Astro Smartzone

[Elroy Jetson]

So in essence, the "key" to having the radio work off of an AMSS or SmartZone site is simply to have ALL the control channels in the various sites
together in ONE list of control channels?

Hmm...that's pretty straightforward. I guess each site does have its own individual site ID in addition to its system ID, too.

I'd presume that all sites in an AMSS or SmartZone system will share the same system ID, though?


Elroy

[Twisted_Pear]

I'd presume that all sites in an AMSS or SmartZone system will share the same system ID, though?

Correct. The only time a network will have multiple system IDs is in an OmniLink network. Each system is considered a zone (unlike Simulcast subsystems often called "zones") in an OmniLink system and has its own subscriber, site, etc database. When roaming from zone to zone it's similar to cellular systems technology where the subscriber radio has to get permission to roam (and there for the same TG's could be used independently; not on the same site of course). Most systems aren't that complicated though.

From a layman's perspective (e.g., a RadioReference user) AMSS and SmartZone are a lot alike. AMSS is of course less sophisticated, or smart (no dynamic site assignment for example). They advertise site numbers the same yet AMSS does not offer adjacent site announcements, local site background messages and a few others. I *think* all AMSS sites must have the same number of channels.

[RobCX3]

Note that the only real advantage to AMSS as a coverage type is that it lets you set the affiliation type to "On PTT." The radio can and will still respond to commands sent by the controller. If you could find a RSS or codeplug hack to let you set the individual ID to 0 like Spectras, Maxtracs, and STXes, you'd be set since 0 isn't a valid ID on the infrastructure side and therefore can't have stun or affiliate commands sent to it. And even that doesn't solve the problem of accidental PTTing via the button or speaker mic.

I have a Spectra A5-if I set the individual ID to 0000 and unplug the mic, I'm good to go for SmartZones, or would AMSS be safer? (I guess I'm still a noob...)

[immelmen28]

Also, if you're dealing with a VHF/UHF system, simply put in dummy TX frequencies (430.0000 etc), and it will never affiliate either...

I have an XTS2500I and same works - Rather than have the possible issue of having it affilate - just change the TX channel range to something you can TX on.

It will even tell you the site name and vote between the best site - This is something no scanner can do!

Only possible issue is not hearing a call on a site thats not active for that TG but scanners have this problem to!

Can't do this on a 3000.

Just wondering why you say you cant do this with a 3000. I have an XTS3000 UHF that i have programed up this way (with TX channel range set to bogus freq.) and CPS had no problem with it as long as TX OBT control channel assignments fit in the range. Am i missing something i should be aware of here?

Thanks

[oh2lna]

Astro Sabers - No need for hidden talkgroups unless you just want to be stealthy. [— — — snip — — —] XTS3000 - Same as Astro Saber.

Well, I'm definitely a newbie with trunking settings, so please do just ignore if this is a stupid question.

I originally thought that there was absolutely no use for trunking features here in Finland whatsoever, but could this method be used to access more ham radio frequencies than what the number of the total conventional personalities would allow? Right now the limited three zone 16 channel setting on my IMBE trunking XTS3000 model one radio is a bit of a pain. 48 conventional personalities just aren't really enough.

If I program different sets of repeater scanning trunking personalities, each personality containing different rx/tx offsets (-1.6 MHz / -2.0 MHz) and ctcss frequencies (82.5 Hz / 107.2 Hz / 118.8 Hz) into a top ten repeater list channel sets, would it be possible to scan them, and when paused receiving one of them during the scanning, also to transmit on such a repeater input channel? Perhaps even to stay on that channel? That would spare at least a whole zone worth of conventional personalities for me, if not more.

There would of course be some utility frequencies as well, where transmitting would be absolutely prohibited. Could one make a ten channel analog simplex frequency list into a trunking personality, to sacrifice less of those traditional personalities, which are very valuable resource in model a one radio indeed?

Jari, OH2LNA

[Elroy Jetson]

No, because there's no control channel.

But you MIGHT be able to put more than 16 channels into each zone and scan the extras. You'd set talk-back scan and set a LONG scan delay time, like five or ten seconds, or even longer. Then you could reply to traffic on a channel that's being scanned, but you could not INITIATE a conversation.

However, if you have a I model XTS3000, you may be limited to 48 channels in total no matter what you do.


CJ

[oh2lna]

You'd set talk-back scan and set a LONG scan delay time, like five or ten seconds, or even longer. Then you could reply to traffic on a channel that's being scanned, but you could not INITIATE a conversation.

Ok, I've done that already. Though all the scan lists have to point to zones that already exist in the 48 personality pool. It isn't possible to make model one make to think that it's a model three radio, without adding the hardware, is it?

[Elroy Jetson]

That'd be a serious hack. Not many people have the tools to do that and not many people know how. And they're not going to just hand out
a "how to" guide on how it's done.

It falls within the realm of "forbidden knowledge".


Elroy

[motorola_otaku]

It isn't possible to make model one make to think that it's a model three radio, without adding the hardware, is it?

Sure, just Lab a model 3 codeplug in and away you go. It doesn't need a display and keypad to operate, but you're going to have to get pretty clever with your button/switch assignments to do what you want to do. In your case, you could fully load up your XTS3000 with 255 channels and set your first 16 or 32 channels to have their own scanlist (16 or 32 scanlists total.. dunno how many max scanlists you're allowed), then preload those scanlists with the other un-selectable channels. That way, you could at least scan most of the contents of the radio without being able to access them all directly.