BCD325P2/BCD996P2: New To Trunking - control channels

[CrazyRach82]

Hi,

Previously I have had a GRE PSR-282 and then moved to a Baofeng DM1701 to dip my toe into picking up digital channels.
Recently I have purchased a BCD325P2, and I must say I have found it very daunting, but am getting there slowly. I have no setup anything trunked yet.
I have set up a conventional system, with all the channels I had on my baofeng. I have entered the colour codes, and one thing I have noticed is that during a scan, on 3 of the channels it gets stuck scanning each one and won't move until I make it. 2 of the channels are Capacity + and the other is Hytera.
Does this mean these channels are constantly transmitting and are a control channel which is part of a trunk? There is very rarely any audio comes from these channels, it just gets stuck on the scan.
If these are control channels, then I thought it would be a good place to dip my toe into setting up a trunk. I'm just struggling to know what frequencies to enters and LCN's etc. As I am in the UK, I cannot set up with Radio Reference, so am having to do it all manually.

Any help appreciated,

Rach

 

[dkcorlfla]

If you are comfortable with computers it would be good to consider setting up a SDR. One of the RTL-SDR v3 or v4 would be enough to get started in SDR. The free version of DSDplus would be enough to ID most of the digital stuff.

The SDR++ program is open source and has a nice waterfall display that will let you see the big picture.

System types, frequencies, and TG ids can be pulled from the logs and be used to help program the scanner.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Hi,I have set up a conventional system, with all the channels I had on my baofeng. I have entered the colour codes, and one thing I have noticed is that during a scan, on 3 of the channels it gets stuck scanning each one and won't move until I make it. 2 of the channels are Capacity + and the other is Hytera.

Welcome to the RR forums. You'll need the DMR upgrade to pick up anything DMR/CAP+/Hytera. Assuming traffic carried on said channels is NOT encrypted then you should have no issues picking up traffic after the DMR/MotoTRBO upgrade is installed. Not sure how much it is in the UK but in the US it's $60 if purchase direct from Uniden

 

[CrazyRach82]

Welcome to the RR forums. You'll need the DMR upgrade to pick up anything DMR/CAP+/Hytera. Assuming traffic carried on said channels is NOT encrypted then you should have no issues picking up traffic after the DMR/MotoTRBO upgrade is installed. Not sure how much it is in the UK but in the US it's $60 if purchase direct from Uniden

Hi, I have the DMR upgrade, there is sound on these channels, it’s just very rare. I’m just wondering why they get stuck on the scan when there’s no sound.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Hi, I have the DMR upgrade, there is sound on these channels, it’s just very rare. I’m just wondering why they get stuck on the scan when there’s no sound.

Are they documented in the RRDB? Do you have the presumed CAP+ system programmed as MotoTRBO trunked with correct LCNs and color code(s) set? Perhaps traffic is fully encrypted? If you programmed a CAP+ system conventionally then it will get hung up on a scan with each burst of the rest channel so you need to program as MotoTRBO trunked if the channels aren't conventional

 

[tvengr]

If you are comfortable with computers it would be good to consider setting up a SDR.

The OP already has a BCD325P2.

If these are control channels, then I thought it would be a good place to dip my toe into setting up a trunk.

A control channel transmits continuously with the data for controlling a trunked system. A trunked system requires at least one site. Each site has control channel capable frequencies. You can have multiple sites in a trunked system. If you are scanning only one site, the scanner will sit on that site and display the control channel frequency until it receives an active talkgroup. As Whiskey3JMC stated, you will need to purchase the DMR upgrade. Squelch for the BCD325P2 is normally set at 2.

 

[tvengr]

It is a lot easier to use software to program a scanner. FreeSCAN, which is free, does not support DMR or NXDN. For your scanner, you will need ARC XT or ProScan. Both have a free trial period to decide which one you like better. I use Butel ARC XT Basic for my BCD325P2 and BCD996P2.

 

[wtp]

is it a trunked system ?

 

[CrazyRach82]

is it a trunked system ?

Yes, it’s the airport

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Yes, it’s the airport

Are they documented in the RRDB?

If yes, please post the database link so we can see what type of system we're dealing with

 

[dkcorlfla]

If yes, please post the database link so we can see what type of system we're dealing with

The OP is located in the UK, can't use the RRDB. That said might there be something available in the UK?

 

[CrazyRach82]

I am in the uk, so my information is limited. It appears to be tier 3, I have no access to an lcn. I do have some information on this’s in use. But only one frequency so far.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The OP is located in the UK, can't use the RRDB.

RRDB | United Kingdom

RadioReference Database Browse - United States

www.radioreference.com

 

[CrazyRach82]

I still don’t know how to get round the lcn issue though

 

[RaleighGuy]

Hi,

Previously I have had a GRE PSR-282 and then moved to a Baofeng DM1701 to dip my toe into picking up digital channels.
Recently I have purchased a BCD325P2, and I must say I have found it very daunting, but am getting there slowly. I have no setup anything trunked yet.
I have set up a conventional system, with all the channels I had on my baofeng. I have entered the colour codes, and one thing I have noticed is that during a scan, on 3 of the channels it gets stuck scanning each one and won't move until I make it. 2 of the channels are Capacity + and the other is Hytera.
Does this mean these channels are constantly transmitting and are a control channel which is part of a trunk? There is very rarely any audio comes from these channels, it just gets stuck on the scan.
If these are control channels, then I thought it would be a good place to dip my toe into setting up a trunk. I'm just struggling to know what frequencies to enters and LCN's etc. As I am in the UK, I cannot set up with Radio Reference, so am having to do it all manually.

Any help appreciated,

Rach

Here is a great, easy to understand Tik Tok video from @w2lie and Scanner School that might help

Watch on TikTok