PCWIN Cutover - Complete

[mothertrucker]

I am pretty happy with the reception of the 436.

I have noticed that some TPD transmissions get cut off short or are garbled but ,most of the time it ends up being a transmission that the other units or dispatch can't understand either & they have to repeat it.

Definitely have not heard any encrypted "squeeky door hinge" noise yet.... however there may be more freqs. used that are not in the updated database that are encrypted.

I seem to remember seeing a spread sheet indicating that some tactical channels had the option of encryption.
{ maybe John can help with that spreadsheet }

It does take some getting used too when comparing digital voices to analog voices.... but years of listening to LAPD digital has trained my ears for that already.



On a related note....

One interesting thing I noticed a few days ago was that TPD was trying to coordinate with the Border Patrol on a foot chase & after some confusion on the radio....it was ultimately decided that TPD has no way to communicate with the BP on any shared or multi- use frequencies via their radios.

Millions & millions of tax payer dollars were spent on this system that was designed specifically for "interoperability" between different agencies & still many agencies can NOT communicate with each other via any radio on this system.




.

 

[FLANO]

Well, here is my take on the BCD436HP and BCD536HP ...

I drive around the city of Tucson, the surrounding areas within Pima County, and around Arizona. I always have these scanners and at least one GRE PSR-800 with me when I move about.

If you drive around like I do, you will experience the problems of multi-path distortion on the Simulcast sites. I don't experience it all the time, but I do experience it enough when I am located at the "opposite" sweet spot where the radio can't decide what to do

I have experienced my share of digital distortion and signal drop outs.

All of this happens when I travel around, guaranteed.

Now, if I have the luxury of being stationary, I can usually find a sweet spot which negates the multi-path distortion issue on the Simulcast sites.

Sometimes, it seems no matter what magic I try, I can not get rid of the distortion issue, for example, when I am at my home, SE of Tucson.

As was mentioned earlier, from KD7EIR, if you are lucky enough to be located by one of the transmitter locations for the Simulcast sites, you are unlikely to experience this multi-path distortion, due to the signal strength of the transmitter location, relative to your location.

For the most part, I am able to hear what I need to hear, with minimal interruption. Of course, it'll go out when you really want to listen :O

The 536 performs better than the 436, relative to the multi-path issue. My observation, of course...

When mobile, these scanners perform better on the Simulcast sites, than the PSR-800 scanner will. These scanners will have less dropout and distortion compared to the 800.

The PSR-800 performs better than these two scanners when stationary, and you can find its sweet spot to listen in on. I like the digital sound on the 800 so much more over the audio on the 436/536 scanners.

These comments are just about listening with these scanners. These comments are not about the performance capabilities of the scanners, as they also differ widely.

As far as encryption goes, it is definitely in use on this system. So far, kept to a minimum, so we'll be good and hope to keep it that way

My shiny two pennys worth of comments

 

[WatnNY]

I'm happy with the 536 as a mobile and as a base. I do choose to pick ONE site to listen to as opposed to scanning all of them and letting the scanner decide which one to stop on. So far I don't travel anywhere near as much as FLANO, so simulcast A works great for city of Tucson and Keystone Peak works great for the Sheriff's Office.

Mike

 

[AZScanner]

Definitely have not heard any encrypted "squeeky door hinge" noise yet.... however there may be more freqs. used that are not in the updated database that are encrypted.

Something to bear in mind on the 436 is that encryption is muted and skipped automatically (during scan). The scanner won't even attempt a decode on those talkgroups.

On a related note....

One interesting thing I noticed a few days ago was that TPD was trying to coordinate with the Border Patrol on a foot chase & after some confusion on the radio....it was ultimately decided that TPD has no way to communicate with the BP on any shared or multi- use frequencies via their radios.

Millions & millions of tax payer dollars were spent on this system that was designed specifically for "interoperability" between different agencies & still many agencies can NOT communicate with each other via any radio on this system.

Surprise, surprise. Just goes to show you that "interoperability" is little more than a sales pitch buzzword to baffle the local politicians with BS so they will agree to the money being spent. There's one reason and one reason ONLY why these agencies are going all digital: Encryption. Sure, TPD and PCSO is in the clear now, but how long will that last? All it will take is one major incident involving either the media or some other yutz with a scanner or cell phone app to scare the sheeple into thinking if the bad guys can't hear the cops then that's how it should be, even if that means law abiding citizens can't monitor them either.

