BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Multiple sites in one system Was: Programming NJICS in NJ

[slingshot202]

So this feels like a total new guy question, but I am not sure I have ever really had a decent answer on it.

I am reprogramming my BCD996p2 for the truck. As we know NJICS is just a large number of systems all over the state. That being said, we have some channels in certain areas that overlap.

For instance there are a few times in Passaic County and Essex county that utilize more than one system. I know WO is simulcast but I generally put that into my home scanners and do what I do. Then you have those that are heard also on Passaic, which I do not receive at home.

In the car however, can I take a System - put the sites WO Simulcast and Passaic system (making one S12 the other S13) and then add the TG's without it causing issues, delays or otherwise?

I have previously been told putting more than one of these can cause issues, so to create systems for each, which just seems like a lot of unnecessary work.

Thoughts?

 

[hiegtx]

In the car however, can I take a System - put the sites WO Simulcast and Passaic system (making one S12 the other S13) and then add the TG's without it causing issues, delays or otherwise?

I have previously been told putting more than one of these can cause issues, so to create systems for each, which just seems like a lot of unnecessary work.

Are you referring to putting more that one site in a system?

For the SDS100 & SDS200, there is a noticeable 'delay' or pause for each site programmed, as the scanner tries to receive & analyze the control channel. Having extra sites, that are not in range, will slow down your scanning speed. But there is not a noticeable pause on the P2 series scanners if you have more than one site. There is no problem with having more than one site in a system. (It's not a problem on the SDS100/-200, other than it does somewhat slow your scanning speed).

If you are referring to some other problem, can you provide the post that you saw that caution noted?

 

[slingshot202]

Nope, this is exactly what I was wondering about.

It's like NJSP go up and down the state, but I feel like putting every single site in will destroy the scanning, though I have a cheat sheet to turn on and off.... just wondering for efficiency.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Jbooth75]

I dont have your scanner, but on my sds 100 I can lock on a particular site. So, if I nove out of the area of a particular site or simulcast I can switch to another. I would assume its possible with your scanner.

 

[GTR8000]

For clarification, NJICS is one single ASTRO 25 system (39A) comprised of multiple sites throughout the state (some are simulcast cells, others are standalone (ASR) sites).

And yes, the more sites you have in a scan list, the more you will miss. Especially if you're not even in range of most sites and the scanner is wasting time trying to find dozens of control channels that you'll never receive.

 

[slingshot202]

For clarification, NJICS is one single ASTRO 25 system (39A) comprised of multiple sites throughout the state (some are simulcast cells, others are standalone (ASR) sites).

And yes, the more sites you have in a scan list, the more you will miss. Especially if you're not even in range of most sites and the scanner is wasting time trying to find dozens of control channels that you'll never receive.

So this is what I though, so what I have done for instance, NJSP - might not batter soon, time will tell, but I have each site in a QK - and if I know I am going south, I can turn a few on. If I am going North, turn others, etc.
As for my area here, using Union and WO are not to bad as I receive both fairly similarly.

 

[GTR8000]

The old NJSP system was slightly different in that it was basically three SmartZone systems (north, central, south) tied together as one bigger OmniLink system. The great thing about that setup was that each zone was one huge simulcast, so you only had to worry about 3 sites total (the IntelliRepeater sites carried very little traffic and were inconsequential).

The NJICS system has way more sites, obviously, and all of them carry a good amount of traffic for whichever area they cover. On the plus side, from a system and subscriber perspective, the system is much more efficient with making the most out of all of the frequencies, since you don't need to carry Troop B Sussex patrols on a site in Essex County, that frees up those channels on the West Orange cell to carry more localized traffic without getting overwhelmed with traffic from 4 counties over.

The bad news for people scanning the system is that it's basically impossible to monitor every talkgroup in each zone like you used to be able to, so what you're able to listen to is going to be mostly isolated to the geographic area each site/cell covers. Oh and you also have to manage all of these sites if you're driving around a wide area. That means either having a lot of quick keys, or maybe using a GPS solution to automatically turning sites on/off as you drive around.

PS - Do not create multiple systems for the NJICS, that is extremely inefficient and you'll be duplicating all of the talkgroups in doing so. Instead create a single NJICS system in a single favorites list, and give the sites themselves quick keys. Toggle those on and off as necessary.

Edit: Looks like you may've already done that with giving the sites quick keys. You should look into GPS for the mobile scanner, that might make your life easier.

 

[hiegtx]

So this is what I though, so what I have done for instance, NJSP - might not batter soon, time will tell, but I have each site in a QK - and if I know I am going south, I can turn a few on. If I am going North, turn others, etc.
As for my area here, using Union and WO are not to bad as I receive both fairly similarly.

While there is a noticeable delay in the SDS series scanners, if you add more sites than you actually need at one time, that is not a significant problem with the P2 series scanners.

Your best move, which sounds like you've already done this, is to assign different quick keys to your 'normally out of area' sites. Then, when headed out of your home area, you can use the QK's to toggle on sites for the area you are heading to.