Programming Trunked Systems

[KC1JSD]

Not sure if this belongs in this subforum, I've had my BCD325P2 for a few months now. I'm starting to look into to programming larger systems (i.e. the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network) into it. However, I really have no idea how to do it, I've looked my manual, many wiki pages and scoured the internet for youtube videos and such on the subject, I've found no visual guides or anything. Looking at the radioreference pages for these systems, it makes no sense to me. How do I input the HEX number? Why is the DEC only 4 numbers and not a frequency? What's the correlation between the frequency and DEC? Why are there multiple frequencies and what parts of the system do they belong to? I feel like I am likely far overcomplicating things, but I really don't understand much about this. I need like a dumbed-down version. This is my first P25 etc. scanner. I'm much more used to my BC125AT. Can anybody please help me out?

Thank you,
KC1JSD

 

[nessnet]

Yes, you are waaay overthinking it.
This is a TRUNKING system. The hex and dec are your trunkgroup numbers (hex = hexadecimal / dec = decimal).
I'd probably start with an understanding of what trunking is - it will help clarify all this.

Look above the trunkgroup listings. See the site list? Look under freqs - there is where your frequencies are.

Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN) Trunking System, Statewide, Connecticut - Scanner Frequencies

RFSS Site Name County Freqs 1 (1) 001 (1) New Britain Simulcast Hartford 854.3625c 855.9625a 856.2125 857.2125 858.2125 859.2125 1 (1) 021 (15) Troop G Simulcast Fairfield 769.53125 770.08125 770.58125 771.23125 771.78125a 774.20625c 851.7125 852.200 852.5875 853.200a 853.500 853.750a 1 (1) 022 (16) Troop A Simulcast Litchfield 769.08125 770.68125 771.53125 772.73125 773.05625a 773.95625c 851.275 851.6375 852.1375 852.700a 853.3125a 853.900 1 (1) 023 (17) Troop B Simulcast Litchfield 851.1375 851.6125a 851.8625a 852.225a 853.0375 853.6125c 1 (1) 024 (18) Troop C Simulcast Tolland 769.34375 769.90625 770.06875a 771.23125a 772.05625a 774.05625c 1 (1) 025 (19) Troop D Simulcast Windham 851.7125 852.200c 852.5875a 853.200a 853.750 1 (1) 026 (1A) Troop E Simulcast New London 769.61875 770.36875 771.65625 772.60625 773.13125a 773.93125c 851.1125 851.600 851.825 852.1625 852.625a 853.3375a 1 (1) 027 (1B) Troop F Simulcast Middlesex 769.29375 769.80625 770.40625 770.78125 771.43125a 774.30625c 851.0875 851.1625 851.300 851.750 852.075 852.3875 853.1625a 853.5625a 1 (1) 028 (1C) Troop H Simulcast Hartford 769.20625 769.70625 770.18125 770.90625 773.58125a 774.53125c 851.0375 851.400 851.9375 852.4125 852.7625a 853.2625a 1 (1) 029 (1D) Troop I Simulcast New Haven 769.33125 769.65625 770.33125 770.95625 771.05625 771.35625 771.60625 772.43125a 773.28125 773.45625a 774.03125a 774.58125c 1 (1) 030 (1E) Troop K Simulcast New London 851.2125 851.4375a 852.2625a 852.650a 853.3875 853.9125c 1 (1) 031 (1F) Troop L Simulcast Litchfield 852.325 855.8125 856.4875a 857.4875a 858.4875a 859.7625c 1 (1) 032 (20) Naugatuck New Haven 854.6375 859.4875a 860.4875c 1 (1) 033 (21) Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) Statewide 769.23125 769.38125 769.73125 769.88125 774.51875a 774.86875c 1 (1) 034 (22) Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) Statewide 769.38125 769.73125a 769.88125c 774.86875 1 (1) 037 (25) Old Lyme New London 852.325 853.050c 1 (1) 040 (28) Kent (Skiff Mountain) Litchfield 851.4375a 852.650c 1 (1) 041 (29) Hartford Hartford 769.25625 769.75625 770.25625a 771.30625a 771.80625a 772.38125c

I'm not sure, but someone will chime in ..
Does the 325 program via Uniden's Sentinel software?
It sure would be a lot easier to let it do most of the work for you...

 

[bobruzzo]

Not sure if this belongs in this subforum, I've had my BCD325P2 for a few months now. I'm starting to look into to programming larger systems (i.e. the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network) into it. However, I really have no idea how to do it, I've looked my manual, many wiki pages and scoured the internet for youtube videos and such on the subject, I've found no visual guides or anything. Looking at the radioreference pages for these systems, it makes no sense to me. How do I input the HEX number? Why is the DEC only 4 numbers and not a frequency? What's the correlation between the frequency and DEC? Why are there multiple frequencies and what parts of the system do they belong to? I feel like I am likely far overcomplicating things, but I really don't understand much about this. I need like a dumbed-down version. This is my first P25 etc. scanner. I'm much more used to my BC125AT. Can anybody please help me out?

