WCN (P25) Network and BCD996P2 setup

[AA0PB]

Howdy, Has anyone got a BCD996P2 to work on the new WCN (P25) Network?

I am in Cornelius and only added the sites that are in my area, and I am still getting a Finding Control Channel message.
I tried the 20dB attenuation setting, and only setting up the WCSO Hillsboro site and the simulcast B site (under different system setups).
I do have an external omni antenna with a splitter to feed 4 scanners.
I don't really want to spend $600+ on a new scanner.
It all worked on the old system, thanks for any input.

Scanner: BCD996P2
Ant: Tram 1410 Scanner 25MHz–1,300MHz VHF/UHF Super Discone Base Antenna
Receiver Multicoupler: MCA204M (active multicoupler) from Stridsberg Eng.

 

[ChrisP]

I'm in Aloha and had little to no luck with my 996P2 on the WCN system.
Driving around town it would be hit or miss on hearing any traffic.
This new system is a different animal that the old Motorola system.
Having an outside antenna makes it somewhat worse as you are picking up more of the simulcast sites that are transmitting on the same frequencies. You might try something small and on the radio itself and see what happens.
I finally broke down and bought an SDS scanner and have no problems.

- Chris

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

You can certainly try these Multipath Mitigation for Scanners methods but they likely won't do you nearly as good as picking up an SDS100 or SDS200

 

[tvengr]

I am in Cornelius and only added the sites that are in my area, and I am still getting a Finding Control Channel message.

Are you able to get a control channel using this site?

0 (0)

013 (D)

WCSO Hillsboro

Washington

851.9125

858.3625

858.8375

859.3625c

I suspect that 859.3625 is not the only control channel capable frequency. Enter all 4 frequencies to be safe.

 

[radiotweester]

I don't own/use that model, but delete the "WCSO Hillsboro" and from your location Simulcast A or B is what you want. The Hillsboro site is an affiliate only fill in and was just being used for the Jail and Court TGs last time I looked. I can't say if B will be better as it just depends if you have a clear RF path to Bald Peak. Remember that all LE is encrypted, but there's fire, LUT, schools, CWS and a few other users. 73s
edit - *I'd remove the multicoupler and go direct due to insertion loss. What coax are you running, RG8 - LMR400 or larger? While discones are great, you've got 0db gain and a WIDE front end on the scanner. I'd consider an 800 yagi pointed toward a site. Even a used ebay yagi with a couple elements you'll have directional gain.

 

[radiotweester]

I was curious and went looking for a performance graph on the Stridsberg MCA204M Multicoupler, but only found a test on eham
At best -4db with the splitter and 50' of LMR400 and discone. If you're interested, you might be able to receive PD & FD training on Walnut is being done on Simplex 1-4 FM.

MCA204M Frequency Gain or Loss
25 MHz +1.1 db
50 +0.6
101 +1.6
201 +0.5
301 +1.1
401 +0.9
501 +0.4
601 +0.4
701 -0.2
801 -0.2
901 -1.7
990 MHz -2.8 dB

 

[AA0PB]

Are you able to get a control channel using this site?

0 (0)

013 (D)

WCSO Hillsboro

Washington

851.9125

858.3625

858.8375

859.3625c

I suspect that 859.3625 is not the only control channel capable frequency. Enter all 4 frequencies to be safe.

That was the first one I tried.

 

[Fielder3]

Is Clackamas County and Washington County fully on the WCN (P25) Network now? From Keizer, I the following sites programmed: Goat, Clackamas C tower and Washington County B tower. These three seem to have the best foot print into North/Central Marion County. I listen to Fire only and haven't heard a word. (using Uniden BCD996P2 with a Telescopic back of set antenna.) Maybe time to move the radio to the garage where I have a Discone on the roof!

 

[safetypro79]

I would doubt I can receive anything on these sites ?

on my SDS-100 using a Remtronix REM-842S antenna as I’m on the NW side of Salem adjacent to 22?

 

[Fielder3]

You have the West Salem hills blocking you a bit. My roof antenna over the garage should give me a few bars

 

[safetypro79]

Yes, unfortunately that's true. I suspect I’ll just have to be content with Salem, Marion, Polk counties and Yamhill. Occasionally Lincoln county.

 

[alwayslistening]

If you are interested in WCN radio traffic for the more populated parts of Washington County, you should monitor Simulcast A, which is the east zone. All other zones will only carry talk groups on an as-needed basis when radios affiliate with those other non-A/non-east zones.

I live less than a mile from one of the east zone simulcast sites and I personally haven't had good reception with a '996P2 on WCN although a friend of mine does pretty well. He lives near one of the simulcast sights and uses a corner reflector to combat simulcast phase distortion. I use an SDS100 which works really well. For non-mobile reception, I use OP25 running on Ubuntu. This works very well and only requires an RTL-SDR USB dongle. Generally speaking, a non-IQ receiver might work if you are successful using a directional antenna and perhaps some attenuation, all in the name of restricting the bulk of your signal to a single simulcast site. 800 MHz yogi antennas are available on Amazon. It really depends where you are relative to the constellation of simulcast sites.

 

[tvengr]

I don't really want to spend $600+ on a new scanner.
It all worked on the old system, thanks for any input.

In the scanner menu, try adjusting the P25 Threshold. That can make a big difference. Try all of the levels to find which one gives the best digital decode.

 

[icom1020]

I'm in keizer today and Wash A and B working great. Unication G4