NXDN & ARC536Pro (attempting to program Bass Pro & Missouri State Univ)

[foster_006]

So I discovered a bug with the ARC software and/or Uniden SDS 200 (and likely the same with SDS 100). I primarily use the ARC software for programming my Uniden SDS 200. If you're in the Springfield area and you're attempting to monitor Bass Pro/Wonders of Wildlife or MSU, then this might apply to you.

Today, I downloaded the Bass Pro Shops NXDN system in Springfield and sent it to my SDS 200 AS IS with no modifications. Ran it on my SDS 200 beside DSD+. Seeing and hearing activity on DSD+ with nothing on SDS 200 from RRDB. Odd.

Troubleshooting the issue, I discovered that if you DO NOT actually click in the RAN box for trunk frequencies and select the proper RAN (or search), ARC and/or Uniden will send it to the scanner as a COLOR CODE. This information is downloaded directly from RRDB but it's likely that ARC displays that information in a way that Uniden doesn't like, so it defaults to Color Code instead of RAN. This will prevent you from hearing anything from the NXDN system you are trying to monitor if this is your setup as well. If you manually type in the RAN under trunk frequencies, the same problem will occur and you'll likely hear nothing on your SDS.

In the RAN box... it should look like "RAN=1" instead of just "1". You can also just set it to search and you shouldn't miss anything.

I've also submitted a correction to the LCN for this system. The current LCN in RRDB will also cause you to miss some voice traffic. Hopefully this submission will be processed by our awesome DB admins!

Disclaimer: this has been my experience with trying to program and monitor local to SW Missouri NXDN systems with my SDS 200 using ARC536Pro. I have not experimented with Uniden's Sentinel software because I do not use it for programming. I had a similar experience with using ARC536Pro to program the Missouri State University system with the same results.

 

[kruser]

Use Sentinel. It works just fine on the systems you mentioned other than the LCN correction that's needed for Bass Pro. That's of course a user submission issue but it looks like you may have caught and corrected that once they get to your submission.
I gave up on using most 3rd party apps for programming the x36HP and SDS models or others that support DMR and/or NXDN.
I've found issues similar to what you observed to the point I simply no longer trust some of the 3rd party apps.
Sentinel has not failed me once but it does have some quirks like the one where it will not import a system with no known talkgroups listed in the RRDB yet. I'm not sure if ARC536Pro grabs those either as I've not used it in a while but if it will, then that would be a case to use ARC for that system.

Once a system is in the radio using Sentinel, it's usually safe to modify it via your 3rd party software if you are more familiar with whatever software program that may be.
I'm pretty sure Uniden error checks the data for these types of problems when they pull the RRDB each Sunday evening and if the problem can't be corrected, it does not go into the Monday Sentinel DB update so it can't get into users radios.

In your case with ARC536, it sounds like ARC is importing these systems as a type of DMR and not detecting they are a NXDN based system.
Did you notice what the system type is reported as for either system before you noticed the incorrect RAN values. Was it detected and imported as one of the DMR type systems or did ARC say it was a NXDN system?

I guess an email to Gommert is in order as it sounds like a bug with his software!

 

[foster_006]

Use Sentinel. It works just fine on the systems you mentioned other than the LCN correction that's needed for Bass Pro. That's of course a user submission issue but it looks like you may have caught and corrected that once they get to your submission.
I gave up on using most 3rd party apps for programming the x36HP and SDS models or others that support DMR and/or NXDN.
I've found issues similar to what you observed to the point I simply no longer trust some of the 3rd party apps.
Sentinel has not failed me once but it does have some quirks like the one where it will not import a system with no known talkgroups listed in the RRDB yet. I'm not sure if ARC536Pro grabs those either as I've not used it in a while but if it will, then that would be a case to use ARC for that system.

I prefer the ARC software likely because I've been using it for so long (I still have my Uniden 780XLT ). I find it easier for me to manage large chunks of data. It's got quirks, but as long as I can fix them myself, or find a work around... I'm happy with it. I use Sentinel for the Discovery Log viewer only.

........In your case with ARC536, it sounds like ARC is importing these systems as a type of DMR and not detecting they are a NXDN based system.
Did you notice what the system type is reported as for either system before you noticed the incorrect RAN values. Was it detected and imported as one of the DMR type systems or did ARC say it was a NXDN system?

Both systems were identified as NXDN throughout the entire workflow. RRDB-->ARC536Pro-->Uniden SDS200. It never changed from NXDN to DMR along that process.

So it's weird that Uniden accepted a Color Code for a NXDN system. Or, both are Color Code fields unless "RAN=**" is inputted. It was easily changed, but the parameter was just wrong so I think Uniden assumed it was a Color Code instead of RAN.

I guess an email to Gommert is in order as it sounds like a bug with his software!

I don't make it out of the Missouri forum too much, but would happy to email them. Is Gommert a user here? Or they can look at my post and ask questions.

 

[kruser]

I totally understand it being hard to switch software!
I too have a couple 780's but Butel stopped supporting ARC780 after I think Windows XP. I can still run it under a virtual machine though that emulates XP.
Since then however, I switched to ProScan mainly because of how many Uniden radios I own. It would cost me a fortune to purchase a copy of Butel's software for each one!

Gommert's username here is @Butelsoftware.
He is a DBAdmin here also so I'm sure he's fairly active here.
Or, got to https://www.butelsoftware.com which is one of his website links. I'd imagine he has a support contact listed there as well if it's not in the help section of ARC536. Of course Gommert is the owner and developer/publisher of the Butel ARC software.

It pretty much has to be a bug in ARC536 and probably the Pro version as well.
I don't think Sentinel would import the systems correctly if the bug was in the RRDB itself.
I've never tried ProScan for importing from the RRDB directly when I was a premium member. This reminded me I need to renew that!

 

[foster_006]

Since then however, I switched to ProScan mainly because of how many Uniden radios I own. It would cost me a fortune to purchase a copy of Butel's software for each one!

I've been curious about it.. Just haven't had a chance to really look into it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[kruser]

I've been curious about it.. Just haven't had a chance to really look into it.

Thanks for the info!

You should try ProScan's free trial.
I use ProScan more for its virtual control and logging features for the newer SD card based Uniden's.
For the older Uniden models, ProScan has been my go to software most of the time. I still keep the Butel ARC versions installed that I've purchased over the years. I have a few non-Uniden radios that ProScan does not support but Butel does. It comes in handy for those.
I also keep all my licensed copies of the Butel ARC versions updated as there are times I still like to mess with it!

 

[foster_006]

You should try ProScan's free trial.
I use ProScan more for its virtual control and logging features for the newer SD card based Uniden's.
For the older Uniden models, ProScan has been my go to software most of the time. I still keep the Butel ARC versions installed that I've purchased over the years. I have a few non-Uniden radios that ProScan does not support but Butel does. It comes in handy for those.
I also keep all my licensed copies of the Butel ARC versions updated as there are times I still like to mess with it!

Just looking at their website now.. I'm probably going to end up purchasing ProScan! Lol