loumaag
Silent Key - Aug 2014
The individual RR Wiki pages dealing with Trunked Radio Scanners have been updated and a sub-section has been added titled "RR System Compatibility". This sub-section on every trunk tracking scanner page stipulates what types of system and what system voices can be monitored with that particular scanner. Please look at the section for the Uniden BCD396T scanner. You will note that the section is broken down into two smaller parts. The System Types portion describes what types of system this scanner can be used to monitor and those descriptions are the same as you will find in the RR Database on the System Type line of any TRS in the DB. The System Voices part describes what type of audio (modulation) this scanner will receive and those descriptions are the same as you will find in the RR Database on the System Voice line of any TRS in the DB. Using this reference will answer those questions that we always see like, "Will my XYZ scanner work with system ABC here in ...?" A quick glance at the system in the DB and compared to the Wiki page for the scanner will answer the question, if the System Type is not there, the scanner won't work; same for the System Voice.
The entries for the trunk tracking scanners are correct with one exception and this is where we need your help. There is some indecision about Motorola VOC (Voice Over Control) systems. This is similar to an EDACS SCAT system in that a Motorola site may only have one frequency and it is the control channel. This is usually used for remote areas where coverage from a regular site is not needed but occasional coverage is needed. What happens is when necessary the CCh will make an announcement that it is switching to voice and then grants a TG permission to use the CCh. The data stream goes away and it is used like a simple repeater for that TG. When the communication ends, it goes back into CCh mode. With that explained, the problem we have is that scanner manufactures don't mention this type of setup (like they do for EDACS SCAT) and such sites are few and far between. We know that some scanners (typically early generation TT types) would not handle those and you will not see that description on them in the Wiki; however, we were less sure of the newer types and need your help in determining if any of these newer scanners can indeed handle such sites. To know for sure, you must have such a site in your area and you must also have a scanner that we are unsure of. At this point we are unsure of any of them. Any scanner in the Wiki that says it can do Motorola VOC is a guess, so if you can help us out with definitive answers we would appreciate it.
Please, unless what you see you know to be wrong, assume that the information provided in the Wiki is correct (except for the Motorola VOC of course). I can guarantee those portions that cause the most confusion (that dealing with Project 25 systems and/or APCO-25 CAI) are correct and changes to any of those lines should not be made.
The entries for the trunk tracking scanners are correct with one exception and this is where we need your help. There is some indecision about Motorola VOC (Voice Over Control) systems. This is similar to an EDACS SCAT system in that a Motorola site may only have one frequency and it is the control channel. This is usually used for remote areas where coverage from a regular site is not needed but occasional coverage is needed. What happens is when necessary the CCh will make an announcement that it is switching to voice and then grants a TG permission to use the CCh. The data stream goes away and it is used like a simple repeater for that TG. When the communication ends, it goes back into CCh mode. With that explained, the problem we have is that scanner manufactures don't mention this type of setup (like they do for EDACS SCAT) and such sites are few and far between. We know that some scanners (typically early generation TT types) would not handle those and you will not see that description on them in the Wiki; however, we were less sure of the newer types and need your help in determining if any of these newer scanners can indeed handle such sites. To know for sure, you must have such a site in your area and you must also have a scanner that we are unsure of. At this point we are unsure of any of them. Any scanner in the Wiki that says it can do Motorola VOC is a guess, so if you can help us out with definitive answers we would appreciate it.
Please, unless what you see you know to be wrong, assume that the information provided in the Wiki is correct (except for the Motorola VOC of course). I can guarantee those portions that cause the most confusion (that dealing with Project 25 systems and/or APCO-25 CAI) are correct and changes to any of those lines should not be made.
