Portland Fire monitoring question

[safetypro79]

I am visiting Portland, after loading RR database FD systems into my SDS-100 I’m not getting any reception. All systems are loaded as P25

Must have done something wrong

Any ideas

 

[devicelab]

I am visiting Portland, after loading RR database FD systems into my SDS-100 I’m not getting any reception. All systems are loaded as P25
Must have done something wrong
Any ideas

You've loaded the Portland P25 system from Multnomah county? There's like a billion frequencies in that system and that's likely slowing down the scanner. I'd avoid the other sites except west and east simulcast. West has way too many frequencies though.

Someone needs to clean that up. I seriously doubt that the west simulcast site has 17 control/alternate channels.

Under settings, try disabling the Global Filter.

 

[ChrisP]

I only monitor the West Simulcast cluster for the Portland system. That will carry most of what you want to hear.

- Chris

 

[safetypro79]

Thanks Guys, I’m back home in Salem, but I will change the download to reflect those simulcast frequencies

John

 

[icom1020]

Since they moved east Goat to west, it actually improved reception in most of the metro areas, including Salem.

 

[safetypro79]

Thanks, What frequencies would these be?

John

 

[box23]

You've loaded the Portland P25 system from Multnomah county? There's like a billion frequencies in that system and that's likely slowing down the scanner. I'd avoid the other sites except west and east simulcast. West has way too many frequencies though.

Someone needs to clean that up. I seriously doubt that the west simulcast site has 17 control/alternate channels.

Under settings, try disabling the Global Filter.

Obviously you're slightly exaggerating since the database shows a somewhat lower number at 21 frequencies in the West Simulcast.

I'm curious how you determined the simulcast site has too many frequencies, though? There are many simulcast sites with high frequency counts across the country. For instance the Orange County system in Florida has two simulcast sites with 30 and 22 frequencies, respectively. And yes, all of those frequencies are in fact in use on the sites as monitored over the air.

Regarding the control channels you mentioned, the database currently shows 5 frequencies listed as control channel capable for that site. It is well known that Harris systems are capable of using any site frequency as a control channel and are usually listed that way in the database. Other manufacturers have similar capabilities. Historically, Motorola systems have been capable of advertising 4 control channels per site but software updates may or may not have expanded this. It appears the Portland system is a Motorola system, however there is nothing to say the 4 advertised control channels have not changed since the system was built out and that those were noted by database submitters.

 

[devicelab]

Obviously you're slightly exaggerating since the database shows a somewhat lower number at 21 frequencies in the West Simulcast. I'm curious how you determined the simulcast site has too many frequencies, though? There are many simulcast sites with high frequency counts across the country. For instance the Orange County system in Florida has two simulcast sites with 30 and 22 frequencies, respectively. And yes, all of those frequencies are in fact in use on the sites as monitored over the air.

Regarding the control channels you mentioned, the database currently shows 5 frequencies listed as control channel capable for that site. It is well known that Harris systems are capable of using any site frequency as a control channel and are usually listed that way in the database. Other manufacturers have similar capabilities. Historically, Motorola systems have been capable of advertising 4 control channels per site but software updates may or may not have expanded this. It appears the Portland system is a Motorola system, however there is nothing to say the 4 advertised control channels have not changed since the system was built out and that those were noted by database submitters.

The end user ONLY needs the control channels. Why are you pushing 21 channels to the SDS-100 to monitor the west simulcast? Does it use all 21 as control channels? No? Then explain. P25 systems ONLY need the control channel (and alternates.)

Now some systems may define "alternates" as any voice channel but the end user doesn't care. The database should only push out the frequencies necessary to hear the system.

 

[icom1020]

Thanks, What frequencies would these be?

John

Just the red ones. East and West cover the county pretty well. Don't worry about Headworks, it's an ASR for water bureau affiliations. If you have trouble hearing from the south then add Goat.
Try to create separate functions on your receiver for each site in case one drops out, so you'll need to duplicate those TGs for each site

Some of the agency TG are outdated. MCSO and Gresham for a little while longer until they switch to APX radios then silence

 

[safetypro79]

Thanks so much, yes control channels. Will do

John

Live Long and Prosper 🖖🏻