Setting up my new BCD396T for P25 system

[mauiblue]

Aloha to all. I'm a newbie with my new BCD396T so please bear with me. I've been trying to setup my new scanner but I've run into some difficulty. I've downloaded the BuTel ARC396 software and updated my scanner with the latest fireware. I used the BuTel software to download the P25 trunk system to my scanner and here is the link to the frequencies:

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=5976

After I got this info downloaded to my scanner and press "SCAN", the scanner's display will display "ID SCAN" but I do not hear any transmissions. I adjusted my squelch and tested my scanner with a conventional system and audio and receiving is fine for the conventional systems. Only when I try to listen to the P25 system, I am not able to hear anything. From some research and some help on another forum, a member mentioned that I would need to have the "talkgroup ID" and "control channel" info for the P25 system in order to hear the transmissions. He mentioned to me about using the "IDTracker" software to capture the trunkgroup ID info but I would need to find out the control channel info somehow.

I would appreciate it if someone could steer me in the right direction and help me figure out how to get the P25 system to work on my scanner.

Mahalo in advance.

 

[Raven95150]

There aren't any talkgroups listed for that system to download, that's why you don't hear anything. It says the system is still under construction, to be completed by the end of 2008. Try pushing the scan button again, this will put it in ID Search mode. If there are any talkgroups being used, you should be able to hear them. Otherwise, try listening to the frequencies on this page: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=546

Also try the Hawaii forum, there may be someone else in your area with better info.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39

EDIT: It also looks like there is an LTR Multinet system currently in place that is being phased out in favor of the new P25 system. You won't be able to monitor the Multinet system with your scanner (or any other scanner) so you may just have to be patient until things are moved to the new P25 system.

 

[mauiblue]

Mahalo Raven for taking the time to respond to my post. I've been to another local scanner forum and I didn't get the info I was looking for regarding talkgroups and control channels. As you mentioned, if the talkgroups are not listed, I won't be able to hear anything. I found a couple frequencies that I am able to hear the dispatcher and patrol cars via my analog scanner so at least I'm hearing some transmissions. I guess I will have to be patient and wait till the local P25 system is completed.

 

[mauiblue]

Well it's been six months since I've posted and looks like there isn' much happening with the local P25 system being upgraded. I've noticed that a primary and alternate control frequency were added to a site group but that was it. Would these primary and alternate control frequencies help me follow the transmissions on that site group? Any help would really be appreciated.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Well it's been six months since I've posted and looks like there isn' much happening with the local P25 system being upgraded. I've noticed that a primary and alternate control frequency were added to a site group but that was it. Would these primary and alternate control frequencies help me follow the transmissions on that site group? Any help would really be appreciated.

That could be a possibility or it could just be that funding for the system has dried up for the moment.
Even though it seems like it would be easy to setup one of these systems it takes a lot of resources (not only money) before these systems are truly up and running. It might just be that progress on the system has been "put on hold" for the time being.
Hope this helps a little!
Happy Monitoring!
Marshall KE4ZNR