Official BCD996T Post Release Thread

[JASII]

Discriminator Audio Tap

UPMan, I just ordered a BC996T and I am looking forward to it arriving. I was wondering if you might consider adding a jack for direct discriminator audio on any high scanners in the future. Just when I thought that there wouldn't be any additional programs that would interest me that may need diect discrimnator audio, then the kNACkl program comes out to display NAC codes. I suppose since the BC996Tcannot be programmed forNAC codes there may be little need, but their might be some interest in this nevertheless.

Also, is there anybody here that has done the modification for discrimnator tap yet? Or can anybody recommend a place that can perform this for me? I may wait a year because I suspect that this voids the warranty.

 

[ScanBoston]

BOBRR, We can send you a file for the MSP for USAD if you'd like.
John webmaster@scanboston.com

 

[STiMULi]

Here is a great find for converting your ONSTAR to BCD996T or BCT15 use

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showpost.php?p=323680&postcount=16

 

[BOBRR]

To: John webmaster@scanboston.com Re USAD Files

Hi,

Much thanks.

Would be most grateful for any MSP, or other USAD files for the Boston area.

Do you need my e-mail address, or do you post these files
somewhere so everyone can use them ?

Thanks again,
Bob
----------------
BOBRR, We can send you a file for the MSP for USAD if you'd like.
John webmaster@scanboston.com

 

[DaveIN]

Here is a great find for converting your ONSTAR to BCD996T or BCT15 use

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showpost.php?p=323680&postcount=16

Thanks for the link STiMULi. Awesome find.

 

[STiMULi]

Thanks for the link STiMULi. Awesome find.

Wasn't my find but if you area a tinkerer this is TOOOO cool

Now we need to find some old units as the convert to digital!

 

[BOBRR]

Quick Keys Question

Hello,

Just want to be sure that I have this right.

Let's say I have only 3 Systems, to keep it simple.

The first is assigned to QuickKey 1, and the other two do Not have any Quick keys assigned to them.

Then, when scanning, Irrespective of whether Quick Key 1 is enabled, or disabled, the other two systems will Always be scanned.

Is this correct ?

If so, what's the best way to control whether these other two systems that don't have Quick Keys assigned to them are scanned:

a. Just do assign Quick Keys to them that you can then "Disable" ?
b. Lock them out ?
c. Or,... ?

Thanks,
B.

 

[UPMan]

a. or b. or c (c being temporarily lockout the unwanted system...it will be automatically unlocked when you cycle power).

 

[BOBRR]

Uniden Database Listing Of "Area-APCO 25" ?

Hello:

Relative to what came in the Uniden Database with their USAD:

There is "Area-APCO 25"

It seems to be configured under System Type as "Conventional"

Shouldn't it be System Type: MOT II/P-25 since it is apparently (not sure of this)
Digital mode ?

Thanks,
B.

 

[UPMan]

Nope. These are conventional digital channels, not trunked.

 

[BOBRR]

Conventional Vs. P-25 Digital Systems. My Prev. Post

Hi,

Thanks for help.
i can sure use it.

Regarding my previous question on the database listing for Area-APCO 25, I guess I'm confused.

"Nope. These are conventional digital channels, not trunked."

I naively thought that all "Digital" was APCO 25.
Guess I'm wrong.

Is there Conventional Digital that's just entered as Conventional ?
And, some Digital that is trunked and entered as MOT II/P-25

Is all APCO 25 trunked systems, or,...

How do you know the differences from looking at a freq. ?

Could you explain all of this a bit for me, please ?

Thanks again for help,
Bob

 

[UPMan]

APCO 25 is actually a suite of standards that includes voice encoding as well as trunked signaling.

It is possible to have conventional channels that are P25 voice. These would be entered in a scanner as a conventional system. Texas DPS is a good example, as is the city of Los Angeles, of a group of APCO 25 (P25) conventional channels.

