Anybody notice the West Mesa site appears to be down? Haven’t heard a control channel in a few days and checked all of the frequencies for that site. Can anyone else confirm?
New Mexico DTRS
- Thread starter beerzkool
- Start date
DigitalRain
Member
Hello all,
I have gone through all 15 pages reading about the new system. And its overwhelming. Currently i have a bearcat BCD436HP to monitor APD and BCSO. Im wondering if this radio is compatible with the new system and how do i tell if im even picking up the new system. Currently i can still hear APD with no problem. Dont Hear BCSO at all. Any info you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Hoping my radio doesnt turn into an expensive brick.
I have gone through all 15 pages reading about the new system. And its overwhelming. Currently i have a bearcat BCD436HP to monitor APD and BCSO. Im wondering if this radio is compatible with the new system and how do i tell if im even picking up the new system. Currently i can still hear APD with no problem. Dont Hear BCSO at all. Any info you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Hoping my radio doesnt turn into an expensive brick.
ChrisABQ
...
Here is the new system, APD, AFR, BCSO and BCFR are all on the new system. Make sure to go here New Mexico Statewide Public Safety Radio System Trunking System, Various, New Mexico - Scanner Frequencies update your radio using Sentinel, if you haven't created a favorites list, that is where you would need to start. I use the 436, reception of the new system is great. ABQ Simulcast site does have some LSM distortion issues (as expected) but the Sandia Crest site is great quality with little or no distortion.
What ChrisAbq said is exactly spot on DigitalRain. You can monitor the new system just fine with the 436hp. Prior to my recent SDS upgrade I have been using a 436 and a 536. Be aware like Chris said of the citywide Simulcast site (cluster) you may have some missed comms from the LSM distortion issue that is a known issue with Simulcast P25 systems. The only scanner on the market currently that fixes this issue is the new Uniden SDS100/200 which is $$$. But just monitor the Sandia Crest site, Simulcast, and West Mesa site and you should be good to go. If you live up near the east foothills also monitor the Cedro site.
Btw you only need to enter the control and Alt control channels for each site and will work just fine.
DigitalRain
Member
Thank you both for the info -- do you know if in the manual it shows how to change the Control and ALT control channels on the 436? or can that be done though the Sentinel - I assume Sentinel loads up just like the provoice program did.
ChrisABQ
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Looking at the system page (to go by) New Mexico Statewide Public Safety Radio System Trunking System, Various, New Mexico - Scanner Frequencies the Control Channel is in red and alternates are in blue. Those are the only ones that need programming as they control channels assign the voice frequencies themselves. The changes can be done at the "Site Level" on Sentinel and in the radio.
DigitalRain
Member
OK I think I understand. I can go into Sentinel and add those control channels in or I can enter them into the radio manually ?
ChrisABQ
...
You can add/edit/delete frequencies in both. You just need the red CC and blue alternate CC's.
DigitalRain
Member
OK I will give it a try. Thank you.
DigitalRain
Member
Ive downloaded sentinel, hooked up my radio. Said it wouldn't update something to do with homepatrol tried updating like in the video. I get updating unit failed. Tried looking for the section to type in the new control channels. Cant find that section. Is there something im doing wrong (which i know I am) should not be this hard. Do i have to ease whats on the sd card? Im sure the new system can live on the same card. Please help. Before i pull out what hair i have.
ChrisABQ
...
You need the Sentinel for the SDS series and the 436/536 series, the Homepatrol software is the wrong version.
DigitalRain
Member
Ive got whatever it came with. Had provoice added.
ChrisABQ
...
Go download it here: BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki (Ver. 2.02.01)
ChrisABQ
...
Provoice is not used anymore and was just replaced by the P25 Simulcast system, make sure you're loading the right system.
DigitalRain try using this manual instead of the factory one. It’s easier to understand and gives more details:
Sentinel is the easiest way to download to the scanner but you benefit from watching the sentinel how to video first via YouTube. It can be tricky at first but once you understand how it works it’s allot easier.
These videos might help you:
Sentinel is the easiest way to download to the scanner but you benefit from watching the sentinel how to video first via YouTube. It can be tricky at first but once you understand how it works it’s allot easier.
These videos might help you:
You will need to create a new favorites list for the NM Statewide P25 system first. Then you can select the system in the list of statewide systems under Bernalillo county, NM and add to the new favorites list you just created. You can then L/O any channels or departments you don’t want to listen too. Make sure to hit updates first to A) update and download any new firmware that might be available via the Uniden site. B) download any new DB library files that might be available on the Uniden site.
FYI - It’s not actually written to the scanner internal SD card until you select “write to scanner” from the drop down in Sentinel. Do this after you create what you want and ready to download your custom list to th scanner.
FYI - It’s not actually written to the scanner internal SD card until you select “write to scanner” from the drop down in Sentinel. Do this after you create what you want and ready to download your custom list to th scanner.
DigitalRain
Member
alright, I somehow got it to work. I'm picking up APD, AFR, BCSO so far. When a unit keys up I get the TGID which starts with 14 so I must be on the right system. Is there a way to change those ID #'s to read what area command I'm getting? I went though Sentinel and didnt find anywhere to change that.
ChrisABQ
...
If you downloaded the entire US database and created your favorites list from there, all the Agency and Area Command dispatch names should already be named. If you created your own favorite list by entering in all the data yourself, you would need to enter those also.
This is a good video also showing how to do your favorites list, ignore the entire first half. The second half focuses on the favorite list programming. Also, notice everything is already named from the database that was downloaded and this is how it will look in your radio.
This is a good video also showing how to do your favorites list, ignore the entire first half. The second half focuses on the favorite list programming. Also, notice everything is already named from the database that was downloaded and this is how it will look in your radio.
