TOPAZ RWS

[etihparg]

I have and older BC796D scanner and can receive Mesa/Gilbert Fire clearly. Transmissions are from Thompson Peak. However, Mesa/Gilbert PD on Mesa Simulcast comes in with much distortion. So why doesn't PD transmit from the Thompson Peak site like fire?

 

[Paysonscanner]

I have and older BC796D scanner and can receive Mesa/Gilbert Fire clearly. Transmissions are from Thompson Peak. However, Mesa/Gilbert PD on Mesa Simulcast comes in with much distortion. So why doesn't PD transmit from the Thompson Peak site like fire?

I have family in north Scottsdale. We could not hear Scottsdale PD there for many years by listening to Thompson Peak, which we could see from my brother and sister in law's house. For some reason we were hearing the south Scottsdale PD, but not the north. Hubby poked around and found a low level site east of their house by about 5 miles, just south of East Shaw. We began to hear everything that the Scottsdale PD did not encrypt. I don't know what the RCS calls this kind of site, a "fill in" or something? I think it was there to provide coverage in the radio shadow of Thompson Peak. I don't know if you have some similar sites near you, but programming this into our GRE scanners really helped. We didn't have any simulcast issues on Thompson before we found this new site, likely because of our use of a handheld with a standard antenna and the topography of the NE Scottsdale area. I don't have a Phase 2 scanner now and haven't researched if the new system has this same "fill in" site, so with simulcast Type 2 this may not work.

I'm having a tough time choosing a new scanner and your post reminds me that biting the bullet and buying the SDS100 might be my best option, in spite of the lousy battery choice and need for another battery charger on my desk. I really don't have much time when I'm visiting family to listen to a scanner, so maybe I really don't need a new scanner. However, your post has got me curious.

 

[KB7MIB]

I have and older BC796D scanner and can receive Mesa/Gilbert Fire clearly. Transmissions are from Thompson Peak. However, Mesa/Gilbert PD on Mesa Simulcast comes in with much distortion. So why doesn't PD transmit from the Thompson Peak site like fire?

To my knowledge, TOPAZ RWC Thompson Peak only carries the dispatch side of most of the C-deck fire talkgroups. If you listened to the TOPAZ RWC Mesa simulcast, you'd hear the dispatcher *and* the mobile/portable radios, assuming your scanner can handle the simulcast issues.

The reason that the Mesa FD RDC uses the Thompson Peak site, is that they also dispatch for Rio Verde FD which may not be well covered by the Mesa Simulcast, and the Ft. McDowell Indian FD also uses that site.

The Thompson Peak site may also help provide coverage into Chandler, Tempe, and especially, Scottsdale, and Phoenix for mutual-aid calls.

John
Peoria

 

[Ravenfalls]

I have family in north Scottsdale. We could not hear Scottsdale PD there for many years by listening to Thompson Peak, which we could see from my brother and sister in law's house. For some reason we were hearing the south Scottsdale PD, but not the north. Hubby poked around and found a low level site east of their house by about 5 miles, just south of East Shaw. We began to hear everything that the Scottsdale PD did not encrypt. I don't know what the RCS calls this kind of site, a "fill in" or something? I think it was there to provide coverage in the radio shadow of Thompson Peak. I don't know if you have some similar sites near you, but programming this into our GRE scanners really helped. We didn't have any simulcast issues on Thompson before we found this new site, likely because of our use of a handheld with a standard antenna and the topography of the NE Scottsdale area. I don't have a Phase 2 scanner now and haven't researched if the new system has this same "fill in" site, so with simulcast Type 2 this may not work.

I'm having a tough time choosing a new scanner and your post reminds me that biting the bullet and buying the SDS100 might be my best option, in spite of the lousy battery choice and need for another battery charger on my desk. I really don't have much time when I'm visiting family to listen to a scanner, so maybe I really don't need a new scanner. However, your post has got me curious.

Since Scottsdale moved to RWC Phoenix their coverage has improved & they are very happy now. New APX Motorola portable radios can utilize WiFi, so officers can go use radios when traveling. If the patrol car has wifi it can use the radio system anywhere First Net has coverage across the USA. The Bluetooth microphone if used, only enhances their coverage by using the mobile radio upto 1,000' away before switching to portable HT... As you can see their radios are made to 'work' all this done in background.

When Scottsdale was on old county system, North Dispatch could be heard off Mt Ord. Scottsdale was very very unhappy on county system due to their bad south side coverage when the radios wanted to use White Tanks avoiding close sites, officer requesting urgent backup & unable to get out. That pushed the city to look at other options.

Thompson Pk only carries North Dispatch which is what you want.

Simulcast H works very well in N Scottsdale from Bell Rd to Cave Creek Ranger Station. Sim H covers the whole town with mostly low level sites. H also carry South Dispatch, city talkgroups & Fire K7.

