Posted by Wiz on March 19, 2001 at 10:22:00:
In Reply to: Re: Trunking posted by zach on March 18, 2001 at 00:40:47:
Zach is essentially correct. The symptoms for not having all the frequencies (assuming you at least have the correct control channel frequency)is that you may miss some or all of a talkgroup (TG) conversation. Exapple:
As long as a TG is assigned to a frequency you have programmed into your scanner, the scanner will go to that frequency and you will hear the TG activity. But, if the TG is then assigned to a frequency you did not program in, your scanner will not pick up that part of the conversation. As long as you are in range to receive the site, whatever you do hear will be "clean." But as Zach says, if you go outside the coverage area of the site you are monitoring, things will get scratchy and then become unusable.
The above discussion about frequency programming is not applicable to the software scanning products or the newer scanners that only require the control channel to be programmed.
Trunking in general and Smart Zone in particular, are very complex topics. Since you said you are new to scanning, I would encourage you to go to the previous WEB page (http://interceptradio.com/interceptnw), go to the bottom of the page (documents) and read "trunked radio system monitoring."
Wiz
: : I have just started scanning and I have noticed that when I am in Downtown Seattle, I can pick up KCSO N/NW loud and clear. But when I move north, near where I live, Shoreline, the messages become garbled and full of static. Did I just not enter all the frequencies or what? Has anyone had this problem?
: It depends on what system you've programmed... if you programmed in the City of Seattle system and were picking up the Sheriff simulcast, then losing the signal when you leave the city would be normal. As for not entering all the frequencies- you wouldn't even be able to get garbled or staticy signals if you didn't have all of them programmed in. Double-check to make sure you're not monitoring the Seattle system. If you are on the King County system, maybe you're just in a reallllly bad spot.