Part One.
Finding active
control channels.
You will need a Pen
and Note Pad and one of these models. UBCD396T – UBCD996T – UBCD396XT –
UBCD325P2AU.
To create a system to monitor the new SA GRN P25 or the current NSW GRN system you
will require the control channel that is being used in your area.
This process will also work on the VIC RMR and MMR network.
VIC RMR network search between 160-170 MHz
MMR /NSW and SA GRN search between 400 - 430 MHz
This process will also work on the VIC RMR and MMR network.
VIC RMR network search between 160-170 MHz
MMR /NSW and SA GRN search between 400 - 430 MHz
If you do not already have access to this information, you
can find the active control channel by simply doing a custom search.
Turn your Scanner ON.
While in Scan mode, push the MENU button (on the UBCD396T
and UBCD396XT it’s the rubber pad on the left of Scanner).
This will open up the Scanners Menu screen.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight Search For.
Once Search For has been highlighted, push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight Edit Custom.
Once Edit Custom has been highlighted, push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
Custom 1 will
be highlighted, push the E.Yes
button to confirm your selection.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight Edit Search Limit.
Once Edit Search Limit has been highlighted, push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
Set Lower Limit menu will now be displayed – type over the existing
frequency.
Type in 410.000 and push E.Yes (Victorian RMR type in 160.0000)
Set Upper Limit menu will now be displayed – type over the existing
frequency.
Type in 430.000 and push E.Yes (Victorian RMR type in 170.0000)
The screen will revert back to the Custom 1 menu screen.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the right
and highlight Set Modulation.
Once Set Modulation has been highlighted, push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
Set Modulation Menu
will now be displayed.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight NFM (Narrow
Band FM) and push the E.Yes button.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight Set Step.
Once Set Step has
been highlighted, push the E.Yes
button to confirm your selection.
The Set Step menu
will now be displayed.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight 12.5 kHz.
(Victorian RMR select 6.25)
(Victorian RMR select 6.25)
Once 12.5 kHz been
highlighted, push the E.Yes button
to confirm your selection.
The Custom 1 menu
screen will now be displayed again.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it clockwise to the
right and highlight Set C-CH Only.
When Set C-CH Only is
highlighted, push the E.Yes button
to confirm your selection.
(UBCD396T and UBCD996T
will then show a menu screen with Set C-Ch Only. Select ON and push E.Yes)
C-CH Only Mode
will be highlighted. Push E.yes
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it and select ON.
Once done – push the E.Yes
button.
The screen will revert back to the Set C-CH Only Menu.
Now push the Menu button 3 times. (on a UBCD396T and UBCD996T push the menu button twice)
This will take you back to the Search For menu screen and Edit Custom
will be highlighted.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll it to the left
(anti-clockwise) and highlight Custom Search
and then push the E.Yes button.
The Scanner will now start scanning the search limits you
have specified.
At the bottom of the screen, you will also see a series of
numbers from 1 to 0.
These represent 10 custom searches. As our only interest is
in custom search 1, push the following keys to shut down the other
searches.
Push 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and finally the 0 button.
This will leave only the Custom Search that you have
created.
There should only be
the numeral 1 flashing on the bottom of the screen.
In the time that you have done this the Scanner may have
already found the active control channel and stopped on it.
If it has found an active SA GRN or NSW GRN P25 control channel it will
display the following data. (Example is for SA GRN)
SID: 03DCh-000 (the last three numbers will be
different in your location, 000 entered for example only)
The screen will alternate between “Custom 1” and “SID:03DCh-000”.
This is normal.
Look to the top right of the screen, if the signal is
strong, there will be a signal strength indicator, for a good strong signal,
there should be 5 bars.
The more bars the better. If the signal only shows 2 bars,
use the rotary volume dial and gently turn it clockwise to continue the search.
(DO NOT PUSH SCAN).
The scanner will continue to search through the designated
search limit only stopping on control channels that are close enough to break
the digital threshold and be received.
