Monitoring Digital VHF system question

[webmedics]

Greetings,

I'm a proud new owner of an XTS3000 and of course, I'm in need of some programming guidance.

I've worked quite a bit with RSS & CPS for my MT2000 & HT1550's as well as a few mobiles BUT.......

I'm having trouble figuring out how the Astro Mixed Mode is supposed to work. I've got all the information I needed for the Non-Digital stuff and have succesfully programmed this XTS for that. In otherwords, the radio is working fine, therefore, the problem has got to be operator error.

The portions I'm missing are Law Enforcement traffic that's Astro stuff. They use XTS3000's that appear to be Model II's for the most part. Short of hijacking one and reading the codeplug, does anyone have suggestions for monitoring these frequencies. Again, this isn't trunked stuff, it's just our State's attempt at Homeland Security or whatever.

The Fire and EMS operations are swithing over in the next Phase. The grant just purchased Astro Spectra's, but they're not configured for digital either. I'm trying to get ahead of the game and program my own XTS to use legit, without paying the vendor $50 an hour to do what I've got the Hardware/Software, but lack the knowledge to do myself.

Anyone feel like helping me out?

I sure could use a working Codeplug from an XTS in New Hampshire if there happens to be anyone from here in the group!!!!

Thanks eveyone!

P.S. I just finished reading all SEVENTEEN pages of postings, so please don't send me back in there

[wavetar]

Have you confirmed the digital frequencies by programming them in as regular analog & listened to them? It should pretty much sound like a modem if it's digital. If so, the only real difference to receiving the digital would be to set the 'RX voice/signal type' to either 'Astro' or 'Mixed mode'. You then press 'F9-more options'--->'F6-Astro options' and set the 'RX unmute rule' to 'Digital CSQ'.

If it still sounds like a modem after that, then they are using encryption, and you are outta luck.

Todd

[webmedics]

Hi!

Thanks for the quick response.

I can actually hear some transmissions on this frequency, typically dispatch is transmitting in the clear and the unit to unit stuff has been digital. I think I can hear the buzz and click of the digital transmissions. As far a encryption, I don't have any idea.

If I read a codeplug from an officers radio would I be able to figure this out?

I'm sure I have the Freq's correct, they were programmed in to our HT1550's by the radio shop and I read them from there. Also, I've got them in a BC785 and hear the data burst type buzzes since I don't have the APCO board installed.

As I said in my last posting, we've received the Astro Spectra (limited keypad) from the statewide grant project. I can't read it with Spectra RSS, or Astro CPS, so I'm kinda lost there. I'd like to not oly read it for frequency information, but to reconfigure it to add such things as nuisance delete and scan programming ... It's kinda annoying with those.

Any guidance will be sincerly appreciated.

Dave

[webmedics]

Digital Squelch eh?
I think this might be the answer to my problem.

I'm not sure what I selected in this field. I'm not familiar with this newer technology. I know they use PL's mostly on the TX side (not sure why) as the repeaters seen to have the same TX and RX, I guess it must be to activate a uhf link to dispatch.

Thanks again for the help
Dave

[RadioGuyBri]

Short of having the Astro Network ID which you probably don't you will have to engage the Digital Carrier Squelch option in the RSS in order to monitor an ASTRO system.

[apco25]

Are you sure its not an Astro Spectra PLUS?

That would explain why it doesn't read.

[hamptonbeach]

webmedics - I'm from NH ... PM me with what you need