SAFE-T on the BCD996T

[DaveIN]

For those who are monitoring SAFE-T with the BCD996T, is it living up to your expectations?

What do you think of the P25 digital voice quality?

 

[KD4YGG]

DaveIN

It's Excellent!!!

I own a 396, PRO-96, and this unit. I am utilizing at a base radio it to monitor things here in Terre Haute and am VERY pleased.

What I really like, and wish Uniden would introduce as part of an upgrade to the BC396, is the ability to set talkgroups to ANALOG or DIGITAL - I get NONE of the motorboating/machine gunning sounds AT ALL. I have the RES TIME and REF GAIN set to those setting previously discussing (-7 and +3, but can't remember which value goes with which).

From my QTH, I can monitor the following sites, so I really like it:
- Terre Haute Site
- Newport Site
- Brazil Site
- Rockville Site
- Paxton Site
- Jasonville Site
- Greencastle Site (on good nites)

This allows me to hear IN DNR North and South regions, ISP Terre Haute, ISP Putnamville, ISP Bloomington, ISP Lafayette, and occasionally ISP Evansville units (when a unit affiliates on the Paxton site from northern Knox County). County agencies include Fountain/Warren, Vigo, Vermillion, Sullivan, Clay, Parke, Indiana University (off the Jasonville site).

My monitoring location is on the 2nd floor of my dwelling and I'm using NOTHING but a Radio Shack 800Mhz Rubber Duck on the back of the unit.

Also, have the ENTIRE state entered into the unit (conventional, trunking, and SAFE-T with ALL talkgroups) and still have some memory left over.

 

[aaron315]

I've been very happy with mine as well. I monitor the Indianapolis (Dist 52), Indy Government Center, Moorsville, Greenwood, Danville, and (on a good night) the Greencastle sites. I also monitor MECA and a couple of LTR systems. I have also used it through Boone Co and LAfayette with great success. There is an entry in the wiki for the 'hidden' adjustments which I highly recommend. Excellent scanning receiver. No regrets, and I like the unit so much I bought one for home and a third for the office!

 

[RoninJoliet]

Can someone tell me does the 996 come with the settings set at "RES TIME -7 and REF GAIN +3 out of the box?? Thank You

 

[KD4YGG]

Can someone tell me does the 996 come with the settings set at "RES TIME -7 and REF GAIN +3 out of the box?? Thank You

No, you have to adjust manually in the settings.

The wiki has the instructions but will repost here...

Here is the procedure for tweaking AGC for P25 Reference Gain and P25 Res Time for the BCD996T.

1. Power on the 996T while pressing the HOLD/RESUME button. The display will rapidly flash between red and green. The display will then appear as normal.
2. Press in the function knob. WHILE THE F IS FLASHING IN THE UPPER LEFT OF THE DISPLAY, press the volume knob ONCE.
3. The text "P25 RES TIME" appears in the bottom line of the display, with +0 next to it.
4. Rotate the scroll knob to adjust the setting. -7 was the recommended setting for the 396T.
5. Once set to the desired level, press the scroll knob.
6. Press the scroll knob again, and while the F is flashing, rotate the knob. P25 REF GAIN now appears, also with a +0 to the right of it.
7. Rotate the scroll knob to adjust the setting. +3 was the recommended setting for the 396T.
8. Once set to the desired level, press the scroll knob.

 

[DaveIN]

I own a 396, PRO-96, and this unit. I am utilizing at a base radio it to monitor things here in Terre Haute and am VERY pleased.

How does the 996 digital audio compare to the PRO-96 and what version of PRO-96 DSP are you using? (Startup, press 3)

 

[KD4YGG]

How does the 996 digital audio compare to the PRO-96 and what version of PRO-96 DSP are you using? (Startup, press 3)

Latest version of both

Digital audio - cannot tell any difference.

 

[RoninJoliet]

Has any one actually changed there "REF GAIN and "RES TIME" to the new #s suggested on a 996 or 396 and did it make a big difference.....This is on "Digital' and or "Analog"....Thank You...Wondering if i can get as good audio on my 396 or a new 996 as comes out of a external speaker, the internal speaker is somewhat raspy....

 

[DaveIN]

Yes, the settings KG4YGG mentioned are good settings to start with. Mine are actually a little lower on gain and higher on time for my P25 systems. You need to set them to your ear.

 

[N9WP]

I agree, the settings on my 396 make a difference, mine are -6 and +3. My 396 is very raspy in the sound department especially at lower volumes below 5. With head phones or external speaker it's fine. That's my only complaint about the 396. Picking up a 996 next week so I'll be able to compaire the 2.

 

[RoninJoliet]

That raspy was what i was hoping to fix with the new settings but i don't think there really for that. As mentioned the 396 sounds great on a RS lapel speaker (discontinued) and a external speaker. Some have sent it in to have a Audio Amp module changed but have told me in email it was not that much improved. The digital is fine but the analog is not as good as my 246. I been told by friends that some 996 are bassey and some are fine and the back round lighting has problems so im in a holding pattern....Here in ILL Starcom is still in infant stages....Thank You for everyones help and keep printing the good and bad...

 

[DaveIN]

Anyone else have experence with SAFE-T P25 audio quality on the 996?

 

[N9WP]

I picked up a 996 at the Fort Wayne hamfest and have played with it for a couple hours and I love it. I did do the agc tweak as I have done on my 396. The 996 sounds great on SAFET and conventional, I'm monitoring Boone County, Hendricks County, and MECA. It is a tad 'bassy' as the above poster mentioned but I think it still sounds great. It compaires with the 396 audio (if the 396 has an external speaker) but the 996 blows away my 796 which doesn't have any agc settings. The 796 is an awsome radio too but like I said, the digital sounds so much better on the 996.

There's my 2 cents worth after playing with the 996 for a couple hours.

73,
Brian - N9WP