Motorola

Motorola MDC-1200 Radio Numbering Scheme

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
by W8JKC

If your agency, or business is using Motorola MDC capable radios, then you can utilize this numbering scheme. This makes it easier to identify what type of radio and which unit # or radio # is transmitting at any given time.

I reccomend setting MDC to \”post only\” which will make the radio transmit the MDC at the end after the user releases the PTT on the radio.

First, lets start off with some background information. Motorola\’s MDC-1200 system is capable of using the characters A,B,C,D,E and numerals 0-9.

You can use any combination of these characters when setting the ID.

But lets make it simpler.

Let\’s assign these characters for certain radio types.

A – portable/handheld
B – base station
C – \”car\” or mobile
D – dispatch
E – EMERGENCY

Use these combined with the radio or unit #. For example.

My HT1250 portable is currently programmed to ID as A506. My unit number is 506 and its a portable radio.
My CDM1250 mobile is programmed to ID as C506.
Now I also have the \”emergency button\” programmed on both of these.

I programmed the ID on both so when the emergency button is pressed it reverts to the ID of 506E. (Notice the reversal)

Whenever either of my radios is in emergency mode, and I press the PTT it shows 506E.

Now if I cycle the power and reset to normal operation it will go back to A506.

This lets Dispatch know that my emergency button was pressed, and when I return to normal operation.

Now lets put this numbering scheme into use on an example department situation.

Lets say we have a small town fire department with 5 stations, 5 squads, 2 engines, a tanker, a tower, and a couple of other trucks. These apparatus are housed in 4 stations around the area. Our department has 30 portables also.

Each station has a base, each truck has a mobile, and each truck also carries 2 to 4 portables also.

Now we have already given each a unit number.

400 – Chief
401 – Asst. Cheif
402-409 Upper Staff
410 – Station 1
412 – Engine 1
415 – Medic 1
417 – Tower 1
419 – Grass Truck 1
420 – Station 2
422 – Engine 2
424 – Tanker 2
425 – Medic 2
430 – Station 3
435 – Medic 3
438 – Air/Scene Command (Truck 3)
440 – Station 4
446 – Utility/Support (Truck 4)
450 – Station 5
452 – Engine/Rescue 5
455 – Medic 5

For mobiles in each apparatus we put C and the unit number such as C446 for Truck 4. Truck 4 carries 2 portables so they both ID as A446.

Station 2\’s base would ID as B420.

At this point you can see how easy it is to set up MDC for every radio in your department.

If you find this information useful, or you want to suggest differently; please comment below or email me justin@helin_w8jkc.com

Stark County Trunked Radio System

Monday, February 23rd, 2009
by W8JKC

Recently, I have been monitoring the Stark County/Canton City 800Mhz Motorola Trunked Radio System.

This system id\’s itself as 8E0A. While information about talkgroups and such can be found on radioreference.com [LINK], some talkgroups are appearing on my system that are not listed.

I have found and am using 2 programs to decode the control channel, and find out the use of these new talkgroups. The first program is called Trunk88 and is DOS based. The second program is called Universal Trunker and while the version that I am using is based on DOS, there is a Win32 version available.

Both of these programs will display which Talkgroup, and Radio ID is on each of the trunking systems channels at the current time, which radios affiliate to which talkgroups, and other information that is sent over the control channel.

So far I have found about 10-15 different talkgroups that are not listed, and are being used.

Below is a list which includes these talkgroups and how many times it has been logged, and at what time it was logged.

Note: These talkgroups were monitored on the CROMER site, on 855.0375 Mhz.

TG ID —–# Hits ——First Logged ——- Last Logged
272               18                  Feb 21st                      Feb 21st
1024             13                  Feb 21st                      Feb 23rd
2096             1                    Feb 21st                       Feb 21st
2128              1                    Feb 20th                     Feb 21st
16576           1                    Feb 21st                      Feb 21st
16704           1                    Feb 20th                      Feb 21st
16736           1                     Feb 20th                      Feb 21st
17216            1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 21st
19376            1                    Feb 23rd                       Feb 23rd
41072            1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 23rd
41136             1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 21st
41168             1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 23rd
41200            1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 23rd
41264             1                    Feb 20th                       Feb 20th
41392             1                    Feb 23rd                       Feb 23rd
41520            4                     Feb 23rd                      Feb 23rd
41904            1                     Feb 20th                      Feb 23rd
41936            26                   Feb 20th                     Feb 23rd
42128            1                      Feb 20th                     Feb 23rd
65536            23                   Feb 21st                      Feb 23rd

These programs also require that you modify a scanner to get the baseband audio signal from the chip, before the filters that are to limit the audio for the humal aural range of sound.

All of these new talkgroups can be listened to on ScanAmerica.us [LINK], both Stark County feeds are provided by me.

If you happen to monitor this system yourself, and find anything out about these talkgroups, please let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me at 8E0A@helin_w8jkc.com.

Even something as simple as \”I heard 144 say that the intersection of 12th St and Market Ave. needs to be…\”, anything that may help to identify these talkgroups.

Radios for Sale

Thursday, December 4th, 2008
by W8JKC

I have 3 Motorola radios and 1 Yaesu radio for sale.

UPDATE: These radios have all been sold and are no longer available.

Package 1: 2 Motorola SP50 UHF Portables. Asking $175 or best offer.
Package 2: 1 Motorola MT1000 UHF Portable. Asking $70 or best offer.
Package 3: 1 Yaesu FT2200 VHF Mobile/Base. Asking $130 or best offer.

I also have 4 GE Ericsson MLSL161 Low Band Mobiles 8 Channel 50 Watt (FCC ID: AXA9HHMLSL161). Asking $75 each.

Shipping: $11 per package, or $15 with 2 or more packages combined. TO U.S. addresses only. Local Delivery/Pickup Available within 20 miles of 44707 zip code. (Wooster, Alliance, Canton, Akron, Massilon)

Payment: Paypal or U.S.P.S. Money Order Only.

Package Details:

1. 2x SP50 UHF 10 channels 4 watts, 2 radios, both programmed to same freqs and tones on all channels. Will talk to each other. Comes with 2 speaker mics and 2 chargers.

2. 1x MT1000 UHF 16 channels 2 watts, 1 radio, MUST be REPROGRAMMED after delivery. Comes with 1 speaker mic, and 1 charger.

3. 1x FT2200 VHF 50 channels 50 watts, 1 radio, Comes with DTMF Microphone, mounting bracket, and factory power cable.

Radio Specific Information:

1. SP50 – FCC ID: ABZ99FT4052
Model #: P94YQT20G2AA
S/N #: 777YCW62**

2. SP50 – FCC ID: ABZ99FT4052
Model #: P94YQT20G2AA
S/N #: 777YCW64**

3. MT1000 – FCC ID: AZ489FT4717
Model #: H34CUZ**GN
S/N #: 749AS***5

4. FT2200 – FCC ID: AKHFT2200
Model #: FT2200
S/N #: 5C2500**

You can view pics of these radios at this address: http://www.helin_w8jkc.com/images/radios.php

These are great deals. Do not pass them up.

Please contact me by email $\"\"$ or phone (330) 806-6700 to purchase or make an offer.