Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System

[servo_fan]

Are you sure there wasn't traffic on both sites?

Yeah, I'm sure they weren't on site2 anymore because I was holding on that talkgroup and didn't hear anything. That's when I went over to the talkgroup on site 1 and heard them all. I had thought that if a primarily site2 radio came up on site1, that you would hear it on both talkgroups, but that's not what I experienced yesterday. Man, I gotta get another scanner.

Just because you hear a specific unit on a specific site doesn't mean they're actually affiliated with that site. It only takes 1 radio on a talkgroup to be affiliated to a site, and you'll get ALL of the traffic from that talkgroup on the site.

I did not know this part, but I guess there's a learning curve even for those of us who just monitor these systems. It seems to me that most of the "site switching" happens on City and Metro fire, and SSD ch1 and 3. I never seem to hear SPD on any site2 talkgroups.

 

[sacscan]

Side note, we get our portable radios reprogrammed today.

Yup, 49232 is finally on the air on the new system. I also heard the new rangers tac channel: 49328. This TGID is not in the database yet.

I guess it's finally time to give 4328 the "Delete System" treatment in the 396, since all the good law enforcement and fire stuff is on the new system now.

 

[RolnCode3]

Yeah, I'm sure they weren't on site2 anymore because I was holding on that talkgroup and didn't hear anything. That's when I went over to the talkgroup on site 1 and heard them all. I had thought that if a primarily site2 radio came up on site1, that you would hear it on both talkgroups, but that's not what I experienced yesterday. Man, I gotta get another scanner.


I did not know this part, but I guess there's a learning curve even for those of us who just monitor these systems. It seems to me that most of the "site switching" happens on City and Metro fire, and SSD ch1 and 3. I never seem to hear SPD on any site2 talkgroups.

You're missing what I was saying. What I said was that they were all on site1 the entire time. Some completely other unit (maybe some battalion chief or someone) who wasn't even on-scene or on the call, was listening in, and then turned off their radio or switched channels.

That other unit would be the reason the traffic was carried on site2 (they affiliated to a site2 tower), and once that radio was no longer affiliated, site2 didn't need to carry the traffic. All of the units were on site1 the entire time. But, as I said, it's just a guess.

 

[servo_fan]

All of the units were on site1 the entire time.

Can anyone with two or more scanners confirm this? Can you scan only site1 on one scanner, and only site2 on the other and see if you hear the same talkgroups on both sites at the same time?

But, as I said, it's just a guess.

That's all any of us, apparently including the people who designed and implemented the system, can do, (based on the recent airing of dirty laundry between metro fire and the county OCIT).

 

[RolnCode3]

OK. Since the request was made, I went ahead and got the second scanner out.

I was just listening to SD 2 on both site1 and site2 at the exact same time. I heard traffic on several other talkgroups that was ONLY site1 OR site2, however.

This is exactly as I expected it to be. It's confusing, and takes a little time to grasp for those of us who only had SmartNet up 'till now.

 

[SKiPDoG]

This is confusing me with the sites, I programmed only site 2 into my unit and I was hearing Elk Grove units when I was in Rancho Cordova, now I'm at home in Elk Grove, I have my radio set to scan SSD channels 1-4 and I haven't heard any Elk Grove calls, mostly D2 and D4 calls, some Rancho Cordova (D5) calls.

 

[swat]

Well on my part im still confused about the whole thing (Rebanding) (Digital) all that good stuff but thats besides the point. what i did was put all site 1 site 2 in one bank and the whole site 1 site 2 in another bank because all the talkgroups didnt fit is this a problem of having a setup like the old system. may i be missing desired traffic can someone explain this to me.

 

[WayneH]

I wrote some stuff on Moto Trunking, SmartZone included, a while back. For anyone interested theres:

http://www.thebriarpatch.org/trunking/callprocess.html
And the home:
http://www.thebriarpatch.org/trunking/

Just a word of note, SmartZone, when designed efficiently is NOT scanner friendly. Given the right conditions you can and will miss conversations. So far the Sac systems are exempt provided you can hear either site at all times.

