Questions about display....

TheJerk · #1 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 10:26 AM

The manual is lacking in explanation of the display for both my 300 and 400...

What is the lightning bolt deal in the bottom right corner? I seem to think I notice this only appears on certain transmissions?

What is the percent in the bottom right corner of a Motorola (trunked) transmission?? I noticed it keeps changing??

RadMarv · #2 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 06:41 PM

Possibly the same as the PRO-96 display...

See attached PDF file.

TheJerk · #3 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 06:47 PM

Similar, but not the same...

The lightning bolt for the PRO-96 indicates its receiving a station, but it only illuminates on some transmissions for this GRE. And I've got good signal strength on most transmissions (doesn't seem to be a signal strength thing)...

The percent thing is weird, almost like its percent signal strength? And it only occurs (so far) with trunked Motorola signals, and only certain ones of those...its an actual number (85%, 99&, 77%, etc.)

TheJerk · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 07:47 PM

OK, the lightning bolt must indicate the frequency has the tone code associated with it? Seems to occur when the tone code has been entered, and doesn't appear when its a "generic" frequency.

scanbc780 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJerk

Similar, but not the same...

The lightning bolt for the PRO-96 indicates its receiving a station, but it only illuminates on some transmissions for this GRE. And I've got good signal strength on most transmissions (doesn't seem to be a signal strength thing)...

The percent thing is weird, almost like its percent signal strength? And it only occurs (so far) with trunked Motorola signals, and only certain ones of those...its an actual number (85%, 99&, 77%, etc.)

Dont take my word for it but I think the % is the decoding rate on the control channel data.

AlabamaRS · #6 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 08:07 PM

ScanBC780 is correct, The lightning bolt simply means its receiving a transmission

RadMarv · #7 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 09:08 PM

For the %'s, probably the same as the PSR-500... from the manual...

Dedicated TUNE mode also displays information about trunking
control channels and trunked voice channels it finds while tuning
through the RF spectrum. The following information is displayed
for the various trunking modes:

Trunked Mode
Motorola 3600 baud control channel

Analysis Display
qq% SID:ssss Stt

where qq=decoding quality of the
control channel data, SID=System ID,
and S=Site Number

Trunked Mode
P25 9600 BPS control channel qq% Nnnn W:wwwww

Sys:sss Rrr Stt

Analysis Display
where qq=decoding quality of the
control channel data, N=NAC,
W=WACN, SYS=System ID, R=RFSS,
and S=Site Number

Trunked Mode
EDACS control channel

Analysis Display
qq% S:ss h/H s/S a/A

where qq=decoding quality of the
control channel data, S=Site ID, h/
H=not home site/is home site, s/S=not
SCAT site/is SCAT site, a/A=not Aux
CC/is Aux CC

TheJerk · #8 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 10:12 PM

Thanks...that does make sense.

The lightning bolt doesn't appear every time...I assume its only for coded frequencies?

ibagli · #9 (**permalink**) 09-13-2009, 10:26 PM

I think you might be right about the tone code. My PSR-500 and Pro-106 have a similar symbol that only comes up when a tone has been decoded.

TheJerk · #10 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 09:39 PM

OK another question...second line down...

pri dly lo +

I know the first three are priority, delay, lockout...what's the "+" for? I found all these answers before buying the scanner, and now that I own one, I can't find those references!

gmclam · #11 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJerk

OK another question...second line down...

pri dly lo +

I know the first three are priority, delay, lockout...what's the "+" for? I found all these answers before buying the scanner, and now that I own one, I can't find those references!

+ means the current bank is open, - means the current bank is closed.

During scanning, the 2nd line of the display (the top line has the S meter and other misc symbols) shows 0 to 9 for 10 banks of the scanner. When a bank is on, its number is displayed. When a bank is off, a dot is shown it the number's place.

During scanning, the 3rd line of the display is a row of +, - or dots. A + indicates the bank above it is open; a - means the bank above it is closed, a dot means the bank above is not enabled.

When receiving a signal, the - of the line " pri dly lo - " means the bank is closed.

Astrak · #12 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 02:21 AM

The lightning bolt symbol on the bottom of the scanner shows that the radio is receiving a tone, if you look towards the top at the same time you'll notice that the symbol is also there regardless of whether or not a tone is present while the scanner is receiving a signal.

gmclam · #13 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrak

The lightning bolt symbol on the bottom of the scanner shows that the radio is receiving a tone,

This is correct. As long as you have the mode set to CT or DC, when a tone is being received, the lightning bolt will be illuminated.

Quote:

if you look towards the top at the same time you'll notice that the symbol is also there regardless of whether or not a tone is present while the scanner is receiving a signal.

This is NOT CORRECT. The PSR-300 & PSR-400 have a newer display. They do not display a lightning bolt for "signal present" they now have an "S meter". The meter's value indicates a signal level, not just "present" and "not present". I should also note that the "S" indicates the squelch is open, not that a signal is present.