Patching Analog VHF Simplex to Trunked P25 for VFD Voice Paging

[krokus]

Hopefully we can do that in the future. I'm told our dispatch center is not setup for paging over the TRS, and it sounds like they have no plans to do so.

We're going to leave things alone for now as for paging, but crossband the XTL1500 to rebroadcast over VHF so we can have radio traffic on our pagers again.

To the dispatcher, using the special TG, which on MPSCS are called PageGroups (PG), is just like using any other TG. The differences are on the system administration, moreso the network operations.

This is presuming the dispatchers can select more than one TG at a time, which most consoles & consolettes can do.

 

[Deziel0495]

So I do the exact same thing with our SAR Talkgroup. XTL1500 wired to a CM200 back to back. No interface box just cable. Its been on the air for 5 years with no issues. COR/RX audio out of XTL and into Mic High and PTT on CM200. For antenna the XTL is on a mag mount and the CM200 is on our DB208

So I tried this setup and it worked great.The only issue I ran into during testing was when the XTL powered on, it would not send its RX audio until the PTT was pressed. Only then would it start sending as it should.

Simple solution is to not turn off the radio, but in the event of a power bump... it's about 30 seconds for the backup generator to kick in. I guess there is always the option of battery backup.

I guess what I'm asking is if this is normal behavior for the XTL?

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

Reviving this topic.

We're once again looking into this and would like traffic from both P25 trunked and VHF simplex passed back and forth over each system. This will allow us to hear VHF voice pages over P25, and hear our P25 operations over our VHF pagers.

I was in contact with our 911 provincial coordinator who also manages the P25 system for the province. He is only aware of 1 other fire dept having a similar setup. He wasn't sure on the equipment needed or the process to set it up and just said I should reach out to that dept specifically for more info.

I have never received an email back from our dispatch center with their thoughts so I may have to try again.

To be continued....

Did you ever figure out how to do this, we have the same exact radios, can’t afford the interconnect system, XTL2500 to CM200 or CM300. Would like to hear traffic on both bands.

 

[Deziel0495]

Did you ever figure out how to do this, we have the same exact radios, can’t afford the interconnect system, XTL2500 to CM200 or CM300. Would like to hear traffic on both bands.

It's actually pretty straight forward for the XTL 1500 and CM200 Models.

XTL to CM200
Pin 13 ACT to pin 3 PTT
Pin 21 RX to pin 2 MIC
Pin 14 GRD to pin 7 GRD

CM200 to XTL 1500
Pin 11 RX to pin 23 MIC
Pin 8 COS to pin 16 PTT

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

It's actually pretty straight forward for the XTL 1500 and CM200 Models.

XTL to CM200
Pin 13 ACT to pin 3 PTT
Pin 21 RX to pin 2 MIC
Pin 14 GRD to pin 7 GRD

CM200 to XTL 1500
Pin 11 RX to pin 23 MIC
Pin 8 COS to pin 16 PTT

Any programming need to be done to either radio for this to work correctly other than having the appropriate channels. Just wondered if any options need to be turned on.

 

[Deziel0495]

Any programming need to be done to either radio for this to work correctly other than having the appropriate channels. Just wondered if any options need to be turned on.

Ours didn't need any programming. Best to try it and see if it works.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

Ours didn't need any programming. Best to try it and see if it works.

Well looks like I’m going to have to look at the programmable inputs, wired it up and it’s no go..

 

[jeepsandradios]

The CM will require programming. the XTL will only require audio change but nothing with pins.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

The CM will require programming. the XTL will only require audio change but nothing with pins.

What programming will need to be done? Realized my mistake and why I couldn’t get it working a first (user error) and now I have it where the 800 transmits to the vhf, but the vhf won’t transmit to the 800.

 

[jeepsandradios]

You need to setup a COR on the CM300 so the XTL will key. Should be what ever pin you used on the CM to XTL PTT.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

You need to setup a COR on the CM300 so the XTL will key. Should be what ever pin you used on the CM to XTL PTT.

I would like to send you a message but it won’t let me.

 

[jeepsandradios]

What wire did you use to go to PTT on the XTL ? Pin 8 ? If so that needs changed in the CM300 to PL/CSQ Detect and Low.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

What wire did you use to go to PTT on the XTL ? Pin 8 ? If so that needs changed in the CM300 to PL/CSQ Detect and Low.

What wire did you use to go to PTT on the XTL ? Pin 8 ? If so that needs changed in the CM300 to PL/CSQ Detect and Low.

XTL to CM200
Pin 13 ACT to pin 3 PTT
Pin 21 RX to pin 2 MIC
Pin 14 GRD to pin 7 GRD

CM200 to XTL 1500
Pin 11 RX to pin 23 MIC
Pin 8 COS to pin 16 PTT

This is what I used as provided above, the 800 transmits and can be heard on the 800 and the VHF, when we transmit on the VHF, it won't kick the 800 so we get no handshake or traffic.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Did you program pin 8 on the CM200 for PL/CSQ Detect ? By default they are not programmed.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

Did you program pin 8 on the CM200 for PL/CSQ Detect ? By default they are not programmed.

No, I don’t have the software or way to do it, I did measure a constant voltage coming out of the radio on that pin with an ohm meter.

 

[jeepsandradios]

You need to get it programmed. Take it to a radio shop. They can't charge more than 30 minutes to setup the programming.

 

[jayhawkfirearms]

Got radio back from the shop today and it works great, they programmed it so I could use COS or PL/DPL. They recommended using PL/DPL. Really didn’t explain why, and recommendation from the crowd and why?

 

[mmckenna]

Got radio back from the shop today and it works great, they programmed it so I could use COS or PL/DPL. They recommended using PL/DPL. Really didn’t explain why, and recommendation from the crowd and why?

COS will trigger off any carrier on the frequency. That carrier could be from another agency that you don't want to hear, from interference, or anything else that the radio receives.

The PL/DPL operated switch will only trigger if it hears a carrier AND the PL/DPL match, increasing the chances that what gets passed is what you actually want to hear, and reduce the chances for random interference to trigger things.