It is also possible to have P25 voice channels on non P25 systems. These should be entered as a Motorola Type 2 system. Grand Prairie, TX is one such example.

A Project 25 system will be trunked and will use P25 control channel signaling for the trunking control and will also have P25 encoded audio on all channels. This would be entered as a Motorola P25 system. Austin, TX is an example of a full Project 25 trunked system.

 

[BOBRR]

Data Skip & Priority Channels Questions

Hello:

Two quick questions, please:

a. can you have mor than one Priority Channel in a System ?

b. I really can't see any reason Not to have Data Skip Enabled for everything.

But, I'm new at this.

Are there some situations, Systems, modes, etc. where it might be more
desireable to have it off ? Why ?

What do you guys do / have ?

Thanks,
B.

 

[UPMan]

Answered in the Yahoo! Group, but I'll repeat here for those not following there:

a. You can have as many Priority Channels in a conventional system as you want (but having too many both increases the "break" time during the check and defeats the purpose of "Priority").

b. Any open carrier or constant tone will also be detected as Data. So, if someone dead-keys for a couple of seconds before they start talking, you might miss their comms.

 

[STiMULi]

GPS Simulator information added to BCD996T WIKI

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD996T#GPS_Features

 

[organized_mayhem]

Thinking ablout dropping the cash to pick one of these up this weekend. Local CB shop is selling them for $515.

 

[compubandit]

TalkGroup Priority

Is there anyway to assign a priority to a TalkGroup? If not, will this be something available in the future?

Thanks,

 

[ofd8001]

Control Channel Sound Question:

If on my 996 I hold a control channel for the Indiana SAFE T 800 P25 system, I hear the
"machine sound". It does that on the two different sites I can receive.

If I hold on a control channel for the Louisville MetroSafe test system, which also is an 8001 P25 system, I do not hear the machine sound.

The only differences that I know of is the Louisville system is simulcast where the Indiana system is not. The Indiana system is an omnilnk, smart zone system.

Seems strange that two different things would happen. Am I going nuts, or is my radio, or both?

 

[kikito]

Control Channel Sound Question:

If on my 996 I hold a control channel for the Indiana SAFE T 800 P25 system, I hear the
"machine sound". It does that on the two different sites I can receive.

If I hold on a control channel for the Louisville MetroSafe test system, which also is an 8001 P25 system, I do not hear the machine sound.

The only differences that I know of is the Louisville system is simulcast where the Indiana system is not. The Indiana system is an omnilnk, smart zone system.

Seems strange that two different things would happen. Am I going nuts, or is my radio, or both?

It's possible that the SAFE-T P25 system has a more updated system infrastructure software used. Our ALMR system (also OmniLink, Smartzone) it's behaving the same way as of lately. It used to "mute" the control channel noise on any and all sites and it would show a steady and solid "DAT" symbol when lock-on to a CCh until they started upgrading to a version higher than 6.5 in the "system firmware" so to speak (to 6.8 I think). Now all the sites that have been upgraded would "unmute" after a few seconds of sitting on the control channel. The reliable tracking has also been affected 'big time'!

The "DAT" symbol it's not there 50% of the time, hence one of the reasons it's not tracking reliably anymore. Can you confirm if the "DAT" symbol in the SAFE-T system also goes away after a while?

The other sign the system is using newer "firmware" is getting the "Multi-Packets" on the control channel data stream, which you can confirm by using Pro96Com software and a digital GRE scanner. The Multi-Packets in my opinion is the main reason the Unidens are getting "lost" when tracking those newer software P25 systems....


.... I've started the "early warning system" about this newest P25 "curve-ball" thrown at scanners. The only consolation for now is that the GRE scanners can track such systems very good and a lot better than the Unidens.

 

[AndrewC75]

Indiana SAFE-T is NOT a P25 system - it is a Motorola Type II SmartZone OmniLink system. Louisville MetroSafe IS a P25 system. That's why on one you hear the control channel data (on the Type II system) and on the other you don't (the P25 system). This is as expected.