Johnson County P25 System

[Jack007]

WOW!
I've had a scanner of some sort since I was 12. Now I'm 52 and I guess its passed me by. :-(
I have no idea what I just read.
I ASSUME a control channel is what the old trunk systems used that changed every few hours?
Control channel decoding? Never heard of it.
I have an old 396 and all I know how to do is look at a list of freqs and manually enter them. ( I used to be able to use the Bearcat program on my laptop, but I can't get it to run on my Win 7 machine now).

Is there a SIMPLE list somewhere that has all, and only, the current freqs. Now all the lists I find are chock full of freqs with no rhyme or reason.

Sorry for my ignorance. I sure do appreciate your trying to help.

Jack007

 

[hkrharry]

Hi Jack

Freescan should do what you want for your 396.

It is best done by a PC. And Freescan is free and works with Win7 just fine.

Now you have to have a USB to serial adapter if your PC has no serial connector.

You can get freescan here: FreeSCAN - Sixspot Software

HH

WOW!
I've had a scanner of some sort since I was 12. Now I'm 52 and I guess its passed me by. :-(
I have no idea what I just read.
I ASSUME a control channel is what the old trunk systems used that changed every few hours?
Control channel decoding? Never heard of it.
I have an old 396 and all I know how to do is look at a list of freqs and manually enter them. ( I used to be able to use the Bearcat program on my laptop, but I can't get it to run on my Win 7 machine now).

Is there a SIMPLE list somewhere that has all, and only, the current freqs. Now all the lists I find are chock full of freqs with no rhyme or reason.

Sorry for my ignorance. I sure do appreciate your trying to help.

Jack007

 

[Jack007]

HH.
Thanks for the help.
Unfortunately, I'm beyond going back to the learning curve and figure out PC/scanner connections.
I need to just enter it all manually no matter how long it takes.
Hopefully someone will chime in with a SIMPLE definitive and current list of freqs for the JOCO system.
Meanwhile I've been reduced to using my smartphone app. :-(
Jack007

 

[WA0CBW]

Yes, I believe it will. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.
BB

 

[MadSpleen85]

I heard radio techs testing the system with the JoCo ECC (Fire/Med-Act Dispatch) on Tuesday around 11 a.m.. Not sure if this had anything to do with the removal of the 700MHz frequencies like BB discussed earlier in the thread.

My monitoring issue persists. I've removed everything except the 800MHz control and alternate control. I am still missing transmissions all together, there are others that I am missing due to it being extremely garbled. I have three scanners scanning the system and even if they are each held on the same TG they don't all catch the same things. One is usually garbled, one cuts in and out and one holds steady to receive the transmission. Now which one does what is a toss up.

Short of bringing out the hammer, I am running out of ideas to remedy this. The switch to digital has been nothing but a headache. I've tried moving my scanners around the house, I've messed with attenuation, I've messed with squelch, I've messed with the antenna (length, position, type) that I use. I might be able to find a sweet spot for a few minutes or a few days if I am lucky. Lately the sweet spots do good to last an hour.

 

[Jack007]

"My monitoring issues seem to be resolved since I removed the 700MHz control channels from my programming. Thanks for the help BB!"

Since getting help here seems like pulling teeth, perhaps YOU can try?
Are you removing ALL 700Mhz freqs, or just "control channels"? Is there a difference, and if so how do you know which ones?
I would be most grateful.
Jack007

 

[byndhlptom]

JOCO Trunked system

If you just enter the JOCO site control channels, you will should receive the system OK. If you only want to scan selected talk groups, you will also have to program them in. It is explained in the manual reasonably clear, there are other programming hints in various threads in the Uniden forum. Unfortunately, they decided to merge the JOCO system with KCMO (Big mistake), makes it harder to figure out.....

As to reception, I have had no major problems anywhere in county, either mobile, handheld or at home. Coverage does drop off significantly (abruptly) outside of county (unlike the old VHF system) (using BCD396/PSR800/HP1)

If al else fails, let us know, there are several of us that could help walk you through the program. I would REALLY recommend the FreeScan software and a programming cable. It is MUCH easier to set up a system/make changes/, etc.

good luck

 

[MadSpleen85]

"My monitoring issues seem to be resolved since I removed the 700MHz control channels from my programming. Thanks for the help BB!"

