Virginia State Police

[John]

I was able to make some progress. I switched from only using the Ft Lewis (local) site to using the Cumberland site. I have all the other sites on Avoid. Now it is picking up in ID Scan like it should though it still misses some transmissions.

The Cumberland site has some of the same frequencies as Ft Lewis. In particular they both have 152.5475 which is in fact the current frequency that Ft Lewis is transmitting on. I am sure I am not actually receiving Cumberland since it is too far away and I am showing full strength on the signal meter.

My theory, though unconfirmed, is that the one of the other frequencies programmed in the Ft Lewis site from the database is actually picking up some kind of signal which is stopping the scanner from actually hearing the control channel.

The database has the following for Ft Lewis:

152.5475
151.3475
154.3775
152.6525
159.1500
159.4050

When the only ones that should really be in there are 152.5475 and 159.1500. Those are the only two that should ever be control channels.

I haven't reprogrammed yet with just those two in the Ft Lewis site but at least I have made some progress. It is not a bug in the radio itself but probably an error in the database.

John

 

[Dafe1er]

Export it to a *.HPE file, say 'Stars.hpe' (without the quotes, of course). Obviously, you can use whatever name you wanted, just pulled that for an example.

Then, to upload, rename it Stars.hpe.txt. The forums will accept it with the txt extension added. Then, whoever downloads it, either "saves as" 'Stars.hpe', or saves it with the uploaded name, then renames the downloaded copy to strip away the extra "txt" extension.

You can also use the free file utility 7-Zip to compress the file into a zip file, which is also an allowed file extension. Whoever downloads that can choose "open with" with a right-click, and then select Windows Explorer, to extract the *.hpe file inside the zipped version.

Thank you hiegtx!

John, try following hiegtx's instructions on how to open this on your end and see if you can bring in my list at all.

 

[DogT]

I'm getting STARS fine on my 996XT and I don't know what I'm doing. I could get a bit of it right out of the box, but I used the RR/Freescan to download the state with Fauquier County, so now I've got Fauquier/Culpeper/Rap, Prince William LTR (locked out), and Virginia Stars which has 10 "(P25S) Virginia STARS (44)" listings, one (GRP) Virginia STARS (1) and then (P25S) VirginiaStatewid with a bunch of P25S GRP and the sites like Dumfries, FX, Fork Mt, Hogback, Ind Hill. I'm getting all the sites 5 bars except Alex which is only 2. Using a Larsen VHF/UHF mounted on the chimney cap and it seems to get the Fauquier county 800 stuff just fine too.

Dave

 

[JamesO]

I may have to give STARS another try, not sure if it is my location, antenna or a mix of this along with programming/pilot error.

First attempts were with the HP1, 996xt and the pre programmed info which may be way out of date? and now with the 536HP.

So far NOTHING on any of these radios.

Might have to block out some time, read over this thread a few times and even dig out one of my old analog scanners to verify signal availability and then keep forging forward.

I think I am at least partially encouraged that some folks have been a been to get STARS working.

Luckily Fairfax County Police has a patch for VASP Div 7 so this is what I have been listening to for the time being

 

[DogT]

I downloaded the STARS and Virginia Statewide stuff just the other day and it seems to work on my 996XT. Do you have the latest firmware in your 996? Mine came with the latest, I just got it a few days ago.

 

[JamesO]

Yes, latest firmware on the scanner.

I will play around a bit with a new load and see what happens.

 

[WB4EOT]

Hum. Interesting post about newer Uniden scanners. I ran Pro96Com on Ft Lewis yesterday.

Pro960Com shows Ft Lewis frequencies to be 152.5475 and 151.1825 for primary and alternate control channels.

Joe
WB4EOT
Roanoke

"03-2073","a",151.18250,"03-3601",155.00250,1,0
"03-2139","vd",151.34750,"03-3481",154.70250,1,35
"03-2151","vd",151.37750,"03-3841",155.60250,1,33
"03-2619","c",152.54750,"04-0723",157.80750,1,0
"03-2661","vd",152.65250,"04-0765",157.91250,1,39
"03-2712","i",152.78000,"03-2712",153.68000,0,4
"04-1260","vd",159.15000,"03-3499",154.74750,1,31
"04-1362","vdi",159.40500,"03-3475",154.68750,1,34

 

[John]

OK, for those discussing other scanners (i.e. 996) they have always worked fine for me. I have a 396, 996, PRO-106, GRE PSR-500 and 4 GRE PSR-600s all working fine on STARS. I even have a PRO-2096 running STARS just fine. All of them are picking up the system here with no problems.