Thank you,
KC1JSD

First, where in Ct are you? The system you want is the "Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network" and here is the RR database for the whole state: Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN) Trunking System, Statewide, Connecticut - Scanner Frequencies But you need to specify your area then find the simulcast system thats the closest to you. To program the radio you need the data transfer cable to connect to computer. I am not familiar with your radio, but it should have come with a data cable. Don't worry about HEX or DEC. You will need software so the computer & radio communicates with each other. You can use either FREESCAN ARC-XT, or PROSCAN according to the RR wiki page. Not sure if/what other programs are compatible with it. But Freescan is FREE and works very well. Proscan isn't free but a more modern program. I am not familiar with ARC-xt. Here is the RR wiki with information on the software for your scanner....scroll down the link and look for the chart. Your radio is in the "handheld" top section, all the way to the right. Uniden DMA Software Support - The RadioReference Wiki Once you are all connected with cable attached between radio and computer you need to choose the right COM port so you can transfer the data from RR database, according to your location, to your scanner via the software. Maybe some others can help from this point on.

 

[wtp]

first do not worry about HEX or DEC.
i guess you have set up at least a conventional/regular system.

 

[lu81fitter]

Look into how to program trunking systems. Try here for starters.

Common Trunking Programming Questions - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

nessnet seems to have found what I was looking at.
Yes. You can use software to program the 325p2. I don't believe the 325 is supported in Sentinel. I use Proscan, but Freescan can be used as well, and it's free. Look at the link here on how to program trunking systems and go from there. You can then look at the software options (which makes things much easier), and you'll be on your way. It takes some time to learn. Don't get discouraged. It's not bad once you get the hang of it. You may want to download Freescan and take a look at it. You may be able to program as you read and learn.

 

[hiegtx]

Not sure if this belongs in this subforum, I've had my BCD325P2 for a few months now. I'm starting to look into to programming larger systems (i.e. the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network) into it. However, I really have no idea how to do it, I've looked my manual, many wiki pages and scoured the internet for youtube videos and such on the subject, I've found no visual guides or anything. Looking at the radioreference pages for these systems, it makes no sense to me. How do I input the HEX number? Why is the DEC only 4 numbers and not a frequency? What's the correlation between the frequency and DEC? Why are there multiple frequencies and what parts of the system do they belong to? I feel like I am likely far overcomplicating things, but I really don't understand much about this. I need like a dumbed-down version. This is my first P25 etc. scanner. I'm much more used to my BC125AT. Can anybody please help me out?

Thank you,
KC1JSD

See if this helps you understand trunked radio systems:

Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

There is also the "Easier to Read Manual" that applies to your scanner:

Easier to Read BCD325P2 Digital Scanner Manual

As lu81 noted, Sentinel does not work for the 325P2 scanner.

FreeSCAN does.
You can download it here:
Sixspot Software (FreeScan)

The FreeSCAN user guide is available in the Wiki.
FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[doctordialtone]

I am in Ct and use Freescan to program my 325P2.

I have programmed and listen to CLMRN.

If you download FreeScan, I can program a file for you.

 

[bobruzzo]

Yes, lu81fitter has a good suggestion to try FREESCAN since it is free and very easy to use. But you need to find the simulcast site(s) closest to where you live. Here is website to get it: Freescan Hahaha the others beat me to it!

 

[n1chu]

Butel ARC software is another choice. But unlike Freescan, it’s not free. And if you want to take advantage of the automated programming, a small fee for RadioReference membership is required. I live in Farmington, Ct., own the BCD325P2 and have CLMRN programmed in. I’d be happy to meet up and show you a few things... and program your radio for you, on the spot, no charge.

 

[KC1JSD]

Thank you, everyone, for all your replies and offers, it's helped a lot so far. I am using Freescan to program my scanner. Thank you for all the resources and links. I think I'm finally starting to get an understanding of using this scanner. Looking at a lot more with a fresh open mind, some coffee helps too. It's better to know I was just way overthinking everything than not knowing what to do at all. Thanks again!

 

[lu81fitter]

Thank you, everyone, for all your replies and offers, it's helped a lot so far. I am using Freescan to program my scanner. Thank you for all the resources and links. I think I'm finally starting to get an understanding of using this scanner. Looking at a lot more with a fresh open mind, some coffee helps too. It's better to know I was just way overthinking everything than not knowing what to do at all. Thanks again!

It's good to see that you are on your way! Glad you're getting the hang of things. There are lots of good things to read in the WIKI on this site. It will most likely help you a lot. If you get stumped, you can always ask questions in these forums. There are lots of knowledgeable people here that are willing to help. I will say that taking time to read about things in the WIKI has helped me quite a bit over the years. It's a valuable tool.
Best of luck to you with your 325P2! I've been eyeballing one myself to go with my 996P2.