Rowley Police

[Medic Responder]

As of February 1st, the Rowley Police Department has gone digital. Same frequency (482.7875) with a NAC of 639.

[wsurette]

Did you have any luck programing with this information. I have a BCD436, Uniden, that I just can't get to behave.

[wsurette]

Lynn MA, usually hear them clear as day. Now just data noise on the analog scanner and nothing on the BCD436. Trying to get the scanner set up for family in Rowley to use. Tried using the above information, letting the scanner search for the particulars itself, and changing the modulation from NFM to FM, and automatic, no luck at all..

[garys]

Make sure that audio is set to digital, squelch is set to P25, and the NAC is 639.

What do you have set to "automatic?'

What software are you using or are you programming by hand?

[disp617]

Just for giggles try swapping NACs, hex vs decimal. I've had to do this on some of my uniden scanners.

[wsurette]

I have the modulation setting on automatic, after trying NFM, and FM, although I believe NFM is correct. Also had the NAC639, with no luck before changing it to "digital search".

Using the sentinel software.

[W1KNE]

I have the modulation setting on automatic, after trying NFM, and FM, although I believe NFM is correct. Also had the NAC639, with no luck before changing it to "digital search".

Using the sentinel software.

So it's working after removing the NAC tone? Also did you add the digital as a new line or edit the existing line?
If you added a new line, just a reminder the default service tag changes to "custom" on the new line.

[ecps92]

N639 - Lima Charlie to the South Shore

[wsurette]

Nothing works even after removing the tone setting.

I entered a new line on Sentinel as a digital channel and frequency, leaving the original analog entry from RR in place..

[garys]

Try this in Sentinel,

ROWLEY POLICE - 482.787500 FM NAC 639 Law Dispatch Off 2sec Off Off 0 0 Off

Don't worry about NFM versus FM.

Let us know if it works.

[W1KNE]

Nothing works even after removing the tone setting.

I entered a new line on Sentinel as a digital channel and frequency, leaving the original analog entry from RR in place..

OK. One more thing to try. Try monitoring using Quick Search. This will prove your programming is good, or bad.
Do this BEFORE Gary's suggestion, please.

1) Turn on your scanner
2) When it boots, hit [Channel]
3) Enter the frequency with decimal. Do NOT hit enter at the end.
4) Hit [Channel] again.
5) Set your squelch to S:02. (Press function then the multifunction knob to turn it down). This will set the squelch to just above the noise threshold.

This will monitor the frequency as a straight forward tuner, vs anything scanner programming related.
If your scanner does not hear it, it will be deaf to the channel mentioned.

If it does hear them, I can suggest you send us your HPE file from Sentinel and we can check to see what is happening with your scanner.

[wsurette]

After a few days I was able to take the radio a few towns closer to Rowley, and it appears to work when programmed as prescribed. Thank you very much for the help.

As always I continue to get their analog signal strong and clear at my home, but for some reason the digital signal is not making the trip. I assumed it would be just the opposite and never considered that to be a potential problem.. Guess I'll be better educated the next time.

[JohnRugg]

Many of these towns are going simulcast when they go digital, and the 436 doesn’t have the right receiver for that. Bill heard them on the south shore. What receiver was ecps92 using? It’s also possible Bill only heard a single dominant transmitter, whereas you are hearing multiple ones, causing the issue.

EDIT: You said you heard noise on your analog scanner, but nothing on your digital one. Bingo. Obviously their signal makes it to you, because you heard the noise, but your digital scanner couldn’t decode it because it doesn’t have the right receiver for simulcast.

Worth Noting: Their license has not been modified to add digital emissions, nor any additional transmitter sites (assuming that’s what they’ve done here). Guess they don’t think or know they need to do that…

John

[ecps92]

Morning John

Radio's I used for Digital/P25 are
GRE600 and my RS equiv both with inside antennas, nothing outside the house.
One was an 800 Beam aimed at GBH and heard Rowley, the other was a BNC dual Band Amateur Duckie on an overthe window lip, sitting on metal shelving - both 2nd floor

Many of these towns are going simulcast when they go digital, and the 436 doesn’t have the right receiver for that. Bill heard them on the south shore. What receiver was ecps92 using? It’s also possible Bill only heard a single dominant transmitter, whereas you are hearing multiple ones, causing the issue.

EDIT: You said you heard noise on your analog scanner, but nothing on your digital one. Bingo. Obviously their signal makes it to you, because you heard the noise, but your digital scanner couldn’t decode it because it doesn’t have the right receiver for simulcast.

Worth Noting: Their license has not been modified to add digital emissions, nor any additional transmitter sites (assuming that’s what they’ve done here). Guess they don’t think or know they need to do that…

John

[Lex998]

I am able to receive the Rowley Police P25 channel clearly about 25-30 miles southwest of Rowley using a 436 with the stock antenna.

[aleckrohto]

Listening to Rowley PD, I notice the cars are in P25, but the dispatcher sounds like it is analog patch (still hear the MDC squawk at the beginning). Wonder how that is possible that the dispatcher is in analog on a P25 channel.

[ecps92]

Not listening much, it could be like many NH agencies, where it is MIXED Mode. Meaning they can use either mode.
Couple of NH towns, Dispatch Analog and Cruisers are P25

Listening to Rowley PD, I notice the cars are in P25, but the dispatcher sounds like it is analog patch (still hear the MDC squawk at the beginning). Wonder how that is possible that the dispatcher is in analog on a P25 channel.

[kelton.dray]

Listening to Rowley PD, I notice the cars are in P25, but the dispatcher sounds like it is analog patch (still hear the MDC squawk at the beginning). Wonder how that is possible that the dispatcher is in analog on a P25 channel.

When the console generates the MDC1200 ID on the analog line, it will be heard over P25.
Brattleboro PD exhibits this

[aleckrohto]

Not listening much, it could be like many NH agencies, where it is MIXED Mode. Meaning they can use either mode.
Couple of NH towns, Dispatch Analog and Cruisers are P25

Nope not mixed mode, totally P25. Maybe the dispatcher has an analog fixed link into the system. Not sure if that is possible.

[W1KNE]

Nope not mixed mode, totally P25. Maybe the dispatcher has an analog fixed link into the system. Not sure if that is possible.

It is possible and done more frequently than you may realize. I've heard MDC tones on other P25 and DMR systems. (There's one down in New Haven that has that, and the analog link sounds awful over the DMR repeater)

[ScanBoston]

Something is wrong here. MDC is analog P25 has ID's embedded in the data. If your hearing MDC it's either an analog transmission or something is being converted badly. There is no reason for MDC in a P25 world.

[ecps92]

Considering Rowley Fire [used to, unknown if still] used a UHF Pair to access the TX/RX Sites, maybe PD do the same and that is still Analog ? [Just a WAG]

Nope not mixed mode, totally P25. Maybe the dispatcher has an analog fixed link into the system. Not sure if that is possible.