it is not on NJICS?

 

[Tgrzes]

What town are you located in?

Are you using the indoor antenna or an outside antenna?

I can find Passaic Simulcast in NJICS system, how far away are you from Passaic?

What system is the UHF North Simulcast on, since it is not on NJICS?

I'm in Mahwah which is Bergen County in NJ.
I'm using the stock indoor antenna that comes with the BCD996P.
Bergen is right next to Passaic and it looks like Passaic Simulcast covers a large portion of Bergen county. Franklin Lakes FD is right next to my town and even though they are in Bergen County, they chose to use NJICS and the Passaic Simulcast.

UHF North Simulcast is in the Bergen County System and that one seems to be working now that I opened the squelch to 2. Franklin Lakes FD on the Passaic Simulcast is still not working.

 

[Enforcer52]

Other than a programming or antenna issue, you seem to have both towers within range of the scanner. Might try moving the scanner around the house and see if it picks up any better. Also take it outside (if you have an outlet) and see if the reception gets better.