No, they are not scrambled. They are part of a digital trunk system, which your analog scanner won't recognize as anything intelligible for you to monitor. You must invest in a digital trunk scanner to hear this system and others in your area.
Luke AFB
- Thread starter Phoenix805
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No, they are not scrambled. They are part of a digital trunk system, which your analog scanner won't recognize as anything intelligible for you to monitor. You must invest in a digital trunk scanner to hear this system and others in your area.
Actually the base frequency is very important. It tells the scanner where to start from for the voice activity channels of the Trunked System.
A simple explanatiaon - The base frequency is the lowest possible output frequency of the system. Channels are numbered sequentially upwards and the step between each channel in kHz is the offset. The key to telling the scanner where to go for the voice activity is in the formulae you've seen from the database: base = 406.0; step = 12.5; Offset 380.
Both GRE and Uniden radios use this information.
See the wiki, for more complete information about this at: Determining Base/Step/Offset for VHF/UHF Motorola Systems - The RadioReference Wiki
A simple explanatiaon - The base frequency is the lowest possible output frequency of the system. Channels are numbered sequentially upwards and the step between each channel in kHz is the offset. The key to telling the scanner where to go for the voice activity is in the formulae you've seen from the database: base = 406.0; step = 12.5; Offset 380.
Both GRE and Uniden radios use this information.
See the wiki, for more complete information about this at: Determining Base/Step/Offset for VHF/UHF Motorola Systems - The RadioReference Wiki
And the answer is... I don't know!
All kidding aside, I wish I had better answers for you. It looks like you have what you need. Unfortunately I really don't know much about the scanner (I have the GRE PRS-500) and don't know much about the software (I use WIN-500).
I'm not sure what the base frequency refers to, but I doubt it's important (famous last words). It's probably something that GRE uses and Bearcat doesn't.
Maybe I'm just lucky for some reason, seems like I can get Luke with no problem, and several other people seem to be using the same settings and can't get anything. I've gotten the most hits on their security talkgroup (127), 4 of their squadron TGs have 100 to 125 hits, fueling has 100 hits, and 8 TGs have none to 4-5 hits. Strange......
Can I assume you read some of my other thoughts, like Luke using low power and you might not be close enough? Or have you listened long enough? I often don't hear anything for 15-20 minutes, especially in the evenings.
Hopefully someone with more insight than me will offer some better answers.
Phoenix805
Member
Thanks John, you offered a lot of good information. I read the link but most of it went right over my head. 
The info on the base frequency makes sense, but I don't know where to tell him to find/enter it in a bearcat scanner. In my WIN500 software the base frequency is listed along with the lo - hi - offset - step data under 'trunking tables'. He has the lo - hi - offset - step info right, but apparently the base frequency is not shown in the same location.
I'm still confused on the P25 - APCO 25 stuff, but I'm old and the brains don't comprehend and retain like they did in my younger days.
I've said before and I'll say again - I'm no expert with scanners. I've had scanners almost as long as they've been available. I remember seeing ads for expensive no frills scanners in the mid 70's and think I bought my first one about 1980. The old ones used separate crystals for each channel!
Programming/operating the direct input analog scanners was so much nicer. These new digital trunking scanners? WOW! On one hand I have a little insight because I've been using radios for years (CBs, ham radios, scanners, work radios, including switching to digital trunked radios a few years before I retired). On the other hand I'm just about as lost as everyone else programming these new generation scanners. I've picked up a lot by playing with it and playing with the software, and getting a lot of help from these discussion threads. I'm always willing to help if I can, but I'm always afraid of giving out bad/wrong information.
The info on the base frequency makes sense, but I don't know where to tell him to find/enter it in a bearcat scanner. In my WIN500 software the base frequency is listed along with the lo - hi - offset - step data under 'trunking tables'. He has the lo - hi - offset - step info right, but apparently the base frequency is not shown in the same location.
I'm still confused on the P25 - APCO 25 stuff, but I'm old and the brains don't comprehend and retain like they did in my younger days.
I've said before and I'll say again - I'm no expert with scanners. I've had scanners almost as long as they've been available. I remember seeing ads for expensive no frills scanners in the mid 70's and think I bought my first one about 1980. The old ones used separate crystals for each channel!
