Midland P25 has been silent for 2 days for me. Did they migrate to the encrypted system?
Midland P25 Silent?
- Thread starter tcarro15
- Start date
I have been wondering the same thing. Its been about a month since I lost the control channel from my base station (about 40mi out from midland); however, I pick it up and hear some traffic when I get closer to town. I noticed some firemen only a week ago still strapped with Harris radios.
I did input the new freqs for the new system. The control channel was active and I analyzed the system with sds200 for a couple hours last week but didn't get any hits.
I did input the new freqs for the new system. The control channel was active and I analyzed the system with sds200 for a couple hours last week but didn't get any hits.
I'm the idiot, they're still in the clear. I have no clue what I did to not hear them all weekend, but I reset the scanner and ran the zip in last night and voila... not even sure what made me decide to try....
They will probably go encrypted eventually though.
I know that the fire dept I volunteer for is getting all new APX8000 handhelds and some APX mobiles, and are likely going to be fully encrypted ( Northeast Midland County VFD )
They will probably go encrypted eventually though.
I know that the fire dept I volunteer for is getting all new APX8000 handhelds and some APX mobiles, and are likely going to be fully encrypted ( Northeast Midland County VFD )
Did they tell you county fire would be fully encrypted or do you think it’s likely due to the APX’s? Midland could have flipped the E switch at any point for relatively cheap in the last ten years and they haven’t yet. I hope they continue to value open, transparent comms and secure what they need to for their investigative and private comms.
Odessa and Ector Co on the other hand…..silent outside of some West Odessa VFD ops which I was at least grateful for when I was working out if there. I think it’s going to come down to how Midland Co and City work together if they are going to be collaborating on the new system. MCSO has been encrypted for several years so it’s something to keep an eye on.
So, I have heard conflicting things from different folks about the future landscape of public safety p25 networks in the PB, but the folks I've heard from are each reputable sources within the local fire or radio community here. Right now, Midland county is fully encrypted VHF P25, Midland is on P25/P2 harris and only a couple MPD tactical channels are encrypted. NEVFD works directly with MFD (as does Greenwood VFD), all on Harris, so the way response works is there are 3 fire entities in Midland county, MFD, NEVFD, and Greenwood. Greenwood has the southern and eastern ends of city adjacent county areas, NEVFD has all of the northeast north, east, and the entirety of greenwood's district, as well as mutual aid response to Martin county and Stanton, and both VFDs are dispatched on Midland Fire Dispatch, but the kicker is, MFD is always the first due agency on ALL fire calls within the county regardless of whether it's NEVFD or Greenwood district, MFD is first response, then we go auto-assist mutual aid (in our own districts lol), but because of this, it provides an effective response to fire related calls, especially with our tenders, since there's zero hydrants in county, and an antiquated system in Midland that's failing, we've had to go into Midland on structures mutual aid because they're hydrants failed. Each VFD has their own channels as well on the Midland system, but everyone operates on scenes on MFD tac channels. NEVFD Purchased a set of portable and mobile Motorola APX8000s due to arrive in our hands in September I believe, it was several multiples of six-figures, and I have been told they'd been fully encrypted, though I do not know with any certainty the individual telling me this knows the difference between Digital, and Encrypted. I'm sure all of this will become more clear as we move closer to a system migration.
That said, Yes, Midland has been very benevolent with their choosing to remain in the clear, I've only been around her 6 months, but in that time I've picked up on a few things, and one of those is who and why OPD/FD went encrypted ( can't speak for ECSO, not sure who went first, but I know who, and why it was done and for what motive, and you'd be rather suprised. It's a really ****ty, self-serving deal.)
West Odessa is a trip.... It's the Pueblo, CO of Texas lol. It is in the clear on the Ector County system though. I'm friends with the chiefs over there, between news work, and fire...
Andrews is in the clear and has a phenonmally performing TRS, clear and loud, someone knows what they're doing, I can hear it at my apt in Midland like the transmitter is outside.
