Two questions not related , Channel 17 NAS and AEP control channel?

[scanthewaves]

First off the database lists AEP, but all the TGs in the Corpus area have a control channel that can not be deciphered, my guess is it’s DMR and I wouldn’t be able to hear it anyhow since I don’t have the upgrade, than I see more AEP frequencies, that are not on the same network. So can AEP be monitored in the Corpus area? Next question while monitoring NAS CC ATC I hear pilots say switching to channel 17, I’ve searched high and low online but no explanation what that channel is, anyone know? Thanks

 

[nd5y]

AEP is using P25 TDMA control channels in most areas, not DMR. I don't know if there are yet any scanner upgrades for that. Most people are using DSD+ fastlane to monitor that type of system.

Military aircraft radios have 20 or so programmable channels so the pilots don't have to enter all the digits for commonly used ATC frequencies. Military bases will have a list of local channel presets. Some air force bases have their local channel preset lists buried in publicly available documents on the AIr Force web site. I haven't tried to find any for the Navy so I don't know if they exist online.

 

[scanthewaves]

AEP is using P25 TDMA control channels in most areas, not DMR. I don't know if there are yet any scanner upgrades for that. Most people are using DSD+ fastlane to monitor that type of system.

Military aircraft radios have 20 or so programmable channels so the pilots don't have to enter all the digits for commonly used ATC frequencies. Military bases will have a list of local channel presets. Some air force bases have their local channel preset lists buried in publicly available documents on the AIr Force web site. I haven't tried to find any for the Navy so I don't know if they exist online.

I wasn’t sure if it was DMR, so it’s just a P25 system, it doesn’t seem there are any upgrades at this time available . So than all you need is a SDR running DSD+ than? So than the channel 17 isreference is to a common mil air frequency and should be easily found by either searching the mil air band or close call if close enough.

 

[rattlerbb01]

I wasn’t sure if it was DMR, so it’s just a P25 system, it doesn’t seem there are any upgrades at this time available . So than all you need is a SDR running DSD+ than? So than the channel 17 isreference is to a common mil air frequency and should be easily found by either searching the mil air band or close call if close enough.

For AEP, the most recent release of DSD Plus Fastlane is what I run and it allows me to follow voice and control channel data. No scanners can trunk track it yet, hopefully we get a firmware update for it from Uniden sometime this year. Others are also having success with OP25 which is a different program for the SDR. I’ve never tried that one.

 

[starwtc]

I am wanting to upgrade to a TDMA capable scanner (536) to listen to AEP, the only TDMA in our area but are you saying that it will not follow the trunking without using computer?
Also, my 996xt sees the control frequency but says it's an LTR system, wanted see SID to make sure I didn't need an outdoor antenna!

 

[nd5y]

The P25 TDMA CC standard was approved in 2017.
Scanner manufacturers (Whistler & Uniden) ignored it.

Sometime after 2017 it became available from radio manufacturers.
In the past year or so AEP and one or two other systems implemented it.
Scanner manufacturers still ignored it.

Your 996 is probably giving false decodes because it doesn't recognize the TDMA CC format.
Is the CC full quieting or weak and noisy? If you can receive the signal you probably don't need an outside antenna.

 

[mtindor]

I am wanting to upgrade to a TDMA capable scanner (536) to listen to AEP, the only TDMA in our area but are you saying that it will not follow the trunking without using computer?
Also, my 996xt sees the control frequency but says it's an LTR system, wanted see SID to make sure I didn't need an outdoor antenna!

The current TDMA-capable P25 scanners are capable of monitoring TDMA voice channels only. The AEP P25 system uses a TDMA control channel in your area, and the only scanner on the market currently that can handle TDMA control channels is the BlueTail Technologies P25RX2. So you could either look into the P25RX2 or you could use an SDR Dongle + DSDPlus Fast Lane (latest versions) to monitor AEP P25.

Mike

 

[starwtc]

CC is quiet so in other words I won't be able to listen to AEP with a 536.

 

[mtindor]

CC is quiet so in other words I won't be able to listen to AEP with a 536.

