Strange Trunked System Behavior

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:14 am

Repost from rr.com:

This is a federal system (Sheppard AFB to be exact). I am using a BCD396T and a Pro-96 and everything goes okay for the most part, but sometimes it seems as though the system dies. The signal strength indicator on the 396 is still full bars, but only carrier is detected. Basically there is no data on the control channel, just an open carrier. Scanning through the other control channels gives a very strange data sound that I've never heard before. It is constant just like a control channel would do, but a very distinct sound. It almost sounds like an old Type I system, but as I said, it's on every channel that the system uses (except the CC that was in use before this "problem" takes place).

UniTrunker just shows "No Signal" while this is going on even while parked on one of the mysterious data channels..

This has happened a few times in the past couple of days.

Is this the system going into "FailSoft"? I've never seen or heard a system go into "FailSoft" before, so I'm leaning towards that.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:49 am

If in failsoft there should be a "beep" every 30 seconds or so and all channels should be keyed.
There is also a low level data stream on the channels.

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:22 am

But you're only going to hear the "beeps" on a real radio right? There is data on all channels in the system and carrier on the original CC.

Someone posted that there is a system near them that does the same thing when it goes into FailSoft mode. The carrier is for analog talkgroups and the data stream on the other channels is for P25.

I can't hear anything on any of the channels and UniTrunker does not display anything, so I can't tell if anyone is talking or not.

Is there a way to monitor this system while it's in FailSoft mode?

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:46 am

It depends how the system is programmed. It can be setup for users to switch to a common talk group or a conventional channel. Without knowing how it is setup, it's hard to say.

bellersley · Post by **bellersley** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:48 am

Also, you might try running TReport on the control channel... It might give you an idea as to what is going on.

Joseph11 · Post by **Joseph11** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:18 am

It's in fail safe mode. There's a mixed mode Type II system here. When it goes into fail safe mode, some channels have an open carrier (for the analog TGs), while some others have a constant "machine gun" sounding data (for the P25 talkgroups).

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:19 am

Thing is, the control channel has no data at all - just open carrier, unless there's some kind of subaudible data stream.

Sounds like an open mic with no audio.

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:03 pm

Thanks Joseph11

You were the one I was referring to.

Bruce1807 · Post by **Bruce1807** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:10 pm

There should be only low level data and it would ound like it is keyed with no audio.
In failsoft there is no data on the contol channel

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:54 pm

Then that is what it's doing. Will Treport pick up and display when the system is in FailSoft?