TRX-1 EZ Scan

[GrandpaRowdy]

Greetings! Patience please as I am new to this. I just purchased a TRX-1 scanner, downloaded and configured a scanlist using the EZ Scan software. I configured the scanlist to monitor all fire, EMS, and law groups. I seem to be receiving police transmissions, but not Fire/EMS. I am monitoring side by side with my old analog scanner. There have been several dispatches on the analog scanner that I am not receiving on the TRX-1. Likely, I have something set up or configured incorrectly, but any suggestions are appreciated!

And should it matter, I'm in Franklin County, NC.

 

[Wackyracer]

Do you have the proper scanlist and scansets enabled? are any of thies on a p25 simialcast system ans the whistler scanner do not play well with simulcast.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

Thanks for your response. I only have one scanlist and it is enabled. I don't know about scansets. As it is scanning, it displays all of the services I originally selected. These are P25, but I can't speak as to simulcast. Let me know what other details I may be able to provide.

 

[bubbaearle]

It looks like Franklin Co. is all analog conventional with a simulcast P252 trunk system.

The simulcast will give you problems depending on your location amongst the six repeaters in that system. What town are you located in??

Look @ the link above to see your relation to the repeaters.

 

[rgchristy]

Welcome to RR!

I have a TRX-1 and it works great with our county's new P25 Phase 2 system, except when we're out and about. Sitting still, it works great. When we're out, I use my SDS scanners.

I also read a trick that someone posted quite a while ago, where you create a dummy site, so that you can adjust the Data Decode Thresholds.

WS1080: - Problems with new WS/FC P25 phase 2 audio,

I have been listening to this system on my Unication G5 with excellent results, but in the last couple of days I got around to adding that system to my Psr800 factory updated to a WS1080. The audio just seems to catch parts of words and syllables on that system. Any others that have tried that...

forums.radioreference.com

I tried it and it works very well. It doesn't 100% solve the simulcast distortion issue, but it is much better.

The other thing I learned with these simulcast systems, is that less antenna is more. I use either my Comet CH-32 or my Diamond RH3 antenna. I've heard of people using paper clips. Whatever works...

We can fiddle with this other stuff, once we get you rolling.

I'm assuming that you want to listen to this system:

Franklin County VHF Trunking System, Louisburg, North Carolina

Franklin County VHF Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

And everything but the Public Works talkgroup.

I put something together for you to try if you want. It's basically the Franklin County VHF system broken down into four scanlists and a fifth scanlist for the analog channels.



Two Scan Sets, one active for the county VHF system and another which you can activate if you wish, with the analog channels.



For the VHF system, I used the Library Import, "Preferred", "County", "Trunked Systems"

This way you can compare what I put together against yours and/or add my CDAT to your radio to try it out.

Please let us know how you make out and if you have any more questions, we're here for you.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

Thank you all for your suggestions and input.

rgchristy, I've got your zip file, but not sure how to import it. Please advise.

And for those asking, I'm in Youngsville, NC.

 

[tvengr]

I've got your zip file, but not sure how to import it. Please advise.

Go to the File tab of EZ Scan and click on Restore Configuration from Archive. Go to the Downloads folder and open the file. Answer Yes at the warring box to overwrite the existing configuration. Connect computer to scanner. Scanner should be off. Go to Scanner/SD Card tab and click on Copy Configuration To Scanner Memory/ SD Card. Answer Yes at the warning box to overwrite the scanner memory/SD card. Eject the scanner when completed. It takes a while. Go get yourself a sandwich while waiting. It goes a lot faster if you remove the SD card from your scanner and plug it into your computer.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

Thanks rgchristy and tvengr. I've loaded the provided configuration and will advise how it works out. I appreciate the assist!

 

[rgchristy]

Go to the File tab of EZ Scan and click on Restore Configuration from Archive. Go to the Downloads folder and open the file. Answer Yes at the warring box to overwrite the existing configuration. Connect computer to scanner. Scanner should be off. Go to Scanner/SD Card tab and click on Copy Configuration To Scanner Memory/ SD Card. Answer Yes at the warning box to overwrite the scanner memory/SD card. Eject the scanner when completed. It takes a while. Go get yourself a sandwich while waiting. It goes a lot faster if you remove the SD card from your scanner and plug it into your computer.