-Wayne

 

[SKiPDoG]

ok I have EGPD on channel 4 of the new system, I guess I have it right. My "scanner" is not the typical scanner so I have no problems following conversations. The only problem will be when they finally do digital, the thing I was wondering about is why are they still programming MTS 2000 portables with the new system and reissuing them if they will not do digital? Are they just using these as temporary radios (for some officers) until they begin the digital transition? One particular court deputy I know still has an MTX8000 with a top display although I'm not sure if they programmed his.

 

[Sac916]

Are they just using these as temporary radios (for some officers) until they begin the digital transition?

All the radios had to be reprogrammed to communicate on the new system and software. If it's not programmed ( updated ) it will NOT work on the new system. May seem weird to not just wait for new radios, but it's just part of the slow transition process. I'm sure steps such as this, help with troubleshooting and easing into a new system.

Early next year brand new digital capable radios will be deployed.

 

[servo_fan]

Just a word of note, SmartZone, when designed efficiently is NOT scanner friendly. Given the right conditions you can and will miss conversations. So far the Sac systems are exempt provided you can hear either site at all times.

I can now see how this is possible. So far with this new SmartZone setup I think it's actually an advantage when I'm scanning both sites, because I now have the possibility to hear Metro Fire, or SSD if my scanner is stuck on scanning site1. Where it becomes more difficult is when you're holding on a talkgroup and the radios switch sites, leaving you wondering where everyone went.
Thanks everyone for all your input. This thread, (and website), has been a real help. I look forward to more education on all this.

 

[servo_fan]

wayne_h, or any other admin,

Do you know when, (or if), the SRRCS database page will be linked off the Sacramento Metro Area page? As far as I know, the only way to get to it is to go to California - Sacramento County - then choosing the SRRCS from the list of trunked systems in the county. If there is a another way to request this change, please let me know and I will follow it. Thanks.

 

[kma371]

New control channel for site 1

868.900 which was I think from the old 4428 system is now a control channel for 1116 site 1. I've submitted the info to the database.

 

[sacscan]

868.900 which was I think from the old 4428 system is now a control channel for 1116 site 1. I've submitted the info to the database.

I also heard 868.6625 used as a CC yesterday on site 001. Looks like all four former Sac City system CC's are now in use on C116.

Needless to say, I've had to update a TON of scanners, mine and other people's.

 

[RolnCode3]

So we now have a total of 8 possible control channels?

 

[servo_fan]

So we now have a total of 8 possible control channels?

That's what the database pages says, plus, I believe the latest Bee article about the new system problems mentioned that all (control) channels were going to be made available to the new system by Monday 7/17/06.

 

[WayneH]

So we now have a total of 8 possible control channels?

Four per site, which is the max for a 3600 SZ site.

So is the City system offline or are they jockeying control channels around so neither system conflicts?

-Wayne

 

[Sac916]

Last I checked, old city was offline. Monday all old control channels will vanish, then over the next few days the rest of the freqs will be added to the new systems/sites.

 

[emptech]

How does one determine the system ID for a particular system? I have a BCD396T and don't see anything in the manual about it. Is there a place in the display where the ID comes up when there is traffic? I can see the frequency of the control channel. Or, is this administrative information that comes from somebody inside the system?

Speaking of control channels, it was asked do we have to have all eight? I've added a number of control channels for site 1 for example, and it gives me an idea of which ones are being used.

I tend to think before reprogramming the scanner, wait until after the weekend to see how things settle down.

Jim

 

[pfish]

Press Hold, and go to the active Control Channel. After a few seconds, the top line of the display will rotate between "(System name)" and "(System ID)"

I believe we have all 8 (4 per site) control channels back. They are listed in the SRRCS database here on RR.