Optimal 396XT P25 settings

[Boatanchor]

My setup = 396XT with Freescan software.

With reference to the following P25 settings info:
P25 audio decode level adjustment - The RadioReference Wiki

Why is it that Freescan will allow me to change the P25 threshold settings from Auto to Manual & Default and let me change the threshold setting from the default setting of 8, but when I upload this data to the radio it always reverts back to Auto again?

The reason I am trying to do this is that when I check the actual 'Auto' threshold on nearby trunking sites, the threshold usually settles on 10. I want to use the manual threshold setting & fix at 10. According to the above link, setting the threshold manually may help in weak signal areas as the radio is not constantly trying to optimise P25 decoding on weak signals.

Is there any way to adjsut these settings from the 396xt keypad?

Also, anyone else out there noticed the annoying low level cpu generated squeeks, clicks and burps on the 396x audio? It's not only on P25 signals either. It does it on FM signals too.
It's not so bad whenthe volume is turned up, but if you listen in a quiet room or with earphones, it really becomes quite tiresome!

Hope they fix this with the next firmware update (if there is one).

 

[simplec6]

Have you checked the Easier to Read Manual yet? Easier to Read BCD396XT Digital Scanner Manual

 

[ka3jjz]

There certainly could be a bug in FreeScan - which you should report on his forum; however that being said the 'optimal' P25 settings are going to vary from one location to the next, depending on a lot of factors - how well you are hearing the signal and your antenna is going to play a HUGE role in this. You will need to play around with the various settings as described in the Easier to Read manual, and more than likely, you will need to settle on some 'middle ground' - since at least some of the parameters are for all systems, others are on a by-system basis. best regards..Mike

 

[n4yek]

Is there any way to adjsut these settings from the 396xt keypad?
.

Simple, there is no 'manual setting' on the 396XT. Only 396T had the 3 different settings, Uniden took that option away from you in the XT version.

 

[cpuerror]

Those threshold settings can't be changed by software on the XT scanners. It's only for the 396T or 996T.

 

[GROCKSHD]

1: Turn Off Radio
2: Press Hold and Turn Radio on. (Should see LCD Flash different colors)
3: Press Menu, Go to Settings, Go to P25 Adjust Level. Default setting is 50 which is Auto.
I set mine to 200 which manually makes my threshold an 8. Play around between the two values and you should be able to get your threshold to stay on 10. I think the value is 100, not sure since I don't have my radio in front of me at the moment

 

[wv_mountaineer]

nice fix, thanks!

That works pretty well. I had this scanner for the better part of 2 years and it never ceases to amaze me!

 

[Boatanchor]

Thanks all - & more comments

Thanks to all for replying to my questions.

Firstly, it seems that maybe the bug in Freescan is that the program lets you change the P25 settings for the 396XT, when in fact they should be blanked out or not present.

Secondly, the 0-200 P25 'Adjust Level' setting in the 'hidden' menu only seems to refer to the minimum RSSI that the P25 auto level tracking will operate on. Seems that at 50 or less and the auto level function will operate at relatively low RSSI levels. Setting this level to 150+ forces the the system to default to 8 even at relatively strong signals. My problem with this is that for all the trunking sites that I have monitored so far, the auto level actually settles on 10, so having the default setting at 8 means that the decoder may not be optimised if it is forced to use this value. Although, this is just a theory at this stage. As it is not possible to alter the default decode level to anything other than 8, I cannot actually test it.

Is Uniden still supporting the 396XT with firmware updates?

Who do we contact to offer suggestions for future firmware updates?

Cheers all,
Rick

 

[ka3jjz]

Yep - this should go to the FAQ - likely someone else is going to ask this question...best regards..Mike

 

[SCOTTER]

I have spent what would add up to weeks tweaking on the XT and at the end of the day it end's up at 50 for me. I think thats what Uniden want's it to be.I think they put way too much faith in the auto decode on the XT and I think the next update for it will cost $500 plus shipping I had a 396T that I sold to get the XT and I used it on two systems one a MOT 2 mixed system and a pure P25 MOT system. On the Mot 2 system I set the T on 8 and it was dead on with err rates at 4 that go down to 0 and on the pure P25 I set it on 7 and it was the same the only problem was motorboating a noise you would hear before a call was put out. Now with the XT I hear choppy traffic then it sets on auto 12 for the Mot 2 and the pure P25 the same then it sets on 8. Good luck.

 

[ka3jjz]

As it happens we already have a pretty decent description of not just the adjust level parameter but a couple of others in our wiki - see the last topic of;

P25 audio decode level adjustment - The RadioReference Wiki

best regards..Mike

 

[Eugene]

I have a quick question. I see the 996T has a "Auto", "Default" and "Manual" setting for P-25. I have read the easy to read manual but I can't seem to get to those settings. When I press all the right keys all I get is the P-25 wait time. When I follow the manual I do not have "Adjust P-25 Level " as an edit system option I see the scanner is currently in "auto" mode, so how to change it to another setting is my question. Thanks in advance.
Eugene KG4AVE

 

[randyK]

I have a quick question. I see the 996T has a "Auto", "Default" and "Manual" setting for P-25. I have read the easy to read manual but I can't seem to get to those settings. When I press all the right keys all I get is the P-25 wait time. When I follow the manual I do not have "Adjust P-25 Level " as an edit system option I see the scanner is currently in "auto" mode, so how to change it to another setting is my question. Thanks in advance.
Eugene KG4AVE

That setting is under each individual system menu. Press "Menu" scroll to "program system" & press enter, then scroll to the system you want to change, press enter, then scroll to "edit sys options", then press enter, then scroll to "adjust P25 level", press enter, scroll to which mode you want, then press enter to save the setting.

 

[Eugene]

Thanks for the reply....this is the problem....when I do that.....I do not have the have the "adjust P-25 level"
as an option.....I have all bur that......could this be a firmware problem? Thanks again.
Eugene KG4ave

 

[randyK]

I guess it's possibly a firmware problem, I can't remember if they came with that option or if it was added in a firmware update.

 

[SDavis90]

Thanks for the reply....this is the problem....when I do that.....I do not have the have the "adjust P-25 level"
as an option.....I have all bur that......could this be a firmware problem? Thanks again.
Eugene KG4ave

Mine doesn't have it either.

 

[randyK]

Are your radios a T, or an XT. I don't think the XT has the option.

 

[Eugene]

It is a "t" model.......will have to check the firmware I guess. Thanks fo the help
Eugene KG4ave