P25 AUTO or MANUAL? Please Explain!

[kruser]

What exactly is the difference between the P25 auto and manual choices?
I'm having a hard time finding much about this setting and what it really affects in operation.

Does it have to do with the system threshold settings that can also be changed for each TSYS?

I'm attempting to monitor the Starcom system in Illinois. I can hear the control channel but the signal is weak. 2 bars on the PSR-600 and 1 bar on the BCD996T.

The BCD996T has a manual setting for controlling the P25 decode rate and it is set to 9 for this system. The 996T receives the system very well. The PSR-600 barely decodes anything. The radios are both fed from a Stridsberg MCA208 multicoupler.

I could have an overload situation here which I'll deal with but first I'd really like to understand the meaning of the P25 Auto and Manual settings if anyone cares to share that info.

Also, are the Threshold High /Low settings the same thing as the Decode Rate manual adjustment available in the BCD996T? If not then is there a similar setting in the PSR-600 that can be adjusted for each P25 system?
I also monitor the cities P25 system but on the 996T it needs a manual adjustment set to 5 for the best decode rate which is a bit away from the Starcom's setting of 9.
Thanks for any help.

[mikey60]

The P25 Auto setting will pick up the trunking tables automatically from the control channel data stream. Most systems transmit this information and will work with this setting.

The P25 Manual setting is used on those systems that do not transmit the frequency tables on the control channel. There are only a few of these that I'm aware of. In this case, you have to manually enter the trunking tables to track the system.

Mike

[fmon]

Originally Posted by kruser

Also, are the Threshold High /Low settings the same thing as the Decode Rate manual adjustment available in the BCD996T? If not then is there a similar setting in the PSR-600 that can be adjusted for each P25 system?

Threshold settings apply to Multisite when ROAM setting is used. These are for tweaking the level of CC value you are seeking while traveling through a multisite system.

For tuning P25 CC data, use as follows:
PGM>FUNC>F3(GLOB)
Down 27 beeps

There are four 4 96 CC settings which will maybe help tweak the CC operation. On each setting you can press FUNC SEL for a short description of what the setting applies to. Press SEL again to return to setting options.

Mike's (under his signature) outstanding PSREdit program will have these Global settings in Weather/Advanced Configuration tab of software.

[kruser]

Originally Posted by mikey60

The P25 Auto setting will pick up the trunking tables automatically from the control channel data stream. Most systems transmit this information and will work with this setting.

The P25 Manual setting is used on those systems that do not transmit the frequency tables on the control channel. There are only a few of these that I'm aware of. In this case, you have to manually enter the trunking tables to track the system.

Mike

Thanks Mike for that simple answer. I was looking for something much more involved so I must have skimmed over the answer while reading documentation unless it really is hidden info not in the manual.

This makes things very easy figuring all the local systems near me do transmit the frequency tables as far as I know.

Steve

[kruser]

Thanks for the info Frank.
I use PSREdit but not as my main app for the PSR-600 so I must not have explored all the settings.
I also did not realize that Mike was the man behind the app! Good going Mike!

Steve

[fmon]

Originally Posted by kruser

Thanks for the info Frank.
I use PSREdit but not as my main app for the PSR-600 so I must not have explored all the settings.
I also did not realize that Mike was the man behind the app! Good going Mike!

Steve

You bet Steve.

In alphabetical order:
ARC500 Global>Expert tab
ScanControl Global>Advanced tab
Win500 Extended Settings tab

[mikey60]

Originally Posted by kruser

Thanks Mike for that simple answer. I was looking for something much more involved so I must have skimmed over the answer while reading documentation unless it really is hidden info not in the manual.

This makes things very easy figuring all the local systems near me do transmit the frequency tables as far as I know.

Steve

The one thing I didn't mention there was that only P25 9600 bps control channel systems transmit these tables. Motorola 3600 systems do not.

Mike