Martin and Upton have popped up on my radio a time or two as well, they're clear, and of course, DPS is all clear (which is my window into what's happening in Odessa, that and social media lol).
Hope some of this information is helpful!
That said, Yes, Midland has been very benevolent with their choosing to remain in the clear, I've only been around her 6 months, but in that time I've picked up on a few things, and one of those is who and why OPD/FD went encrypted ( can't speak for ECSO, not sure who went first, but I know who, and why it was done and for what motive, and you'd be rather suprised. It's a really ****ty, self-serving deal.)
West Odessa is a trip.... It's the Pueblo, CO of Texas lol. It is in the clear on the Ector County system though. I'm friends with the chiefs over there, between news work, and fire...
Andrews is in the clear and has a phenonmally performing TRS, clear and loud, someone knows what they're doing, I can hear it at my apt in Midland like the transmitter is outside.
Martin and Upton have popped up on my radio a time or two as well, they're clear, and of course, DPS is all clear (which is my window into what's happening in Odessa, that and social media lol).
Hope some of this information is helpful!
Sheriff's office on GATRRS, but the Andrews PD/FD are on P25 VHF it seems.
To my original point though, I now, once again, am not hearing Midland whatsoever, for days. I've programmed and reprogrammed, factory reset, tried at home, tried mobile, turned everything else off... nada. I have no idea why.
To my original point though, I now, once again, am not hearing Midland whatsoever, for days. I've programmed and reprogrammed, factory reset, tried at home, tried mobile, turned everything else off... nada. I have no idea why.
I wish I could help you, maybe I’ll come through and catch some work that way when we slow down here next month.
Just don’t cause anymore earthquakes. 😂
That one in November 2022 was one to remember for a Texan. It was about like standing next to a loaded freight train going full throttle the way the ground was rumbling under my feet. But we frac’ers do our part earthquake free, can’t say the same for the injection well operators….🫣
So I guess I’m an idiot too. Same scenario, got nothing then opened full database and it came in fine. Not sure what the deal is. I plan on reprogramming my sds tomorrow and maybe I’ll be able to use my favorites rather than the full database. Weird stuff.
I haven't heard a single thing in some time. I gave up trying, tried a 536HP, WS1065, and a 325P2, and nothing. Now, as stated before, I'm a volunteer firefighter, and we operate on the Midland P25 network, FD channels and I don't have my radio yet, but I've responded on two calls this week, both times, clear as day on the portables and mobiles in the apparatus, none of that has changed, BUT, now theres zero traffic on the Midland P25 system via scanner, so either A: They've flipped the E-switch and gone encrypted, or B: They've migrated to a different site and done a remote reprogram on portables and mobiles, otherwise I don't know, because right now, the only published site is 10., no new listed frequencies... who knows. Anyone with an SDS can analyze the system, but I don't have one to do that to see if there's a new site, or what.... but, if it was just encryption, the channels should at least show up as active, but audio would be silent, so far as my experience goes.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I wonder if I have an rf interference issue in my apt. Though, I don't recall hearing anything out mobile either...
Howdy
Looks like you have tried a lot of stuff and below is some duplication, but the only issues I have had with my Uniden 436 (HT) was the massive (infamous) Simulcast we have in my area on all P25 Radio systems.
So here's my method (again, know you have done several of there prior..)
Looking at the RR Data Base one of the Primary Midland County P25 Phase 2 sites is located at the NCNB Bank building in the downtown area of Midland. I would recommend you drive to the general area, starting close to the location (with all radios) and available antennas (Mag Mount car/truck and stock HT antenna) and see what you can hear at that point.
This test should give you a Baseline to confirm you are hearing traffic or if not, you likely have a Radio Config issue perhaps?
If you do get traffic on the radio, then start driving away from the Transmit site towards home or office and see if you loose the signal or it starts dropping in/out as another test..