Be VERY vigilant, Tucson. Do not let these agencies push the "E" button without a fight. It's already too late for that up here in Phoenix.

-AZ

 

[kd7eir]

US Customs and Border Protection were given the opportunity to purchase PCWIN radios - they declined. They prefer to rely upon our TOAD and ACU1000 for interoperability, which of course is useless in an immediate need situation, but great for pre-planned exercises...

 

[E5911]

BP access

Funny BP has Console access to YRCS, we coordinate well here in Yuma daily

 

[SmitHans]

So are TPD and other agencies keeping their old frequencies for other purposes, or are they gone forever?

 

[kd7eir]

So are TPD and other agencies keeping their old frequencies for other purposes, or are they gone forever?

I'm fairly certain that the licenses were cancelled and the frequencies will be reassigned by the FCC.

Sent from my fertile imagination.

 

[mothertrucker]

So are TPD and other agencies keeping their old frequencies for other purposes, or are they gone forever?

I know they did have a backup plan when the PCWIN was implemented just in case there were problems with the system when they switched over.
I don't know what their back up plan was {or still is} but.....

I have continued to monitor all the old TPD freqs. { as my old BC235 is still being used for a few analog agencies like DPS }.
I have heard absolutely no traffic at all on any old TPD frequencies { be it the analog or the P25 channels they were using } in addition..... the old "Gateway" channel has been dead also.

I agree they are gone forever {until they are reassigned to someone else}.

 

[kd7eir]

The FCC gave Tucson/Pima County several extensions in regards to narrowbanding and bringing PCWIN online. The city was facing loss of the assigned frequencies for PCWIN under license WPQA524 due to "warehousing" them - obtaining the licenses but not putting them to use.

Now that PCWIN is online all of the original VHF/UHF frequencies will be forfeited along with their licenses.

 

[psedillo]

I received my BCD536HP last week and I'm having trouble pulling in the Tucson PD. There is more radio traffic than I'm receiving. I live in Green Valley and am wondering if the stock antenna is too weak for the signal. PCSO comes in very well.

Did you use the sentinal settings for PCWIN or did you make any changes? Do you use the stock antenna or something else.

Your input is valuable. Any ideas would be greatly appreciates.

 

[kd7eir]

I just purchased a Uniden BCD996XT Apco 25 scanner. Will that work for Tucson Police? I got upset when my old scanner stopped receiving last week and bought this one (was recommended by Scannermaster for this area). Now I'm worried and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to use the new scanner.

If it is OK for TPD, is there anyone I can pay to program it for me??

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that scanner will not work for TPD. TPD is now part of the PCWIN system, and is P25 Phase II TDMA Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN) Trunking System, Tucson, Arizona - Scanner Frequencies

You will need one of the new Uniden BCD436HP handhelds or BCD536HP base/mobile scanners to listen to them.

 

[FLANO]

I received my BCD536HP last week and I'm having trouble pulling in the Tucson PD. There is more radio traffic than I'm receiving. I live in Green Valley and am wondering if the stock antenna is too weak for the signal. PCSO comes in very well.

Did you use the sentinal settings for PCWIN or did you make any changes? Do you use the stock antenna or something else.

Your input is valuable. Any ideas would be greatly appreciates.

Here is a trick that you might try to help with the reception. Extend the whip up only two sections from the bottom, the thicker parts of the antenna. I do this and am able to receive more site activity as it is closer to the 800mhz signal in wave length. One of these days, I'm going to have to find out exactly how much to extend that antenna for PCWIN Note, that it would be extended fully, if you wanted to listen to CIVAIR/MILAIR activity, for example.

Plus, it also depends on where in Green Valley you are located. It might just be that you can't "hear" the Simulcast sites A and B.

You are hearing PCSO well because you are more than likely hitting the Keystone Site, which is probably the best one to hear most SO traffic.

As far as software and database updates, it is us much easier to do it with Sentinel, but as you learn the radio, you can do it in the field too, without the Sentinel software.