Generally anything with 2 bars or less is of poor quality and obviously too far away to be decoded correctly.
Generally anything with 2 bars or less is of poor quality and obviously too far away to be decoded correctly.
If the Scanner stops on a good strong signal and 5 bars are
showing on the signal indicator, this is one frequency that you should write
down for future reference.
You can also push HOLD while the Scanner has paused on the
control channel.
If it is active you will hear traffic within a few seconds.
Push HOLD again to release the scanner back into search mode – DO NOT PUSH SCAN.
If it is active you will hear traffic within a few seconds.
Push HOLD again to release the scanner back into search mode – DO NOT PUSH SCAN.
When there is activity you will see text similar to this
example - ID:2913
You may also hear encrypted talk goups. These will make an
annoying `Metallic’ sound.
You may see and ID Number but no voice, this is an encrypted talk group and cannot be decoded into voice.
You may see and ID Number but no voice, this is an encrypted talk group and cannot be decoded into voice.
While there is no traffic (No ID number showing) look at the
bottom of the screen and you will see a frequency displayed.
Write this frequency down. This is your control channel.
Remember, five signal bars is best.
Remember, five signal bars is best.
Do not worry about any frequency displayed while there is
voice traffic (when a ID number is showing) as this is a voice channel
frequency and will not work if you enter it as a control channel.
For example. The scanner has stopped and you can see SID:03DCh-001 on the screen, all is quiet and the frequency 413.3875 is displayed at the bottom of the screen, the signal indicator is showing 5 bars.
This means 413.3875 is your control channel.
If there suddenly is voice activity and a ID number is
displayed, the frequency at the bottom of the screen will change, this is NOT
the control channel, this is a designated voice channel.
Wait until the transmission ends and the original control channel will be displayed again, returning to 413.3875.
Wait until the transmission ends and the original control channel will be displayed again, returning to 413.3875.
Only the strongest control channels found should be used. In
an average search you may only find one or two with a standard antenna, maybe
three or four with a larger outdoor antenna.
You can enter all in your scanner, but remember that
entering a weaker control channel simply because you found one, does not help
the scanner work any better.
If anything it can cause more problems especially with a larger outdoor antenna.
If anything it can cause more problems especially with a larger outdoor antenna.
Once you have completed your search and are happy with the
one or two control channels you have located, you can now create a system to
monitor the SA GRN/NSW GRN in your area.
Make sure you have written down the active control channel/s
on your note pad you will need to reference this information in the next step.
Creating a P25 System.
These instructions related to the
following models: UBCD396T – UBCD996T – UBCD396XT – UBCD325P2AU.
To create a
system to monitor the new SA GRN P25 (or similar) system you will require the control
channel that is being used in your area.
If you do not
already have access to this information, you can find the active control
channel by simply doing a custom search – refer to Part One.
For these
instructions it will be assumed that you have your local control channel/s.
UBCD396T
and UBCD996T start here.
Turn your
Scanner ON.
While in Scan
mode, push the MENU button (UBCD396T
– Menu pad is on the left side of Scanner)
This will
open up the Scanners Menu screen.
Program System will be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
The Select System menu will now be
displayed.
Using the
rotary volume dial – scroll and highlight New System. (if not already
highlighted)
Once New
System has been highlighted, push the E.Yes
button to confirm your selection.
Select System
Type Menu will be displayed.
Using the
rotary volume dial – scroll and highlight MOT (Motorola).
Push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
MOT menu screen will be displayed.
By default, P25 will be highlighted, push the E.Yes button to confirm your selection.
Menu will ask
to confirm again, push the E.Yes
button.
Processing Please Wait will appear.
The System 1 Menu will now appear.
By default, Edit Name will be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes button to confirm.
You can now
edit the name for the new system. Naming the system makes it easier to
reference.
For this
example we will use – SA GRN P25
.
.
Edit Name menu will be displayed.
To remove the
current ‘System’ alpha tag, push the .NO
button three times.
This process
will remove the default text from the screen leaving a blank display for you to
enter your own text.