Since getting help here seems like pulling teeth, perhaps YOU can try?
Are you removing ALL 700Mhz freqs, or just "control channels"? Is there a difference, and if so how do you know which ones?
I would be most grateful.
Jack007

If you are looking in the RadioReference Database (screenshot below), this system is smothered in with the MARRS system, all you need for the control channels are the 800MHz freqs in red, there are two of them. I am not sure why there is not an alternate listed but, if there were an alternate, it would be in blue font.

Link to this page.

As to reception, I have had no major problems anywhere in county, either mobile, handheld or at home. Coverage does drop off significantly (abruptly) outside of county (unlike the old VHF system) (using BCD396/PSR800/HP1)

My reception issue is with Radio Shack Pro-106 and 197's.

What type of antenna(s) are working for you?

Everything I have tried produces the same mixed results. It will work for a few transmissions then suddenly there are garbled transmissions or completely missed transmissions.

EDIT: I should probably also include that my scanners are programmed by software.

 

[Jack007]

Mike:
Am I to understand that all I have to do is program in the two 853 MHz freqs into my 396 and it will know to scan the whole system???
I have always programmed every single freq listed as long as I've had programmable scanners.
I'm like dumbfounded. Surely I am misunderstanding.
Jack007

 

[MadSpleen85]

Mike:
Am I to understand that all I have to do is program in the two 853 MHz freqs into my 396 and it will know to scan the whole system???
I have always programmed every single freq listed as long as I've had programmable scanners.
I'm like dumbfounded. Surely I am misunderstanding.
Jack007

My software is showing 853.9625 to be the control channel and 853.7750 to be the alternate control channel. As long as you have those two freqs programmed, you should be hearing something. The additional freqs are likely only occupying a small portion of your unit's memory.

Those are the only freqs that I have programmed and it seems to be working, beyond my reception issues.

It is my understanding that with JoCo's old analog trunking system the control channel went through a rotation. That rotation does not happen with this digital system. I am not sure if this is true for all digital systems or just this one.

EDIT:

As for my reception issue... Here is a short YouTube video of what I am dealing with. Poor video quality due to only being recorded with my Blackberry but, I think you get the point with the audio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vEZSaK8ZUY

 

[BigC801]

EDIT:

As for my reception issue... Here is a short YouTube video of what I am dealing with. Poor video quality due to only being recorded with my Blackberry but, I think you get the point with the audio. Scanner issue, May 9, 2013 - YouTube

My 197 will do that every now and then on Kansas City's, most of the time I can move my antenna a foot or so and clear it up.

Tonight I had to try 3 different antennas to get it to come in clear.

 

[xy0s08]

no i didn't pay anyone to do it. I did it myself by following the instructions another member on here gave me. it comes on and scans the channels i programmed just i do not hear anything

okay so i have been messing with the programming and i think i have it figured out i was programming it as the wrong thing and now on the MARRS system i am now picking up the EMS put not any traffic stops is there still some thing that i am doing wrong?

 

[WA0CBW]

How are you scanning? With the Uniden you can ID Search or ID Scan. If you are ID searching you will hear ALL talk groups. Using ID scanning you will ONLY hear talk groups you have programed.
The MARRS system is really several trunk system with their own control channels and talk groups with some of the talk groups shared across all the systems. I program my scanner with the control channels for the KCMO, Johnson County and Independence as three separate systems. Likewise I program each systems talk groups in their respective system.. I will hear the common talk groups on any of the systems and each systems talk groups on their respective systems.
BB

 

[byndhlptom]

Reference antenna (MadSpleen)

You asked about my antennas......

In my car (BCD996T) I'm using an elevated feed 5db 800 antenna (similar to what KHP first put on there cars). It works noticably better than a 19in whip on the same mount.

Portable depends on what radio I'm carrying. The 800 usually has either the RS 800 or an after market 140/440 short whip (6in) on it. The RS antenna is marginally better. The 396T usually has either the stock antenna or a shorty (4in) 140/440 dual band antenna. The HP1 usually has it's factory antenna

At home, I primarily listen with two BCD996Ts. One has a mag mount cell phone antenna stuck on top, the other is the stock whip. I have experomented with several radios at home, usually if one receieves they all do. Position is a factor, but that's the nature of 800 (if it's any consulation, 2.4G wireless is much worse).

