New 996XT Issue with P25 System - WEIRD!

[SCPD]

Bear with me.... I just got a 996XT and programmed it. I set up the software (Freescan) before I got the unit and downloaded the program once I got it. The 996XT was taking forever to find the control channels on the Kansas P25 system. I tried putting in all 128 freqs and I tried loading just Control freqs. Nothing worked.

I imported my program from USAD software and it works fine. I also tried downloading from RR website and it works fine, but if I try to combine the freqs from RR, instead of having each tower separate, the unit does not seem to want to find control channel???

I decided to load my program into the one I imported from USAD (that worked originally) and after spending time moving all the TGID's over, now we are back to not finding control channel? I have not waited more than about 10 minutes, and conventional freqs work fine. Also had some issues with SGCO system - same as described above with P25. Am I doing something wrong or does it just take a long time for it to hit the control channels? Please help - very frusturated.

Thanks!
Chad

 

[kma371]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3GS: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A400 Safari/6531.22.7)

Bear with me.... I just got a 996XT and programmed it. I set up the software (Freescan) before I got the unit and downloaded the program once I got it. The 996XT was taking forever to find the control channels on the Kansas P25 system. I tried putting in all 128 freqs and I tried loading just Control freqs. Nothing worked.

I imported my program from USAD software and it works fine. I also tried downloading from RR website and it works fine, but if I try to combine the freqs from RR, instead of having each tower separate, the unit does not seem to want to find control channel???

I decided to load my program into the one I imported from USAD (that worked originally) and after spending time moving all the TGID's over, now we are back to not finding control channel? I have not waited more than about 10 minutes, and conventional freqs work fine. Also had some issues with SGCO system - same as described above with P25. Am I doing something wrong or does it just take a long time for it to hit the control channels? Please help - very frusturated.

Thanks!
Chad

Can you post your file so we can look at it?

 

[SCPD]

I imported my program from USAD software and it works fine. I also tried downloading from RR website and it works fine, but if I try to combine the freqs from RR, instead of having each tower separate, the unit does not seem to want to find control channel???

What type of scanner did you use before the 996xt?
You do want to put all the site programmed separately. This will help is scanning speed, receiving and this way you can identify which tower you are receiving. If you have all the control channel under one site the scanner will have to scan all of them to find the control channel. Once it finds the control channel it will only use the first control channel it stops on. The scanner will not scan the rest of the frequencies for another control channel. If you have the towers in separately you can have different system quick keys so you are only scanning the towers you want to.
When I have the Kansas P25 system system programmed in my 996xt I have all the sites programmed separately. I have the towers grouped by region with each region having its own system quick key. When I am in north central Kansas I only have those sites quick key enabled. I have mine labeled by county name the site is in.

 

[SCPD]

File from FreeScan

Here is the file for the Butler County System. I left the scanner on all night and it did not find control channel. I am thinking I may have to live with each site being programmed separately as N9WHM said, even though I don't like that method. I had the 996T before.

Thanks for any help!!
Chad

 

[UPMan]

Programming each site as its own site will improve performance in many cases. The way you are trying, it could lock onto a control channel that is poorly received and stick there...and you'd miss a lot of system traffic.

 

[SCPD]

Okay then....guess I will do that. Thanks UPMan!! I am just not sure why it won't find the control channel with them grouped - maybe too many freqs


Chad

 

[SCPD]

Hmmmm..... set up sites and still is not picking up well. My 996T had no problems at all. At this point, I am wondering if I should have bought the 996XT. I never had problems with my 996T. I have programmed several scanners and had little problem til now, not sure what is up with this thing. F-R-U-S-T-U-R-A-T-E-D...

And....the scanner is locking on a channel but not opening up to hear it. The screen shows it is locked, but no audible. PLEASE HELP UPMAN!

 

[SCPD]

Okay those of you listening to my pitty party... I downloaded a trial of ARC-XT and tried the system in it and it works fine... Could this be an issue with FreeScan? Is it a lesser program? I may just build it all again in ARC and use that. Anyone else had issues with FreeScan or is it just me? (grin)

 

[Paulsan]

You can get a full version of ARC-XT Pro for free. Unfortunately it means you need to subscribe the that rag The New York Times for a period. I chose to get the Sunday edition. We have ten parrots so we can always use the paper and I saved $70.

 

[wyomingmedic]

I am a LITTLE bit into the same side as you. I just purchased and received my 996XT and have been fiddling with it. Using both freescan and ARC-xt.

I have had Freescan deciding to change and drop several control frequencies at random times. So, when I am uploading, making a small change and uploading again (repeat until nauseated), I have found several sites missing frequencies. And I did not remove them.

The last 48 hours has had me beating my head against the wall, but I am past that point and only feel the need to smash my finger in the door every now and then.

I NOW have it receiving what I want, when I want. I few more LITTLE bugs to work out, but it is close.

WM

 

[K2KOH]

You can get a full version of ARC-XT Pro for free. Unfortunately it means you need to subscribe the that rag The New York Times for a period. I chose to get the Sunday edition. We have ten parrots so we can always use the paper and I saved $70.

Wow, you must hate your parrots! :lol:

 

[SCPD]

Well, I am glad it is not me... I know how you feel, WyomingMedic. I got this Tuesday and have been spending every spare moment trying to make it work. I guess you get what you pay for-huh?

Glad the parrots are good, Paul! Thanks for the info!!!

Chad

 

[SCPD]

In your file you have to change the system type to P25 standard. You still have it as Type II/P25 from your 996t file. Change the system type and it should work.
And turn the attenuator off.

 

[SCPD]

Thanks N9

Thanks!

 

[McP]

Interesting thread..... I was getting a few agencies last week that I am not picking up now. Constantly flashing "finding CtrlChan" on the screen (996XT).

I had originally started with ARC-XT and moved over to FreeScan. At one point, I found some systems were missing frequencies that were there in ARC-XT, so I just manually fixed that in FreeScan by adding them and they've been fine.

But I couldn't figure out why I was getting finding control channel regularly on some systems that I had received before. I wonder if it has anything to do with uploading/downloading to the scanner and mixing FreeScan with ARC-XT.

I may also just try to rebuild up everything in ARC-XT and see if that solves the problem.

 

[KC9NEG]

I programmed my 996XT for my feed (a P25 LSM CQPSK system) using FreeScan and I've never seen "Finding CtrlChan". System type is Mot Type II / P25.

 

[SCPD]

Programming P25 systems

For the x96XT scanners the system has to be programmed as P25.
The x96T scanners the system is type2/p25 then under the site it has to be P25.

 

[Mac2]

996XT needs clear, detailed instructions

Dear cmccluskey: The 996XT sure is almost impossible to program. I also have a new radio and have about given up. Uniden should provide step-by-step instructions - at the level of push this and then do this.

I have wanted to be able selectivly to listen to one of two P25 networks. I used FreeScan to enter each network, but have yet to find a secret instruction that will choose a particular network.

The manuals that exist are well intended, but too high level to be used to implement things.

Guess we should have purchased an HP and only needed a ZIP code.
73, Mac2 Michigan