Connecting a scanner to Gold Elite & Unselect Muting on

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:32 am

I would like to take our silly looking scanner off the top of the counter and just pipe the audio through the Centracom as a resource on the screen. Is this something really expensive and complicated or is there by chance a provision there for it already? If something else is needed, what would I have to purchase for it to work? We have a resource in place already for a tone remote radio that never got installed on the roof. The card is just collecting dust in the console now. Could I use that?

Second question, is there any way to have the Unselect audio mute or at least lower in dB when the PTT is pressed? I've seen this on Orbacom consoles but don't see anything about it in any of the Gold Elite configuation or Database Manager software.

Post by **xmo** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:32 am

An unused resource [BIM] is exactly what you need. Just have the radio shop hook the scanner audio to the BIM phone line and you'll be all set.

While they are there, the radio shop can solve your unselect muting issue - that is a jumper option in the CIE [Console Interface Electronics].

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:02 am

If it is not a complicated process, I can certainly handle it, I've just never navigated a BIM before. Is there something I can look at to reference what I should connect and what the Console Database Manager settings should be?

If it is a jumper on the CIE, I guess it is not something programable by resource? Does it totally mute it or just bring it down to the muting level set in the CDM? Again, if it is something as simple as jumper, is there a reference I can use to just do it. It seems silly to call in a tech at $:o per hour to move a jumper.

(one of these days, I will remember to not put these console questions in the general forum

)

Post by **xmo** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:46 pm

I don't have the Gold books here but you need the big CEB install book to trace out how the BIM connects to the outside world. There is a separate CIE mantenance manual that will have the jumper config info. The mute on PTT will be 100%

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 7:21 am

I found the jumper list in the rack. J22 did the trick, very much better now

Now, I went the punch block in the back with my tone generator and found two pairs that pass audio to the console's resource for that BIM (actually, that is the case for all of them). I don't see any other way of connecting audio to it other than that (you mentioned a "phone input").

I guess the most obvious way to me is to balance the audio on the scanner and put into the punchblock that I mentioned above. Is there a way to to do this right on the BIM that I am missiing? BLM6654F is the sticker on it.

Post by **xmo** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:06 am

The reference to "phone line" is based on the usual connection from a control device [like a console] to a 'remote' base station via a leased line which is usually obtained from the "phone" company.

That is what you have found on the punch block. As you discovered, there are two lines associated with each BIM: the 2-wire line and the 4-wire line. The 2-wire line can be both Tx and Rx or just the Tx side of a 4-wire setup in which case the 4-wire line becomes the Rx side. For your receive only application either would work.

You have the right idea about providing balanced audio from the scanner. A small isolation transformer such as the 273-1374 from Radio Shack should do the trick.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:13 am

Ah ha, I was thinking that was why there was RX on both... one is TX/RX for 2-wire, the other is just RX for 4-Wire. I wasn't sure if there were different BIM's for 2-wire and 4-wire so i didn't want to make an assumption and blow something up.

I guess I over anylized the "phone" input thing. I was looking for some kind of aux input or an actual telephone line or something. It certainly is in-house copper "phone" pairs

I will snag an audio transformer this afternoon. I think there is some unused copper going from the console back to the closet so I should not have to run a lot of audio wire... I hope.

(EDIT)

Yea, I have about 100 extra pairs so I can loop the audio nice and easy

There is an MDC1200 modem on this BIM. I don't suppose it will decode the MDC1200 ID's if the scanner is receiving them?

Post by **xmo** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:27 pm

I think you will find that it will decode the MDC ID's just fine [assuming the BIM is set up as a signaling resource in the CDM]

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:08 pm

Thats interesting. We have two other basic tone remotes (CDM1250's on the roof) with the MDC1200 modems on them and the signalling is setup in the Console Database Manager and it doesn't decode or encode crap. I guess we'll see if this decodes it properly with me setting it up rather than the MSS. If it works, I'll fix the others

Post by **wavetar** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:16 pm

nmfire10 wrote:Thats interesting. We have two other basic tone remotes (CDM1250's on the roof) with the MDC1200 modems on them and the signalling is setup in the Console Database Manager and it doesn't decode or encode crap. I guess we'll see if this decodes it properly with me setting it up rather than the MSS. If it works, I'll fix the others

Make sure the CDM radios have don't have an MDC signalling system programed on receive. Having it enabled will interfere with the BIM decoding it.

Todd

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:23 pm

I can't remember what that was set for the last time I was up there. I'll have to go for a stroll with my computer tommorow.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:01 pm

Well, I got it all hooked up this evening. $2.00 transformer from RatShack, some cat5, and a few bridge clips... works like a charm! I set the BIM for a receive only and setup the signalling. It works GREAT! I have scanner audio on the console, with PTT-ID and emergency ID decode. I love it.

Thanks XMO and Wave!