How to determine the proper LCN order for an EDACS TRS???

[bassmkenk2508]

I am fairly new on the scene of EDACS TRS and am wondering what the best approach to determining the proper channel numbering order for an EDACS trunked system is. I live on campus at Mississippi State University and it runs on an EDACS system. MSU is in the database on the radioreference.com site but the numbering is not in the correct order. I was wondering how to figure out the right order so I can work on it.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Bryan.

 

[Thayne]

1. If you have 2 conventional scanners then scan the freqs you have conventionally, (Not the CC, but it shouln't change anyway).

With 2 scanners you can see the order in which channels become active and figure it out. When you think you have it right then program it correctly for trunking. Don't forget to always start at channel 1 in the bank.
If you don't seem to ever miss replies then you have it right.

2. Or you could run ETrunk on the control channel--

Hope this helps

 

[bassmkenk2508]

thanks, it sure does!

 

[JoeyC]

Suppose you get the proper LCN for a 15 freq system. How do you know where the control channel fits in the sequence if you don't have Trunker?? Do you just have to move the control around into different positions until the system works, or is there an easier way?

 

[INDY72]

And be sure to PM me or submit the usual way with the proper LCN's and any new TG's. That way I can update the DB here. TY in advance!

 

[INDY72]

Once you have the right LCN's,.. all you have to do regarding the CC on your scanner is make sure you have it in trunking mode lol,.. but please submit any info you have to the db so the admins can put it in. The only real important thing in trunking an EDACS system in a scanner is the LCN's, it doesn't really matter which chan is the CC.... as long as you can get the CC loud and clear for usage... How it works in an actual EDACS Radio may be important for lineup,.. but I don't think so. From what is posted here,.. the HT's and Mobiles only care that they can recieve the CC, and that they are programed with the right LCN/TG combo.

 

[INDY72]

Also the way to find the CC for where it is is this,... go manually through the lineup of LCN's and you will know the CC when you hit it,... the loud BUZZING will tell you that,.. then look at the freq and its position.. write it down, there you go.

 

[JoeyC]

I dont think you understand my question. Lets say you have 4 freqs in a system:
856.2125
857.2125
858.2125
859.2125

At this point, you don't know which freq is the control or what the LCN is. You listen to each freq and determine that 858.2125 is the control. Listening to the other freqs you determine that 856.2125 is before 859.2125 and 857.2125 is after 859.2125. So far we know the order as 856/859/857. Where does the cc fit in the order? You can either put it before 856, before 859, before 857 or after 857. Either way, you change the positions of all 4 freqs (in the LCN) until you find out where the cc fits. If the control works out to be in LCN01, then 856 is LCN02 and so on. If the control works out to be in LCN02 then 856 is in LCN01. Not exactly the same LCN.

 

[INDY72]

This is where you have to listen over time,.. try firstly using the CC as LCN 1,.... and it may work... its trial and error till you do not miss any convos while trunking..... also remember that CC's can and do rotate.

EX: Jackson, MS EDACS,.... the CC rotates between two chans on a weekly basis for each site. It took me nearly 2 years to get the right LCN for that system using a PRO-94 and a 2052. Once you have all the voice chans known in LCN,.. you have to play around with where the CC fits.. once you put it in the right place, you will get complete comms on the system in trunking mode. It can be tricky.

 

[JoeyC]

Thanks, thats what I figured. Glad I don't have to figure out a 15 channel system!

also remember that CC's can and do rotate.

They do on some systems, not all.

 

[INDY72]

Good luck to you.

 

[FyrFytr44]

Greene County Ohio EDACS help!

I am hoping someone here can help me. Using the list on this site for the Greene County EDACS system I tried to put them into my Pro-95 using the Win95 software.
I can hear the talkgroups just fine, but as soon as they are done talking it sounds as though it defaults back to the control channel. It is easy to fix, just press scan on the scanner, but that is kind of a pain while driving down the road. Any help is much appreciated!

 

[INDY72]

Are you using open or closed mode? And does the 95 offer a trunking delay like the 94?

 

[DaveH]

1. If you have 2 conventional scanners then scan the freqs you have conventionally, (Not the CC, but it shouln't change anyway).

With 2 scanners you can see the order in which channels become active and figure it out. When you think you have it right then program it correctly for trunking. Don't forget to always start at channel 1 in the bank.
If you don't seem to ever miss replies then you have it right.

2. Or you could run ETrunk on the control channel--

Hope this helps

First, make sure you have all the channels. Running Etrunk (if you can) will
give you a list of LCNs, but not the frequencies. Set up the channels in
conventional scan mode (at first). Watch the Etrunk display during a
quiet time, tracking a single user through each channel, noting the LCN.

If you can't run Etrunk:

If you have a PRO-92 or PRO-2067 (or can borrow one), park it on
the CC in manual mode (with channel set to ED). It will tell you the LCN
of the CC, even when idle. If the CC rotates, you can pick up several
LCNs from this.

One EDACS system I monitor assigns channels in ascending LCN
order. It used to be descending up until a few years ago. Some systems
might still be the latter. Wait for a quiet time a track a single user through
the frequencies. That will give you the order. Unfortunately, some systems
have missing LCNs so it may not completely work, and/or some channels
may be out of service at the time.

When you have the channels identified and programmed as EDACS, test
during quiet time by scanning conventionally on a second scanner, watching
the EDACS scanner. If you miss parts of the conversation, the order is
not right.

Dave

 

[INDY72]

Cool did not know this feature of the 92/2067.... that will come in handy.. I am trading my 92 for a 2067 in the next couple of days,.. and I travel to MSU sometimes to see my sister... maybe this will become a joint/group effort on it..

 

[DaveH]

I just remembered another feature of the 92/2067 that will help you figure
out the system quickly and accurately...no guessing. When there are no users
on the system and you are parked on the CC, it will display (for example):

CTL-02 (if the CC's LCN is 02)

When a user comes on the system it will display (for example):

04-0753

This means that TG (decimal) 0753 is current on LCN 04 !
Forget the AFS format for the moment as the 92/2067 don't use it.
So try to get a single user on the system, scan conventionally on
a second scanner and match the active LCN with the frequency
each time.

If you get multiple users on at once, the 92/2067 display will
flip through the different users quickly, which can be confusing.

One limitation: the 92/2067 ignore Provoice (digital) TGs, so there must
be at least one analog group on the system for this to work.

Dave

 

[kikito]

If you have a PRO-92 or PRO-2067 (or can borrow one), park it on
the CC in manual mode (with channel set to ED). It will tell you the LCN
of the CC, even when idle. If the CC rotates, you can pick up several
LCNs from this.

Just FYI: The Pro-95 and Pro-96 do this also....

 

[INDY72]

I wouldn't even want to try to tackle a provoice system at all.....and of course you can't tackle a esk system.

 

[DaveH]

That begs the question as to whether the PRO-93/2053 also can do this. Most likely, but maybe someone can confirm this.

Dave

 

[kikito]

That begs the question as to whether the PRO-93/2053 also can do this. Most likely, but maybe someone can confirm this.

Dave

YES