[posting for a friend who lacks Usenet access]

Hi,

I have a few questions setting up and monitoring a Motorola digital
trunked radio systems on a Uniden BCD396XT.

Of particular interest is the Kennedy Space Center system. We are
planning to head down for the last few shuttle launches, and wanted to
be able to set the radio up ahead of time.

The first time we went down for the shuttle rollout, I had the system
programmed as a P25 system, While you could hear the data when in "hold"
mode (both control channel and fother data traffic), but never heard any
voice traffic. The screen displayed "ID Search", but no audio.

I've been told that I need to program this system in as a Motorola Type
2 SmartZone, rather than a P25 system. So, I have re-programmed the
system. I'm a little bit out of range from here to test this ahead of
time, but would like to make sure it's programmed right before we go.

Was hoping someone out there who has had success receiving this system
(or one like it) could give me a hand verifying that I have things
programmed correctly.

Here are my questions programming this system into the BCD396XT:

1. ID Search/Scan: which one should I select, 'search' or 'scan'?
(what is the difference between these two settings?)

2. What (if anything) do I need to enter into the "Fleet Map"?
It's currently set to "Custom".

3. Priority ID Scan is set to Off by default, is this correct for
receiving this system?

4. I read that you need to set the status bit to 'Yes' for the KSC
system. is this correct?

5. Set End Code: Should this be set to 'Analog+Digital' for the KSC system?
(it is set to 'Analog' by default)

6. Audio AGC: should this be set to 'Digital' for the KSC system?
(it is set to 'Analog' by default)

7. Under Enter Band Plan - Custom - Offset - Polarity, i have the
offset as 380 to match the values listed on several websites.
Do I leave the Polarity setting set to "+ Polarity"?

8. "Set Modulation" defaults to "Auto", can I leave this as is, or
do I need to specify NFM or FM mode?

9. As for the talkgroup tables, will the radio populate those from
the control channels, or do I need to enter them manually?

10. The RR site lists "System ID: 0A08" and "Connect Tone: 105.88".
Not sure if I need these or where they would go.

My sources for the system and frequency info a

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=808
http://home.roadrunner.com/~scanner/military.htm

I think that covers the programming questions. If you can think of
anything that I missed, or have other helpful hints on programming and
scanning this type of system, your help will be greatly appreciated.

Here is the specific system information as programmed into the radio:

Edit Sys Options:
- Set Number Tag: 000
- ID Scan/Search: ID Search (?)
- Set Delay Time: 2 secs
- Edit Fleet Map: Custom (?)
- Priority ID Scan: Off (?)
- Set Status Bit: [Yes] (was set to Ignore) (?)
- Set End Code: Analog (other options "analog+digital" and ignore) (?)
- Energency Alert: Alert Tone (off)
- Set ID Format: Decimal (or Hex)
- Rvw ID Srch L/O: Nothing Locked
- Clear All L/O IDs:
- Set Audio AGC: Analog (or Digital) (?)

Edit Site:
- Edit Name: Site 1 KSC
- Edit Quick Key: 1
- Edit Startup Key: 1
- Edit Band Plan: Custom
- Band Plan 1:
- Set Base Freq: Lower: 406.1 Upper: 410.8375 (?)
- Offset: 380 (?)
- Select Polarity: + Polarity (or '- Polarity') (?)
- Spacing: 12.50 khz (?)
- Set Frequencies: (see below for sites/frequencies)
- Set Modulation: Auto (or NFM, FM)
- Set Attenuator: Off (or On)
- Set Lockout: Unlocked (un-locked or lockout)
- Set Hold TIme: 0
- Set LocationInfo: Latitude, Latitude, Range and GPS Enable)
- P25 Waitime: 400 ms

Here is the information I found from the web on this system:

System Name: Patrick Air Force Base / Kennedy Space Center
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive

Base: Lower: 406.1 Upper: 410.8375 Spacing: 12.5 Offset: 380
System ID: 0A08 Connect Tone: 105.88

# 001 1 Kennedy Space Center
406.23750c 406.37500a 406.43750a 406.63750a 406.83750 407.03750
407.83750 408.03750 408.43750 408.63750 409.02500 409.63750

# 002 2 Shilo
406.17500a 409.42500c 409.63750a

# 003 3 Canaveral
406.56250c 406.96250a 407.76250a 408.16250a 408.56250
408.96250 409.36250 409.76250 410.16250 410.56250

# 004 4 Patrick Air Force Base
407.96250a 408.36250c 408.76250a 409.16250a
409.56250 409.96250 410.36250 410.76250

# 005 5 Malabar
406.36250a 406.76250a 407.16250a

Thanks!

Eric


--
Jordan.

If From: domain is munged, please de-phoneticize to [a-z][a-z][0-9][0-9].net

HumBug! wrote:
5. Set End Code: Should this be set to 'Analog+Digital' for the KSC
system? (it is set to 'Analog' by default)

If it's an analog system, leave it at the default.

(from the RR page for this system)
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Does this mean the system is a full digital system, or a mixed
analog/digital system?

6. Audio AGC: should this be set to 'Digital' for the KSC system?
(it is set to 'Analog' by default)

Only set to digital if it's a digital system.

7. Under Enter Band Plan - Custom - Offset - Polarity, i have the
offset as 380 to match the values listed on several websites.
Do I leave the Polarity setting set to "+ Polarity"?

No bandplan settings unless they are different than normal.
Radioreference.com will mention if that's needed.

The websites both specify the band plan settings as:
Lower: 406.1, Upper: 410.8375, spacing: 12.5 and Offset: 380
Since the radio gives "800/900 Standard", "800 Splinter" and "Custom", I
selected "Custom" and entered the settings from the websites.

9. As for the talkgroup tables, will the radio populate those from
the control channels, or do I need to enter them manually?

Talkgroups are not frequencies.

I understand. Under Program System, there is an option "Edit Group",
which is currently empty. Do I need to put anything in there, or will
the radio figure that out.

Thanks for the help!
--
Jordan.

If From: domain is munged, please de-phoneticize to [a-z][a-z][0-9][0-9].net