Batboard

Hello everyone,

I'm currently trying to setup MDC Calling on my XTS3000 and some Spectras. I'm currently testing with a single Spectra and a single XTS3000. I've got call alert decode turned on in the XTS on this particular mode, people in the call list and such. When I sent a call from the Spectra to the XTS, the XTS does NOTHING. after a few attempts, the Spectra reports NO CALL ACK. When I send a call FROM the XTS to the Spectra the Spectra responds immediatly and the XTS reports the call was recieved.
Am I doing something wrong on the XTS? Does anyone know exactly what needs to be done to get the XTS to DECODE a call and notify the user? I've never set this up before but it didn't look to difficult. Quite the contrary I guess. I'm running everything in analog too. Also, the Spectra ia NOT an Astro.

Any help would be really appreciated. Ultimately what I'm trying to do is setup a channel users can switch to which is really the same channel as the repeater but set it up so the speaker never unmutes unless someone sends a selective call to that person. That way if there's chatter on the repeater, comeone can switch to their selective call mode and only get traffic directed to them.

Scott.

Just because someone's gonna ask:

model #/Firmware/Flash/etc.

-Alex

Same here with two Astro Saber 3's with A7 Spectra's. Saber to Spectra works, but not Spectra to Saber. I do get an Ack back from the Spectra when I call or page the spectra, and it shows up on the saber, but thats it.

Either the AStro or the Saber has the Fleet or group ID, but the other one doesn't. I am sure that may have something to do with it.

I believe this is a Spectra issue.

I did some MDC experiments a few months back. I never got back to the project so my data is not yet complete, however here is what I found that may partly explain this issue.

MDC signalling sends one packet for some functions like PTT ID. The packet contains an opcode [which defines the function of the packet] and the associated ID. For example, an MDC packet "0100 1234" would be a PTT ID packet where 0100 is the opcode identifying the purpose as PTT ID and 1234 as the originating unit.

MDC calls consist of two packets. The first packet contains an opcode indicating the purpose as a 'call' and also contains the ID of the target unit. The second packet contains an opcode identifying the TYPE of call [voice selective call / call alert] and contains the ID of the originating unit.

Now suppose we go to a Centracom console whose ID is 0001 and encode a call alert to unit 5555. The resulting MDC packets would be: 3589 5555 830D 0001.

If we program a Spectra with its ID as 0001 and send what Spectra calls a "Page", the same data will be sent: 3589 5555 830D 0001.

If we send a voice selective call from the console [or SC from a Maxtrac or "Call" from an Astro Saber] the data sent is: 3589 5555 8015 0001.

If we send "CA" from a Spectra however, we get: 3589 5555 8205 5555.

Different opcode - not sure why but of all the different radios I tried only Spectra sends the 8205 opcode.

I don't have a Motorola MDC 'data dictionary' so I can't say exactly what the difference means, but I have deduced that these opcodes are actually comprised of individual bits that identify certain functions such as whether or not the target radio should acknowledge the packets it has just received.

I would also venture that the different ages of the radio has something to do with it.

Remember, MDC was developed for PTT-ID and for consoles to query a mobile or portable with call alert or selective call. Most of the earlier vintage radios didn't support advanced MDC functions such as initiating those types of calls from a portable or mobile.

Only later were those features added.

Different opcode - not sure why but of all the different radios I tried only Spectra sends the 8205 opcode.

Well that may be the case, but if the XTS's Opcode is different than the Spectras, and the XTS is a newer radio. Lets say the Spectra's Opcode is obsolete. Lets say that the new Astro Radios are using a "new" Opcode. We've already determined the Spectra obviously sends something different. With all that said, why is it the Spectra can decode and respond to a Call Request from a NEW Astro radio but an Astro radio cannot recieve a "legacy" call? I think we're still doing something wrong here. While it's not entirely impossible, if this was the case, it would be a major design flaw on Motorola's part. Or, alternatively, it could be one of Motorola's marketing scams to force people upgrading SOME of their equipment to upgrading ALL of their equipment.

By the way.. What type of Spectra is it that you're playing with? I'm using a C7 with securenet, but securenet is disabled for all of these tests.

I'm using a T84GXA A9 Spectra with Securenet installed. Securenet is not running during the tests... Meaning, if it hit the secure button it WOULD be on. I have NOT disabled it in RSS, just via control head.

I'm going to keep digging, but I'm getting frusturated too. I've spent hours on this now and have gotten no where. I've gone over all the settings in CPS a hundred times and can't find anything that would prevent the XTS from recieving the call.

I would also venture that the different ages of the radio has something to do with it.

But remember, BOTH radios SUPPORT the feature!!

Anyone have any luck yet? As an FYI, I was able to get the AS3 and an XTS1 to work, but nothing with my AS3 and Spectra...

ok... I got this to work... Kinda..

Here goes. After endless experimenting I was able to get selective call to work. This is complicated so really take the time to try and understand it.

I was able to get the radio to do what appears to be "Selective Calling" in both directions. I can get one radio to alert the other and open it's squelch and immediatly allow voice to come through. The same goes in the opposite directions. My equipment is an XTS3000 UHF Model III and an ANALOG Spectra A9 Secure Enabled. Here's what I did:

On the Spectra, F4, F3, F3, F7:

1) Call Alert: Decode
2) One Button Call Alert: Not Avail
3) List Type: List-Only
4) Muting Type: OR
5) Auto Select Decode: Enabled
6) Selective Call Encode: Enabled
7) Selective Call Type: Automatic
Fleet/Group Calls: Disabled

Now, some of these options may not even appear with out turning on other options first. This is the only way I was able to get the Spectra to recieve and send MDC Calls. With the MDC Call Options setup in this configuration you can press your CALL button, use the MODE button to pick the unit from your Call List then press the PTT, wait until the sidetone is complete and begin talking.

On the XTS the Screen will display CALL RECIEVD, beep twice and open the squelch. You can set the Unmute options under the MDC section to OR to elable DATA or PL, or you could set up an exclusive channel and set the Unmute setting to DATA,

On the Spectra you can only set the unmute option system wide... I think. I had to create a channel and name it SELECT CALL. I changed the RX PL tone to something other than what we use. I set the TX PL to the CORRECT tone. I then set the SYSTEM WIDE UNMUTE option to OR. That way when I get a call it opens the squelch dispite the INCORRECT PL. Works great. Unfortunatly, The Spectra does not function like the XTS. On the XTS I CAN set the unmute properties on a PER MODE basis. Not so on the Spectra.

I tried to change the AUTOMATIC setting under the MDC CALL Settings to something other than AUTOMATIC but when I do that, the Spectra is TOTALLY unresponsive to MDC Calls from the XTS. These settings, as far as I'm able to tell, is the ONLY way to get ANY kind of MDC calling to work in both directions between an XTS and an ANALOG Spectra.

If anyone was build on what i've been able to find, please share it with us. The help within the RSS for the Spectra sucks and is not clear on what does what. Neither are the options (what they are labeled as).

So far so good... Let see if we can crack this puzzle completly!