Phoenix Trunked Systems

[cellphone]

In Phoenix, there are several overlapping wide area coverage trunked radio systems:

Public Safety / Public Service Trunked Systems
RWC – 50+ sites with full coverage throughout the valley, and now with high sites it is spreading to several other counties.
Maricopa County – 15 sites with full coverage throughout the valley and beyond.
YRCS – Currently 14 sites covering Southwest AZ and the Phoenix valley.
TRWC – 11+ sites primarily covering East Valley with mobile coverage almost valley wide provided by White Tanks and Thompson Peak sites.
ADOT – 4 sites covering the valley.
ASU – 4 sites covering ASU campuses
*Glendale – 2 sites that will be joined to RWC.

Is it just me, or is it very wasteful to have so many separate government owned trunked systems with overlapping coverage areas?

I am very happy to see cities like Chandler, Tempe, Peoria, and Glendale that used to operate their own trunked Radio Systems joining the RWC. This is a win-win for everyone. Less cost to taxpayers (in the long run), better coverage for these agencies, and more seamless interoperability. It also sickens me when Mesa separates from the RWC, and then expands the TRWC with another site on White Tanks. This is a complete waste of money because government agencies cannot work together!

Other wide area trunked systems:
APS – 29+ sites covering parts of Arizona.
CAP – 7+ sites covering parts of Arizona.

In other states, Power/Utility companies are teaming up with State agencies to construct statewide systems. It could be done in AZ too.

There is a similar situation with multiple overlapping systems in Tucson and Flagstaff, but on a smaller scale.

In times when all of us are looking to more efficiently spend money, maybe the government agencies should do this with radio communications too.

My 2 cents.

 

[AZScanner]

Your tax dollars at work. They can't pay to maintain decent bus service in this county or keep the roads properly maintained but they have millions upon millions to throw at the radio systems. Amazing what you can get when you $pend enough money on lobbying.

I vote they junk all the useless P25 garbage and just communicate via cell phone. I hear many officers do that anyway since the radios are five thousand dollar bricks in many parts of the valley.

RWC = Real Waste of Cash and TWRC = TREMENDOUS Real Waste of Cash

Speaking of real waste of cash, any ideas what I can do with my old BC796 that I don't even listen to anymore because of how badly this radio system sucks? I've been using it to steady a wobbly table I have but that seems like such a waste.

-AZ

 

[new_to_scanners]

RWC has 50+ sites and high towers, and I still just pick up choppy transmissions at 75th and Loop 101. I don't get it....

 

[cellphone]

You are likely experiencing Simulcast Multpath issues. You are likely receiving too many towers at the same time. This is common with scanners as they do not handle P25 Simulcast as well as the professional radios. See the link below for more info.

Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[new_to_scanners]

You are likely experiencing Simulcast Multpath issues. You are likely receiving too many towers at the same time. This is common with scanners as they do not handle P25 Simulcast as well as the professional radios. See the link below for more info.

Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

Interesting, never even thought of that. I will start reading up on this. Thanks!

 

[rpgaun]

New to Scanners,

I'm at 107th & Olive and was having the same issues when I first moved here. For Phx FD K & G deck I only use White Tanks which is very clear. For Phx PD I'm using Simulcast A or White Tanks (even though I usually have them locked out).

 

[new_to_scanners]

I can get Glendale clearly until they start messing that up....lol.
Peoria and Surprise I get on White Tanks
El Mirage I can hear on Simulcast G

I have Simulcast A for Phx, but reception is hit and miss and that is the one I want to listen to the most. Some days are better than others. Turning on the attenuation cut all reception. I downloaded the newest update for my scanner but that didn't seem to make a difference. I did read on the Uniden forum something about the BCD396 not handling simulcast very well, so I am going to create more separate sytems.

 

[KOK5CY]

In my personal opinion all agencies should just leave there system's on VHF Hi-Band ...Less tax $$$ going out ...Vhf cover's alot of ground ..

 

[rpgaun]

Back in VT when I was a county fire coordinator we looked at VHF trunking. The issues was no one wanted to give up their VHF license in adjoining counties (or Canada). So we had to go to 800mz.

 

[desert-cheetah]

You are likely experiencing Simulcast Multpath issues. You are likely receiving too many towers at the same time. This is common with scanners as they do not handle P25 Simulcast as well as the professional radios. See the link below for more info.

Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

I read this and didn't really understand a whole lot of it, but it makes me wonder something...would it benefit my listening capabilities if I only selected one or two towers (or possibly just the tower closest to me) instead of all of them? Yes, I selected all of them when programming because I thought it'd increase the chances of picking up the transmissions. hehehe.

 

[Astrak]

I read this and didn't really understand a whole lot of it, but it makes me wonder something...would it benefit my listening capabilities if I only selected one or two towers (or possibly just the tower closest to me) instead of all of them? Yes, I selected all of them when programming because I thought it'd increase the chances of picking up the transmissions. hehehe.

In a simulcast, like say simulcast A there are multiple towers all broadcasting the same thing at nearly the same time, this is what causes the distortion in the scanners. The only way to eliminate this is to use a directional type antenna like a yagi and point at the nearest tower.

 

[desert-cheetah]

In a simulcast, like say simulcast A there are multiple towers all broadcasting the same thing at nearly the same time, this is what causes the distortion in the scanners. The only way to eliminate this is to use a directional type antenna like a yagi and point at the nearest tower.

I was hoping you would chime in, Astrak, but not with an answer like that. I work on the 3rd floor of an office building and can't put any sort of big antenna anywhere here. Not to mention I don't know where the Thompson Peak tower is other than figure it's probably near Thompson Peak in North Scottsdale. I'm kind of in central Scottsdale and I've seen a 'south scottsdale' tower listed in the database so I don't know which would be closer.

 

[desert-cheetah]

**Update**

An update with the problem I was having with RWC and not picking up Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler PDs...I re-programmed my pro-106 to have just Thompson Peak and South Scottsdale instead of all of the towers and I've been picking up Phoenix regularly as well as getting 'hits' on the other 3 agencies. I never picked up Tempe with much regularity, but I did Chandler. Not hearing them as often is no big deal. Hopefully Scottsdale will 'catch up'. hahaha

 

[jambo]

I'm guessing it worked. Got pretty quiet here.

 

[new_to_scanners]

Nah, in my case everything is still the status quo. I just quit whining about it.

 

[jambo]

Nah, in my case everything is still the status quo. I just quit whining about it.

Well that sucks. Have you tried programming just the west valley, or just the simulcast A freq's in to see what that does?

 

[rwier]

New to Scanners,

I'm at 107th & Olive and was having the same issues when I first moved here. For Phx FD K & G deck I only use White Tanks which is very clear. For Phx PD I'm using Simulcast A or White Tanks (even though I usually have them locked out).

I'm at I-17 and Bell and I could have written the exact above (except for "when I moved here", and "locking out the PD", lol).

Rob