New PSR500--- Getting a little frustrated now...

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Where is the Warren City system located? I can't seem to find here in the RR database.
Larry

The county seat of warren county is in Lebenon, Ohio. If memories serves me correctly, there are two towers. One in Lebenon, and one in Springboro.

In the RR database: US-->OH-->Warren-->800 System--> ...

Warren is the COUNTY here... not to be corn-fused with the CITY of Warren, which is a different animal in a different county.

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Just thought I'd report back.

Purchased the RS duck 800 antenna today (about $20)...

I must say, I am much happier now.

Pre-RS 800 antenna, I would have rated my P25 reception a 2-3 out of 10

Post-RS 800 antenna, I would now rate my P25 reception a 7 out of 10
(In fact, there are sweet spots around the house where I would give it a 8/10 now)

where a rating of 10 would be my experience with analog 800 reception.

I do understand that P25 reception may only be able to obtain 9/10 at best with these scanners.

Many thanks to everyone for all of their help, input, and listening to my initial frustrations.

[N8IAA]

Glad to be of assistance. Enjoy the scanner.
Larry

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Glad to be of assistance. Enjoy the scanner.
Larry

It's happening as I write this.....

[Ensnared]

I've been reading your posts about the PSR 500 P25 reception. I have been pretty lucky with P25 reception in Central Texas. However, when I visit relatives in Sloan, outside of Sioux City, Iowa, I have less than optimal reception. When I listen to STARCOMM Siouxland Tri-State Area Radio Communications (STARCOMM) Trunking System, Sioux City, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies, reception is very poor. When I drive north of Sioux City, reception shows significant improvement. In this case, it seems that tower location is a major factor in reception. In some cases like GATTRS in Austin, Texas, it is necessary to use the ATT feature. So, I hope you eventually figure out what is going on. When I have been stumped by my GRE's performance, I have often written to GRE specifically. I have an email of one of their representatives. He has been very helpful. So, if you want his email address, I will send it via PM. I hope you eventually work things out because I love my 500.

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Originally Posted by Ensnared

I've been reading your posts about the PSR 500 P25 reception. I have been pretty lucky with P25 reception in Central Texas. However, when I visit relatives in Sloan, outside of Sioux City, Iowa, I have less than optimal reception. When I listen to STARCOMM Siouxland Tri-State Area Radio Communications (STARCOMM) Trunking System, Sioux City, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies, reception is very poor. When I drive north of Sioux City, reception shows significant improvement. In this case, it seems that tower location is a major factor in reception. In some cases like GATTRS in Austin, Texas, it is necessary to use the ATT feature. So, I hope you eventually figure out what is going on. When I have been stumped by my GRE's performance, I have often written to GRE specifically. I have an email of one of their representatives. He has been very helpful. So, if you want his email address, I will send it via PM. I hope you eventually work things out because I love my 500.

As indicated in one of my previous posts, I am amazed that the RS 800 antenna improved things as much as it did.

I am largely happy with the P25 performance at the moment. The improvement I experienced I would almost classify as an "order of magnitude" type of improvement over the supplied antenna, all other things being equal.

From a manufacturers standpoint, and, via searching other posts around here, I am not the only one that has made this observation. Surely, not everyone's circumstances will result in this kind of improvement. But, in my case at least, it made the PSR500 beast act like a completely different device.

that being said: why wouldn't GRE supply a better 800Mhz antenna with their unit???, or, TWO antennas with their unit. Regualr duck, and a specific 800MHz duck. For THEM, I would be hard pressed to believe that it would make more than a few Dollars per unit cost difference. For someone like me, it would have given me an entirely DIFFERENT first impression (which are sometimes lasting).

Well, OK, maybe the reception on other bands is then degraded, and they might argue that OVERALL this would represent a DOWNGRADE, and that their supplied antenna is the best OVERALL compromise.

I have to believe that most of us are buying this scanner to receive 800MHz trunked transmissions --- maybe not, but this is my assumption looking at the shear volume of posts on these forums regarding PS type of listening.

I dunno.... my $0.05

[Ensnared]

Yes, that is a truly amazing antenna. I need to buy another because I believe my antenna has been damaged by unfortunate drops.

I am happy to hear that your reception improved. Bravo.

