New to Digital Sanners and need some help

[TonyV225]

First off Im new to the site my name is Tony Im an amateur radio operator holding a General Class license I repair computers and used to dabble in electronic repairs well until I got sick and my eyes went bad. I can program just about any amateur radio and standard scanner but this digital has me tugging at my hair!! Ive got programming pretty much figured out well until I got to the programming of Washington County and Hartford where I grew up. Im not understanding what the info that needs to be added to the setup For instance Washington County Sherriff and Hartford police is there a whole group that needs to be added or how is this done.

I feel so bad asking this as Im sure you poor people get this all the time Ive got a digital county added and it works but some signals sound really unstable scrambled and chirpy but dispatch is ok and most signals that come through but the few that have this digital scramble sound I have been dealing with. If someone could help me with the Washington County setup Ide then understand how to add the talk groups and how and where to add the info Im running a Radio Shack Pro-197 I had got the other day its basically a GRE and is identical to a GRE model but re badged for Radio Shack.

Again Im so sorry and cant imagine how many times you get someone asking what I have asked if you can help me on the forum or on the phone either way Ide greatly appreciate it and would then know how to do this for future adding of talk groups Thanks a bunch.......Tony

 

[retiredmich]

Go here, ( marksscanners.com/106_197/106_197.shtml )

 

[troymail]

Tony - I assume this is the system you are trying to listen to:

Washington County (WI) Public Safety Trunking System, Countywide, Wisconsin - Scanner Frequencies

Some of what you are describing might be encryption. A small number of the talkgroups are encrypted:

Hartford Police Tactical and 5 Sheriff tactical talkgroups -

All you can do there is lock them out and move on.

The other issue you might be seeing is a known issue with digital simulcast distortion. I'm not in your area so this could be way off. Hopefully, someone else can chime in with more specific/local knowledge of the system.

 

[TonyV225]

Thank you for the replies Yes that is the system and I do understand about the encryption, I cannot get the sheriff dispatch which the live feed through phone and computer works I maybe 2 far away to receive aswell but thought with my scanner hooked to my 2 meter 70CM antenna that's high up ide beable to receive the Washington County Trunking system.

As far as the unstable signal I get that from Waushara County Sheriff as I said half is clear but half or at times its all unstable scrambled sounding which may jut be that (scrambled or encrypted) My main goal is to get the Washington county to work but if I cant grab the signal its simply just not going to work. I could try one of my 2 meter beams I suppose. The whole thing is I just want to know if Ive set it up correctly for future programming of other systems.

Where I live there isn't a lot of P25 other than Waushara County which as I mentioned I have working but its not a talk Group but Ill get this figured out and Ide like to get the matching Radio Shack Pro-106 handheld aslong as I do have this figured out. Again I thank you and really appreciate the help and replies

 

[wirr]

Waushara County often uses encryption on 155.130.

 

[bailly2]

it appears the system is using linear simulcast modulation. you'll get better reception with a yagi for 150 mhz to block out the simulcast distortion from the other towers. maybe turn up the squelch too

 

[ORION_NE]

Tony where are you located? You might be to far to get a good enough signal for the scanner to decode the control channel or the voice traffic. This is a simulcast system scanners are horrible on these type of systems.

 

[TonyV225]

Im in the little town of Princeton (Green Lake County) 45 minutes straight West of Fondulac off HWY 23. Im also thinking Im to far but may try one of my 2 meter beams. Its like the new digital TV signals either you have a picture or "reception" or you simply don't unlike analog where you could atleast tune it to get something.

 

[ORION_NE]

Princeton might be too far. To test out your programming skills for VHF digital trunking there should be some WISCOM sites near you. Program one or two in and see if they work. I would also program in the sites in Fond du Lac Co. Then program the talk groups for Fond du Lac into the scanner and see if they will work.
You can "tune" in the control channel. Since it is a continuously broadcasting data you move you beam around and see if the signal will get better.