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It's been a long time since I have used a Pro96 so I forgot how they worked. I looked over a manual and it appears that they may track P25 Phase 1 systems using the "Motorola" setting (a confusing misnomer, unfortunately). If I understand the manual correctly, the "Motorola" mode will automatically adjust between Motorola Type I, Type II, Type II Hybrid, and P25 depending on what it "sees". If true, it should be able to decode the P25 control channel even if it is Phase II (it just won't be able to track and decode any voice, of course).

Interestingly, I note that RR now has a listing for this system and a thread about it but the db listing says it is Phase 1!

-Mike

sp1989 wrote:There's no setting on the Pro 96 for P25, if it's a digital signal, the radio automatically changes to "digital" mode from FM when it detects it. It only does that on this system randomly, mostly it stays FM. If it's Phase II, I guess it's trying to work but it can't.

On the 396 if you're setting up a network that is analog with digital mixed in, then you would use Motorola.

The best way to know when setting up a system is to examine the system voice line.

cvrules90 wrote:

sp1989 wrote:There's no setting on the Pro 96 for P25, if it's a digital signal, the radio automatically changes to "digital" mode from FM when it detects it. It only does that on this system randomly, mostly it stays FM. If it's Phase II, I guess it's trying to work but it can't.

On the 396 if you're setting up a network that is analog with digital mixed in, then you would use Motorola.

The best way to know when setting up a system is to examine the system voice line.

He is using a Radio Shack Pro96 (http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-96) NOT a Uniden 396(T or XT) so what you're suggesting would not apply. Also, the system is a true P25 system - it would, therefor, have no analog talkgroups period!

The fact that the old Pro96 did not have a separate setting for P25 systems and just lumped it all together under a "Motorola" setting is just an unfortunate weirdness quirk of the way it was designed - one which, obviously, confuses many users! According to the manual, however, the setting should still automatically detect and correctly configure itself for a true P25 system.

-Mike

Thanks for your input Mike, much appreciated!

Programmed it via RR, it's trunking properly and am hearing some sporadic voice traffic. Sounded like radio techs maybe.

sp1989 wrote:Programmed it via RR, it's trunking properly and am hearing some sporadic voice traffic.

Cool! Well, I guess that means it at least has some Phase 1 talk groups! I will have to give it a listen again and see what I can get.

-Mike

Checked the license and its 8K10F1D and 8K10F1E - P25 Phase I C4FM

So I am curious why UniTrunker reports P2 for channel access.
Also seen Phase 2 mentions in pro96Com packet dump.

???

I can also confirm Uniden BCD996XT scanner tracks it just fine.

brandon wrote:Checked the license and its 8K10F1D and 8K10F1E - P25 Phase I C4FM

So I am curious why UniTrunker reports P2 for channel access.
Also seen Phase 2 mentions in pro96Com packet dump.

???

I can also confirm Uniden BCD996XT scanner tracks it just fine.

I'm guessing that most, if not all, new P25 installations have Phase 2 TDMA capability, at least partially, built-in. I think it likely that the new system for Caltrans has a P25 Phase 2 base station and/or site controller(s) and can allow future full P25 P2 subscribers and voice channel capacity when desired. If Caltrans, so far, only has Phase 1 capable subscriber units they are likely thinking forward to a time when they will upgrade. Perhaps there are even some specialized units already online that are Phase 2; the system itself will likely have P2 TDMA voice slots already maybe for testing if for no other reason.

-Mike

Either this sytem is really new and not fully in service, or it is encrypted. I heard one short series of clear transmissions which sounded like radio techs, but nothing since. The control channel is loud and clear in East Hemet, so it's not the signal. i've been running one scanner on this system all day and that's all I've heard. Have not heard any digital burps and farts like with PSEC though, so maybe the system is just not online yet?

No encryption spotted. I doubt there would be.
I am hearing routine Caltrans type traffic.

Some brief notes from todays activity
1201 disp referred to as Santa Ana. Unit reported broken down veh 57 @ Katella.
1212 unit sweeping spots.
1217 car to car? Throwing flares. Sweeping?