Digital, presently Phase I
Sacramento P25 system
- Thread starter mkewman
- Start date
-
- Tags
- sacramento sticky
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2011
- Messages
- 7
Are they using encrypted? No need to upgrade scanner if it's going to be a brick also.
No, the P25 system is not encrypted. I believe there are couple of encrypted talk groups, but the entire system is otherwise open.
Awesome, thanks. Looking for my programing cable, that's not been used in some time.. ;-)
If they were planning to go encrypted, they would've done it when they switched to the P25 system. At this time, besides a handful of side channels for some agencies (CHPD, SPD, SSO, WSPD), none are going "full-time" encrypted.
But, it's not hard to switch if they need to.
I'd say everyone is safe in purchasing digital scanners if they want.
sharward
Member
What to buy? Looking for recommendations. I am budget conscious, since I am the provider of Sacramento Police North Command feed and I had to disable my feed this evening. It may remain down for good if I can't buy a compatible scanner for a reasonable amount.
Overall, I have to recommend the SDS100. However, I know that budget is a factor for many. If you are close to a tower site, you may be able to use the BCD325P2 (or BCD996P2 as a base model) which is reasonably priced for a digital trunking scanner, but your results may vary. I've only used Uniden scanners, so that's all I can recommend.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2011
- Messages
- 7
Is the BCD996XT compatible? It looks like it supports P25 Phase I.... I may just have it programmed wrong. It was working up until they switched.
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2019
- Messages
- 4
My scanner went dark too. I’m a beginner so I’m trying to understand this. Sacramento used to broadcast on the Motorola system as well as the P25 system. They've now turned off the Motorola system and now anyone who had a scanner programmed with that format will have to reformat their scanner so it accepts the P25 Phase 1 and it’ll work?
i have a Whistler 1040 who my friend programmed for me. The website says the 1040 can do p25 phase 1 so is my scanner not a brick like I thought?
Thanks.
i have a Whistler 1040 who my friend programmed for me. The website says the 1040 can do p25 phase 1 so is my scanner not a brick like I thought?
Thanks.
sacscan
Member
Yes. I have one that I've been using just for tac channels for months and it works perfectly. I programmed one set of scanners with all the P25 talkgroups and had them running alongside the old analog trunktrackers for a seamless transition. In fact it worked so well that I didn't even know the switchover happened until kgowen4444 got a call from a friend telling him that his feed went quiet.
Here are the choices: 1) Get an ordinary P25 capable scanner and see how well it performs; 2) If choice 1 isn't workable, add an antenna so the radio only receives from a single site; 3) Get a P25 scanner capable of dealting with multi-site systems (SDS-100/SDS-200); 4) Leave your feed down for good.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,091
Welcome to the new (not really new, this P25 system has been on the air since 2013) world of Project 25.
As many of you have, or will soon find out, this system is going to be much more difficult to hear than the analog system was. This is due to the P25 systems use of Linear Simulcast Modulation (LSM) and a lot of the older scanners have extreme difficulty in processing this type of modulation.
The difference between being able to receive traffic or not receive traffic can be as little as a few feet, it's all about location, location, location. If you have a P25 Phase I(1) capable scanner and are not able to receive traffic try moving the scanner (or more so the antenna) around a little. You can also try orientating the antenna horizontal instead of vertical or remove the antenna completely and maybe try something like a paperclip (just be careful not to damage the scanners antenna jack). The biggest help I can give for someone having reception trouble is try things that will REDUCE the amount of signal you are receiving, not increase it. Good reception will require a very careful balance of just the right amount of signal.
As for scanners (and other devices) that handle LSM well.
From worst to best, *in my opinion*
Whistler TRX-1 and TRX-2.
Uniden BCD436HP and BCD536HP.
Uniden SDS100 and SDS200.
Unication G4 and G5. (Note, these are not technically scanners but they receive VERY well.)
Additionally, I used links to places I have purchased scanners in the past but most of these can be purchased from many different dealers.
As many of you have, or will soon find out, this system is going to be much more difficult to hear than the analog system was. This is due to the P25 systems use of Linear Simulcast Modulation (LSM) and a lot of the older scanners have extreme difficulty in processing this type of modulation.
The difference between being able to receive traffic or not receive traffic can be as little as a few feet, it's all about location, location, location. If you have a P25 Phase I(1) capable scanner and are not able to receive traffic try moving the scanner (or more so the antenna) around a little. You can also try orientating the antenna horizontal instead of vertical or remove the antenna completely and maybe try something like a paperclip (just be careful not to damage the scanners antenna jack). The biggest help I can give for someone having reception trouble is try things that will REDUCE the amount of signal you are receiving, not increase it. Good reception will require a very careful balance of just the right amount of signal.
