Poor quality sound

[SA_tx_88116]

When I listen to my local police department sometimes the transmissions sound like absolute garbage and sometimes they’re as clear as day, I don’t know why this happens because I only live 2.06 mi away from the police department ( yes I measured it) so I don’t know if the age of the pro 197 (2013) I’m using or maybe I programmed something wrong. Please help.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

I don't think the age of the scanner has anything to do with it, for the audio sounding like crap I have two potential explanations.

A. They use encryption part time and that digital garbage you're hearing is encrypted audio

B. You're monitoring a P25 Simulcast system which is difficult for these older scanners and are having some form of multipath interference.

What system/county and state are you trying to monitor?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Assuming San Antonio TX based on OP's forum handle & given location; let's have a looksee at the database shall we?
It appears to me that San Antonio operates (or once operated?) on an EDACS/Provoice system with mode "D" (Provoice in this case) talkgroups which your Pro 197 is not capable of receiving (which is also noted on the system notes at top of DB page). I'm also seeing a new P25 Phase-II system and on this system all San Antonio Police department talkgroups are fully encrypted (mode "TE") which no receiver not intended to be on the system can receive...PERIOD. With that said you'll need a P25 Phase-II capable receiver to pick up any talkgroup on the system noted as mode "T" (non-encrypted). You may be able to get away with picking up the mode "D" talkgroups with your existing scanner, though they may sound like "absolute garbage". My recommendation for the new system would be a Uniden SDS100 or SDS200 to overcome the likely effects of simulcast distortion but again it won't allow you to pick up the fully encrypted police. Lastly, the distance to the police department from where you live is irrelevant unless the closest system tower is there, you need to focus on the proximity of the closest tower on the system. In the database click the site name corresponding to that which you are monitoring and scroll down to get a site map

 

[SA_tx_88116]

I live in Guadeloupe County and I am trying to monitor the Cibolo police department Lower Colorado River Authority they use multiple frequencies but 774.168750 is the most used and sounds the best but when the dispatcher talks sometimes it is unclear

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Cibolo operates on the trunked radio system linked below so you need to program the system as trunked to be able to track it properly. Any over-modulation you may hear is likely on their end & not yours. You won't be able to compensate for it on a Pro-197 but the more modern scanners a la the Unidens have volume offset adjustments which work in some cases

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) P25 Trunking System, Various, Texas

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Cibolo operates on the trunked radio system linked below so you need to program the system as trunked to be able to track it properly. Any over-modulation you may hear is likely on their end & not yours. You won't be able to compensate for it on a Pro-197 but the more modern scanners a la the Unidens have volume offset adjustments which work in some cases

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) P25 Trunking System, Various, Texas

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) P25 Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

I have all of those frequencies programmed on a conventional channel is that correct

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I have all of those frequencies programmed on a conventional channel is that correct

No, as I mentioned it needs to be programmed as a trunked system (TSYS). Read section below if unsure how

Easier to Read Pro-651/652/106/197 - WS1040/1065 - PSR 500/600 Digital Scanner Manual

It's advisable to use programming software like ARC500 to program trunked radio systems, much easier than doing it by hand. But you'll need a Radioreference Premium Subscription to utilize RR's web import service (highly recommended) for maximum ease of programming

 

[SA_tx_88116]

No, as I mentioned it needs to be programmed as a trunked system (TSYS). Read section below if unsure how

Easier to Read Pro-651/652/106/197 - WS1040/1065 - PSR 500/600 Digital Scanner Manual

It's advisable to use programming software like ARC500 to program trunked radio systems, much easier than doing it by hand. But you'll need a Radioreference Premium Subscription to utilize RR's web import service (highly recommended) for maximum ease of programming

I would use p25 auto for the type right

 

[SA_tx_88116]

I would use p25 auto for the type right

And my id would be 12095 and 12103

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

And my id would be 12095 and 12103

DEC	HEX	Mode	Alpha Tag	Description	Tag
12115	2f53	D	Cibolo PD Ops 1	Police Ops 1	Law Tac
12116	2f54	D	Cibolo PD Ops 2	Police Ops 2	Law Tac
12117	2f55	D	Cibolo PD 2	Police 2 Radio-to-Radio	Law Tac
12118	2f56	D	Cibolo PD Pat 2	Police Patrol 2	Law Talk
12114	2f52	D	Cibolo PD 7 CID	Police Ch. 7 CID	Law Tac
12121	2f59	D	Cibolo PD Train	Police Training	Law Tac

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Ok

 

[tvengr]

The Cibolo site shows to be a single tower (tank in this case) so simulcast distortion should not be a problem. Here is the location:

#	TWR ID	Type	Antenna Height	Structure Height	Elevation	Address
1	N/A	TANK	60.0	65.5	211.0	INTERSECTION OF MAIN ST. AND SCHAEFFER RD.