PROGRAMMING -- Entering EDACS frequencies in your scanner.
Below is a practice example of EDACS programming. Before you program your local system, you need a list with system frequencies by LCN (Logical Channel Number). Be aware that it is critical to store each frequency in the correct slot, according to its LCN. Otherwise your scanner will tune to the expected slot, find the wrong frequency, and you will receive noise or an unwanted transmission. Thus, in the bank you are using, LCN#1 must go in the FIRST location, LCN#2 in the SECOND location, etc. It is likely that your system is listed in the EDACS GUIDE on the GTRAC site at http://gtrac.ztn.net.
A PRACTICE PROGRAMMING EXAMPLE
A good way to learn how to program an EDACS trunked system is by actually doing it. For this example we will program a small 4 channel system, using as an example the Watertown, WI system. We will program it into Bank 1. Here is the LCN and Frequency list:
-------------------
Watertown Wisconsin
01 857.2375
02 858.2375
03 859.2375
04 860.2375
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Just follow steps 1-12:
1. Turn the radio on. Wait until display stops flashing the startup message.
2. Press and hold [TRUNK] until display starts flashing TRUNK.
3. Press a digit [1] to select the bank you want to program.
4. Press [LIMIT/DOWN] until display shows Ed.
5. Press [E].
You are now in EDACS programming mode, and in the bank you selected (Bank 1 in this case). The screen will show the first channel number in the bank and its current contents, like [ 1 161.640 ]. Note also a tiny [E] at the left side of the screen which indicates EDACS. Now all you have to do is enter the frequencies in the correct locations.
6. Enter the frequency for channel 01 by typing 857.2375[E].
7. Press the [HOLD/UP ARROW] key.
8. Enter the frequency for channel 02 by typing 858.2375[E].
9. Press the [HOLD/UP ARROW] key.
10. Enter the frequency for channel 03 by typing 859.2375[E].
11. Press the [HOLD/UP ARROW] key.
12. Enter the frequency for channel 04 by typing 860.2375[E].
Now all 4 frequencies are programmed.
Use the same basic procedure to program your local EDACS system. Your system may have more channels, and you may want to put it in a different bank. But the basic steps are the same.
RECEPTION -- Receiving and tracking EDACS once you have your scanner programmed.
1. Turn on the scanner. Wait until the display stops flashing the startup message.
2. If display shows TRUNK, press [TRUNK] to turn it off.
3. Press [SCAN].
4. Watch the bars under the bank numbers, and use digit keys to select the bank with the EDACS system.
You have now selected the EDACS bank and, until the next step, the scanner is in conventional scan mode. You may hear some system activity or the control channel.
5. Press TRUNK.
6. Press SEARCH.
You have now set the scanner to SEARCH the bank with your EDACS system. Other banks are turned off. In this mode, and if the scanner has found the control channel, it will let you hear and see whatever talkgroups are active. When the system is idle, you will see a line of dashes on the screen, indicating the scanner is locked to the control channel.
* If you hear an interesting talkgroup, you can press [HOLD] to lock to it instantly.
* If you want to sample random conversations, but without other talkgroups interrupting, you can press [DELAY] and the scanner will stay with the last active talkgroup until it has been idle for more than 5 seconds.
* If you want to listen to related talkgroups, learn how to use the AFS and XPAND features. For example, if you just heard something interesting on police talkgroup 08-042, you can key in [0][8][.][SEARCH] and you will select it along with other related police talkgroups.
Finally, read your manual to learn how to store talkgroups in scanlists to customize your scanning. Remember that you can use abbreviated talkgroups in scanlists too.
FAILURE TO LOCK TO CONTROL CHANNEL
At the very start of trunked reception, the scanner must look for and find the control channel. During this process the display will show either the word SCAN or will show rapidly changing frequencies. If it doesn't find the control channel in 5 or 10 seconds you should find out why. So a good first step is to listen to each channel in MANUAL mode:
1. Press [TRUNK] to turn off the TRUNK display.
2. Press [MAN] to enter Manual mode.
3. Press appropriate digits, then [MAN] to go to the first channel in the bank with your EDACS channels.
4. Turn the squelch fully open (fully clockwise).
5. Listen to each channel, pressing [MAN] to step through the bank.
As you listen to each channel -- Can you find the control channel? Do you hear trunked system transmissions?
If NO, you CAN'T hear either the control channel, possible reasons are:
* You didn't program the control channel frequency.
* Your frequency list has the wrong frequencies.
* You are in a very weak signal area.
If YES, you CAN hear the control channel and other transmissions, but the scanner did not lock to the control channel in TRUNKED mode, possible reasons are:
* You programmed the control channel in conventional or Motorola mode.
* You have applied LOCKOUT to the control channel.
* You don't have the correct bank turned on.
* You had the squelch too high.
* You did not have the scanner in TRUNK mode.
* The trunked system is not EDACS.
POOR TRACKING
If, when trying to track, you consistently hear the 'beeps' the problem could be:
* When you programmed, you were not in Ed mode -- you programmed as Conventional or Motorola.
* You did not have the scanner in TRUNK mode -- you were receiving conventionally.
If your scanner locks on the control channel -- but you get only parts of transmissions or miss replies, possible reasons are:
* Your frequency list is in the wrong order (wrong LCNs).
* You are missing some system frequencies.
* You have LOCKOUT applied to some of the channels.
* The signal is too weak.
* Also -and critical- if your system has 'blanks' or unused LCNs -- Don't shift higher LCNs down to fill in an unused LCN. The 'blanks' must be included in your programming. Just store '0' in those locations. (Or, as one clever user suggested, store the NOAA Weather Service there - and if those channels should later come into use you will know it when you start hearing the weather.)
Another reception problem is 'de-sensing'. This typically happens near cellphone towers. When there is an overload of RF energy the scanner just can't handle it and loses sensitivity. You may not hear the interfering signals but reception just disappears until they are reduced.
Please email comments and submissions to Terence Brennan and Sean Sullivan at gtrac@golux.org
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EDACS stands for "Enhanced Digital Access Communications System", and is a registered trademark of Ericcson Corporation.