Missing trunked frequencies

[Window_Seat]

Hay all!

I mainly monitor the Newark PD & FD trunked frequencies (46416, 46448, 46896). I suspect that there are some missing frequencies in that list, because at least 5 times per day I hear a "detail" come in, and then I hear nothing but silence, and then 30 seconds later, the units will say "copy/10-4, enroute". When this happens, I about go crazy because without a doubt, the sirens will be blaring on at least a few of these per week.

This tells me that there are frequencies that have been added to those trunked IDs, but not added to the database, no?

Erik.

 

[WayneH]

This tells me that there are frequencies that have been added to those trunked IDs, but not added to the database, no?

There have been no frequency changes or adds recently so the DB is correct.

 

[RolnCode3]

Maybe they are being dispatched via MDT's, and are receiving the calls that way? The "detail" traffic is just advising them that there is a call they are being dispatched to. They read the call, then tell dispatch they are enroute. Just a possibility - I'm too far away to hear them.

 

[dougr1252]

Since Alco has 21 total channels in their system, another possibility is that the talkgroup has trunked to a channel that comes in poorly at your location, or has intermittent interference. I notice even on systems with overall strong signals, certain voice channels are weaker than others. This can also change with weather conditions. Try a different location for the scanner or a different antenna.

Is Alco only rotating 3 control channels now?

 

[WayneH]

Is Alco only rotating 3 control channels now?

Two for normal rotation, but if those two fail there is a fallback.

The reasoning behind why some channels have poor signal is because not all sites carry all frequencies. This is why some talkgroups are referred to as Local and Wide. Wide is at all sites and Local is at sites west of the East Bay Hills (Lake Merritt, Coyote, etc). TGs are also setup in different usergroups so that they occur on Local or Wide.

 

[Window_Seat]

I think I found the problem...

I did a complete "overhaul" of the programming of one of my scanners and deleted everything, and I input the frequencies in order from lowest to highest (they were input out of order). The whole thing took about 2 hours.

I researched a bit, and also found a missing frequency: "866.6250", and I monitored it for a while, but didn't hear anything. I have 2 scanners, so I did all this with one, while listening to the other, and I missed multiple calls on the one, while hearing them loud & clear on the scanner I updated.

Since then, I haven't been missing any calls.

Erik.

 

[dougr1252]

I was talking about channels on the same site

The database used to have 4 control channels. Are they down to two for rebanding? I thought that was a year or two away.

I have never seen any traffic on 866.6250. I've always wondered what it's for.

Two for normal rotation, but if those two fail there is a fallback.

The reasoning behind why some channels have poor signal is because not all sites carry all frequencies. This is why some talkgroups are referred to as Local and Wide. Wide is at all sites and Local is at sites west of the East Bay Hills (Lake Merritt, Coyote, etc). TGs are also setup in different usergroups so that they occur on Local or Wide.

 

[WayneH]

I was talking about channels on the same site

Ah ha, sorry. It seems like they're always working on something. This old, antiquated system is no doubt held together with duct tape and bailing wire it's no surprise certain sites might have issues.

I know at some point there were, for sure, four confirmed CC's (two in a protected mode). Since one of them is a BSI announcer it may have been taken off the list. I seem to recall someone telling me only the two common CC's are what's programmed in now.

I know a lot of channels periodically go in and out of service. Here's a list of channels I have. I don't have a record of 866.6250 ever being used for trunking; I do have it marked for MDT.

01 866.9375,27d
02 868.0875,2ab
03 868.7625,2c6
04 867.4000,33f
05 867.9250,3d5
06 866.8000,2f0
07 867.1500,335
08 866.4250,2e1
09 867.2500,339
10 867.6750,3cb
11 868.4375,2b9
12 868.2750,3e3
13 866.1500,2d6
14 868.6500,3f2
15 868.9250,3fd
16 867.7750,3cf
17 868.2250,3e1
18 868.2000,3e0
19 868.0375,2a9
20 868.3625,2b6
21 868.7125,2c4

FWIW, one of Motorola's configuration rules is that only channels between 1 and 4 can be marked for Control.