Correct, if the CC is a TDMA CC (most of Texas AEP P25 if not all Texas AEP P25 sites are TDMA CC), then you won't be able to monitor those TDMA CC sites with a scanner until a scanner manufacturer starts providing support for TDMA CCs.

 

[starwtc]

Sad, but thanks for the info. At least I learned how to make favorite lists and use scanner before I spent $ on a purchase that wouldn't have done anything more than i have.

 

[rattlerbb01]

The current TDMA-capable P25 scanners are capable of monitoring TDMA voice channels only. The AEP P25 system uses a TDMA control channel in your area, and the only scanner on the market currently that can handle TDMA control channels is the BlueTail Technologies P25RX2. So you could either look into the P25RX2 or you could use an SDR Dongle + DSDPlus Fast Lane (latest versions) to monitor AEP P25.

Mike

You know, I haven’t tried it yet but if you park on the CC with the 436 and a voice grant comes across will it recognize it and listen to the talkgroup? I should have tried this by now since the second time slot on the CC frequency is usually the first voice channel used, and only channel used when traffic is slow.

 

[mtindor]

You know, I haven’t tried it yet but if you park on the CC with the 436 and a voice grant comes across will it recognize it and listen to the talkgroup? I should have tried this by now since the second time slot on the CC frequency is usually the first voice channel used, and only channel used when traffic is slow.

I couldn't say. Never tried it. But I doubt it, considering it can't even recognize the TDMA CC sync. I understand what you are getting at. But I don't think you can even do that with PII voice freqs. If you program a PII voice freq into your scanner, I doubt you'll hear anything on either timeslot.

 

[ralexander5]

The current TDMA-capable P25 scanners are capable of monitoring TDMA voice channels only. The AEP P25 system uses a TDMA control channel in your area, and the only scanner on the market currently that can handle TDMA control channels is the BlueTail Technologies P25RX2. So you could either look into the P25RX2 or you could use an SDR Dongle + DSDPlus Fast Lane (latest versions) to monitor AEP P25.

I'm a little north of Corpus and monitor AEP with both the BTT P25RX and DSD Fast lane. I have tried putting in voice freqs into a couple of PII scanners with no results. There is very little traffic on AEP sites and I rarely see anything other than than the second slot of the control channel freq being used for voice.

I believe the designer of the P25RX is working to add scanner functionality so probably will be best available option. DSD Plus Fast Lane works okay but the voice quality is not as good and it seems to have a harder time maintaining sync on the TDMA Control Channels.

 

[nd5y]

On a normal P25 phase II system (without TDMA CC) If you park a BCD-396T on the control channel it will display active phase II TDMA talkgroups even though it can't receive them. I assume the XT and 996 models are the same way.

 

[rattlerbb01]

On a normal P25 phase II system (without TDMA CC) If you park a BCD-396T on the control channel it will display active phase II TDMA talkgroups even though it can't receive them. I assume the XT and 996 models are the same way.

I’ve seen that functionality, but I’m more curious if I just manually entered the CC for a TDMA site with the Channel-Frequency-Channel method on the 436 if the audio would unmute when voice is present on slot-2. It’s a cumbersome way to have to listen to a utility company but better than having an antenna, cord, laptop and charger all hooked up when mobile.

 

[scanthewaves]

AEP is using P25 TDMA control channels in most areas, not DMR. I don't know if there are yet any scanner upgrades for that. Most people are using DSD+ fastlane to monitor that type of system.

Military aircraft radios have 20 or so programmable channels so the pilots don't have to enter all the digits for commonly used ATC frequencies. Military bases will have a list of local channel presets. Some air force bases have their local channel preset lists buried in publicly available documents on the AIr Force web site. I haven't tried to find any for the Navy so I don't know if they exist online.

I forgot to mention last time I heard channel 17 mentioned was the pilot said they would be operating in the Mustang area most likely Mustang Island, could channel 17 be 122.000 Mustang Island Unicom? If I here em say it again I will tune to it and see if I hear em on it then most likely it is. On a different note, instead of starting a new thread I just thought I would ask here would you happen to know what the frequencies are to monitor for the Blackhawk and Coast Guard copters in the Corpus area? I’ve tried CCAD but haven’t picked up anything for the Blackhawk and once heard the CG Dolphin talking to NAS ATC. Thanks