P25 Question

[jbspeed79]

I have a bcd325p which I know is terrible for p25. I also live in an area with bad reception so my signal strength is poor a lot of the time. I wanted to use it mainly during fire operations at the scene. Not all get radios. Is there a way to program when your in close proximity to handheld radios to hear or is the radio kind of useless now. Thanks

 

[WX9RLT]

If I understand this right, all you need to do is program the closest SITE to you.
That should help with your RX.

Or use the close call feature while at a scene.

And if not at the scene, program the SERVICE TYPES for fire only

Sites and Frequencies​

Red (c) are control channel capable frequencies

RFSS	Site	Name	Freqs
1 (1)	001 (1)	Simulcast	851.8875	852.1625	852.3625c	852.5625c	852.8125c	853.0625c

 

[tvengr]

You can set up a conventional system and scan the mobile frequencies:
806.8875
807.1625
807.3625
807.5625
807.8125
808.0625
Set audio type to Digital Only and code option to Search. Are you using programming software?

And if not at the scene, program the SERVICE TYPES for fire only

The BCD325P2 does not use service types.

 

[ChrisABQ]

Just to set the record straight, the 325 is great for P25. It is NOT good for simulcast. Not all P25 is simulcast.

 

[WX9RLT]

You can set up a conventional system and scan the mobile frequencies:
806.8875
807.1625
807.3625
807.5625
807.8125
808.0625
Set audio type to Digital Only and code option to Search. Are you using programming software?


The BCD325P2 does not use service types.

I think it would be a lot easier to put it into 1 system.
Than to add them as conv. freq and scan each one in a bank.

Conv. has a delay.
So, after it hears a brief transmission.
It will be delayed by whatever your delay settings are,
before it goes on to scan the rest .

And if you put them into 1 system.
You will hear a lot more...
Least that is how I would do it, based on previous experience.

mainly during fire operations at the scene.

Sounds like he wants to use it at scenes, more than at home.
And the close call feature would be even better.

 

[bearcatrp]

The 325P2 is a good P25 scanner. The above posts is good information. Program the frequencies, use close call, or both.

 

[KevinC]

You can set up a conventional system and scan the mobile frequencies:
806.8875
807.1625
807.3625
807.5625
807.8125
808.0625
Set audio type to Digital Only and code option to Search. Are you using programming software?


The BCD325P2 does not use service types.

Keep in mind that won’t work if they are TDMA.

 

[jbspeed79]

I think it would be a lot easier to put it into 1 system.
Than to add them as conv. freq and scan each one in a bank.

Conv. has a delay.
So, after it hears a brief transmission.
It will be delayed by whatever your delay settings are,
before it goes on to scan the rest .

And if you put them into 1 system.
You will hear a lot more...
Least that is how I would do it, based on previous experience.



Sounds like he wants to use it at scenes, more than at home.
And the close call feature would be even better.

Ya that’s correct.If I use it at home the signal strength is terrible and can’t pick up the control channel.

 

[jbspeed79]

Just to set the record straight, the 325 is great for P25. It is NOT good for simulcast. Not all P25 is simulcast.

Sorry. Yes it’s a simulcast system.

 

[hiegtx]

Ya that’s correct.If I use it at home the signal strength is terrible and can’t pick up the control channel.

Is ths the system you are trying to monitor?

Clinton County Trunking System, Clinton County, New York

Clinton County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

That is a simulcast system, so your scanner may be that the scanner cannot handle the simulcast problems, even though it may have decent signal strength at your location.

Keep in mind that won’t work if they are TDMA.

And, yes it is a P25 Phase II system. All the listed talkgroups in the database are flagged as Mode T, meaning they are P25 Phase II, so neither programming site frequencies nor Close Call would be able to handle receiving transmissions.

 

[jbspeed79]

Correct. Thankyou.

 

[wtp]

get the SDS100.
i'll just say i went through the same problem here.
phase 2 is just a buzz.

 

[jbspeed79]

get the SDS100.
i'll just say i went through the same problem here.
phase 2 is just a buzz.

Ya for sure. Some day I’ll save enough Pennies for a better system.

 

[tvengr]

Keep in mind that won’t work if they are TDMA.

Thanks! I overlooked that. All of the talkgroups show TDMA in the database.

 

[tvengr]

I have a bcd325p which I know is terrible for p25. I also live in an area with bad reception so my signal strength is poor a lot of the time.

Is it poor signal strength or just simulcast issues? If poor signal strength, a Remtronix REM-800B antenna may help. In areas with good signal strength, the stock antenna will work better with simulcast. Are you using programming software? If not, you can use FreeSCAN which is FREE! It will work fine for P25 but doesn't support DMR or NXDN. Using programming software is far faster and easier than programming manually using the scanner menus. Freescan download website

 

[jbspeed79]

If the scanner is in my home or car i barely show any bars for signal strength. And it shows NFM while scanning. I had to put an external tram antenna on my vehicle to be able to pick up the control channel. The few conventional channels I have do show full bars when they transmit.

 

[tvengr]

The Remtronix REM-800B scanner mounted antenna will greatly increase signal strength on 800 MHz frequencies over the stock antenna. To use programming software, you will need to install the driver for the scanner.
https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD325P2 Here is a FreeSCAN file for Clinton Co Fire. I programmed it to minimize the effects of simulcast distortion. The groups are arranged to give you maximum control over what you want to monitor. The first attached zipped file is the FreeSCAN programming file. Save it to your computer and extract. The second PDF file will answer all of your questions about using quick keys. Print it out and save it for your reference. Pressing 1 on the scanner keypad will toggle the Clinton Co Fire system on and off. Open the extracted file with FreeSCAN. Connect your computer and scanner with the programming cable. Turn on the scanner. Go to the Scanner tab and click on Upload Programming. Select Erase All Systems & Settings (in red). Click on Start Upload. Once you have the system in the scanner, I will give you some instructions on something else to do in the scanner to improve decoding. Quick Keys as follows:

SYSTEM QUICK KEY:

1. Clinton Co Fire (Site)

GROUP QUICK KEYS:

1. ClintCo FD Emerg

2. ClintCo F/E Disp

3. ClintCo Fire 1

4. ClintCo Fire 2

5. ClintCo Fire 3

6. ClintCo EMS 1

7. ClintCo EMS 2

8. ClintCo EMS 3

9. ClintCo Loc Fire

0. ClintCo EMS/Hosp

 

[jbspeed79]

Wow appreciate the help. Thankyou

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

If I understand this right, all you need to do is program the closest SITE to you.
That should help with your RX.

RFSS	Site	Name	Freqs
1 (1)	001 (1)	Simulcast	851.8875	852.1625	852.3625c	852.5625c	852.8125c	853.0625c

Programming "closest site" isn't feasible in this case being all sites transmit on the same frequencies at the same time, thus "simulcast". OP can try the multipath mitigation suggestions in this wiki if obtaining an SDS100 or SDS200 is beyond reach. Said suggestions may or may not work, every situation is different

 

[jbspeed79]

Wow appreciate the help. Thankyou

I uploaded to my home scanner BCD996XT P25. Also to my mobile. I have to have my antenna just right or the signal drops off and back to nfm scanning. Once I readjust the antenna I begin to pick up the control channel and all seams fine. I’ll let that scan for some time and check it out. Thanks for putting in the work for me.