Custom Trunking Tables in PPS for Philadelphia

[radio3353]

I have this system (Philadelphia, PA) programmed in my G4, but it is not seeing the system, just keeps searching for a control channel even when I am in the city. Eventually I get an "out of range" message even though I am in the city at the time. As much as I look I have not found any mistakes in my programming. I have only site 3 (Zone 1 simulcast) programmed with talkgroups 237 and 239.

Philadelphia Trunking System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Scanner Frequencies

The info in the RR database shows a custom trunking table for this system. Is that applicable to the G4's programming? I do not see any place in PPS to enter it.

When I had this system programmed in my Radio Shack Pro-106 it worked (but with terrible simulcast distortion). I used WIN500 for programming which does have a section for entering a custom trunking table.

I'm stumped. Thanks for your help.

 

[jcardani]

I don't own a G4 but I have heard that you must enter the site info including the NACs correctly.

I have this system (Philadelphia, PA) programmed in my G4, but it is not seeing the system, just keeps searching for a control channel even when I am in the city. Eventually I get an "out of range" message even though I am in the city at the time. As much as I look I have not found any mistakes in my programming. I have only site 3 (Zone 1 simulcast) programmed with talkgroups 237 and 239.

Philadelphia Trunking System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Scanner Frequencies

The info in the RR database shows a custom trunking table for this system. Is that applicable to the G4's programming? I do not see any place in PPS to enter it.

When I had this system programmed in my Radio Shack Pro-106 it worked (but with terrible simulcast distortion). I used WIN500 for programming which does have a section for entering a custom trunking table.

I'm stumped. Thanks for your help.

 

[KevinC]

I would suspect either the RFSS or site number info is incorrect in the RR database.

Maybe try wildcards for those (all F's).

 

[radio3353]

I would suspect either the RFSS or site number info is incorrect in the RR database.

Maybe try wildcards for those (all F's).

Thanks, Kevin. I will try that. I won't be in the city again until Sunday so I will report my results then.

 

[troymail]

I've monitored the system in the past with a G4 using data directly from the RRDB (no custom tables or anything else special -- not even sure how you'd enter custom tables into the PPS).

As Kevin said - typically, if you are in range but the radio is reporting out of range, it's usually in the system parms in your config (WACN, SysId, RFSS, site, etc.). If you've verified that they are correct, try the wildcards:

WACN: FFFFF
SysID: FFF
RFSS: FF
Site: FF

Assuming that works, use the toggle switch (down) and see what the radio reports that values really are...

 

[jcardani]

System ID: 3B2
WACN: BEE00
RFSS: 1
Site 3 (System A - Fire/Municipal) NAC: 3B3
Site 4 (System B - Police) NAC: 3B4

 

[troymail]

System ID: 3B2
WACN: BEE00
RFSS: 1
Site 3 (System A - Fire/Municipal)
Site 4 (System B - Police)

If I had to guess what might be entered incorrectly in the PPS, I'd suspect the System ID

System ID: 3B2

Make sure it's entered as "B" and not "8".

NACs don't matter (here).

 

[jcardani]

Not sure if this may also be an issue but make sure all 4 control channel frequencies per site are entered. They do occasionally rotate.

BTW, The parameters I posted above work perfectly in my Harris XG-75P

 

[radio3353]

After some experimentation, I have found the problem...

The RR database is incorrect regarding the Zone 1 Site number. It should be Site 4 just like Zone 2, not Site 3.

Recall from my original post that I only had Zone 1 programmed with two FD talkgroups. I programmed the freqs. for Zone 2 and added a few PD talkgroups. When I entered FF for the RFSS and Site for Zones 1 and 2 everything worked. For fun I reversed the Site numbers for Zones 1 and 2 thinking they may have been transposed in the DB. No joy. Next, I made both zones Site 4 and both zones are now receiving fine. I will notify the PA DB administrator so the DB can be corrected.

Thanks everybody.

 

[IAmSixNine]

That doesnt make sense to me.
So your saying Both zones are RFSS 1 and Site 4, even they are operating as different sites?

 

[radio3353]

That doesnt make sense to me.
So your saying Both zones are RFSS 1 and Site 4, even they are operating as different sites?

Yes. As I described it that is what is working for me on my G4. Keep in mind that the two zones use two different sets of control channel frequencies.

Interestingly enough, the DB administrator rejected my report saying the database is correct.

Oh well. It is working for me and that is what matters. I don't know what else to say, but I am open to any suggestions or corrections.

 

[troymail]

Yes. As I described it that is what is working for me on my G4. Keep in mind that the two zones use two different sets of control channel frequencies.

Interestingly enough, the DB administrator rejected my report saying the database is correct.

Oh well. It is working for me and that is what matters. I don't know what else to say, but I am open to any suggestions or corrections.

I just sent you a PM....

 

[radio3353]

I just sent you a PM....

Email sent.