If you hear nothing after a reasonable time scanning all the Midland P25 Phase 2 frequencies, then check to see IF you have the various "SERVICES" turned "ON" in the Scanner Config - if these are OFF nothing will be heard on that "Service Type" (LAW, FIRE, EMS.....). Also check your squelch setting and put at "2" as that is a default convention.
You might also try Uniden "CLOSE CALL" when downtown and see if you get any traffic - naturally time of day / day of week will be important for more or less radio traffic. Might try this at your Fire House to have a fellow fireman do a Radio Check with Dispatch while near (a few feet away) to them and see IF you pick up them or Alarm radio traffic confirming the radio check request...just another means to see what you are hearing - or not..
If all else fails consider saving / back up your radio data and perform a FACTORY RESET & then do a fresh Download of the Midland County P25 specific data and a few other NON-P25 Conventional frequencies (NOAA Weather, etc,,) just to confirm the radio actually works...
Other folks more verses in the deeper P25 Configs likely have more technical tips, but I found the "Service Types" settings (TAGS) in the radio were my biggest goof-up in the early rounds of Uniden Home Patrol line of products...
Several great videos or online to look at the various P25 settings (Configs) so have a look...
Hope this helps narrow down the issues & gets you toward resolution...
Looks like you have tried a lot of stuff and below is some duplication, but the only issues I have had with my Uniden 436 (HT) was the massive (infamous) Simulcast we have in my area on all P25 Radio systems.
So here's my method (again, know you have done several of there prior..)
Looking at the RR Data Base one of the Primary Midland County P25 Phase 2 sites is located at the NCNB Bank building in the downtown area of Midland. I would recommend you drive to the general area, starting close to the location (with all radios) and available antennas (Mag Mount car/truck and stock HT antenna) and see what you can hear at that point.
This test should give you a Baseline to confirm you are hearing traffic or if not, you likely have a Radio Config issue perhaps?
If you do get traffic on the radio, then start driving away from the Transmit site towards home or office and see if you loose the signal or it starts dropping in/out as another test..
If you hear nothing after a reasonable time scanning all the Midland P25 Phase 2 frequencies, then check to see IF you have the various "SERVICES" turned "ON" in the Scanner Config - if these are OFF nothing will be heard on that "Service Type" (LAW, FIRE, EMS.....). Also check your squelch setting and put at "2" as that is a default convention.
You might also try Uniden "CLOSE CALL" when downtown and see if you get any traffic - naturally time of day / day of week will be important for more or less radio traffic. Might try this at your Fire House to have a fellow fireman do a Radio Check with Dispatch while near (a few feet away) to them and see IF you pick up them or Alarm radio traffic confirming the radio check request...just another means to see what you are hearing - or not..
If all else fails consider saving / back up your radio data and perform a FACTORY RESET & then do a fresh Download of the Midland County P25 specific data and a few other NON-P25 Conventional frequencies (NOAA Weather, etc,,) just to confirm the radio actually works...
Other folks more verses in the deeper P25 Configs likely have more technical tips, but I found the "Service Types" settings (TAGS) in the radio were my biggest goof-up in the early rounds of Uniden Home Patrol line of products...
Several great videos or online to look at the various P25 settings (Configs) so have a look...
Hope this helps narrow down the issues & gets you toward resolution...
I have a very strange issue. I have two favorites one called “midland complete” and another “midland law/fire”. The “law/fire” is generally what I scan because it has the municipal services locked out. Well I picked up no radio traffic on that favorite, but when I turn “midland complete” on it works like it should. I’m going to investigate today to see if I can figure out what happened.
Delete the 859.4625 frequency from the old midland p25 system as they peeled it off and began using it on the Midland county system as what may be a future move for the city to Motorola infrastructure.
I deleted the frequency, the system still only seems to work intermittently. It seems to work better when I have the full database turned on. Very perplexing. It will work fine for hours, then the next day nothing.
Similar threads
