RadioRef data into ARC536PRO for Metro Manila

[arthurtyde]

Hi Team,

I've been manually trying to program this Metro Manila Public Safety Trunking System, Manila, National Capital Region - Scanner Frequencies data into ARC536PRO for my SDS100.
Sort of making me crazy - all I get is ID Searching. Have programmed all control frequencies and talk groups - thinking I'm missing some esoteric detail. Not new to scanning, but definitely new to trunked systems.

Thank you, AFT

 

[tvengr]

Press the Function Knob and then E to toggle between ID Search and ID Scan.

 

[jonwienke]

Program all the site frequencies, not just the control channels. Control channels can change without notice. If you're getting reception, the scanner should dwell on the site for about a second, and you should see signal bars, before the scanner moves on to the next site.

 

[arthurtyde]

Program all the site frequencies, not just the control channels. Control channels can change without notice. If you're getting reception, the scanner should dwell on the site for about a second, and you should see signal bars, before the scanner moves on to the next site.

I'll give that a try - I do get bars. For

System Type:	Project 25 Phase II
System Voice:	APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive

I have selected P25 One Freq Trunk in ARC - hoping that's the right one. Will report back tomorrow - really appreciate the help. I did try going from ID search to ID scan and it seemed to do the same thing. Small pauses with signal from time to time - nothing else. And yes, I did check the volume... LOL

Thank you!!! Cheers, Arthur...

 

[Thunderbolt]

I'll give that a try - I do get bars. For

System Type:	Project 25 Phase II
System Voice:	APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive

I have selected P25 One Freq Trunk in ARC - hoping that's the right one. Will report back tomorrow - really appreciate the help. I did try going from ID search to ID scan and it seemed to do the same thing. Small pauses with signal from time to time - nothing else. And yes, I did check the volume... LOL

Thank you!!! Cheers, Arthur...

See if you can obtain the System ID and WACN for that P25 TRS? Thank you!

73's

Ron

 

[tvengr]

The link you provided is a Motorola Type II system. The correct system type is Motorola. The site Mot/P25 Bandplan should be Standard.

System Name: Metro Manila Public Safety Location: Manila, NC County: N/A System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone

 

[tvengr]

There is a new P25 system with no talkgroups available yet. For that the system type would be P25 Standard. The site Mot/P25 Bandplan would be Standard.

System Name: Metro Manila P25 Location: Manila, NC County: Statewide System Type: Project 25 Phase II System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive Last Updated: April 29, 2017, 11:42 am (Updated General Trunked System Information)

 

[arthurtyde]

Some progress, I get bars on all the talkgroups... (not sure if that is progress) - all frequencies in, just sits on ID Scanning. I can switch it to ID searching, and just sits silently. Have tried to figure out how to get ARC to pull the data from RR but seems not supported.

No system ID but this is in the DB record...

System ID List System ID Connect Tone 7890 138.46

Can't seem to find an appropriate place to plug that in. Thoughts???

 

[tvengr]

You don't use either one for your programming. The system you are attempting to monitor is a Motorola Type II system. The correct system type is Motorola. The site Mot/P25 Bandplan should be Standard. I have ARC536 also. If you attach your hpd programming file, I will check it for problems. You will need to right click on the file and send it to a compressed (zipped) folder ti be able to attach it.

 

[arthurtyde]

OK, have attached it to this message. Really appreciate the look. There are a lot of options - could take (me) all week... But time at home seems to be something I have a bit of these days.... Stay well!

I also have an old Pro-97 scanner - still in the box. Contemplating breaking that out... but the SDS is such a work of art and engineering - really want to wrap my head around what it can do. Thank you, Arthur...

 

[tvengr]

You had the system type incorrect. I changed P25 X2 TDMA to Motorola. I also deleted the Metro site which doesn't show in the system. Also, turned off ID Search so that it just scans the programmed talkgroups.. Give this updated file a try and see if it works. Save the file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC536.

 

[Thunderbolt]

You have to realize the information in the database for the Metro Manila area maybe outdated. They were planning to implement a P25 TRS a few years ago, but we haven't received any updated information since one of the sites was online in testing mode. Anything you can search out and confirm, would be greatly appreciated.

73's

Ron

 

[arthurtyde]

So far, no joy - tried the new config. Agreed, I am guessing the data is incorrect. When I use my Pro-97 to do a upper / lower search of the bands I do get voice traffic, and what sounds like busy control channels. The voice chat seems to be not police, fire, city but rather ports. Either way - seems like whatever they were planning to do didn't happen ... or not as documented.

Are there tools that will attempt to decode all the control channels I am hitting? Apologies if this is a n00b question!

Cheers, Arthur...

 

[tvengr]

It is quite possible that the P25 system could be active. I'm waiting to hear if he has any luck with the Motorola system. It's just a little too far out of range for me to check. The 866 MHz frequency on the P25 system should have gone away with rebanding.

 

[arthurtyde]

So far, no joy - tried the new config. Agreed, I am guessing the data is incorrect. When I use my Pro-97 to do a upper / lower search of the bands I do get voice traffic, and what sounds like busy control channels. The voice chat seems to be not police, fire, city but rather ports. Either way - seems like whatever they were planning to do didn't happen ... or not as documented.

Are there tools that will attempt to decode all the control channels I am hitting? Apologies if this is a n00b question!

Cheers, Arthur...

Hey - I have reception on the SDS100. Still working out what it is... Found my Diamond RH77CA antenna (apparently better than my other scanner antenna) - and in ID searching I am getting some traffic but non on talk groups programmed from the list.

Thank you tvengr - the SDS becomes a lot more interesting when it occasionally says something...

 

[tvengr]

I have an idea. The P25 system showed a control channel of 866.0375. The rebanded frequency would be 851.0375. Enter that frequency and see if it shows as a control channel. If so, set up a P25 Standard system in ID Search using that frequency as the control channel. If not, search frequencies between 851 and 854 MHz and look for a control channel. If you find one, set up a P25 Standard system using that frequency with ID Search.

 

[arthurtyde]

Giving that a try... when I hit 851.0375 I do get data... I'll try setting up a P25 standard with just that frequency - and then do ID search. Will report back the results.

 

[tvengr]

OK! Sounds promising.

 

[arthurtyde]

Sadly, nothing ... I have tried a couple of different systems with no luck. Maybe I require the frequency table? Are there any tools or other scanners that can hit those data channels and present a guess at what it might be?

 

[tvengr]

With almost all P25 systems, all of the information is carried on the control channel. There is no reason for a custom table. In ARC536, make sure that you are using P25 Standard as your System Type and Standard as the Mot/P25 Bandplan for the site. If you have some free time, search all of the frequencies in the 700/800 public safety bands and set up a system in ID Search using each of the frequencies detected as the control channel.. Eventually, you should be able to locate the correct system. A control channel has a certain sound to it. With practice, you will be able to recognize a control channel when you hear one.