The 436 is a completely different story. I thought I had the problem figured out last night and reprogrammed to remove all but the correct control channels for the local site (Ft Lewis) and it worked. It ran fine for several hours until I turned it off to charge the batteries. Then all day today absolutely nothing! Just signal strength and LNK on the display but absolutely no voice comms decoded. All other radios still worked fine just not this new Uniden.

Now about 30 minutes ago it just started working again. I was turned on and not working for about an hour hooked up to an outside antenna scanning the whole statewide system (all sites) and nothing until suddenly it started talking. Now it is working even with the rubber duck antenna and just on the local site. Nothing in the radio changed.

Almost 12 hours or nothing and then it suddenly starts working.......

I do think the Uniden database is wrong. If the scanner works like all the others then the only frequencies listed for each site should be the primary and alternate control channels. The actual voice channels should be decoded from the control channel data. However as it is listed now the HPDB shows both the voice and control channels for each site. This can cause inefficient scanning because the scanner will have to sample each channel looking for data.

John

 

[phask]

Sounds like you are missing a control channel.

"s for each site. This can cause inefficient scanning because the scanner will have to sample each channel looking for data." Makes no issue - it's in there in case the system goes down and goes into fail safe.

delete it if you want to.

This entire thread needs to move too the VA forum.

 

[ofd8001]

That's definitely wild - things are working, they stop working, then start working again. I'd be putting my money that the scanner is working correctly and the problem is the system itself. They could have another channel being used as a control channel that isn't in the database, or a site could have gone off the air for some reason.

 

[John]

It is not a change in the control channel. If you will recall I said that several other scanners are still receiving the site and system fine. I am also monitoring the system using Pro86Com and the control channel has not changed. The only thing that changed is the 436s ability to understand it.

John

That's definitely wild - things are working, they stop working, then start working again. I'd be putting my money that the scanner is working correctly and the problem is the system itself. They could have another channel being used as a control channel that isn't in the database, or a site could have gone off the air for some reason.

 

[LIScanner101]

That's definitely wild - things are working, they stop working, then start working again. I'd be putting my money that the scanner is working correctly and the problem is the system itself. They could have another channel being used as a control channel that isn't in the database, or a site could have gone off the air for some reason.

People,

Please PAY ATTENTION TO THE OP.

He has said REPEATEDLY that his other scanners are working fine.

This rules out a system issue.

 

[phask]

People,

Please PAY ATTENTION TO THE OP.

He has said REPEATEDLY that his other scanners are working fine.

This rules out a system issue.

BUT it does not rule out a programing error - there has been so much said, mis-understood and confusion that it would be easy to not have a control channel , site, etc. programmed. Wrong site, right freq. etc.

 

[JamesO]

Update.

After playing around with a number of different scanners, I was finally able to get my PRO96/PRO2096 working on STARS.

Turns out was a combination of antenna, location and programming.

Apparently where I am located and how my house is constructed 150-160 MHz is a challenge.

I then moved onto my 996xt and 396xt.

996xt where it is currently located and set up, no STARS.

396xt with a different antenna and different locations inside the house, I could get STARS in some sweet spots.

Even walked out in the middle of the cul-de-sac and had some issues with STARS even on the PRO96.

So I plan on driving around some today with the 396xt and see how STARS functions once outside of the house.

I have an attic antenna that is pretty good that I have to get reworked and the cabling routed to one of my current listening locations and hopefully this along with proper programming will allow better, more consistent STARS monitoring.

Anyone that can monitor STARS from inside the house, more power to you. Must be in a lucky location, mine appears to be a challenge?

 

[redburgundy]

Anyone that can monitor STARS from inside the house, more power to you. Must be in a lucky location, mine appears to be a challenge?

As i indicated earlier in this thread, I'm in Rockville MD, on the second floor of my house.
On my GRE PSR-500 I'm receiving Culpeper 2 TG 19 and Fairfax 2 TG 67 both OK.
I don't know which transmitter site(s) I'm hearing.

 

[RF23]

As i indicated earlier in this thread, I'm in Rockville MD, on the second floor of my house.
On my GRE PSR-500 I'm receiving Culpeper 2 TG 19 and Fairfax 2 TG 67 both OK.
I don't know which transmitter site(s) I'm hearing.

You might copy down which transmitter site(s) frequencies you have programmed in to your GRE PSR-500 and go to the RR Database and look them up. This hopefully will let you know what direction they are from you and how far way they are. In addition, if you click on the location of the tower site (underlined and in blue) it will show you a map of the expected coverage area of that site. If you are very far outside the expected coverage area of a tower site you probably are not picking up that tower site.