As for scanners (and other devices) that handle LSM well.
From worst to best, *in my opinion*
Whistler TRX-1 and TRX-2.
Uniden BCD436HP and BCD536HP.
Uniden SDS100 and SDS200.
Unication G4 and G5. (Note, these are not technically scanners but they receive VERY well.)
Additionally, I used links to places I have purchased scanners in the past but most of these can be purchased from many different dealers.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,091
In addition to physical scanners you can also setup computerized "scanners". If you have some technical knowledge you can set these up for public or private monitoring. I use both SDRTrunk and Trunk Recorder and they work very well on LSM systems.
All, just want to confirm that my Pro-164 and Pro-163 RS scanners will NOT be able to scan Sacramento Public Safety channels anymore. Thanks for the direction. It appears the answer will be no, but I would like some confirmation from you experts. Thanks, TB.
Last edited:
Correct.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,091
For those who need help with scanner programming, I am currently in the process of updating my programming files for most of the scanners I mentioned in my post above (I was already doing this prior to the switch over for an upcoming vacation to Sacramento) and when I am done I will try to post them here. This may take me a few days, perhaps until this weekend.
if anyone else already has files made up and would be willing to share please do.
I know social distancing may make this difficult right now but you may also want to think about starting a routine scanner club meeting schedule. In my current home town of Cincinnati, Ohio we meet twice a month on the second and third Saturdays. The second Saturday is a "north" meeting in the northern area of Cincinnati (or southern Dayton) and the third Saturday is a "south" meeting for the southern area of Cincinnati (or northern Kentucky). We meet at the same time and location (we do take some field trips) every month that way we are consistent and people don't need to keep looking for updates on when and where we will be. Our meetings are held at a local pizza chain in the party room and we have a very good turnout.
if anyone else already has files made up and would be willing to share please do.
I know social distancing may make this difficult right now but you may also want to think about starting a routine scanner club meeting schedule. In my current home town of Cincinnati, Ohio we meet twice a month on the second and third Saturdays. The second Saturday is a "north" meeting in the northern area of Cincinnati (or southern Dayton) and the third Saturday is a "south" meeting for the southern area of Cincinnati (or northern Kentucky). We meet at the same time and location (we do take some field trips) every month that way we are consistent and people don't need to keep looking for updates on when and where we will be. Our meetings are held at a local pizza chain in the party room and we have a very good turnout.
sharward
Member
Thank you scannerboy02 and mcjones2013 for the model recommendations -- and extra thanks to scannerboy02 for the programming assistance.
Not to order too far off the menu, but I see that both Pro-668 - The RadioReference Wiki can handle P25 Phase 1 & 2 and Pro-651 - The RadioReference Wiki can handle Phase 1 (but not Phase 2).
I might be able to grab a not-so-gently used PRO-651 for about $163. Would that be a sensible option/experiment? Is Phase 2 inevitable on the Sacramento regional system?
I knew this was coming when I bought a trio of PRO-107s years ago, each for about $80. They were cheap and held up pretty well despite one being powered on 24x7 for the feed. One died and I swapped in another unit and I still had one to carry around. They are now useless to me and will be sold. With a little luck, maybe after selling these two units, I'll be able to buy a replacement device for not too much more.
Not to order too far off the menu, but I see that both Pro-668 - The RadioReference Wiki can handle P25 Phase 1 & 2 and Pro-651 - The RadioReference Wiki can handle Phase 1 (but not Phase 2).
I might be able to grab a not-so-gently used PRO-651 for about $163. Would that be a sensible option/experiment? Is Phase 2 inevitable on the Sacramento regional system?
I knew this was coming when I bought a trio of PRO-107s years ago, each for about $80. They were cheap and held up pretty well despite one being powered on 24x7 for the feed. One died and I swapped in another unit and I still had one to carry around. They are now useless to me and will be sold. With a little luck, maybe after selling these two units, I'll be able to buy a replacement device for not too much more.
I've got programming files I can share; PSR-500, TRX-1, Excel but they cover a HUGE area and not just Sacramento. Plus present files still have the MOT II systems in them.
sharward
Member
I can also get a WS1040 - The RadioReference Wiki (which is functionally identical to the Pro-651 - The RadioReference Wiki), never used, for a reasonable price.
Similar threads
- Locked
