Radio recommendations for SDPD and RCS

[RobertNewhart]

My old BC895XLT seems to be missing a lot (not following talk groups?) since the rebanding. I do like Uniden, though the new 200 model is out of my price range. Any recommendations that will restore RCS and the San Diego City 800 MHz systems for me?

 

[Stringer619]

Get a Uniden BCD996XT or BCD996P2. Will do the San Diego City system, plus the San Diego County RCS system. Check eBay for a good deal. Use FreeScan to program it, it's a free program. If you get the 996P2, you don't need to buy the special Uniden programming cable, as the P2 uses a common USB Mini cable. Alternatively, if you want a handheld option, go with a BCD396XT, it's the BCD996XT's little brother.

 

[RobertNewhart]

Get a Uniden BCD996XT or BCD996P2. Will do the San Diego City system, plus the San Diego County RCS system. Check eBay for a good deal. Use FreeScan to program it, it's a free program. If you get the 996P2, you don't need to buy the special Uniden programming cable, as the P2 uses a common USB Mini cable. Alternatively, if you want a handheld option, go with a BCD396XT, it's the BCD996XT's little brother.

I appreciate the advice. Not interested in a handheld, but will start looking for the first two models you mentioned. Will I be missing out on anything in this area by not getting the latest and greatest SDS200? It's pretty expensive, and if a $400 scanner will give me the same local choices, that's just fine. I didn't realize that FreeScan was still under development - thanks for the mention.

 

[samsat]

Robert I also considered getting a base scanner but instead bought 2 SDR dongles for a total of about $40 and free Unitrunker software I have all of the San Diego channels running off my computer. I then managed to get a BR330T handheld so have both base and mobile covered.

 

[RobertNewhart]

Robert I also considered getting a base scanner but instead bought 2 SDR dongles for a total of about $40 and free Unitrunker software I have all of the San Diego channels running off my computer. I then managed to get a BR330T handheld so have both base and mobile covered.

Great suggestion, and worth doing before spending $400 on a scanner - just to see how it all works on the City system.

 

[samsat]

You'll probably find as I did that it works so well that there is no need to get a base set! I have these 2 dongles plugged into my work computer and they just run the whole time scanning. Now and again I fire up SDR# when I want to play on analog or have a nice spectrum display to see what's going on.

 

[RobertNewhart]

I ordered 2 of these:
RTL-SDR Blog R820T2 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA Software Defined Radio
and some sma antenna adapters, it should all be here before the weekend. I'm sure there will be a learning curve, but I'm game to try.
Will Unitrunker decode the digital talk groups on the RCS system?

 

[Anderegg]

You will need a Phase 2 scanner to receive the NextGen RCS starting next year.

Paul

 

[scottyhetzel]

Uniden 996p2 is phase 2 capable...

 

[samsat]

I ordered 2 of these:
RTL-SDR Blog R820T2 RTL2832U 1PPM TCXO SMA Software Defined Radio
and some sma antenna adapters, it should all be here before the weekend. I'm sure there will be a learning curve, but I'm game to try.
Will Unitrunker decode the digital talk groups on the RCS system?

See this link RTL-SDR Tutorial: Decoding Digital Voice (P25, DMR, NXDN, D-STAR) with DSD

 

[RobertNewhart]

Wow, this is really fun. I'm enjoying discovering radios on SDR# too, finding some interesting ones.
unitrunker is also a good site, as is the one samsat posted.
I do have an issue with the horrid sound quality from DSD+ being so robot-like. Some of the transmissions do throw errors, but even if not, they are hard to listen to. Sometimes, DSD reports no sync, and there is no audio at all.
What is NextGen RCS?

 

[Anderegg]

NextGen is the new replacement for the current RCS. It will be Phase II Project 25, so "TDMA" technology, and new frequencies in the 800MHz spectrum.

Paul

 

[RobertNewhart]

NextGen is the new replacement for the current RCS. It will be Phase II Project 25, so "TDMA" technology, and new frequencies in the 800MHz spectrum.

