DigitalJeff
Member
Hi Everyone Is It Best To Program All The Freq From A System Into The Radio Or Would It Be Better To Just Program In The Control Channels Only?.Thank's
Program Feq 396xt
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
It depends greatly on the type of system; with an EDACS or LTR system, you must program all the channels; if it's a Motorola system, and all the control channels (CCs) are known, then just programming them saves memory. However, if not all the CCs have been discovered (it's a new system, or perhaps just rebanded) then it might be useful to put in all the channels as it may discover a CC that isn't listed.
73 Mike
73 Mike
DigitalJeff
Member
Thank's Again 73 Mike
Yes It Is A Motorola System They Have 4 Seperate Primary Area's North,N/E,East Loop,South, They All Have 1 Primary & 3 Alternates CC's These Are All Known At This Time. So All I Need Is The 4 Im I Correct?(San Diego County RCS System)
Yes It Is A Motorola System They Have 4 Seperate Primary Area's North,N/E,East Loop,South, They All Have 1 Primary & 3 Alternates CC's These Are All Known At This Time. So All I Need Is The 4 Im I Correct?(San Diego County RCS System)
Yes. I monitor the north, south, and east zones of the RCS and only have the CCs programmed in for each zone.
rvictor
Member
Some systems change control frequencies from time to time. If you've got the available memory, programming all the frequencies will avoid an adverse impact from a subsequent change in control frequency. If you're short of memory, then control channel only is ideal.
Dick
Dick
I thought that you would have to re-program all of the radios in the system to change voice channels to control channels but I am not sure. Does anyone know if that is true?
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rvictor
Member
With respect to one of the local systems which is in the process of rebanding, I've been told that the radios previously could hold up to four control channels and that "the Motorola subscriber equipment (portables, mobiles,etc.) will receive new firmware flashes that will allow entry of up to 8 control channels (encompassing both old and new) as well as the new 'bandplan' for the rebanded frequencies. This way, when the switch takes place on the infrastructure side the radios automatically lock on to the new
control channel and the transition is seamless for the users."
So I guess that one could enter the control channel and the alternate control channels and probably be covered for what's in the radios as presently programmed if the information about the control channels and alternate control channels was correct. That still wouldn't cover you for changes that might be made by reprogramming the radios. Since I use only a very small percentage of my scanner's memory, I've chosen to enter all the frequencies. That way I'm covered for most any change that might be made. Other than memory usage, I'm not aware of any downside to that, but perhaps I'm missing something.
There is another advantage for having all the frequencies. If the system goes into Failsoft mode it is nice to have them already in place so that you can listen to them in that mode.
Dick
control channel and the transition is seamless for the users."
So I guess that one could enter the control channel and the alternate control channels and probably be covered for what's in the radios as presently programmed if the information about the control channels and alternate control channels was correct. That still wouldn't cover you for changes that might be made by reprogramming the radios. Since I use only a very small percentage of my scanner's memory, I've chosen to enter all the frequencies. That way I'm covered for most any change that might be made. Other than memory usage, I'm not aware of any downside to that, but perhaps I'm missing something.
There is another advantage for having all the frequencies. If the system goes into Failsoft mode it is nice to have them already in place so that you can listen to them in that mode.
Dick
Thanks Dick. It sounds like my assumption is correct. I currently have all of the CCs programmed. The 396XT certainly has plenty of memory but I stuck with CC only. Some people like to enter the VCs so that the bandscope display works as expected. The failsoft mode is yet another reason to put in all of the freqs. but I was never certain how that would work as I've never seen a failure that required failsoft. I am guessing that you would have to go to manual control of the scanner?
rvictor
Member
I ran into the failsoft thing a few months ago during a severe thunderstorm and became aware that the system was in failsort only because of an email from a list that shares local scanning events. I was rather baffled as to what to do and it turned out that many of the system users sounded like they were too. One of the things that I did was to put the scanner on hold and step through the system frequencies to try to figure out what was being used for what. It was handy to already have all the frequencies in there so that I didn't have to go to the RR database and enter them at that point.
What I've done now is to actually set up a conventional group with those frequencies that I keep deactivated. Now if it ever happens again I'll try scanning that conventional group and see what happens.
Dick
Dan-
Here is a great reference as to how FAILSOFT for the SD RCS works for the fire agencies, and lots of other great info:
Communications
Trained HAMs also provide "last resort" comms. assitance in conjunction with the County.
David
Thanks a lot David! Excellent find.
rvictor
Member
Thanks, David.
Looks like I can learn something there.
Dick
Looks like I can learn something there.
Dick
Dan and Dick,
You're welcome. Note that the procedures are mostly specific to the SD RCS, and in particular, fire agencies. It is very interesting in any event.
San Diego (county) has a great system, with lots of backup and volunteers to assist. There are many CERT teams and amateur teams that work in tandem with the first responders.
David
KI6YFA
WQIH617
You're welcome. Note that the procedures are mostly specific to the SD RCS, and in particular, fire agencies. It is very interesting in any event.
San Diego (county) has a great system, with lots of backup and volunteers to assist. There are many CERT teams and amateur teams that work in tandem with the first responders.
David
KI6YFA
WQIH617
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