The GRE/Whistler good feature, is it will lock onto strongest site, this is done in background. The SDS scan 1 site to the next, it's redundant but the SDS works. The GRE PSR800 does not work well with new Phase 2. I have both scanners. The new Whistler Scanners use same insides as GRE. Nothing new in their technology.

I use Comet SMA 24 antenna which I use inside & it works well for trunking along with Air/VHF/UHF. The stock antenna is decent but the Comet helps alot.

 

[etihparg]

I have family in north Scottsdale. We could not hear Scottsdale PD there for many years by listening to Thompson Peak, which we could see from my brother and sister in law's house. For some reason we were hearing the south Scottsdale PD, but not the north. Hubby poked around and found a low level site east of their house by about 5 miles, just south of East Shaw. We began to hear everything that the Scottsdale PD did not encrypt. I don't know what the RCS calls this kind of site, a "fill in" or something? I think it was there to provide coverage in the radio shadow of Thompson Peak. I don't know if you have some similar sites near you, but programming this into our GRE scanners really helped. We didn't have any simulcast issues on Thompson before we found this new site, likely because of our use of a handheld with a standard antenna and the topography of the NE Scottsdale area. I don't have a Phase 2 scanner now and haven't researched if the new system has this same "fill in" site, so with simulcast Type 2 this may not work.

I'm having a tough time choosing a new scanner and your post reminds me that biting the bullet and buying the SDS100 might be my best option, in spite of the lousy battery choice and need for another battery charger on my desk. I really don't have much time when I'm visiting family to listen to a scanner, so maybe I really don't need a new scanner. However, your post has got me curious.

In addition to the older BC796D in my truck, I also have the SDS200. No problem receiving with this scanner, just want to keep the BC796D if I can make it work better. And I also have the Unication G4 which is amazing, but somewhat limited. If you only want to listen to P25, Phase I & II on select departments, I'd consider one.

 

[KD7JVRinAZ]

To my knowledge, TOPAZ RWC Thompson Peak only carries the dispatch side of most of the C-deck fire talkgroups. If you listened to the TOPAZ RWC Mesa simulcast, you'd hear the dispatcher *and* the mobile/portable radios, assuming your scanner can handle the simulcast issues.

The reason that the Mesa FD RDC uses the Thompson Peak site, is that they also dispatch for Rio Verde FD which may not be well covered by the Mesa Simulcast, and the Ft. McDowell Indian FD also uses that site.

The Thompson Peak site may also help provide coverage into Chandler, Tempe, and especially, Scottsdale, and Phoenix for mutual-aid calls.

John
Peoria

i can also mesa fd simu

To my knowledge, TOPAZ RWC Thompson Peak only carries the dispatch side of most of the C-deck fire talkgroups. If you listened to the TOPAZ RWC Mesa simulcast, you'd hear the dispatcher *and* the mobile/portable radios, assuming your scanner can handle the simulcast issues.

The reason that the Mesa FD RDC uses the Thompson Peak site, is that they also dispatch for Rio Verde FD which may not be well covered by the Mesa Simulcast, and the Ft. McDowell Indian FD also uses that site.

The Thompson Peak site may also help provide coverage into Chandler, Tempe, and especially, Scottsdale, and Phoenix for mutual-aid calls.

John
Peoria

I also hear Mesa Fire when they simulcast B-3 & B-5 for fires. Both sides off of Thompson from my QTH at Osborn/Scottsdale.

 

[KD7JVRinAZ]

Since Scottsdale moved to RWC Phoenix their coverage has improved & they are very happy now. New APX Motorola portable radios can utilize WiFi, so officers can go use radios when traveling. If the patrol car has wifi it can use the radio system anywhere First Net has coverage across the USA. The Bluetooth microphone if used, only enhances their coverage by using the mobile radio upto 1,000' away before switching to portable HT... As you can see their radios are made to 'work' all this done in background.

When Scottsdale was on old county system, North Dispatch could be heard off Mt Ord. Scottsdale was very very unhappy on county system due to their bad south side coverage when the radios wanted to use White Tanks avoiding close sites, officer requesting urgent backup & unable to get out. That pushed the city to look at other options.

Thompson Pk only carries North Dispatch which is what you want.

Simulcast H works very well in N Scottsdale from Bell Rd to Cave Creek Ranger Station. Sim H covers the whole town with mostly low level sites. H also carry South Dispatch, city talkgroups & Fire K7.

The GRE/Whistler good feature, is it will lock onto strongest site, this is done in background. The SDS scan 1 site to the next, it's redundant but the SDS works. The GRE PSR800 does not work well with new Phase 2. I have both scanners. The new Whistler Scanners use same insides as GRE. Nothing new in their technology.

I use Comet SMA 24 antenna which I use inside & it works well for trunking along with Air/VHF/UHF. The stock antenna is decent but the Comet helps alot.

I can get Simulcast H with out an antenna.