Motorola Radios ?

[scannerbum]

I wanted to know if someone could tell me how these work. Iam refering to 800mhz trunked system smart net II . How does the radio get programed to said system , for that matter how do pl tones come into effect on all systems ? If a tone is 110.9 , Is that programed into the radio and then the radio does the rest or what. If I had the same motorola radio as my local pd could I program it to follow their system and would it be legal to do so as long as you where not trying to use it ?

 

[Gilligan]

Motorola Radius will do trunked systems. As far as PL or DPL tones, it is on a per-channel basis. You program the freq and (optional) tone for each channel individually, so there can be different tones for different freqs. For following your local PD, if they are using a trunked system, you may or may not be able to get a trunked radio that would hear their comms. But it would not be worth the money or effort. Just get a scanner that can hear them.

 

[scannerbum]

How........

How this process was done was my main question . By computer , or do you open up the radio or what . How and where does this info get put ?

 

[w4rez]

How this process was done was my main question . By computer , or do you open up the radio or what . How and where does this info get put ?

You take it to a shop and have them program it or you pay Motorola's extortion fees for their software, interface box, and cable, and program it yourself.

 

[fineshot1]

How this process was done was my main question . By computer , or do you open up the radio or what . How and where does this info get put ?

Motorola radios are programmed with motorola programming software run on either a desktop or laptop pc. Most of the radios require a RIB aquired from either motorola or an aftermarket version. RIB = Radio Interface Box and it converts the software RS232 signals into levels for the motorola radios. Also required are radio specific cables from the RIB to the radio. The older line of software is called RSS and the newer is called CPS. My answer to your question regarding using a motorola radio for trunk system scanning would be to scrap the idea. Unless you could aquire a correct model cheaply and get the programming done correctly by someone cheaply or nothing at all then it would be a financial ordeal unless you knew what you were doing and knew what to expect. Also - some trunk systems have equipment/software running that can brick an unauthorized radio on a trunk system. Also - motorola trunk radios are designed more for tx & rx rather than primarly scanning so the scan functions and capacities on them are limited. That means that it is not practical for the average scanner listener. The RIB, motorola programming software and cables are rather costly if you plan to learn how to do it yourself. See the wicki link below for more on some of the models.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Motorola_Radios

 

[W0JJK]

deleted

 

[ampulman]

A trunking radio is programmed by computer. There is no PL or DPL in a trunking part of the programing the radio but if they are conventional channels like the the NSPAC channels that have PL or DPL.

I've seen this statement (re: PL) before. With regard to the following, can you tell me what CT: 97.30 means?

System Name: Burlington County
Location: Burlington, NJ
County: Burlington
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface
Sysid: 870D
CT: 97.30
Last Updated: Added a single talkgroup
Hits: 13611

Thanks.

AM

 

[N4DES]

CT means Connect Tone. It is a guard type tone that is used in a Moto. Trunking environment.

 

[mancow]

Yes, analog trunked systems do use PL tones but they are non standard. There are many other variables to consider as well beyond the tones.

System key for starters, talk groups, affiliation types, etc........... it's quite an ordeal.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

Motorola radios are programmed with motorola programming software run on either a desktop or laptop pc. Most of the radios require a RIB aquired from either motorola or an aftermarket version. RIB = Radio Interface Box and it converts the software RS232 signals into levels for the motorola radios. Also required are radio specific cables from the RIB to the radio. The older line of software is called RSS and the newer is called CPS. My answer to your question regarding using a motorola radio for trunk system scanning would be to scrap the idea. Unless you could aquire a correct model cheaply and get the programming done correctly by someone cheaply or nothing at all then it would be a financial ordeal unless you knew what you were doing and knew what to expect. Also - some trunk systems have equipment/software running that can brick an unauthorized radio on a trunk system. Also - motorola trunk radios are designed more for tx & rx rather than primarly scanning so the scan functions and capacities on them are limited. That means that it is not practical for the average scanner listener. The RIB, motorola programming software and cables are rather costly if you plan to learn how to do it yourself. See the wicki link below for more on some of the models.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Motorola_Radios

Suppose you have all the programming equipment and software. How do you edit talk groups ?

 

[mancow]

They are entered kind of like frequencies. They are given in HEX values. You assign them to zones and scan lists much like you do with conventional frequencies. You have to have a valid system key for the ID of the system you want to work with or the software will lock you out of certain, if not all trunking related fields and not let you do anything with them.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

What does a system key look like ?

 

[W4KRR]

What does a system key look like ?

It's gold, about 8 inches long, some are encrusted with diamonds or other jewels...

No, a system key is like a password file that is needed to program Motorola radios to operate on trunked systems. Used to keep unwanted or unauthorized users off the trunked system. No system key, then you can't program the radio. System admistrators have the system keys; they don't share them or give them out.

 

[crazyboy]

A system key looks like this:

 

[w0fg]

A system key looks like this:

Exactly right! And the way to get a pre-programmed Motorola radio is to sneak up behind your local beat cop and whop him on the head and steal his. Where do you think the term whacker came from?

 

[gatekeep]

Exactly right! And the way to get a pre-programmed Motorola radio is to sneak up behind your local beat cop and whop him on the head and steal his. Where do you think the term whacker came from?

.. Yea, do it Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell) style, problem with that is, EVEN IF you don't get caught (unlikely), doing that, they'll just inhibit the radio, once its reported stolen.

Not that anyone would bother to try this method, it's rediculously stupid...

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

System admistrators have the system keys; they don't share them or give them out.

Well then we must have quite a few system admins posting photos of their shacks.

 

[BigLebowski]

It's quite easy to make a system key for whatever system you need. There is even a page on batlabs.com explaining them.

Coming from someone who knows, in most cases it is more trouble than it's worth to program up a 2-way radio on a TRS. You are limited to 11 talkgroups to be scanned (10+selected), and are risking it being inhibited if the system admins decide to send an inhibit command to your ID.

 

[FrDan]

Is the Pro97 a product for a beginner...or take it back?

I guess by most standards you could consider me slightly above average IQ, but I am totally unable to do anything with the scanner. I still have time to return it and I think I should because there are no beginners help, i.e. step 1, step 2, & etc.

Thank you, Fr. Dan Moore, a frustrated Priest.

 

[mancow]

The previous comments related to Motorola commercial units. Your PRO-97 is nowhere that difficult to program and doesn't require any special tools. Keep it and just stay at it. Eventually it will all make sense.