Programming/operating the direct input analog scanners was so much nicer. These new digital trunking scanners? WOW! On one hand I have a little insight because I've been using radios for years (CBs, ham radios, scanners, work radios, including switching to digital trunked radios a few years before I retired). On the other hand I'm just about as lost as everyone else programming these new generation scanners. I've picked up a lot by playing with it and playing with the software, and getting a lot of help from these discussion threads. I'm always willing to help if I can, but I'm always afraid of giving out bad/wrong information.
John,
Thanks for the info. Motorola Type II Smartnet is not listed in the System Type list in Freescan. The Options are; Mot 800Mz Type I; Mot Type II / P25; EDACS Narrow/Wide; EDACS SCAT; LTR; P25 Standard and P25 One Freq Trunk.
Thanks for the info. Motorola Type II Smartnet is not listed in the System Type list in Freescan. The Options are; Mot 800Mz Type I; Mot Type II / P25; EDACS Narrow/Wide; EDACS SCAT; LTR; P25 Standard and P25 One Freq Trunk.
Well, hmmmmmm.... I saw the P25 reference you posted and thought for sure it was telling the scanner it was a P25 system. Let me look at your setup again and see if I can see the issue. We've also got a scannerist down here in Tucson that uses the same radio, I think. I'll give him a call and see what he thinks too.
Most of the time, we don't need to worry about the tweaking, as the scanners nowadays do a pretty good job of working for us out of the box. However, we still do run into an occasional system that gives us a problem. I use mostly GRE products, and own one Uniden product the Home Patrol.
I'm going to check with a local scannerist down here in Tucson to see what he does for Davis-Monthan AFB. They run two different 400mhz systems and he owns Unidens. They are operating a Motorola Smartnet and a P25 trunk system.
We'll get it figured out You are doing what keeps our hobby alive, sharing knowledge about the hobby.
I'm going to check with a local scannerist down here in Tucson to see what he does for Davis-Monthan AFB. They run two different 400mhz systems and he owns Unidens. They are operating a Motorola Smartnet and a P25 trunk system.
We'll get it figured out
You are doing what keeps our hobby alive, sharing knowledge about the hobby.Thanks John, you offered a lot of good information. I read the link but most of it went right over my head.
The info on the base frequency makes sense, but I don't know where to tell him to find/enter it in a bearcat scanner. In my WIN500 software the base frequency is listed along with the lo - hi - offset - step data under 'trunking tables'. He has the lo - hi - offset - step info right, but apparently the base frequency is not shown in the same location.
I'm still confused on the P25 - APCO 25 stuff, but I'm old and the brains don't comprehend and retain like they did in my younger days.
I've said before and I'll say again - I'm no expert with scanners. I've had scanners almost as long as they've been available. I remember seeing ads for expensive no frills scanners in the mid 70's and think I bought my first one about 1980. The old ones used separate crystals for each channel!
Programming/operating the direct input analog scanners was so much nicer. These new digital trunking scanners? WOW! On one hand I have a little insight because I've been using radios for years (CBs, ham radios, scanners, work radios, including switching to digital trunked radios a few years before I retired). On the other hand I'm just about as lost as everyone else programming these new generation scanners. I've picked up a lot by playing with it and playing with the software, and getting a lot of help from these discussion threads. I'm always willing to help if I can, but I'm always afraid of giving out bad/wrong information.
Sorry, I meant to include this on this link on the BCD996XT in my response. It might help you as you tweak the radio to figure out how to listen to Luke. I will still see about getting someone who uses the radio to advise.
BCD996XT - The RadioReference Wiki
BCD996XT - The RadioReference Wiki
I may be going out to Luke on thursday, ill take the scanner with me and see if I pick up anything when im by the base, If I do then my settings are good im just too far away, Ill let you guys know what happens.
Phoenix805
Member
Good luck! Let us know.
Phoenix805
Member
Hey caz345, haven't heard anything for awhile and lost track of this thread, I've been busy with personal and medical issues. Were you ever able to get Luke to work?
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