Pro-2096 Trunking Question - Newbie

[oracle]

I have several frequencies for the Alabama State Troopers which I have programed into my scanner. I believe they are part of a trunked system but how do I know for sure?
Also, do I have to do anything special to get the scanner to follow a trunked system? The manual is less than clear and I am very new to trunking. Could someone walk me through the setup?

Thanks

 

[fmon]

Welcome to the forum.

The RRDatabase is a good resource for info in your area in Alabama. I'm not sure the State PD is trunked.

I would use Win96 to program the scanner, you will need a cable also which can be purchased from Radio Shack, 20-289 is the number.

This Pro-2096 programming shortcut may also be useful.

 

[oracle]

Three Followup Questions

Thanks fmon, the programing guide is what I needed.

According to the RR database, the state police in Alabama are on an EDACS system. When listening to them, I see an ID of 38320 come up on my display. This would be a talkgroup ID right? But in the database, I don't find that listed as a talkgroup. The traffic sounds like dispatch and is what I would expect from the highway patrol.
So I guess I have three questions:
1. Is 38320 a TG ID?
2. Why isn't it in the database or is it something new?
3. Is it necessary to program in all of the frequency listed or is there a way to know which channels are important (control channels)?

Thanks again

P.S. I'm getting the cable today if I can get across the bay to Mobile. I'll get WIN96 too.

 

[fmon]

Re: Three Followup Questions

Thanks fmon, the programing guide is what I needed.

According to the RR database, the state police in Alabama are on an EDACS system. When listening to them, I see an ID of 38320 come up on my display. This would be a talkgroup ID right?

Correct.

But in the database, I don't find that listed as a talkgroup. The traffic sounds like dispatch and is what I would expect from the highway patrol.

The database info is a year old. Try it a few days and if it is highway patrol dispatch, submit in the update link of that page.

So I guess I have three questions:
1. Is 38320 a TG ID?

Yes.

2. Why isn't it in the database or is it something new?

You may be the only person (on this forum) in range of that tower to provide the info.

3. Is it necessary to program in all of the frequency listed or is there a way to know which channels are important (control channels)?

For EDACS, each site you program will need to be in a separate bank. Of course you will only program a site within range. Procedures for storing EDACS freqs are in Note 1 under step 7 in the shortcut.

P.S. I'm getting the cable today if I can get across the bay to Mobile. I'll get WIN96 too.

You must be on the Pensacola side in Baldwin County. Do you have a CC for Mobile? If so, submit it also in the update.

Good luck with the system, and the additional 50 bucks for Win96 and the cable will be a worthy investment. BTW, if your PC does not have a 9 pin serial port, you’ll need the USB->Serial conversion cable. RS has it also.

 

[loumaag]

Hmm, okay a few points.

First, I am not in Alabama so I can't help directly.

Second, if the Alabama system you are listening to is indeed EDACS and you programmed your scanner correctly you didn't see a TG ID of 38320. If you programmed your scanner as a Motorola system, then indeed 38320 is a valid TG ID, but then the system is not EDACS.

Third, EDACS system TG's fall in a decimal range of 0 - 2047. So as long as the system is EDACS, don't report a TG of 38320 since it is not valid.

This means one of two things, what you are listening to is not the Alabama Highway patrol, or the Highway Patrol has changed systems and you are the first to notice it.

 

[oracle]

Let me correct my previous post. The 38320 that I thought was a TG was an anomaly. At the time, I had the State EDACS in the same bank with an LTR.

However, I have now moved EDACS to its own band, properly set the band and the frequencies to EDACS. When I hear a transmission it shows in the display ED: NONE.

And yes, I just east of Daphne, about halfway between Mobile and Pensacola. I assume you mean a Control Chanell for Mobile (CC)? I don't have one but will post it when and if I find it -- truth is, I'm so green I wouln't know it if it bit me.

Thanks

PS Have WIN96 and the cable, seems to work great.

 

[fmon]

Lou,

What a blunder that was. Gosh, a Mot ID in ED. Whats this world coming to? 8)

Regarding the CC, you'll know when you have it, it'll have a weird noise. Do you have all 18 of the listed freqs for Mobile programmed? If so, then the system is to far for your scanner to pick it up, or the system may yet to be functional.

