I may have jumped the gun when buying......

[elrod]

Also keep in mind that with the G5, although you can monitor VHF or UHF depending on which model
you choose, you can only listen to one system at a time. Either 700/800 P25 like Starcom or Vhf or Uhf.
There are some limitations with Unications as they are not scanners in the sense that you can not scan multiple systems at one time, however these limitations are easily overcome with creative programming.
I have both a G4 and a G5 Vhf. In hindsight I now wish I got the Uhf model instead of Vhf but live and learn. If you buy a G5 think about which model you will have a use for. Feel free to pm me.

 

[dhartman2007]

Also keep in mind that with the G5, although you can monitor VHF or UHF depending on which model
you choose, you can only listen to one system at a time. Either 700/800 P25 like Starcom or Vhf or Uhf.
There are some limitations with Unications as they are not scanners in the sense that you can not scan multiple systems at one time, however these limitations are easily overcome with creative programming.
I have both a G4 and a G5 Vhf. In hindsight I now wish I got the Uhf model instead of Vhf but live and learn. If you buy a G5 think about which model you will have a use for. Feel free to pm me.

i'll send you a PM in the AM.

 

[scross1234]

David,

Any luck getting your scanner to work? I border Plainfield on the North East Side and I use the Uniden BCD436HP. I got bad reception over here with Starcom 21 until I bought an external antenna. I use a Tram 1410 discone antenna with a SO-239 to SMA connector. I bought them from Amazon. It works so much better than the rubber Duckie it came with. I can pick up Plainfield and Bolingbrook so much better now. Before I would miss out on a lot of traffic or it would have too much static to hear them.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[dhartman2007]

I ended up buying a pre-owned G5

I am programming it now with little luck so far. Although "successfully programmed" and seemingly strong reception (per the trunking Icon). I am sure I am overlooking something small.

Question, the RR database has a note for Plainfield Police "Police uses TG 1001 from 6AM to 6PM. Then 158.85 from then on. Could this be something I need to allow for when programming? This thing hasn't received anything Plainfield since programming it this evening. However, I am picking up some Dupage Sheriff traffic.

I need to download the whole user manual (as it was not included) to understand if the Phase 2 Plainfield seemingly uses needs special attention when programming. I believe the G5 handles P25 Phases 1 and 2.(I sure hope)

 

[scross1234]

Plainfield on Starcom 21

David,

I hear Plainfield on TG 1001 after 6PM. I think that note was when they were transferring to the new system. When I programmed my BCD436HP for Starcom 21, I wasn’t picking up much activity in Plainfield until I installed an external antenna. My rubber duckie wasn’t doing much at my location. I also only use site “Will/Grundy County Simulcast” as that has the strongest signal. DuPage County Simulcast is a close second. I set all other sites to a permanent avoid. I also set some of the other WESCOM talk groups to avoid, so my scanner doesn’t have to monitor them. I suspect I miss traffic because there are so many TG to scan. I think that with P25 II if you don’t have a very good signal, my scanner will have trouble decoding the message.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[elrod]

You are right. That is old info. I listen to Plnfld all day long on TG 1001-1007 using T113 on Starcom.

Chuck

 

[RoninJoliet]

I also have no problem with PLFD TG1001 on any Digital scanner here in Joliet....They are "NOT" PhaseII yet, the only P2 is in Grundy on there Morris and Minooka TG2430....They do not use VHF any more altho last week with SCom trouble they changed over to 854.6625 which is not trunked.....dhartman must be in a bad location , would suggest using a 800mgz rubber duck if your not...When I go thru PLFD all the way up RT30 or RT59 I hear them on H/H up thru Kendall Co almost to Fox Valley ??...

 

[RoninJoliet]

Hearing Romeoville this afternoon back on Will Co.....

 

[elrod]

Hearing Romeoville this afternoon back on Will Co.....

Here we go again..

Chuck

 

[dhartman2007]

I used an amateur YouTube video to guide my programming of the G5. For the Plainfield and DuPage County frequencies I hoped to monitor (Plainfield City and DuPage Cty Sheriff) I used:

Plainfield Police and Emergency - No Traffic - Zip

system ID 140 WACN BEE00
Primary frequency - 774.83125
Alternative frequencies - 770.90625 & 773.33125

I used Will County Wescom Talkgroups Dec 1001-1007



DuPage County Sheriff - A good amount of traffic

system ID 140 WACN BEE00
Primary frequency - 773.84375
Alternative frequencies - 774.18125 & 774.43125

DuPage County - Sheriff Talkgroups Dec 2619-2620

I am not sure what the T113 reference is??

You are right. That is old info. I listen to Plnfld all day long on TG 1001-1007 using T113 on Starcom.

Chuck

 

[elrod]

Is used an amateur YouTube video to guide my programming of the G5. For the Plainfield and DuPage County frequencies I hoped to monitor (Plainfield City and DuPage Cty Sheriff) I used:

Plainfield Police and Emergency - No Traffic - Zip

system ID 140 WACN BEE00
Primary frequency - 774.83125
Alternative frequencies - 770.90625 & 773.33125

I used Will County Wescom Talkgroups Dec 1001-1007



DuPage County Sheriff - A good amount of traffic

system ID 140 WACN BEE00
Primary frequency - 773.84375
Alternative frequencies - 774.18125 & 774.43125

DuPage County - Sheriff Talkgroups Dec 2619-2620

I am not sure what the T113 reference is??