Do I receive distortion? Of course, but it doesn't make the system unreadable. I mostly notice it at the beginning of transmissions. The mobile seems to be the least noticable. I also am usually just scanning only one or two agencies. I also suspect that I am also becoming acclimated to it.

I have a bunch of different antennas that I have built/experimented with. Just about anything will rx the JoCo system. If anything, too much gain is a problem. One that works well is a duplicate of the typ cell antenna, 1/2wave over 1/4 wave with a 1/2wave coil between them into a BNC (looks like all the open coil glass mount cell antennas). Works great on whatever I plug it into. Ever seen a minature "Astroplane" antenna :<)

800 mhz is an antenna experimenters heaven. Small foorprints, cheap wire for elements, simple wood supports (for beams/log periodics) make for easy construction. Get an antenna handbook (or more) and try something.

tom

 

[SKINNY1]

My Pro-197 is doing the samething here in Lawrence. Most of the time the Johnson County 700 MHz system is garbled traffic.

 

[PVPD730]

Unidentified Talkgroups

I found some unidentified talkgroups via pro96com this AM:
31012
31016
31324
31326
31847

Anyone know who uses those? I'm North of the River, so I can't verify any voice traffic due to distance and the "simulcast bouncing". Thanks.

 

[factorone]

My software is showing 853.9625 to be the control channel and 853.7750 to be the alternate control channel. As long as you have those two freqs programmed, you should be hearing something. The additional freqs are likely only occupying a small portion of your unit's memory.

Those are the only freqs that I have programmed and it seems to be working, beyond my reception issues.

It is my understanding that with JoCo's old analog trunking system the control channel went through a rotation. That rotation does not happen with this digital system. I am not sure if this is true for all digital systems or just this one.

EDIT:

As for my reception issue... Here is a short YouTube video of what I am dealing with. Poor video quality due to only being recorded with my Blackberry but, I think you get the point with the audio. Scanner issue, May 9, 2013 - YouTube

According to people I know who are privy to the details of the system, 853.9625 is now the sole control channel for the entire Johnson County portion of the system, on every tower, with 853.7750 being the alternate if (and only if) the primary fails.

That having been said, I've been experimenting with programming settings on my 197 and found some slight success in getting better reception by enabling the NFM setting for the system object in Win500. It has reduced a little of the garbling (about 20% collectively), but I'm not certain if it's the sole reason. I recently ran a new antenna cable and replaced the antenna with a better model (the system I primarily use is installed on my truck).

A coworker did have me program a Pro-106 for an OPFD volunteer, and it seemed to do very well with the signal threshold settings I've been using, and had very little issues with garbling or transmission loss. A few weeks later, I tried out the system on a BC396XT with mixed results (I'm not terribly familiar with the Uniden platform, since I own only RS model scanners).

Might try that out and see what happens.

 

[KCoax]

Anyone figure out the ECC grid assignments? I've logged 30206 to 30284. Does anyone know if their is a complete map online of the zones? I found this at Lenexa FD site.
LenexaFire

 

[MadSpleen85]

Anyone have any updates on the system going all 800 and abandoning the 700 freqs?

I am still seeing the 700s pop up occasionally, it is my understanding that they are in the process of being phased out.

Hopefully the end user reception is much better than what my scanner reception has been lately. I tend to get drop outs, distortion and occasional motor-boating. Almost to the point where it sounds like a transmission changes to encryption mid-transmission.

I have not been able to find a constantly reliable position or antenna setup for my location. Moving the scanner and/or antenna is only a temporary fix. Usually only lasts 15-20 minutes before the reception issues return. I have two PRO-197's sitting about two feet from each other and they each seem to have their own personality. Even if I swap their positions, one still works better than the other.

None of my issues are severe enough that I can't follow along but, obviously this continues to be frustrating that I cannot seem to remedy the problem.

 

[KCoax]

Most of RR JOCO MARRS freq list is out of date. Past 30 min review of HP-1 E Current Activity log has 8 new 800 freqs minus the 853.77500c in the current RR DB. I see 5 700 freqs in use. I don't see any particular algorithm favoring the 800 side. I'll summit an update to DB. The current CC is the same 853.9625