ARC500: Silly Question needing answering.

[mp3deej]

Hello,
This has probably been asked before but I didn't find it or wasn't looking hard enough.

When I import from your database a trunking system using the ARC500 software, will that trunking system start working automatically or is there something else I need to do?

My scanner is a Whistler WS1040.
I usually only import conventional channels but I've been trying to get the trunking system to work. They seem to be there but I never hear anything even on systems that I know should be active.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Rick

 

[hiegtx]

Hello,
This has probably been asked before but I didn't find it or wasn't looking hard enough.

When I import from your database a trunking system using the ARC500 software, will that trunking system start working automatically or is there something else I need to do?

My scanner is a Whistler WS1040.
I usually only import conventional channels but I've been trying to get the trunking system to work. They seem to be there but I never hear anything even on systems that I know should be active.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Rick

What system are you trying to import? Link to it's database page?

When importing a trunked system, whether using ARC500 or other software( and/or other scanner models), you have to be sure to import both the talkgroups of interest, as well as the sites (in your area) that carry these talkgroups.

 

[tvengr]

When I import from your database a trunking system using the ARC500 software, will that trunking system start working automatically or is there something else I need to do?

Is it the Lewiston and Auburn trunked system? You will not be able to monitor Lewiston or Auburn PD. They are P25 Phase 2 plus fully encrypted. The WS1040 can decode Phase 1 only. No scanner can receive encrypted transmissions. The fire talkgroups are currenty Phase 1 which can be received by your scanner. Lewiston and Auburn Fireground 4 are encrypted. The trunked system site actually consists of 5 subsites all transmitting on the same frequency at the same time. The signals arrive at your scanner at slightly different times which can degrade the scanner's ability to properly decode the control channel. That can result in missed transmissions and garbled audio. Simulcast distortion is very location specific. If you are close to one of the towers, the signal can override the out of phase interference from the other towers. I use ARC500 also. If you attach your .gr5 programming file, I will be happy to take a look at it and check for any errors. You will need to zip the file to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and open the zipped file.

 

[mp3deej]

I know about the police system being encrypted. I know I can only listen to phase 1 also.

I will be more than happy to send you my file so you can take a look at it.

Thank you for your help.

Regards,
Rick

 

[mp3deej]

What system are you trying to import? Link to it's database page?

When importing a trunked system, whether using ARC500 or other software( and/or other scanner models), you have to be sure to import both the talkgroups of interest, as well as the sites (in your area) that carry these talkgroups.

Thanks for your response.

Here's the link to the database page that I am trying to listen to.

I don't bother with the encrypted stuff.

Androscoggin County, Maine (ME) Trunked Systems

All Trunked Radio Systems in Androscoggin County, Maine (ME)

www.radioreference.com

Regards,

Rick N

 

[tvengr]

I am looking at your file. It will take a little time to investigate which sites are best for each trunked system. I am going to add the Lewiston and Auburn trunked system to your file.

 

[tvengr]

Here is an updated file for you to try. There are no good sites for the Atlantic Communications trunked system in your area. I found a conventional repeater frequency in Lewiston and included it in scan list 1. I added the Whitten Hill site in Sagadahoc County to the Page site in the MSCommNet trunked system. Both of those sites should have good signal strength. I changed Multi-Site to Stationary so that the MSCommNet system scans both sites. Let me know if you receive traffic on the Central ME Power trunked system. The site you used in Hebron should be the closest one. I added the Lewiston and Auburn trunked system for Lewiston and Auburn Fire on scan list 10. The database says it is in use for Lewiston and that Auburn is in the process of switching to it. I changed a bunch of the conventional frequencies from FM to NFM. You should notice a significant improvement. By law, the frequencies must be narrowbanded. The database has not been updated yet. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC500 and Upload to Scanner.

 

[mp3deej]

Hi,
I want to thank you very much for taking the time to assist me. I really appreciate what you did. I will definitely let you know if this works or not.

I loaded it successfully into my scanner and it seems to be working at the moment. However it's still early in the morning and there isn't much traffic.

Again, thank you for helping me.

Regards,
Rick N

 

[tvengr]

Please let me know if anything isn't working and I will take a closer look at it.

 

[mp3deej]

I have noticed one thing, every once in awhile on one of the talk groups, the maint channel will come on, break the squelch a few times with some tones then go silent. Is that normal?

 

[tvengr]

Is it a talkgroup or conventional frequency? Please let me know which one. It may be tone outs for alerting units.

 

[mp3deej]

It was a talkgroup,

It does it periodically, so it's probably what you posted, tone outs.