Ok David,You can not monitor both systems you have at the same time They are both Starcom but different systems if you can get that. Wescom is one system and DuPage Co is another. You have the right freqs for what you want but they are on different towers. That is what the T113 and T101 are. You have to create the systems under freq & sys setting under #2 in the pps. All of Starcom uses the Sys ID of 140 and the Wacn of BEE00. Besides having the sys id of 140 and the wacn of BEE00 you also have to go into the part that says site list and enter T113 for site alias, 1 for RFSS and D for Site ID. This is for Wescom. For DuPage you would use T101 site alias, 1 RFSS and 1 SITE ID. You will see these in RR listings where you got the freqs from. Once you get the hang of it is is pretty easy.

Chuck

 

[dhartman2007]

Thanks for the detailed help! Totally missed the #2 setup you mention below. I'll give it a try later tonight.

Ok David,You can not monitor both systems you have at the same time They are both Starcom but different systems if you can get that. Wescom is one system and DuPage Co is another. You have the right freqs for what you want but they are on different towers. That is what the T113 and T101 are. You have to create the systems under freq & sys setting under #2 in the pps. All of Starcom uses the Sys ID of 140 and the Wacn of BEE00. Besides having the sys id of 140 and the wacn of BEE00 you also have to go into the part that says site list and enter T113 for site alias, 1 for RFSS and D for Site ID. This is for Wescom. For DuPage you would use T101 site alias, 1 RFSS and 1 SITE ID. You will see these in RR listings where you got the freqs from. Once you get the hang of it is is pretty easy.

Chuck

 

[dhartman2007]

so close

I followed Chuck's directions and added the tower elements in step #2. I think I am close. The RFSSsite now reads 1/13 for both systems (from 1/1). The odd thing is the Plainfield system is picking up traffic but there is a mute (speaker w/slash) showing up with no sound. Now I have to turn off the mute (and I'll be in business)

 

[JD21960]

I may have ....

There's no on/off switch for MUTE on the Pager. TWO firmwares ago they changed the ALERT MODE from being off (default) to be TONE so sound comes through. Those with 400-500 talkgroups stored already were not happy. In step #4 TONE must be enabled for each entry. If not? you get nothing but push to listen on the side. The little man has to be green/yellow too, showing ON duty .. if that's not enabled in the controls/PPS .. same thing happens. No sound. WHEN you set up a zone in step 5? at the bottom I believe there is a control that needs to be showing TONE too.

 

[dhartman2007]

Thanks for the tip. I believe the YouTube video I watched encouraged me to turn off the tones you mention. I will adjust them per your suggestion.

There's no on/off switch for MUTE on the Pager. TWO firmwares ago they changed the ALERT MODE from being off (default) to be TONE so sound comes through. Those with 400-500 talkgroups stored already were not happy. In step #4 TONE must be enabled for each entry. If not? you get nothing but push to listen on the side. The little man has to be green/yellow too, showing ON duty .. if that's not enabled in the controls/PPS .. same thing happens. No sound. WHEN you set up a zone in step 5? at the bottom I believe there is a control that needs to be showing TONE too.

 

[dhartman2007]

Tone must not be silent on step 5

There's no on/off switch for MUTE on the Pager. TWO firmwares ago they changed the ALERT MODE from being off (default) to be TONE so sound comes through. Those with 400-500 talkgroups stored already were not happy. In step #4 TONE must be enabled for each entry. If not? you get nothing but push to listen on the side. The little man has to be green/yellow too, showing ON duty .. if that's not enabled in the controls/PPS .. same thing happens. No sound. WHEN you set up a zone in step 5? at the bottom I believe there is a control that needs to be showing TONE too.

For anyone following along at home, Johnnydollar's comment was very helpful, however, my fix came on step 5, changing the ALERT MODE from silent to Tone using the dropdown menu.

Thanks! I was going nuts trying to fix the Mute issue.

 

[dhartman2007]

We are making headway

Ok David,You can not monitor both systems you have at the same time They are both Starcom but different systems if you can get that. Wescom is one system and DuPage Co is another. You have the right freqs for what you want but they are on different towers. That is what the T113 and T101 are. You have to create the systems under freq & sys setting under #2 in the pps. All of Starcom uses the Sys ID of 140 and the Wacn of BEE00. Besides having the sys id of 140 and the wacn of BEE00 you also have to go into the part that says site list and enter T113 for site alias, 1 for RFSS and D for Site ID. This is for Wescom. For DuPage you would use T101 site alias, 1 RFSS and 1 SITE ID. You will see these in RR listings where you got the freqs from. Once you get the hang of it is is pretty easy.

Chuck

OK. I followed your advice. Thanks. However, I used, based on the PPS help area, "FF" in both the RFSS and Site IDs. That seems to work. Am I missing out by configuring the systems like this? I did copy a second set of systems based on your notes above. (they just aren't assigned at the moment)

Question. Can I monitor both systems at the same time/knob? I am successful listening to both systems (One is of Plainfield local and the other is for DuPage Sheriff, however each one is on a different knob position.
When I create two zones, one Plainfield, one Dupage, on the same knob, I seem only to receive Zone 1.

hmm

 

[IAmSixNine]

You can only have 1 system / 1 site in a knob position a time. That position can have multiple talk groups if you want.

Your not missing out. The pager will look at the control channels you have added, then it matches the RFSS and Site ID. In this case since your are using wildcard it will automatically accept what ever RFSS and what ever Site ID is being sent by the control channels you are receiving signal from.

 

[JD21960]

IAMSIXNINE- gave you the info. Yes. It's a pager designed to give the ON DUTY worker seamless contact with the closest SITE of a certain SYSTEM. It's not like a "scanner" where you can force those to listen to multiple competing towers within range. The pager will select the best one based on a pre-set error rate reception level. It won't jump back and forth.

 

[elrod]

You guys said it all better than I could.

Chuck