To input text
– use the following procedure.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll it left or right to find the required letter or
number, the text will appear under the cursor.
Scroll until
you find the capital letter `S’.
Once you have
the letter `S’ appearing, push the 6
keypad to move the cursor to the right.
Repeat the
process until you have entered the text SA
then you push the 6 button twice to
create a space to then enter GRN.
Once you have
entered GRN you can then push the 6 button twice and create another space
and enter P25. Once you have finished the screen should say SA GRN P25
If
you make a mistake while entering the text, use keypad button 4 to go back a
place and use the .NO button to erase the incorrect text or simply re-type over
the existing text. If you push the .NO button more than once you will erase all
the entered text and will have to start over again.
Once SA GRN
P25 is displayed on the screen, push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Processing Please Wait will appear and the scanner will
revert back to the Edit Name menu.
Your new
system name will be displayed at the top of the menu.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight Edit System Options.
Push the E.Yes button to confirm.
Edit System Options Menu will be displayed.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight Set Quick Key.
Push the E.Yes button to confirm.
Set Quick Key Menu will be displayed.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight a number to access the SA GRN P25
system.
This number
will help you turn the system on or off via the keypad.
For this
example I will use number 5. (Select a number that is convenient for you to
remember or access).
Highlight the
numeral 5 on the screen and push the E.Yes button to confirm.
Processing Please Wait will appear.
Screen will
revert back to the Edit System Option
menu and Set Quick Key will be highlighted.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight ID Scan/ID Search
and push the E.Yes button to
confirm.
The ID Scan/ID Search Menu will appear.
Using the
rotary volume dial highlight ID Search, push
the E.Yes button to confirm.
ID
Scan is for talk groups already stored in the memory. ID Search looks for all activity on the SA
GRN network and includes the talk groups that you may have already stored. ID
search will let you hear ALL activity.
For
first time users, select ID Search. If you select ID Scan, the scanner will
search its memory looking for talk groups it assumes will be in there. If there are none entered – you will hear
nothing and the Scanner will appear deaf.
The screen
will revert back to the Edit System Options
menu.
Push the MENU button – Once.
Screen will
revert back to previous menu and you should have SA GRN P25 displayed at the top of the screen. Edit System
Option will be highlighted.
Using the
rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight Set Frequencies
then push the E.Yes button.
Select Frequencies Menu will appear.
By default on
a new system – New Frequency will be
highlighted, push the E.Yes button
to confirm.
Input Frequency menu will now appear.
Type in the
P25 control channel frequency you wish to use for your area.
Only
enter control channels of reasonable signal quality and those used in your location.
Entering too many control channels of poor quality will result in lost
performance of the Scanners ability to decode the signal quickly and correctly.
Remember
to enter the decimal point! If you make
a mistake, push the .NO button once to go back one place, twice to remove the
entire line.
Once you have
input the frequency you wish to use – push the E.Yes button.
The screen
will revert back to display the frequency menu.
At this point
no changes are required, so push the Menu
pad once to take you back into the Select
Frequency Menu.
If you have
more than one control channel to enter, scroll down the screen and highlight New Frequency again and push the E.Yes button.
You can now
enter your second frequency using the same process.
Once
completed, push the E.Yes button
again to confirm.
The screen
will display the frequency menu again. Disregard
these menu options and push the Menu
pad once to go back to the Select
Frequency menu.
Once you are
back in the Select Frequency menu, you
can view the frequencies you have entered.
If you are confident that these are correct, push the Menu pad once.
If you are confident that these are correct, push the Menu pad once.
You will now
be back at the SA GRN P25 menu screen and Set Frequencies
will be highlighted.
You are now
ready to start Scanning.
Push the SCAN button.
You should
see `SA GRN P25’ scrolling across the screen and `ID SEARCH’ underneath. If all
data has been entered correctly and the correct control channels entered, you
should see a small bar graph on the top right hand side of the screen.