[N8IAA]

Two antennas Good Grief! The bean counters are having a coronary I believe they call it 'marketing'
Larry

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Two antennas Good Grief! The bean counters are having a coronary I believe they call it 'marketing'
Larry

oh, I dunno, these things are all made in CHina. What's another bowl of rice, or two, per year for another antenna...

[N8IAA]

Originally Posted by GrumpyAeroGuy

oh, I dunno, these things are all made in CHina. What's another bowl of rice, or two, per year for another antenna...

That's where they are made. The product managers and bean counters are in Japan. I've talked to a couple of reps at hamfests. It is all about the bottom dollar. They use the cheapest components they can. They are wanting to make better scanners, but......
Larry

[Halfpint]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

That's where they are made. The product managers and bean counters are in Japan. I've talked to a couple of reps at hamfests. It is all about the bottom dollar. They use the cheapest components they can. They are wanting to make better scanners, but......

Unfortunately, while they might be located around the `PacRim', they *learned* from us when it comes down to pinching pennies until the `indian' screams. {GRIMACE!}

Having said that I'll also posit that for right now GRE is doing a lot better `scanner-wise' than the other manufactures.

GrumpyAeroGuy,

Pretty much all of the scanner makers include what they, sometimes I think jokingly, call `universal' antennas. I've got a drawer in a `standard' 30" wide X 18" deep `rollerchest' almost filled to overflowing with antennas I've collected over approximately 40+ years of scanning and I *still* occasionally find myself buying yet another. Now I'll also admit that they are not all `unique'/`one-of-a-kind' antennas as there are sometimes as many as 2 - 3 examples of certain brands/models because I've found that some of them are good for certain situations and I might end up using all of them on several different scanners at the same time. (Some of the `dupes' are there because, I'll admit it, I just plain forgot I already had 1 or 2 and still went and bought another 1 or 2 because I could get a `good deal'. {WRY GRIN!} And then there are the `singletons' that I now wish I'd bought a few more of... {GRIMACE!}) Unfortunately, these days with all the different frequencies we have for scanning along with things like Trunked radio systems eventually it seems that pretty much all of us `scannists' are developing hideous antenna collections trying to find the one that will be almost `the holy grail' for whatever we are trying to listen to at the time. IE: It is just part-n-parcel of the scanning `hobby?'. The `best way?' to deal with it is to just make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride. At the very least you can sign on the RR and when you say "My name is Harry and I am a `Scanaholic'." you know you are in good company. {VB GRIN!}

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

Originally Posted by Halfpint

Unfortunately, while they might be located around the `PacRim', they *learned* from us when it comes down to pinching pennies until the `indian' screams. {GRIMACE!}

Having said that I'll also posit that for right now GRE is doing a lot better `scanner-wise' than the other manufactures.

GrumpyAeroGuy,

Pretty much all of the scanner makers include what they, sometimes I think jokingly, call `universal' antennas. I've got a drawer in a `standard' 30" wide X 18" deep `rollerchest' almost filled to overflowing with antennas I've collected over approximately 40+ years of scanning and I *still* occasionally find myself buying yet another. Now I'll also admit that they are not all `unique'/`one-of-a-kind' antennas as there are sometimes as many as 2 - 3 examples of certain brands/models because I've found that some of them are good for certain situations and I might end up using all of them on several different scanners at the same time. (Some of the `dupes' are there because, I'll admit it, I just plain forgot I already had 1 or 2 and still went and bought another 1 or 2 because I could get a `good deal'. {WRY GRIN!} And then there are the `singletons' that I now wish I'd bought a few more of... {GRIMACE!}) Unfortunately, these days with all the different frequencies we have for scanning along with things like Trunked radio systems eventually it seems that pretty much all of us `scannists' are developing hideous antenna collections trying to find the one that will be almost `the holy grail' for whatever we are trying to listen to at the time. IE: It is just part-n-parcel of the scanning `hobby?'. The `best way?' to deal with it is to just make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride. At the very least you can sign on the RR and when you say "My name is Harry and I am a `Scanaholic'." you know you are in good company. {VB GRIN!}

Ref the pile of antennas and the duplicate antennas .... I thought I was alone ....

Originally Posted by Halfpint

At the very least you can sign on the RR and when you say "My name is Harry and I am a `Scanaholic'." you know you are in good company. {VB GRIN!}

My name is GrumpyAeroGuy and... i AM a scannerholic...


Cheers halfpint...