Midland P25 Silent?

[hiegtx]

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.

Midland's system is one from L3-Harris. For those systems, you must have all site frequencies entered. Unlike Motorola systems, which typically have only 4 control channel frequencies, the Harris systems change control channels very often, some either every day, or a couple that someone has described as changing every hour. And, as already noted, they will use every site's frequency as a control channel at some point. Since the full database has all of the site frequencies, it will work. If you are using a Favorites list, with the site programmed, you may be missing calls if you do not have all of the site frequencies entered. You'd "draw a blank" when one of the 'mising frequencies' is being used, but would start hearing the system again when the control channel rolls over to a frequency that is programmed.

Typically, Harris systems have that 00A in the system ID field.

 

[TopSlide]

Midland's system is one from L3-Harris. For those systems, you must have all site frequencies entered. Unlike Motorola systems, which typically have only 4 control channel frequencies, the Harris systems change control channels very often, some either every day, or a couple that someone has described as changing every hour. And, as already noted, they will use every site's frequency as a control channel at some point. Since the full database has all of the site frequencies, it will work. If you are using a Favorites list, with the site programmed, you may be missing calls if you do not have all of the site frequencies entered. You'd "draw a blank" when one of the 'mising frequencies' is being used, but would start hearing the system again when the control channel rolls over to a frequency that is programmed.
View attachment 168521
Typically, Harris systems have that 00A in the system ID field.

I deleted the frequency rattlerbb01 spoke of and it’s the only system that is working. My other favorite with the frequency remaining picks up nothing, nor does the full database. I’m perplexed.

 

[rattlerbb01]

I deleted the frequency rattlerbb01 spoke of and it’s the only system that is working. My other favorite with the frequency remaining picks up nothing, nor does the full database. I’m perplexed.

It may be changing frequently. Until someone with Unitrunker or DSD can scan the systems there and get a full site report, you just have to toy around with it and see what works best. You can actually tell the difference between a Harris P25 and Moto P25 control data stream if you’ve heard them both enough like I have. There is a possibility that I may come that way next couple of weeks due to our STX project ending in which case I can scan the county and city systems within 15 minutes and have all frequencies and control channels figured out.

 

[TopSlide]

It may be changing frequently. Until someone with Unitrunker or DSD can scan the systems there and get a full site report, you just have to toy around with it and see what works best. You can actually tell the difference between a Harris P25 and Moto P25 control data stream if you’ve heard them both enough like I have. There is a possibility that I may come that way next couple of weeks due to our STX project ending in which case I can scan the county and city systems within 15 minutes and have all frequencies and control channels figured out.

That would be awesome.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

It may be changing frequently. Until someone with Unitrunker or DSD can scan the systems there and get a full site report, you just have to toy around with it and see what works best. You can actually tell the difference between a Harris P25 and Moto P25 control data stream if you’ve heard them both enough like I have. There is a possibility that I may come that way next couple of weeks due to our STX project ending in which case I can scan the county and city systems within 15 minutes and have all frequencies and control channels figured out.

I mean…both systems advertise the manufacturer's ID in the control channel too…so there's that.

Really highlights one of the places scanner manufactures have cut corners in not following the standards though. As all control capable channels on both Motorola and L3-Harris systems are either advertised as CC (Current Control) or AC (Alternate Control) actual P25 radios actually learn the system from this OTA info. So the radio only needs to know the active control channel when it is initially looking for a site to register and affiliate at. You can also take that a step further with a feature called spectrum wide scan…the radio just needs to know the bandplan and will then scan according to the bandplan for an active control channel with the correct NAC and WACN.

 

[TexScan780D]

City of Midland City Council votes to upgrade the Midland Police Department Radio System. December 2022.

https://www.mrt.com/news/local/article/Council-votes-for-17-5M-radio-system-project-for-17651642.php?sid=5c1d55f33f92a418338c64e1

 

[KE5PL]

Midland P25 has been silent for 2 days for me. Did they migrate to the encrypted system?

As of this morning (11/6/24), the city of Midland Public Safety has cut over to the Motorola TRS. Sharing the Midland County core. Of course, it is encrypted! 😀

 

[tcarro15]

As of this morning (11/6/24), the city of Midland Public Safety has cut over to the Motorola TRS. Sharing the Midland County core. Of course, it is encrypted! 😀

I suppose I should probably get a letterhead request put in for a radio for the news station. I was able to work out arrangements with my last station Colorado and their agencies.