Whoops!

Sorry Grandpa

Thanks @tvengr !

I definitely put the cart before the horse on that one!

 

[bubbaearle]

You're pretty close to a repeater with another just past it. I think the simulcast distortion may overwhelm the radio. May attenuate the system to offset it. I think you'll have to play with the settings a bit.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

Based on comparison between scanlist I had configured and that received from rgchristy, looks like I was pretty close. However, it appears that my issue is reception. Old analog scanner is picking up signal fine, however, the TRX-1 doesn't see it. Also, I would expect more activity. It's mostly quiet. Any thoughts?

 

[bubbaearle]

What specifically is the analog scanner catching that the TRX-1 is missing???

What model is your old analog scanner?

What antenna(s) do you have on each radio?

Is the squelch set correctly on the TRX-1? Tune to a NOAA WX radio transmitter & set the squelch against that as a reference.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

Hi bubaearle. Primarily missing analog dispatch channel 154.145. And who knows what else as the TRX-1 is eerily quiet - hardly any transmissions coming through. Old (and I mean really old) scanner is a Bearcat BC178XLT. Both the TRX-1 and Bearcat have their originally supplied OEM antennas. And I have adjusted the squelch. I'm really at a loss...

 

[Nascar18]

Do you have the group turned on ? Scanlist and scanset must be active to receive .

 

[bubbaearle]

Since the old 178XLT doesn't see the tones for each frequency, why not delete the tones in the TRX-1 and set them to search to see if that changes things. You can store the tones on the fly if this opens up reception on those frequencies.

 

[hill]

Do you have the group turned on ? Scanlist and scanset must be active to receive .

Based on this post VHF frequencies aren't enabled see below. I guess he will receive them after enabling scan list 5.

Two Scan Sets, one active for the county VHF system and another which you can activate if you wish, with the analog channels.

 

[rgchristy]

Based on this post VHF frequencies aren't enabled see below. I guess he will receive them after enabling scan list 5.

I left Scan Set 02 disabled since he was already receiving them on his other scanner. Scanlist 5 is enabled.

I would definitely enable Scan Set 2 to compare the two scanners reception of the analog channels. When you activate Scan Set 2 you should start hearing 154.145 on the TRX-1.

154.145

WQNP780

RM

136.5 PL

FC-FIRE-PAGE

Fire Paging (Simulcast on TG 117)

Main Menu
Press down arrow to Scan Sets
Press SEL
You should see a check mark on the first one and a box on the second one.
Down arrow to the 2nd Scan Set
Press SEL
Now both should have check marks
Press left arrow
Press SEL for Scan

The squelch on my TRX-1 is usually set at the beginning of the solid white area.

Press the WX button like Captain Chaos said (sorry, I laugh every time that I see that picture), to make sure that VHF is working correctly.

If you don't hear 154.145, then I would delete the tone.

In EZ Scan:

Conventional Frequencies tab



Click on CT 136.5 and click on Search for this value



Click Done

If you start hearing the VHF Hi analog channels, then we can concentrate on the Franklin County TRS.

Please keep us posted.

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

I deleted the tone as recommended and it seems to have made a difference. Prior to deleting, I was receiving broken transmissions. But after deleting the tone, I am receiving complete transmissions. Being a complete noob to all of this, can one of you let me know what deleting the tone does and why it affects the reception? Again, I really appreciate all of the help!

 

[GrandpaRowdy]

rgchristy, to your last comment, I don't seem to be receiving Franklin Couny TRS transmissions. Thoughts?

 

[tvengr]

I don't seem to be receiving Franklin Couny TRS transmissions.

Under Site Options in EZ Scan, are Trunking Tables set to Auto Fill? Are you using these frequencies in the site?

RFSS	Site	Name	Freqs
10 (A)	010 (A)	Franklin Simulcast	151.1525c	151.220c	151.280c	151.4675	155.355c	155.430c

Depending upon your location, you may be experiencing simulcast distortion. A Motorola P_25 system will have a primary and up to 3 alternate control channels. Since this system shows 5 control channel capable frequencies, it may be a Harris system where any frequency can be used as the control channel. Make sure 151.4675 is included in your list.