Unitrunker / BCD396XT / EDACS Standard- Low Decode Health

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fyerman01

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Hopefully someone can help a newbie here.... I am trying to decode an EDACS Standard digital system in my local area. I am running Unitrunker connected to a BCD396XT through the serial port with a Uniden USB cable. I have the BAUD rate set to 115200 on both ends. Scanner has EDACS system programmed in and is holding on the control channel with C-CH Output set to On. Scanner also shows a full signal bar on the screen but Unitrunker is showing the health rate holding between 37-40. Any ideas what I can to do improve the health rate? Thanks in advance!!!
 

SCPD

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trying to decode an EDACS Standard digital system in my local area. I am running Unitrunker connected to a BCD396XT through the serial port with a Uniden USB cable. I have the BAUD rate set to 115200 on both ends. Scanner has EDACS system programmed in and is holding on the control channel with C-CH Output set to On. Scanner also shows a full signal bar on the screen but Unitrunker is showing the health rate holding between 37-40. Any ideas what I can to do improve the health rate? Thanks in advance!!!
Which system are you monitoring?
What version of Unitrunker are you running?
You can click the "?" tool button to see the version.
 

fyerman01

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Covington, Louisiana
I am trying to monitor the St Tammany EDACS network in St Tammany Parish, Louisiana. I am using the latest version of Unitrunker, I believe it is 1.24 but I am away from my computer at the moment. Thanks
 

fyerman01

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Covington, Louisiana
I'm really excited about working on this. I just bought a Pro-96 off of eBay so as soon as it comes in, hopefully I can get all of the channels mapped to the LCN's and then start scanning!
 

KE5TLF

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Being a 5 site simulcast your problem could quite possibly be multi-path distortion. Strong signal level does not necessarrily equal strong decode level in such a situation.

The system as it is now is pretty much correct. Though the admin chose to leave unconfirmed LCN's in amongst the confirmed ones contrary to what he was told.

Here's exactly what I've logged during 2 separate sessions consisting of probably 3-4 hours total time logging.
1 851.0500
3 851.6125
5 852.2250
6 852.7000
7 852.9625d
8 853.4625
9 853.8125
10 854.1125
11 854.4375

Only active TG's I saw were all digital so unless you're planning on running DSD it's pretty much a moot point anyway.
Here's my TG findings regardless

No hits logged on these groups so no idea if D or A. (even after stating this the admin marked them as analog anyway.)
356 02-124 Animal Ctrl Animal Control Public Works
1057 08-041 DPW 1 Public Works 1 Public Works
1058 08-042 DPW 2 Public Works 2 Public Works
1059 08-043 DPW 3 Public Works 3 Public Works
1060 08-044 DPW 4 Public Works 4 Public Works

Totally missed marking this one Digital
1323 10-053 D Unk 1323 Unid Patch to outside agency Interop

Unlisted and unknown TG's found
295 D Unk 295 D Unknown Digital TG 295
422 D Unk 422 D Unknown Digital TG 422
545 D Unk 545 D Unknown Digital TG 545
577 D Unk 577 D Unknown Digital TG 577
609 D Unk 609 D Unknown Digital TG 609
982 D Unk 982 D Unknown Digital TG 982
1318 D Unk 1318 D Unknown Digital TG 1318
 
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fyerman01

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Covington, Louisiana
Yes, I'm planning on running DSD. I know what the frequencies are and for the most part I can pick out what each talk group is by reading the radio id's and knowing how they are numbered. Correct me if I'm wrong but if all of the LCN'S are not correct then it will not scan correctly right? Also, the wrong control frequency is listed but I don't know how often, or of it changes.
 

SCPD

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I am trying to monitor the St Tammany EDACS network in St Tammany Parish, Louisiana. I am using the latest version of Unitrunker, I believe it is 1.24 but I am away from my computer at the moment. Thanks
That release came from the "preview" folder. It's not an official release. Coincidentally, you likely picked up the version where XT model decoding is broken. My apologies for the confusion.

Please uninstall and install release 23 in the regular download folder of the Unitrunker website.
 

KE5TLF

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Yes, ALL LCN's must be in the correct order for it to scan 100% correctly. That CC is most certainly correct too as it is the one I logged on both occasions. Doesn't mean there aren't others used in rotation though, so as you find those be sure to submit them too. Be sure to mark them all in UT as you find them too to keep it from creating "Limbo" systems.

For a "noob" sounds to me like you've got a pretty good grasp on things. :) Seems your biggest problem is going to be figuring out what to do to get rid of the intermingling signals from multiple towers that I bet are what's knocking you decoding rate down so bad.
 

fyerman01

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Location
Covington, Louisiana
I've been doing ALOT of reading since I got my 396 in a few days ago. I used to be in the fire service and when I first started there I had a scanner but that was ten+ years ago on VHF and I couldn't even tell you what type of scanner it was lol.

As far as the control channel goes, could it be different for different towers? According to the database it is 852.96250. I get nothing there but if I park on 854.11250 I get the steady digital sound and the feed starts running in Unitrunker.
 

KE5TLF

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Just a newly discovered CC in the rotation. Chances are about equal there will or will not be others in the rotation as well. I suspect the site number is still 14, yes?
 

fyerman01

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Messages
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Location
Covington, Louisiana
Being a 5 site simulcast your problem could quite possibly be multi-path distortion. Strong signal level does not necessarrily equal strong decode level in such a situation.

The system as it is now is pretty much correct. Though the admin chose to leave unconfirmed LCN's in amongst the confirmed ones contrary to what he was told.

Here's exactly what I've logged during 2 separate sessions consisting of probably 3-4 hours total time logging.
1 851.0500
3 851.6125
5 852.2250
6 852.7000
7 852.9625d
8 853.4625
9 853.8125
10 854.1125
11 854.4375

Only active TG's I saw were all digital so unless you're planning on running DSD it's pretty much a moot point anyway.
Here's my TG findings regardless

No hits logged on these groups so no idea if D or A. (even after stating this the admin marked them as analog anyway.)
356 02-124 Animal Ctrl Animal Control Public Works
1057 08-041 DPW 1 Public Works 1 Public Works
1058 08-042 DPW 2 Public Works 2 Public Works
1059 08-043 DPW 3 Public Works 3 Public Works
1060 08-044 DPW 4 Public Works 4 Public Works

Totally missed marking this one Digital
1323 10-053 D Unk 1323 Unid Patch to outside agency Interop

Unlisted and unknown TG's found
295 D Unk 295 D Unknown Digital TG 295
422 D Unk 422 D Unknown Digital TG 422
545 D Unk 545 D Unknown Digital TG 545
577 D Unk 577 D Unknown Digital TG 577
609 D Unk 609 D Unknown Digital TG 609
982 D Unk 982 D Unknown Digital TG 982
1318 D Unk 1318 D Unknown Digital TG 1318

Out of curiosity, how did you find the names of all of those talk groups? I am at a loss for that part...
 

KE5TLF

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2005
Messages
1,559
Location
MS Gulf Coast
Ah, no. They were there long before I took notice of them. Had some good ducting from over that way, as happens more than you might think, found the active CC while searching the 800 band, and started the process of trying to improve the accuracy of the listed information. Which seemed to be sorely needed at the time. Quite the coincidence, and good fortune, you also took up this task at nearly the same time :)

You're in a much better position to take up the task, so now I'll pass the torch to you, so to speak. Glad to help with anything you may need help with though, either here or in PM if you like :)
 
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