Bcd996p2 p25 audio

[oldtimeradio]

Just wanted to leave my feedback on a BCD996P2 P25 Digital audio cutting out. Analog P25 was OK
I found setting all my p25 digital frequencies to FM MODULATION instead of AUTO or NFM solved my problem.
Digital AGC on or off still sounds good.
I had tried lots of other options and none worked.
All audio sounds perfect.
Plenty of signal, discone antenna on 60 ft tower about 4 miles from transmitter.
2-Way radio repair dude for 35+ years.... Ya I worked for Motorola too..

I don't think this is to technical. Has to do with simple programming of the radio.

OTR

 

[oldtimeradio]

I cannot edit my original post.
Anyway... more testing found 2 of 5 system channels (freqs) were fading in signal strength where signal
went down low enough to cause this problem.
I have outdoor discone antenna on 60 ft tower BUT I have 140 foot trees around. Live in the middle of a forest...
What I did under frequencies is ADD A HOLD TIME DELAY of 2 seconds. Seems to have helped the fading, loss of data. Goig to put up a 800MHz stand alone antenna or try a 800 Mhz preamp I have.
Will post more updates.... More testing...

OTR

 

[ss100box]

This sounds like a good tip, but I don't see where I can set that in the scanner or scanner software. The option only shows for conventional systems for me. The P25 system you wrote about is trunked right ?
If so what are you using for the system type ?
Thanks

 

[oldtimeradio]

Bcd96p2 settingss

That setting is under FREQ portion of the data,
I'm using PROSCAN Software. In the database and in the frequency portion. Modulation.
I've been testing for weeks now, driving me nuts.
I've been playing with the P25 Threshold and with a setting of 10 or 11 (Default is AUTO with an 8)
I've been able to set Modulation to AUTO and it selects NFM and now seems to be working OK.
The Trunked System is Connecticut State Police P25
Data was downloaded from Radio Reference Database
P25 Conventional worked OK (Westover Air Force Base)
I think a few of my problems are 2 of the trunking voice channels that the Control Channel assigns FADE
in signal strength. BUT only when the wind blows.
I spend more time testing than listening. It's in my blood.
Hope some of this info helps someone.

OTR

 

[oldtimeradio]

BCD996P2 AUDIO

More INFO..
Look under Uniden Tech Support section Post by UPMAN
STICKY- BCDx36DP
Test for P25 Decode Improvement


My CSP trunk system is MOTOROLA

Scares me, I've personally worked on these P25 systems when I worked for Motorola.

OTR

 

[ss100box]

Thanks..
Your Trunk system is set to Motorola which has the audio options to set to FM rather than NFM. My Trunked system downloads as a P25 Standard Trunk from RadioReference which does not give the audio option to changed from NFM to FM. I tried forcing my trunked system to Motorola and it wouldn't receive anything.
For the digital threshold I can set it to 10 which does sound a little better, BUT if I turn the scanner off and back on it reverts back to AUTO.
I agree that this is taking a lot of time trying to get use to all the settings. I'm retired and it gives me something to do. I've had the scanner for about 2 weeks. I'm getting better at the settings.
I did some side work for Motorola at Schaumberg back in the 80's with their KDT (Keyboard Data Terminals). That group became the Blackberry spinoff.
I'm also using the ProScan software.
Guess us Hams just need something to tinker with.
Have a nice day
Bruce

 

[oldtimeradio]

996P2

Hi Bruce,
Mike here.
I downloaded my systems from Radio Reference also. Sure easier.
I have a 15X I use for my analog stuff and the 996P2 is just another toy to play with.
Yup, I'm retired too. Be 71 this August and all the electronic toys keeps the brain exercised.
I also noticed the setting of the P25 threshold (My best was 11) that it reverts back to Auto 8 BUT on the fist carrier received within 1/2 a second it goes to 11 and the error stays between 4 and 0.
I think it is suppose to work that way.... More testing or I'll just call Uniden and ask but more testing first. I've been at it for 2 weeks also. Also the UID won't save.
For the heck of it I added a 800MHz preamp and it added 13db to the signal and those 2 channels I had deep fades on are in the high 300's RSSI now.
Wish the 996 had two separate antenna inputs. Or I need a 145 ft tower to get even with the trees.
OK on also using PROSCAN. I also have ARC-XT from Butel that works OK but I cannot read the print on the scanner face on the computer monitor, it's washed out. I like all the options for the screen views in PROSCAN.
I also have a Radio Shack Pro-106 with Butel's ARC-500 that I was going to retire/sell. Great P25 audio.
I actually traded a Uniden BCD396T for the Pro-106 couple of years ago.

OK for now, keep in touch, keep testing.... he.. he.. he....

OTR W1DMX

 

[Voyager]

My Trunked system downloads as a P25 Standard Trunk from RadioReference which does not give the audio option to changed from NFM to FM. I tried forcing my trunked system to Motorola and it wouldn't receive anything.

Set the mode in the bandplan.

 

[iMONITOR]

I also have ARC-XT from Butel that works OK but I cannot read the print on the scanner face on the computer monitor, it's washed out. I like all the options for the screen views in PROSCAN.

Lower the resolution on your computer monitor, try 1024 x 768, maybe even 800 x 600, the radio display will be huge! Try other settings to you find the one right for you.