MFB and UBCD396XT

[willowtech]

Hi

I have moved over to a new UBCD396XT and have programmed the MMR using freescan. I have no issues hearing the AMBOS on the MMR but I am not hearing any MFB radio traffic at all.

I have tried using the import from radio reference of the MRR sites and groups, I have also wiped the scanner and created a new System, site and group from scratch, just with the MFB TGIDs. I have also tried the files posted by other members on this forum. No luck.I am not hearing anything.

I have validated that there is voice on the system by using an online scanner (broadcastify.com). I am based in the CBD so I know my reception should be fine.

I am assuming the device is ok, as I can other traffic when I program, CFA, Ambos, Regional Police. It just seems to be the MFB ones that are not working.

Being a bit new to trunking/digital, is it required to have all sites in the scanner or is it better to reduce the sites to ones that are close by.

Any ideas, I must be missing something obvious.

Cheers

[Radio_Australia]

Forgive me but Where exactly are you located ?

[NakedFaerie]

Yea, if your in Melbourne i just posted the CFA MMR for the Uniden on a few I other threads. Check them out for it. It also includes VicPol and Ambos

[willowtech]

I am in Melbourne CBD. I have CFA, Ambos all working.

The MFB seems to be an issue once I add more then two Sites to the System. For example if I have 120 Collins control and Melbourne Control it works ok. If I add Berwick, Chadstone or more, the MFB channels dont seem to trigger when their is radio traffic.

I am going to try to create a system for Ambos and one for Fire, it could just be that the Ambos are busier and hence I am missing the comms on MFB.

I want to add more sites as it is my understanding once I go mobile, I want to be able to continue to scan. Or do I have that wrong.

[Pumper_50]

CFA aren't on the MMR Network other than stations with specialist gear for mutual aid events (via portables only) or stations who border with the Metropolitan Fire District area and as such regularly turnout with MFB appliances.

If you are hearing the elements of the CFA on the MMR Network I mentioned above it means you should be hearing the MFB just fine as the CFA will use MFB TGID's when on the MMR Network for Mutual Aid calls/events.

I have validated that there is voice on the system by using an online scanner (broadcastify.com). I am based in the CBD so I know my reception should be fine.

You'd think so, but it can be tricky actually depending on your location within the CBD, especially if your within a building and directly underneath a Control Channel that your scanner has latched on to and not really getting a clear signal.

Given a location I often monitor from in the CBD being immediately under a transmit location of a Control Channel (420.0125 - 0101) I can get choppy results. But if I monitor a Control Channel from a building a few blocks over (420.0375 - 0102) I get better results.

I don't know if this is the case with yourself though given you're hearing the Ambos just fine. Are you in town today?

[peteramjet]

Being a bit new to trunking/digital, is it required to have all sites in the scanner or is it better to reduce the sites to ones that are close by.

The scanner will lock on talkgroups faster when scanning only one site. If you have multiple control channels programmed in the one scanner system then it will lock onto the first active control channel when turned on it finds (and stay on it) which may not be the tower you are after. You are therefore better to have each scanner system programmed with only one control channel and the alt control channel, which means you can the lock out any site you don't want to listen to. Then put each tslkgroups in these systems. Very easy to do in FreeScan that you use.

The MFB may not have any radios on near the towers/sites you have programmed, and with the way a trunked network operates you therefore won't hear any radio traffic from them on those sites. If this is the case the only way to hear them would be to listen to a tower they would definitely be using, such as one in the city.

[willowtech]

Thanks for the advise guys. I played around with only including a few sites in my MFB system and I seem to be picking up the MFB all ok now.

Cheers

[vkcpolice]

some sites wont broadcast out MFB traffic