Yes, please post the freq. I'm in So Cal with an R8600 and might be able to pick up the same signal.
R8600 ICOM IC-R8600 Not Decoding P25 Phase 1 Unencrypted Transmissions
- Thread starter Floridasand
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There is a P25 system in my area. I noticed the same issue (no decode of some signals). Using Unitrunker to monitor the control channel, I found that the system was using the voice freqs to pass data. My assumption is the data is primarily GPS and/or alarm status info. A lot of it is targeted to the Fire Dept and Base Security. The 8600 will "see" the signal. but no decode. Maybe you have the same issue?
Air490
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D-STAR, P25 Phase 1, NXDN, dPMR, DCR
What is the best place on line to purchase a new IC-R8600?
I found DX Engineering to to be a reputable seller.
I found DX Engineering to to be a reputable seller.
Don't feel bad. Ive never gotten my R8600 to decode P25 or any of the other modes in my area. I live in North Central PA.
There are strong P25 nd NXDN freqs. I can receive. SO far, no joy.
I've used the freq. lists and used DSD+ Fastlane to log VC. In DSD+ I've only ever gotten spotty voice.
As a suggestion I've even logged voice channels with DSD+ and entered them in scan memories.
Some control channels actually show hints of voice in them with DSD+.
Anyways. Using my RSP2 in DSD+ has given me voice. But spotty and broken up.
I've tried all sorts of settings with the RSP2 such as gain, etc. When I do get voice....always spotty.
Nope. The R8600 doesn't trunk.
I've asked Simon in the SDR Console forums if he might be able to implement single receiver trunking on the R8600 or even use another SDR like my RSP2 to monitor control channels and then tune the R8600 to voice channels.
So far, no real responses.
I only have so much time to try to get things going in the time spent at the radio experimenting trying to .....get Something to work.
And really. I do not want the easy way out and buy a couple of RTL dongles.
There are strong P25 nd NXDN freqs. I can receive. SO far, no joy.
I've used the freq. lists and used DSD+ Fastlane to log VC. In DSD+ I've only ever gotten spotty voice.
As a suggestion I've even logged voice channels with DSD+ and entered them in scan memories.
Some control channels actually show hints of voice in them with DSD+.
Anyways. Using my RSP2 in DSD+ has given me voice. But spotty and broken up.
I've tried all sorts of settings with the RSP2 such as gain, etc. When I do get voice....always spotty.
Nope. The R8600 doesn't trunk.
I've asked Simon in the SDR Console forums if he might be able to implement single receiver trunking on the R8600 or even use another SDR like my RSP2 to monitor control channels and then tune the R8600 to voice channels.
So far, no real responses.
I only have so much time to try to get things going in the time spent at the radio experimenting trying to .....get Something to work.
And really. I do not want the easy way out and buy a couple of RTL dongles.
The 8600 is supposed to be close to the R30, which I have. What I did for P25 is write ALL frequencies from a particular agency. Primary and secondary. All of them. Have about 25 agencies that I link a few at a time. I get most of the talk back and forth. Your 8600 should be kicking but picking up P25. Your not doing it right.
One term. "Kicking". Is that scanner slang for something meaningful?
Perhaps you could provide a condensed step-by step.
You write all freqs. where? In a memory bank?
FYI I've never owned a scanning receiver that is trunking capable. My IC-R8500 is the closest to a scanner that I've ever owned.
It was like root canal waiting for any software that the RSP2 would perform scanning with and when DSD+ supported it, that's wne I purchased a lifetime sub to Fastlane.
Yes, in memory. Do this just to test. Pick a P25 police agency. For instance, I live by st cloud. I put into memory st cloud simulcast. 11 frequencies. Then scan those. Once I verified I was getting P25 good, I added the rest in my area and linked them in the menu system. Works great. Most of the time, I listen to both sides of the conversation. But if I link to many memory banks, I will miss responses. What I meant on kicking butt is the 8600 is supposed to be the king of receivers and should be doing allot better job picking up P25 since your using a external antenna. I can use my little antenna attached to the R30, turn on both my R30 and SDS200 and listen to the same transmissions. Receivers are not set up for trunking. I don't own a 8600 but am assuming its scan rate is similar to the R30.
I have both the R30 and two R8600's.
They all do very well scanning just the P25 voice channels but... they are still susceptible to LSM just like the older P25 scanners.
If you are in a really bad LSM area, the Icom's may have issues as they are not designed to handle LSM like and SDS model scanner or real subscriber radio. They do seem to handle LSM better than most older scanners though so I'll give them credit for that.
@ArloG "kicking" is slang for 'kicking butt' or working very good etc. However you wish to translate it is up to you but it's nowhere near 'scanner slang' exclusively!
One thing to try with P25 that I don't think was mentioned is changing the P25 mode filter setting to 2. I think it defaults to 3 but sometimes a little wider filter of 2 does work better for some P25 signals.
The other is the R30 or R8600's cannot decode any P25 Phase II TDMA voice channels. As long as your voice channel is running in Phase I mode though, they should decode it as long as your not in a horrible area full of LSM plus have decent P25 Phase I signal levels.
They all do very well scanning just the P25 voice channels but... they are still susceptible to LSM just like the older P25 scanners.
If you are in a really bad LSM area, the Icom's may have issues as they are not designed to handle LSM like and SDS model scanner or real subscriber radio. They do seem to handle LSM better than most older scanners though so I'll give them credit for that.
@ArloG "kicking" is slang for 'kicking butt' or working very good etc. However you wish to translate it is up to you but it's nowhere near 'scanner slang' exclusively!
One thing to try with P25 that I don't think was mentioned is changing the P25 mode filter setting to 2. I think it defaults to 3 but sometimes a little wider filter of 2 does work better for some P25 signals.
The other is the R30 or R8600's cannot decode any P25 Phase II TDMA voice channels. As long as your voice channel is running in Phase I mode though, they should decode it as long as your not in a horrible area full of LSM plus have decent P25 Phase I signal levels.
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If all your settings are as provided by the experts here i.e. nac for your specific location, d sqelch on, main squelch set low, filter 2. When you see a signal on your scope just stand by(it may take awhile, minutes, lots, eventually the convo will come in loud and clear when the participating agencies talk to each other. Simple as that. The antenna used on my end is the standard discone 3 - 3000 MHz Enjoy. BTW, when you are receiving an actual transmission the little window with NAC and some other info will pop up briefly. Enjoy.
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