i Call question

[BJ_NORTON]

Do i-Call numbers follow any sort of pattern like the talkgroups in AFS format? for example, if a talkgroup on the NSRS starts with 08-XXX it is probably a Nevada power talkgroup. I have been monitoring i-Calls today numbered i08175. So, would this be a NV Power i Call? I am using a uniden 780 if that helps.

Thanks for anyhelp, it would be nice to know who is making some of these extremely weird conversations.

BJ

 

[Thayne]

I-calls show the LID (Logical ID #) of one of the parties to the I-call, although you will hear both parties talking as long as you hold onto the ID.

 

[BJ_NORTON]

ok, I have heard of lids (generally they are not good ) so I have to ask what is a logical ID#, and what can I learn from knowing the LID?

 

[NMPhillieFan]

An LID is a number assigned to each radio, so generally, unless there is a pattern in the way they numbered their radios, the LID wont mean much to you. Most officers I know dont even know their radio's LID.

However, in my area (Alb, NM), there is somewhat a pattern to the LIDs, so when I see a certain ID, I can usually tell if it is APD, AFD, BCSO, BCFD, etc.

 

[eyes00only]

Are any of you using a hand held scanner, and if so, what kind?

Jerry :?: :lol:

 

[Thayne]

I'm sorry-I didn't read your question very well when I responded.

Like the other guy said, LID's don't mean much to a scanner listener. If you are a system user then you need to know, (or your radio does) the LID of the person to whom you want to communicate individually without anyone else on the system hearing it. Generally, you can't tell from a LID what group you are hearing. They just assign them as radios are added to the system; and of course there should only be ONE radio per LID

Of course scanners can scan and hear I-Calls, which is one thing system radios cannot do.
Some systems can even be used for phone calls into the public switched system, but most have disabled this because it ties up the channels too much with idle chit chat. If they still do this then you can hear it by scanning the system in conventional mode.
(Besides Nexthell has bribed most cities with cheap phones to use for that)

As far as the other LID's; some Canadian J-Smokin Doobie lovers on this board know more about that :lol: but I won't go there :wink:

 

[mikewazowski]

Some systems can even be used for phone calls into the public switched system, but most have disabled this because it ties up the channels too much with idle chit chat. If they still do this then you can hear it by scanning the system in conventional mode.

Still considered an I-call by most scanners and dropping into conventional mode is not needed. As long as you've got I-calls already setup for the system you won't have a problem.

 

[eyes00only]

[/quote]

Still considered an I-call by most scanners and dropping into conventional mode is not needed. As long as you've got I-calls already setup for the system you won't have a problem.[/quote]

I assume that you can't do this with a Pro94. I am waiting to hear someone say, "give me an I-Call", then go out of trunking and try to pick it up. Will this work?

Jerry

 

[INDY72]

I never had any luck with I Calls on iether the 94 or the 2052,....

At least not on TRS,.. I did catch them on the conventional stuff.

 

[mikewazowski]

Guess I should have clarified my statement. I have no problem listening to phone interconnects on Motorola trunking systems with my Uniden scanners.

I do not believe that the Radio Shack variety of scanners support I-Calls.

 

[INDY72]

Does anyone know if the 96 will do I-Call/Private Call?

And Mike, aren't some systems set up to encrypt phone patch/interconnect???

And as to the RS scanners,.. phone interconnect at least on EDACS, and Non Digital Motorola TRS's you can hear... its I-Calls that are an issue.

 

[eyes00only]

Someday, somewhere, somehow, on this site we determined that on Moto systems they are called "Private Calls" , and on EDACS "I-Calls". I think the 296 (and the base equivalent) are the ONLY scanners that recieve I-Calls.

Jerry

 

[mikewazowski]

Yes, the Pro-96 will not do I-Calls.

What Motorola refers to as Private Calls and Telephone Interconnects, Uniden refers to as I-Calls.

If a system supports encryption, a Private Call or Telephone Interconnect could be encrypted. There's a spot to load up a separate encryption key for these.

 

[kikito]

I-calls show the LID (Logical ID #) of one of the parties to the I-call, although you will hear both parties talking as long as you hold onto the ID.

That might be true for Motorola. On EDACS you'll only hear the LID or radio that you hold and NOT both parties.

 

[eyes00only]

That might be true for Motorola. On EDACS you'll only hear the LID or radio that you hold and NOT both parties.

Why does Uniden claim that the 296 recieves I-Calls if as you say, you can only here 1/2 of the conversation?

Jerry

 

[kikito]

Why does Uniden claim that the 296 recieves I-Calls if as you say, you can only here 1/2 of the conversation?

Jerry

Technically, the claim is true because with GRE radios you won't even know I-calls are happening.

The nature of EDACS is what makes it like it is for those type of calls. The transmissions will switch frequencies every time a party keys up and on top of that it strictly shows and monitors ONLY the LID of the radio transmitting. So when the current party stops talking and the other keys up, it'll be a different ID and if you're holding on the previous one, you're going to miss it.

On most Motorola "Private calls", the scanner shows both Radio ID's involved flashing alternately on the display and you can pretty much hear both sides by "holding" the ID's on the display.

That's as UN-technical as I can explaining it. :wink:

 

[eyes00only]

OK, I'm about as UN-TECH as you can get. I am still deciding between the 296 & Pro96. My main target is an analog EDACS system (Denver). The main reason I lean toward the 296 is because of the I-Call feature. So my main question is, can I hear an entire I-Call on the 296? I am running out for lunch, but will check back later.

Thanks in advance

Jerry

 

[JoeyC]

Another thing to consider. Not all systems allow use of I-calls, or whatever you want to call them as they tie up frequencies that otherwise would be available to the system.
You might want to check and see if they are used on your system first before making your decision. I've seen alot of people complain that I-calls weren't working when in fact they aren't used at all.

 

[eyes00only]

Joey

They are used A LOT in Denver!

Thanks

Jerry

 

[Thayne]

When I listen to EDACS I-Calls on a 785 D I do hear both sides of the conversation, and when I hit hold the display holds whatever ID was displayed when when hold was pushed, yet you can hear both sides without the display changing. (As long as the I-Call is still locked up, anyway)

Also, they have stopped using telephone interconnect calls here, and I didn't have a capable receiver back when the system was new and they did use it for telephone calls. Back then I just would scan it conventionally to hear telephone interconnects--I do remember the frequency was tied up for the duration of the call, while I-Calls do change frequencies just as a normal trunking does.
Anyway it is illegal to listen to phone calls nowadays, right?