MDC Decode On EX600 XLS

[madfrenchie]

Hello,

I recently purchased an EX600Xls from Motorola, it has the option to decode and display MDC ID's but i have yet to figure out how to get it to work.

I have a Motorola CP200 radio that transmits an MDC ID on post transmit. I hear the tone no problem, but when i would like the ID to display on the LCD screen of the EX600, which i belive is supposed to be available.

Can anyone help me out on how to program this, Ive looked at everything on the CPS and read all the help files but can't figure out how to do it

Thank You ahead of time.

[HLA]

read the radio with the cps, go to each personality you want to decode and under the recieve signaling, use the drop down box and set it to mdc, if you want it to transmit mdc, do the same thing under transmit signaling and go to the signaling section and set you identifier id

[madfrenchie]

read the radio with the cps, go to each personality you want to decode and under the recieve signaling, use the drop down box and set it to mdc, if you want it to transmit mdc, do the same thing under transmit signaling and go to the signaling section and set you identifier id

First of all, thank you for answering and providing information, I do understand what you are saying, and Ive actually tried that, It will properly decode that one single MDC ID, and tone the radio, but ill give you an example of how i thought it was supposed to work.

On our police department each officer's personal radio gives off and MDC ID post transmit, I want that ID to show up on the LCD of my radio so I can see which officer keyd his mic. I was told it was possible and that's why I purchased the Ex600.

[john9912]

It will properly decode that one single MDC ID, and tone the radio

You have lost me... The radio will properly decode that one single ID? What do you mean that "one single" ID? What one single ID are you referring to? If it decodes one ID it should decode all IDs. What do you mean when you say "tone the radio"?

The EX600 XLS radio IS capable of displaying MDC PTT IDs it receives from other transmitters.

[madfrenchie]

It will properly decode that one single MDC ID, and tone the radio

You have lost me... The radio will properly decode that one single ID? What do you mean that "one single" ID? What one single ID are you referring to? If it decodes one ID it should decode all IDs. What do you mean when you say "tone the radio"?

The EX600 XLS radio IS capable of displaying MDC PTT IDs it receives from other transmitters.

Ok, basically I open the CPS, read the radio and open the Police Personality, I can select a TX signaling and / or RX Signaling.

So for RX System i select MDC-2 which is the MDC Signaling I have set up. (not sure if that itself is set up properally) but i set up the id to be lets say 1111 and set signaling squelch to Or.

Write the codeplug to the radio.


On my second radio i have, which is set to TX an MDC tone, when i key the radio and then unkey it, I hear the MDC tone but nothing shows up on the display of the radio.

Now to answer your question about what i mean about decoding the one ID, If i set the MDC ID of the transmitting radio to 1111 and on my ex600 xls i set up RX signaling of 1111 then the radio will beep and show it recieved a call, but thats it, it doesn't even display what the ID was it decoded.

I basically want my ex600 xls to decode EVERY MDC ID that it hears on the Police Channel. so if someone can walk me through the exact steps of how to do it please let me know, and if someone wants to take a look at my codeplug to see what I did, maybe they can figure it out that way.


Thank You for all your help guys.

[HLA]

ok that all sounds correct, it should be working. just curious, what type of system is it, simplex, repeater, trunked, and what band is it? are you trying to listen to a trunked system on a simplex channel? if you are you will hear the mdc but it won't decode it that way? and if this is a police frequency, are you a cop or authorized to be on that frequency?

[john9912]

radio will beep and show it recieved a call?

What do you mean show that it received a call? Are you transmitting an MDC "Selective Call" or "Call Alert" to the radio and not just keying up the PTT? Is the receiving radio saying call received?

Also if you are transmitting an ID of 1111 and your receiving radio ALSO has an ID of 1111, I think if the ID's are the same it will NOT display it's own ID.

The only two things you need to have setup to display received MDC IDs are, MDC system in RX signalling in the personality,
AND under signalling, MDC System, System # you are using (example MDC System-2) make sure "Display Decode ID" is checked.

You do not need to add anything in Call, MDC call.

I will PM you my email address. I can take a look at your codeplug if you want to send it to me.

[madfrenchie]

ok that all sounds correct, it should be working. just curious, what type of system is it, simplex, repeater, trunked, and what band is it? are you trying to listen to a trunked system on a simplex channel? if you are you will hear the mdc but it won't decode it that way? and if this is a police frequency, are you a cop or authorized to be on that frequency?

Hello,

I am a Firefighter and am Authorized to both receive and transmit on the police frequency. I transmit quite often actually, especially during fire calls. The radio the FD issued me is basically the size and weight of a standard house brick. Chief allowed me to go out and purchase my own radio as long as it met specs and wasn't a junker that wouldn't last 5 minutes on the fire ground. (I'm usually first one into a building so this radio fits very well in my bunkers and is ruged enough)

The system we use here is a basic repeater system, each department has its own Motorola repeater, all located on the same tower in town. It is not a trunked system what so ever, and the frequency is a VHF frequency 154.040 for example.

[alex]

There could be a whole bunch of reasons why this is taking place.