This is the signal strength indicator. A good signal should be between 3 to 5 bars. You should also see the control channel frequencies flash on the bottom of the screen.
Depending on your location and the amount of active voice traffic you should hear some activity within a few minutes or even seconds.
This is the signal strength indicator. A good signal should be between 3 to 5 bars. You should also see the control channel frequencies flash on the bottom of the screen.
Depending on your location and the amount of active voice traffic you should hear some activity within a few minutes or even seconds.
Once a
transmission is heard, you will see the letters `ID’ appear on the screen,
followed by a series of numbers – for example ID:3489. This is a SA GRN talk group ID number. Some
of these may be encrypted.
If this happens and the ID number shows but you receive no voice, there is probably a good chance that this ID is encrypted.
The SA GRN has encryption on the Police and SA Ambulance service, plus a few others including Fisheries. The letters ENC will also appear on encrypted talk groups.
If this happens and the ID number shows but you receive no voice, there is probably a good chance that this ID is encrypted.
The SA GRN has encryption on the Police and SA Ambulance service, plus a few others including Fisheries. The letters ENC will also appear on encrypted talk groups.
When an
encrypted talk group ID number appears, you can push the HOLD button.
While in HOLD mode, push the L/O button (lockout), this will lockout the offending talk group ID.
While in HOLD mode, push the L/O button (lockout), this will lockout the offending talk group ID.
To resume
scanning, push the Scan button or
the HOLD button.
If a talk
group ID appears that can be heard quite clearly like the Adelaide Fire ID:647
and you wish to save this to the Scanners memory, wait until it appears on the
screen and push the HOLD button
while they are talking.
While in HOLD mode and the talk group is
displayed (ID:649) push the E.Yes
button once.
Quick TGID Save will appear on the screen with the ID
number 649 (Adelaide Fire).
Push the E.Yes button again to save the ID
number.
Processing Please Wait will appear.
The TGID will
now be saved into a `Quick Save’ folder in the Scanners memory.
A TGID Menu
will appear on the screen letting you edit the name of the TGID should you wish
to.
Editing the TGID name is the same process as editing the System or Site name.
Once completed simply push the Scan button to resume scanning.
If you don’t wish to edit the name – simply push the Scan button to resume ID Searching.
You Scanner should now be in ID Search mode again looking for active TGIDs in your location.
Editing the TGID name is the same process as editing the System or Site name.
Once completed simply push the Scan button to resume scanning.
If you don’t wish to edit the name – simply push the Scan button to resume ID Searching.
You Scanner should now be in ID Search mode again looking for active TGIDs in your location.
UBCD39XT and UBCD325P2AU start here.
Turn your Scanner ON.
While in Scan mode, push the MENU button (on the UBCD396XT it’s the rubber pad on the left of
Scanner).
This will open up the Scanners Menu screen.
Program System will be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes button.
The Select System
menu will now be displayed.
Using the rotary volume dial – scroll and highlight New System. (if not already highlighted)
Once New System has
been highlighted, push the E.Yes button
to confirm your selection.
Select System
Type Menu will be displayed.
By default, P25 will be
highlighted, push the E.Yes button
to confirm your selection.
P25 Menu will appear in
the top left of the screen.
Standard
Trunk will be highlighted, push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Menu will ask to
confirm again, push the E.Yes
button.
Processing
Please Wait will appear.
The new system default name will now appear with a letter P to the far right of the screen.
(P=P25)
It will display System
1 P25
By default, Edit Name will
be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Edit
Name will be displayed across the top of the screen with the default text
underneath.
You can now edit the name for the new system.
Naming the system makes it easier to reference.
Naming the system makes it easier to reference.
For this example we will use – SA GRN P25.
To remove the current ‘System’ alpha tag displayed on the
screen, push the .NO button twice.
This process will remove the default text from the screen
leaving a blank display for you to enter your own text.
To input text – use the following procedure.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll it left or right to
find the required letter or number, the text will appear under the cursor.
Scroll until you find the capital letter `S’.
