R30 How to decode P25 mode on ICOM - R30

[harbinger910]

I've been using my R30 for a while now, but can't figure out how to decode the P25 frequencies used my area. I live in Southern Utah and my trunking scanners pick them just fine, but when I create a P-Scan edge range w/ the base freq of 851.250 - 859.000 using 25Khz spacing using the P25 mode and scan the range the radio stops on certain frequencies and there's a signal there, but there's nothing decoded and no audio then it continues scanning. I don't understand this unless they're phase-2 signals. If I manually plug some of the 800mhz freq into the receiver say 851.837 using FM mode I can hear some of the channels fine. So, I guess my question is, why doesn't the P25 decoding work? is it because my area is not using the P25 encoding or maybe it's phase-2, or maybe there's something wrong w/ the receiver, don't know.

If I look at the RR settings here Utah Communications Authority Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies for my area it says the base freq is 851.250 w/ a connect tone of 138.46. I'm not sure how the connect tone works with the R30 since you can't use tones in P25, at least I don't think you can.

Anyway, can anyone shed light on this topic since I haven't found any videos of anyone setting up the P25 mode on the R20 or R30 just videos of others showing how great it is =)

 

[kj6psg]

That's not a P25 system, it's a Motorola Type II system using mostly analog voice.

 

[harbinger910]

Ok, that makes sense. So basically it would say System type = Project 25 Phase I / II or something if P25 was supported, is that correct? I thought our system trunk here had moved over to the p25 system, but I guess not since it does say Motorola Type II which I didn't notice =) Thanks replying

 

[kj6psg]

I don't see a P25 trunked system listed for your area. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe the database is missing something.

Type II trunking usually uses wideband analog voice, while Motorola ASTRO digital voice (almost always ASTRO IMBE, which is P25 CAI compatible; ASTRO VSELP is functionally extinct and scanners can't decode it) is an available voice option on some systems. Type II isn't P25 compliant and isn't P25 trunking. There's also Widepulse modulation for ASTRO voice, which may or may not decode on your receiver, but that's also pretty stinkin' rare and only useful on simulcasts.

In the context of Uniden scanners, TrunkTracker III scanners can follow rebanded Type II systems with analog voice, but you'd need TrunkTracker V for the tiny pool of ASTRO IMBE voice channels on that system. It sounds like you've already have that part taken care of on your other receivers. The R30 can't follow trunked systems, Type II or P25, so it isn't of much utility on an analog or mostly-analog Type II system since traffic sources or talkgroup IDs can't be displayed. You'll also want to use a 12.5 kHz step on 800 MHz.

 

[ka3jjz]

According to the database you do have a few P25 systems in Utah - but as mentioned, this radio can't trunktrack so it's a moot point. Interestingly you have a few MPT-1327 systems, too - while there are utilities that can read this system, no scanner can.

RRDB | Utah Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Utah (UT)

www.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[devicelab]

Interestingly you have a few MPT-1327 systems, too - while there are utilities that can read this system, no scanner can.

No scanner can track it but you can certainly listen to analog voice comms from it. In most cases you don't need to track anything.

 

[ka3jjz]

True but if you want to dig into the system, there are utilities available to do it. Happily, because the control channel for a MPT system is so slow, no discriminator tap is needed.....Mike

 

[k4ays]

I've been using my R30 for a while now, but can't figure out how to decode the P25 frequencies used my area. I live in Southern Utah and my trunking scanners pick them just fine, but when I create a P-Scan edge range w/ the base freq of 851.250 - 859.000 using 25Khz spacing using the P25 mode and scan the range the radio stops on certain frequencies and there's a signal there, but there's nothing decoded and no audio then it continues scanning. I don't understand this unless they're phase-2 signals. If I manually plug some of the 800mhz freq into the receiver say 851.837 using FM mode I can hear some of the channels fine. So, I guess my question is, why doesn't the P25 decoding work? is it because my area is not using the P25 encoding or maybe it's phase-2, or maybe there's something wrong w/ the receiver, don't know.

If I look at the RR settings here Utah Communications Authority Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies for my area it says the base freq is 851.250 w/ a connect tone of 138.46. I'm not sure how the connect tone works with the R30 since you can't use tones in P25, at least I don't think you can.

Anyway, can anyone shed light on this topic since I haven't found any videos of anyone setting up the P25 mode on the R20 or R30 just videos of others showing how great it is =)

Shouldn't P25 be narrowband 12.5Khz spacing?

 

[devicelab]

Shouldn't P25 be narrowband 12.5Khz spacing?

Yep -- always. The exception would be for HAM frequencies.

 

[k4ays]

Cool, I seen that harbinger910 said that he had P25 at 25Khz. I'll tell you what, I like the IC-R30 a whole lot and think it's a great radio. But the absence of P25 Phase II is a real turn off for me. I was actually ready to order one from HRO but when I seen that it was an instant no go. It doesn't have DMR which would not have stopped me from purchasing the radio, but no P25 Phase II definitely did.

 

[devicelab]

...the absence of P25 Phase II is a real turn off for me.

Phase 2 is trunking only. ICOM has never made a trunk-tracking scanner and probably won't -- ever.

 

[jaspence]

While it doesn't track, it will pick up the radio traffic very well. If it is not a real busy system, the scan rate of 200 channels a second won't miss much. I use it on a simulcast system and have excellent voice quality.

 

[k4ays]

While it doesn't track, it will pick up the radio traffic very well. If it is not a real busy system, the scan rate of 200 channels a second won't miss much. I use it on a simulcast system and have excellent voice quality.

You mean on P25 Phase I right because it doesn't receive Phase II? I do know for a trunking system you can put all the frequencies in memory and just scan those frequencies and it will pick up all the trunked frequencies

 

[devicelab]

While it doesn't track, it will pick up the radio traffic very well.

For Phase 1...

 

[bearcatrp]

Have noticed that too. I went ahead and entered all frequencies, primary and secondary into a memory channel. I scan that without issues. Plus it picks up both conversations. I grouped a few different areas and link them to scan the linked memory channels. Did mine by hand so it too a little bit, but was worth it. Picks up better than my 436.