 

[K6CDO]

I was talking about channels on the same site

The database used to have 4 control channels. Are they down to two for rebanding? I thought that was a year or two away. ...

While the actual frequency shifts may be a year away, I suspect the process of reprogramming the user radios has started, in which case you have identified the issue. It took us the better part of 8 months last year to touch 3300 in-service radios for a fire fleetmap update in San Diego. I expect that the all-out effort to reband our 20,000 radios in the San Diego County - Imperial County network will take a year plus.

Don

 

[WayneH]

While the actual frequency shifts may be a year away, I suspect the process of reprogramming the user radios has started

You're correct Don. It's been on-going for quite some time now. And much, much more to do.

 

[kma371]

Hay all!

I mainly monitor the Newark PD & FD trunked frequencies (46416, 46448, 46896). I suspect that there are some missing frequencies in that list, because at least 5 times per day I hear a "detail" come in, and then I hear nothing but silence, and then 30 seconds later, the units will say "copy/10-4, enroute". When this happens, I about go crazy because without a doubt, the sirens will be blaring on at least a few of these per week.

This tells me that there are frequencies that have been added to those trunked IDs, but not added to the database, no?

Erik.

I know you figured out the problem, but what scanner do you have? Some scanners montior just the control channels so you dont have to worry about the other channels in the system. The scanner does that work for you.

 

[Window_Seat]

I know you figured out the problem, but what scanner do you have? Some scanners montior just the control channels so you dont have to worry about the other channels in the system. The scanner does that work for you.

BCT8 & BR330T

Erik.

 

[kma371]

BCT8 & BR330T

Erik.

I believe the both the BR330T and BCT8 support "control channel only" mode. That way you only have to enter the 3 contorl channels for ALCO instead of all 17 or so system freqs. Save you some memories too.

Try that

 

[Stepen]

Question...

Hi, I am somewhat of a rookie. I have just purchaced a Home Patrol 1. Whats the suffex behind the freqs? Also, Does anyone have knowlage on the HP? I seem to get the entire area, minus Newark... Any help is most appreciated!
Thanx!
Stepen

Ah ha, sorry. It seems like they're always working on something. This old, antiquated system is no doubt held together with duct tape and bailing wire it's no surprise certain sites might have issues.

I know at some point there were, for sure, four confirmed CC's (two in a protected mode). Since one of them is a BSI announcer it may have been taken off the list. I seem to recall someone telling me only the two common CC's are what's programmed in now.

I know a lot of channels periodically go in and out of service. Here's a list of channels I have. I don't have a record of 866.6250 ever being used for trunking; I do have it marked for MDT.

01 866.9375,27d
02 868.0875,2ab
03 868.7625,2c6
04 867.4000,33f
05 867.9250,3d5
06 866.8000,2f0
07 867.1500,335
08 866.4250,2e1
09 867.2500,339
10 867.6750,3cb
11 868.4375,2b9
12 868.2750,3e3
13 866.1500,2d6
14 868.6500,3f2
15 868.9250,3fd
16 867.7750,3cf
17 868.2250,3e1
18 868.2000,3e0
19 868.0375,2a9
20 868.3625,2b6
21 868.7125,2c4

FWIW, one of Motorola's configuration rules is that only channels between 1 and 4 can be marked for Control.

 

[WayneH]

Hi, I am somewhat of a rookie. I have just purchaced a Home Patrol 1. Whats the suffex behind the freqs? Also, Does anyone have knowlage on the HP? I seem to get the entire area, minus Newark... Any help is most appreciated!

The digits after the frequency are the values sent out over the air via the control channel to represent a frequency.

If you need help with your Uniden HP I recommend starting your own thread. We prefer people to stick as close as possible to the topic in the first post.