Once you have the letter `S’ appearing, push the 6 keypad to
move the cursor to the right.
Repeat the process until you have entered the text SA then
you push the 6 button twice to create a space to then enter GRN.
Once you have entered GRN you can then push the 6 button
twice and create another space and enter P25.
Once you have finished the screen should say SA GRN P25
If you make a mistake while entering the text, use keypad
button 4 to go back a place and type over the text you have already entered or
push the .No Button once to delete the single highlighted symbol. Push the .NO
button twice to erase the ALL text.
Once SA GRN P25 is displayed on the screen, push the E.Yes button to confirm.
Processing
Please Wait will appear and the scanner will revert back to the previous
menu, but will now have SA GRN P25
written at the top of the screen. Edit Name will
be highlighted.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll down and highlight Edit System Options.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Edit System
Options Menu will be displayed with Set Number Tag
highlighted.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll down and highlight ID Scan/Search.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
ID Scan/Search Menu will be
displayed and by default ID Search
should be highlighted.
If not, use the rotary volume dial, scroll and highlight ID Search.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Screen will revert back to previous Edit System Options Menu and ID Scan/Search
will be
highlighted.
highlighted.
You now need to back out of that Menu screen so push the Menu button once.
SA GRN P25 Menu will be
displayed and Edit System Option will be
highlighted.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll down and highlight Edit Site.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Select Site menu will now
be displayed and New Site will be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes
button to confirm.
Processing Please
Wait will appear.
The Site Menu
will now be displayed. (By Default it will show the site as a new number and
P25 to the right of the screen.)
It is a good idea to name the site where the control
channels are located. A Site is where the tower is located that transmits and
receives the information from the control channel/s.
Using the same principle as naming the System, give the
site location a name so you can reference it later if needed.
For this example – name the site `Adelaide’. (Remember -
name the site relevant to its location.)
To input text for the site name – use the following
procedure.
Edit Name will be highlighted. Push the E.Yes button.
To remove the default text (Default display setting will
have Site 1-1
P25 written on the screen) push the .NO button twice, leaving you a blank screen to input your own
text.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll it left or right to
find the required letter or number, the text will appear under the cursor.
Enter a new name for the site location. Use the same method
used to enter text for the System.
Once completed and you have created a name for the site,
push the E.Yes button.
The new name of your site will appear at the top of the
screen. This is your Site Menu.
Using the rotary volume dial scroll down and highlight Set Quick Key and push the E.Yes button.
Set Quick Key menu will be
displayed.
Using the rotary volume dial highlight a number that is
convenient for you to remember or access.
This number will be associated with the System and give you quick access via the keypad.
This number will be associated with the System and give you quick access via the keypad.
For this example use select number 1. Push the E.Yes button to confirm.
Screen will revert back to previous menu and SA GRN P25 will be displayed at the top
of the screen.
Set Quick Key will be highlighted.
Using the rotary volume dial, scroll down the screen and
highlight Set Frequencies.
Then push the E.Yes
button.
Select
Frequencies menu will now be displayed and New
Frequency will be highlighted.
Push the E.Yes
button.
Input Frequency menu will now
be displayed.
Type in the P25 control channel frequency you wish to use
for your area.
Only enter control channels of reasonable signal quality
and those used in your location. Entering too many control channels of poor
quality will result in lost performance of the Scanners ability to decode the
signal quickly and correctly.
Remember to enter the decimal point! If you make a mistake, push the .NO button
and re-enter the text.
Once you have input the frequency you wish to use – push
the E.Yes button.
Processing
Please Wait will appear.
The Frequency Menu
will now be displayed with the frequency you just entered at the top of the
screen.
Edit Frequency will be
highlighted.
To enter a second frequency, use the rotary volume dial and
scroll down the screen and highlight New Frequency
again. Then push the E.Yes button.
You can now enter a second control channel is you have one
available.
Once you have entered a second frequency push the E.yes button.
You have now entered two control channels for the site
location.