Paul

Thanks, Paul, I did some reading on time sharing a frequency (time division, multiple access), it seems to work something like the way cell towers operate. Fascinating. The main reason I love radio is the technology, and keeping up with what is happening commercially and in HAM radio and government scanning.

As to a scanner, I've been told (by a retailer) that the Uniden BCD996P2 will decode TDMA, but I'll just wait for the change-over and see if that scanner will actually decode and follow the agencies I'm interested in, such as El Cajon and La Mesa PDs.

Robert

 

[Anderegg]

The 996P2 will "technically" receive Phase II, but don't expect to be able to understand more than 25-50% of the voice traffic. The 996's can barely decode the current RCS digital in the field, or in many places, and are even worse with the new SD City 700MHz Phase 1 system. The addition of TDMA and LSM (linear simulcast modulation) distortion on the NextGen would probably make it pointless to try and use a 996P2. Would recommend one of the new SDS or TRX100/200 scanners for the new City and RCS systems.

Paul

Thanks, Paul, I did some reading on time sharing a frequency (time division, multiple access), it seems to work something like the way cell towers operate. Fascinating. The main reason I love radio is the technology, and keeping up with what is happening commercially and in HAM radio and government scanning.

As to a scanner, I've been told (by a retailer) that the Uniden BCD996P2 will decode TDMA, but I'll just wait for the change-over and see if that scanner will actually decode and follow the agencies I'm interested in, such as El Cajon and La Mesa PDs.

Robert

 

[RobertNewhart]

The 996P2 will "technically" receive Phase II, but don't expect to be able to understand more than 25-50% of the voice traffic. The 996's can barely decode the current RCS digital in the field, or in many places, and are even worse with the new SD City 700MHz Phase 1 system. The addition of TDMA and LSM (linear simulcast modulation) distortion on the NextGen would probably make it pointless to try and use a 996P2. Would recommend one of the new SDS or TRX100/200 scanners for the new City and RCS systems.

Paul

Thanks for the heads-up, Paul. I will skip that one (996P2), wait for the change-over, and try a SDS200 in a local store. I won't spend a penny on a scanner if it won't decode El Cajon PD / La Mesa PD dispatch and County Sheriff clearly with great audio.

Meantime, I continue to play with the 2 RTL-SDR dongles and a variety of software. Antennas are high (nearly, but not quite line-of-sight), tuned verticals close to Cowl's Mt. Strong analog signals from both antennas. Ambulance transmissions are 100% quieting. SDR# shows 98-100% "health", and yet decoding P25 digital is very poor using TrunkTracker v2 and SDS+.

Robert

 

[Anderegg]

The 536HP, or Whistler P2 scanners might be able to do the NextGen "ok", but we won't know until it goes "live", and even then, reception for an LSM system will vary greatly from location to location, so just because you test a scanner and it does OK at the store isn't a guarantee it will decode properly at your desired location. Ham Radio outlet charges 15% restocking fee, even if you just walk out the front door and turn around and renter 5 seconds later.

Paul

 

[mike619]

Will the BCD325P2 be any good on the nextgen RCS?

 

[Anderegg]

We will have to wait and see (hear), but the XT's and P2's are horrible on the current RCS, so Phase 2 with LSM simulcast distortion would probably be practically unusable.

Paul

 

[SDBud]

Get a Uniden BCD996XT or BCD996P2. Will do the San Diego City system, plus the San Diego County RCS system. Check eBay for a good deal. Use FreeScan to program it, it's a free program. If you get the 996P2, you don't need to buy the special Uniden programming cable, as the P2 uses a common USB Mini cable. Alternatively, if you want a handheld option, go with a BCD396XT, it's the BCD996XT's little brother.

The X and XT models WILL NOT do P2, but that won't be here til late this year, OR next. There are several GRE/Whistler models that do P2, and a few Uniden (325P2 handheld, 996P2). More due soon.

 

[Anderegg]

The only way to test LSM in San Diego right now is the City 700MHz system...which fails the reliable decode test on XT's, P2's, and TRX's. HP's are a bit better, and the WS1088/98 decode at 90+%.

Paul