1) Scan: the radio is scanning and the packets are clipped due to the fact that the radio starts receiving mid packet. It will not display under these conditions. You will get very inconsistent decodes. I find that the XTS/XTL/Astro series radios seem to pick them up OK, but my experience with Waris/Pro series is that they are really hit or miss. Try leaving the radio on a single channel and seeing what happens.

2) Repeater: If you are using PRE PTTID (where you get a long beep then are able to talk) then the chances are the PRETIME is set incorrectly on the transmitting portables. The MDC is clipped due to the fact it takes a few milliseconds for the repeater to start decoding PL/DPL and for it to kick on the transmitter.

3) Your using all the same radio ID's so that you get the "wait to talk" delay to ensure you get messages and they are not clipped. Therefore it looks like you are only decoding one ID.

Chief allowed me to go out and purchase my own radio as long as it met specs and wasn't a junker that wouldn't last 5 minutes on the fire ground. (I'm usually first one into a building so this radio fits very well in my bunkers and is rugged enough)

This is something that is highly subjective, and I hope you spent a lot of time researching this. You should probably make sure the radio is in fact intrinsically safe. You probably should have purchased this radio direct from a dealer and be 100% sure on it and it's accessories history. Used equipment while may have indicators of certain types of acceptance doesn't always mean that it's 100% certified to meet those standards.

There are a number of different ways that system administrators or communications managers program and configure their radios to ensure that there are no issues on fireground. You may or may not be aware of the level of detail that some people spend trying to figure out these methods to ensure the safety of not only you but also the other people in the structure working to save lives and property.

I urge you to speak with the people in charge of your radio system and ensure that your radio is properly configured and setup for use on fireground.

I'll remove my soapbox now.

-Alex

[madfrenchie]

There could be a whole bunch of reasons why this is taking place.

1) Scan: the radio is scanning and the packets are clipped due to the fact that the radio starts receiving mid packet. It will not display under these conditions. You will get very inconsistent decodes. I find that the XTS/XTL/Astro series radios seem to pick them up OK, but my experience with Waris/Pro series is that they are really hit or miss. Try leaving the radio on a single channel and seeing what happens.

2) Repeater: If you are using PRE PTTID (where you get a long beep then are able to talk) then the chances are the PRETIME is set incorrectly on the transmitting portables. The MDC is clipped due to the fact it takes a few milliseconds for the repeater to start decoding PL/DPL and for it to kick on the transmitter.

3) Your using all the same radio ID's so that you get the "wait to talk" delay to ensure you get messages and they are not clipped. Therefore it looks like you are only decoding one ID.

Chief allowed me to go out and purchase my own radio as long as it met specs and wasn't a junker that wouldn't last 5 minutes on the fire ground. (I'm usually first one into a building so this radio fits very well in my bunkers and is rugged enough)

This is something that is highly subjective, and I hope you spent a lot of time researching this. You should probably make sure the radio is in fact intrinsically safe. You probably should have purchased this radio direct from a dealer and be 100% sure on it and it's accessories history. Used equipment while may have indicators of certain types of acceptance doesn't always mean that it's 100% certified to meet those standards.

There are a number of different ways that system administrators or communications managers program and configure their radios to ensure that there are no issues on fireground. You may or may not be aware of the level of detail that some people spend trying to figure out these methods to ensure the safety of not only you but also the other people in the structure working to save lives and property.

I urge you to speak with the people in charge of your radio system and ensure that your radio is properly configured and setup for use on fireground.

I'll remove my soapbox now.

-Alex

Thank you for your information Alex, I actually got the radio to properly decode ID's and came to post that when I saw your message.

To clarify a few things, The radio was bought brand new direct from the dealer, who assured me that the radio was intrinsically safe. Its actually safer then the ones we use now, as only 8 out of the entire fleet of radios our department uses is actually intrinsically safe. Right now the department is having problems finding funding for new radios, and we are constantly getting radios that actually fail right on the fire ground. Thats the main reason i bought my own radio with my personal money, to be assured I will have a good working radio when I go into a fire.

I actually helped set up the radio system we have, and currently maintain it. I am also the one who programs up some of the newer radios we have. I don't own the software for the older ones, and don't see a need to invest, instead I work with a local company (well not really local they are 60 miles away) to have the radios programed.

We are a Paid Volly department so our radio system has no Administrator or Comm Manger, Our dispatch is basically done at the security shack at the local paper company, People laugh when they are scanning and hear "Engine 2 to Fraser Paper" or "Fraser Paper to 92"(Police) Yes they dispatch Police, Fire and Ambulance.

It may be surprising, but the work I have done on the radio system, is the only secure and sure to work part of our radio system. And the radios I resell the Chief work better then any others that we have on the department (Yes, I own a business so I can resell Motorola radios)

I do thank you Alex for your response and I do understand your concern. and I thank everyone who helped with this thread, it really helped me out and lead me in the right direction to solve the problem. I only wish I wasn't moderated so I could have answered your requests a bit quicker, but I do understand and agree with why they moderate members!