 

[loumaag]

And yes, I just east of Daphne, about halfway between Mobile and Pensacola. I assume you mean a Control Chanell for Mobile (CC)? I don't have one but will post it when and if I find it -- truth is, I'm so green I wouln't know it if it bit me.

You must be getting something because otherwise you wouldn't get a transmission at all. If you stay on the bank which you programmed the Mobile site on, and press <MAN> it should stop on the Control Channel (CC) and report what the LCN is with something "CTRL-10" (or whatever number it is.) That number should match the last two numbers of your channel numbers. For example if you programmed the Mobile site in Bank 5 and the CC appeared and reported as "CTRL-10" then that should be appearing in slot 510 on your scanner.

Remember, EDACS is LCN. Each frequency must be programmed in the correct channel number. I see that Mobile has 18 channels reported, so (if you were using Bank 5) they should be in 501 thru 518. Remember to always check the published LCN lineup. Not all EDACS sites start on channel 1 and not all of them are continuous, they may skip numbers.

That "ED: NONE" bothers me a bit. Maybe you can expand on that once you check the above channel lineup. :?

 

[oracle]

I went yesterday afternoon and picked up the interface cable, downloaded WIN96 and have been ;earning how to use it. I did a web download of the Mobile system and let you know.

The ED:None I think has disappeared now that I have programed the machine with WIN96.

I notice that Daphne, Alabama is a LTR system. Is it best just to program it has an FM in a conventional band?

 

[oracle]

Lou,
Here's the CC info, I think. I was scanning bank 2 only (Band 2 is the Mobile bank). I pressed <MAN> and it stopped on channel 11 in bank 2 (211). And yes, fmon, it does sound like data.

In the display I see:

M211...........+MO
860.48750
Site001 Ch12
M36:380B 21% <- number constantly changing

The bank was programmed using the web download feature in WIN96. I assume it started in channel 0.

Does this help? Can you explain what the M36 line means?

 

[fmon]

In the display I see:

M211...........+MO
860.48750
Site001 Ch12
M36:380B 21% <- number constantly changing

This is the Mobile Motorola Type II Smartnet system.
M36=Mot 3600 bd
380B=SysID
21%...=percent rate of CC decoding. You'll need to be above 50 to receive this system well. Also, count on the CC to change on this system daily. IE tomorrow it may be 857.4875 or 858.4875 or 859.4875. Check it for a few days and submit to the database as no CC's at this time are listed for this system.

Have you captured this system:

System Name:    Mobile County Public Safety
Location:    Mobile, AL
County:    Mobile
System Type:    EDACS Networked

No CC's listed here either.

Or this system:

System Name:    State of Alabama
Location:    Statewide, AL
County:    Statewide
System Type:    EDACS Networked

The bank was programmed using the web download feature in WIN96. I assume it started in channel 0.

Yes for the Motorola system, but for the EDACS system it'll place each freq as listed in the LCN. And remember, program only one EDACS site per bank, though site 6 in the statewide system is all you may need. I don't know which you'll need in the Mobile County Public Safety EDACS system.

I notice that Daphne, Alabama is a LTR system. Is it best just to program it has an FM in a conventional band?

Yes on FM, but it may be a pain to keep up with and of course the TG's won't be present.

 

[oracle]

Thanks for all the help. The PRO-2096 manual is just about useless. I don't where I would be without you guys.

Also, count on the CC to change on this system daily. IE tomorrow it may be 857.4875 or 858.4875 or 859.4875. Check it for a few days and submit to the database as no CC's at this time are listed for this system.

So submit each channel I discover being used as a CC?

And, yes, I have captured the two systems you mentioned, I'll do the same for them.

As far as the LTR system, they use it like a conventional system. Police is always on channel 3 etc.

Thanks again.

 

[fmon]

Thanks for all the help. So submit each channel I discover being used as a CC?

You might want to cycle through 4 days, then submit what you have. Most Mot systems use 4 rotating CC's.

As far as the LTR system, they use it like a conventional system. Police is always on channel 3 etc.

LTR regular systems normally stay on freq unless it's busy by another TG which got forced to that freq because theirs was busy etc. In FM you may get some burps and groans, but ya get some of that even in trunked LTR. If you can get your hands on a Pro-92 or 2067, you can trunktrack the LTR.

All in all, it appears you have a good grasp of where you're going with the scanner. Thanks to Lou, I didn't steer you in the wrong direction.