Might help find some more sweet spots.

Hope this helps.

 

[JamesO]

As i indicated earlier in this thread, I'm in Rockville MD, on the second floor of my house.
On my GRE PSR-500 I'm receiving Culpeper 2 TG 19 and Fairfax 2 TG 67 both OK.
I don't know which transmitter site(s) I'm hearing.

If was your specific indication that you were in Rockville and getting STARS working that gave me some more hope. Many of the other forum members are much further outside of the DC area.

I seem to be able to get the Fairfax tower and Arlington is weak, have not tried Culpeper, I do not think I have a chance with Culpeper?? I know some areas of Rockville/Mont County are up high, used to live out there, so you may have better elevation then me. I am currently kind of in a hole, not ideal for monitoring in the house, plus the house was build with the foil covered foam insulating board, so this really blocks a lot of RF from penetrating the house easily.

 

[Dafe1er]

If was your specific indication that you were in Rockville and getting STARS working that gave me some more hope. Many of the other forum members are much further outside of the DC area.

I seem to be able to get the Fairfax tower and Arlington is weak, have not tried Culpeper, I do not think I have a chance with Culpeper?? I know some areas of Rockville/Mont County are up high, used to live out there, so you may have better elevation then me. I am currently kind of in a hole, not ideal for monitoring in the house, plus the house was build with the foil covered foam insulating board, so this really blocks a lot of RF from penetrating the house easily.

I ordered my 436 this morning and will have it tomorrow afternoon.

This is when I will program it and see what is what with STARS.

I am 213 miles from John.
I am 68 miles from redburgundy.
I am 57 miles from JamesO.
I am about 35 miles from the town of Culpeper.

With this said, I am the closet to the towers and getting Culpeper, Richmond and Fairfax on my HP-1 with minor antenna issues. If the 436 does not work at my location then there might need to be something else looked at. What that is I could not tell you.

So, tomorrow we shall see.

 

[n4yek]

The 436 is a completely different story. I thought I had the problem figured out last night and reprogrammed to remove all but the correct control channels for the local site (Ft Lewis) and it worked. It ran fine for several hours until I turned it off to charge the batteries. Then all day today absolutely nothing! Just signal strength and LNK on the display but absolutely no voice comms decoded. All other radios still worked fine just not this new Uniden.

Now about 30 minutes ago it just started working again. I was turned on and not working for about an hour hooked up to an outside antenna scanning the whole statewide system (all sites) and nothing until suddenly it started talking. Now it is working even with the rubber duck antenna and just on the local site. Nothing in the radio changed.

Almost 12 hours or nothing and then it suddenly starts working.......

John

Just a thought, would the scanner be losing the band plan sent from the transmitter? If it is, then the scanner would go silent until it received them again.
I seem to recall reading about another scanner doing this somewhere on the forums.

update = found the thread i was talking about:
http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-scanners/281325-396xt-996xt-dropping-custom-bandplans.html
UPMAN even explains a little about P25 Bandplans in that thread, see post# 8

 

[JamesO]

I ordered my 436 this morning and will have it tomorrow afternoon.

This is when I will program it and see what is what with STARS.

I am 213 miles from John.
I am 68 miles from redburgundy.
I am 57 miles from JamesO.
I am about 35 miles from the town of Culpeper.

With this said, I am the closet to the towers and getting Culpeper, Richmond and Fairfax on my HP-1 with minor antenna issues. If the 436 does not work at my location then there might need to be something else looked at. What that is I could not tell you.

So, tomorrow we shall see.

For what is is worth, I will not have time to play with the 536HP and STARS for a few days. Burnt my time with the PRO96/2096 and finally dumped the programming into the 396xt/996xt.

I was able to take the 396xt out in the car for a bit this afternoon. Seems that coverage on the VA Beltway was pretty good. I was even able to drop back to my 800 MHz Radio Shack rubber duck.

Otherwise I was using a Diamond RH77A 144/440 MHz/All band receive antenna.

Seems at least from where I am located the STARS system is very touchy as far as signal level and portable scanning.

Seems that there is a trade off on the antenna if you need to monitor 800 MHz trunked systems and STARS.

Also not sure how sensitive these radios are in the 150-160 MHz range.

Another thing I found interesting is it looked like the radio had a hard time locking on the control channel if the radio was also scanning the alternate channels. I have not verified this, but I am thinking I may lock out all but the control channel and see how things work with a single frequency.

I need to get my attic antenna back in business and also get my AR5000 with my SDU set up to actually start looking at spectrum adjacent signals.