Programming a maxtrac 800

[SKYNET156]

I am in the process of finding programming for my maxtrac 800, i am going to program a smartnet system conventionally, if the 800mhz system has been narrow-banded, can i program the frequencies in conventionally into a non narrow-banded maxtrac 800?
I've once heard you can still use the original Non - Narrow - Banded Frequencies because the offset wasn't that far off..

 

[b7spectra]

You will need the syskey in order to get it to work in Smartnet. Better off with a scanner as you can have more channels.

 

[SKYNET156]

Im not programming it to trunk, i am programming the voice channels and monitoring the system conventionally, and using software and a data cable to decode the system via a computer,

 

[davidgcet]

800 did not go narrow band, 800 band had additional channels added that shifted the channel numbering. since you are programming conventional modes, this makes no difference in your non-reband capable radio.

in conv programming you put the ACTUAL frequency in the radio. in a trunk system you only enter the actual freq(s) of the control channel. the CC then send the FCC chan id for the frequency of whichever repeater is coming up. since some channels changed this chan id number may be different than your radio would understand, but again that is only in trunked mode.

 

[rescue161]

You'll just get frustrated trying to follow conversations. If you still want to program it conventionally, I'd program only the control channels (for RX only) and then put them in a scan list. Then I'd use a program like UniTrunker to track the system. In my opinion you'll have a lot more fun whith that.

 

[b7spectra]

If you are using the radio strictly as a Control Channel receiver, yes, just put them in and you will have a fine receiver for UniTrunkering!

 

[SKYNET156]

So Even with the Unitrunker, do i need to place a discriminator tap on the maxtrac in order to use UniTrunker? and how will i hear the audio if i am plugged into the line in on my computer?

 

[rescue161]

If it's a 16 pin Maxtrac, you won't need to modify it at all. You'll just use pin 11 on the back of the radio fed into the computer.

You won't hear any audio, unless you plug up a scanner that is controllable by UniTrunker. You will however be able to track all sorts of data for the particular system that you're monitoring. You'll see when anyone turns on their radio, or when they switch to a different channel, or when they turn their radio off, etc.

I have a Pro2006 hooked up to UniTrunker 24/7. I'd hook up one of my Maxtracs, but I routinely switch between 800 and 400 MHz systems. The data that you can retrieve from UniTrunker is invaluable.

 

[SKYNET156]

If it's a 16 pin Maxtrac, you won't need to modify it at all. You'll just use pin 11 on the back of the radio fed into the computer.

You won't hear any audio, unless you plug up a scanner that is controllable by UniTrunker. You will however be able to track all sorts of data for the particular system that you're monitoring. You'll see when anyone turns on their radio, or when they switch to a different channel, or when they turn their radio off, etc.

I have a Pro2006 hooked up to UniTrunker 24/7. I'd hook up one of my Maxtracs, but I routinely switch between 800 and 400 MHz systems. The data that you can retrieve from UniTrunker is invaluable.

If i were to use an audio spliter, could i run the line in from the 2 way splitter jack and still decode?

 

[rescue161]

If you hook pin 11 to the computer, you'll still hear the data on the Maxtracs speaker. The audio that you'll hear will be the control channel data only.

The only way you'll get the talkgroup audio is to program the Maxtrac to trunk the system. Otherwise, you could set a scanner, like a BCD996T as a control receiver and the Maxtrac data channel would tell the 996 which channel to go to.