In a built up area like a city, there may be serval control
channels within a small area. Instead of creating multiple sites, you can enter
several control channels into one site. The Scanner will pick the strongest
control channel from the group and use this one. However I would still suggest
limiting your amount of control channels to no more than perhaps 4 at the most.
If you have more than ten, create a more sites and enter the extra control
channels there.
Remember that there is no point entering 10 control channels in the site if 6 of them are more than 10 kms away.
Only enter control channels that are again, of good signal quality and reception for the area you’re trying to monitor.
Remember that there is no point entering 10 control channels in the site if 6 of them are more than 10 kms away.
Only enter control channels that are again, of good signal quality and reception for the area you’re trying to monitor.
If you are travelling – this is where you may wish to
create a second or even third site. For example if you lived in Adelaide and
your work activities took you to Murray Bridge weekly, you would create a
series of sites that the scanner could track as it travelled. Similar to how a
mobile phone jumps to different mobile phone towers as you travel.
Once you have entered all the control channels you wish to
use, push the MENU button twice to
return to the Site Menu and Set Frequencies is highlighted again.
You are now ready to Scan.
Push the SCAN button to commence scanning
You should see the name of the Site/s
you created across the screen and `ID SEARCH’ underneath.
If all steps have been followed correctly and the correct control channels entered, you should see a small bar graph on the top right hand side of the screen.
This is the signal strength indicator.
If all steps have been followed correctly and the correct control channels entered, you should see a small bar graph on the top right hand side of the screen.
This is the signal strength indicator.
A good signal should be between 3 to
5 bars. You should also see the control channel frequencies flash on the bottom
of the screen.
Depending on your location and the amount of active voice traffic you should hear some activity within a few minutes or even seconds.
Depending on your location and the amount of active voice traffic you should hear some activity within a few minutes or even seconds.
Once a transmission is heard, you
will see the letters `ID’ appear on the screen, followed by a series of numbers
– for example ID:3489.
This is a SA GRN talk group ID number.
Some of these may be encrypted. If this happens and the ID number shows but you receive no voice, there is probably a good chance that this ID is encrypted.
The SA GRN has encryption on the Police and SA Ambulance service, plus a few others including Fisheries.
The letters ENC will also appear on encrypted talk groups.
This is a SA GRN talk group ID number.
Some of these may be encrypted. If this happens and the ID number shows but you receive no voice, there is probably a good chance that this ID is encrypted.
The SA GRN has encryption on the Police and SA Ambulance service, plus a few others including Fisheries.
The letters ENC will also appear on encrypted talk groups.
When an encrypted talk group ID
number appears, you can lock it out by pushing the L/O button while the TGID is on the screen.
By pushing the L/O button it will temporarily lock out the offending TGID until the Scanner is powered off and powered back on again.
By pushing the L/O button it will temporarily lock out the offending TGID until the Scanner is powered off and powered back on again.
When a TGID appears like the
Adelaide Fire ID:647 and you wish to save this to the Scanners memory, wait
until it appears on the screen and push the E.Yes button while the TGID is active.
The Screen will say “Quick TGID Save?” and the TGID 647 will
be also displayed.
If you want to save it – push the E.Yes button.
A TGID menu will now appear. With the TGID number shown at the top of
the screen.
Edit Name will be
highlighted. Push E.Yes to continue
editing.
If you don’t wish to edit the name –
simply push the Scan button to resume ID Searching and the TGID will be stored
as a number only in a quick save group.
Giving the TGID a name will make it
easier to see who is talking next time that TGID is used.
Instead of the number appearing on the screen, you will see the alpha tag you created for that TGID.
Instead of the number appearing on the screen, you will see the alpha tag you created for that TGID.
Editing the TGID name is the same
process as editing the System or Site name.
Once completed simply push the Scan button to resume scanning.
Once completed simply push the Scan button to resume scanning.
You Scanner should now be in ID
Search mode again looking for active TGIDs in your location.
Ozscan
Document: Creating a P25 System V1:6