 

[Tucsonlady]

I've been using the 436 for about 5 months now and I like it very much. But that wasn't the case at first! Just figuring out how to make the thing work was incredibly challenging. Then there was the distortion....everyone sounded drunk. I only listen to TPD, so far, and pretty much keep the radio in one place. Over time there seems to have been a vast improvement in the reception. I'm not sure why....have I just become acclimated to the difference between digital and analog or have THEY improved something in the system? At any rate, I update the software about every two weeks and I began to think that the updates were improving things. Is that possible?
Now I can hear just about everything fairly clearly. It does cut out occasionally but I suppose that's to be expected. I have found that women's voices are the easiest to understand, or any male with a higher tone as well.
But I have to say that, aside from the mechanics of all this, there are some things I wish I hadn't heard. The recent double homicide/suicide involving an infant in the wee hours of Aug. 25 is something I will never forget. I heard every voice so clearly, every inflection and the growing strain over what must have been a horrific scene. Great radio reception with an awful story. Kudos to TPD, by the way. They really kept their cool.

 

[BrianAZ]

Wow, that is great... well, not sure if great is the best word. ..but I guess we all listen to the crime unfold as a part of being involved with the community, listen to the reality of what is out there and I have been listening since I was in elementary school. I can remember grabbing my dads scanner that was held together with tape and staring at it for hours as the stories would unfold.
Fast forward a lot of years that that brings me to this year when I knew my old analog scanner was going to be as good as a paper weight...well, unless I wanted to hear the weather alerts.
I have yet to get my new digital handheld working, but I cant say I invested that much time. I consider myself computer savvy so I was surprised when it challenged me. So, you are telling me there is hope?

 

[Tucsonlady]

BrianAZ, Just opening the box intimidated me. Then, of course, the manual was baffling. I found other instructions by using this site as well as Uniden's. Trying to make the "Favorite's List" nearly killed me. Like you, I was just used to plugging in the old scanner and programming in the frequencies. Anyway, I plugged this new one into my PC, and since the software is already loaded onto it I figured there would be some magical "Help" tab to guide me step by step. Not!! I did find some pretty good tutorials on YouTube, however. I thought I had bookmarked the one I used but now I can't find it. Suffice it to say that YouTube was the greatest help. There is an "Easier to Read" manual somewhere on Radio Reference which was OK, but honestly I think YouTube saved me. Once I figured out how to make the favorite list and load that onto the scanner I just about cried with joy. I only made one list to start and when I turn on the scanner it just automatically goes to that list (TPD). When I get some time I might get brave and do another list for the sheriff's office. But that means having to earmark each list so I can choose which one to listen to. Too lazy to do that right now. Good luck!

 

[Phoenix805]

But I have to say that, aside from the mechanics of all this, there are some things I wish I hadn't heard. The recent double homicide/suicide involving an infant in the wee hours of Aug. 25 is something I will never forget. I heard every voice so clearly, every inflection and the growing strain over what must have been a horrific scene. Great radio reception with an awful story. Kudos to TPD, by the way. They really kept their cool.

Either luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it) I have actually only heard real dramatic things as they occurred twice over the years that I can remember. The first was about 20 years ago when DPS was pursuing a speeding/reckless driver and when they caught up with him a DPS weapon went off and the suspect was shot and killed. That will stay with me forever.

A few years ago I was listening to a Glendale PD chase and it was getting close to where I was. I was tempted to pull over in a parking lot and watch them go by, but I was driving someone to a doctor's appointment and didn't want to be late, so I actually got out of the area. Within 2-3 minutes the chase ended with an accident where I had just been. AND it ended up with a shoot-out! With 50 police cars, the paramedics, and the investigation, traffic was screwed up for hours. I was glad I got out of the area!

 

[Tucsonlady]

Phoenix805: Wow! High drama! Sometimes my husband will come in and tell me to get on my radio because "there's something big going on at the QT!", for instance. I dash for the scanner, listen forever and nada...zilch....nothing going on. Or they're looking for someone in the area and you don't know why but the police helicopter is right overhead and the scanner is silent. All in great fun!

 

[kd7eir]

I only made one list to start and when I turn on the scanner it just automatically goes to that list (TPD). When I get some time I might get brave and do another list for the sheriff's office. But that means having to earmark each list so I can choose which one to listen to. Too lazy to do that right now. Good luck!

I can send you a favorites list with just TPD and PCSO in it. I have mine configured so that I can switch between TPD teams and PCSO districts with quick keys. I can configure them any way you want.

 

[mothertrucker]

It is nice to be able to hear PCSO again but, I did hear a directive yesterday advising all units to turn off their encryption.
Sounds like they turn the encryption on & off as needed . Anyone heard anything about this ?