talkgroup assignments, but are hearing odd car-car communications on a new talkgroup. Now that you have upgraded your radio to the latest
firmware you can see the Unit ID's and see that the cars talking have Unit IDs of 214 and 251. It is safe to assume then that the talkgroup is
likely a Police Car to Car assignment.
To upgrade the firmware on your scanner you need to download the actual firmware itself as well as the firmware updater program. Both are
free downloads from the above web address at Uniden. You will need a Windows computer and the Uniden serial cable or USB-1 cable
(available from ScannerMaster).
When you download the updater program install it following the instructions. After downloading the firmware update note that it comes as a
".zip" compressed archive. You must remember to extract the ".scn" file from the Zip file FIRST! This is the most common cause of firmware
updates not working! After extracting the archive remember where on the computer you put it (it doesn't really matter where you put it, just be
able to find it!). Run the Updater program and follow the instructions, browse to the .scn file (Not the zip file!) and install the update.
The Unit ID feature is a neat feature, but if you get distracted by the various numbers you might want to turn it off. You may also note that
some transmissions do not show up with a Unit ID. If you don't happen to be on channel at the very beginning of the conversation or if the
signal drops for an instance during the ID portion of the transmission then the ID won't appear.
Multi-Site trunking support
Networked trunking systems use the same talkgroups at a number of trunking sites that use different frequencies. Multi-Site allows you to set
up these systems with an additional layer within a System called "Sites". This allows you to share a single set of talkgroups among many Sites
instead of having to have each Site programmed as a System like older radios. Since the Talkgroups are the same across the entire Networked
System this saves you from having to duplicate the Talkgroup list.
Combine this with the GPS feature and you can use the scanner all over the area and never have to touch it, just let the radio turn Sites on and
off as you approach them or leave the area.
Motorola's version of Networked trunking is called SmartZone and there is even a version of SmartZone called OmniLink. SmartZone takes
several or many trunking sites and connects them so that users can roam around an area larger than what could be covered by a single site.
OmniLink takes this one step further and extends the reach to an even larger area. The BCT15X handles Networked Trunking in the Motorola
or EDACS modes. When programming these systems you program the talkgroup list once for the System and then the frequencies for each
individual Site.
Simulcast Trunking Sites
Motorola and EDACS trunking systems can have Simulcast Sites, set up either as a Single Site Simulcast or as a Networked system with
simulcast sites. Some networked systems use a combination of simulcast and single sites. Some systems have simulcast sites in the larger metro
areas and in more rural areas are mostly single sites. A Simulcast Site has from 2 to 16 towers, each tower has exactly the same frequencies
assigned to it and every bit of data and voice message is sent on the same frequency from each tower.
When programming Simulcast sites treat it the same as you would a single Site. Since all the frequencies are the same, you only need to fill
them in once.
Rebanding
Due to issues with interference from Nextel services, whose frequencies are scattered among the same ranges as some 800 MHz. systems the
800 MHz. band is being "Rebanded". In other words, frequencies are being rearranged so that Nextel services are being assigned the 866-869
MHz. range and trunked radio users are being assigned the rest of the 800 band, 851-866. This is resulting in trunked and conventional users of
much of the 800 band being relocated to other frequencies. The project is far behind schedule but is starting to take place or completed in many
areas.
Current users of the 866-869 MHz. band are being changed to frequencies in the 851-854 band, each channel will be exactly 15 MHz. lower
than the original. Prior users of the 851-854 range are being relocated to the 854-861 band, wherever channels can be found in that area.
