Should I buy the TRX-2?

[fireman244]

I currently have a pro-197 that I use to scan a conventional p-25 system here in Bedford and Fulton county, PA but I’d like to get a phase 2 capable unit so I can scan the new pa-starnet system to listen to the game commission, I like the GRE scanners and that’s what I’ve always had, tried a Uniden bcd996p2 and ended up selling it, not sure if it was defective or not but it just seemed to miss a lot compared to my pro 197, like it either scanned really slow or scanned so fast it missed a lot. Wondering if I should go ahead and get the Trx-2 since that would be the closest thing to the GRE scanners I’m used to, anything I oughta know before pulling the trigger?

 

[DJ11DLN]

The thing to consider is whether your system is simulcast, or LSM, or not. If it is, the Uniden SDS scanners are doing a much better job on those types, the boards here are full of positive reviews. Beyond that, the TRX is a good scanner that, like all of them, has some quirks. I like mine a lot, but I don't have any LSM where I live.

That said I think I'd wait to see whether or not Whistler shows up at Hamvention next month. Their announcement that they were stopping development on the TRX-X00 scanners was alarming and many have speculated as to whether or not they will stay in the game. Nobody here has any answers to those questions yet but how they come across at Dayton should at least give an indication of what direction they're going to go in the future.

 

[doctordialtone]

True. Whistler's scanners are not specifically designed for LSM like the SDS series is.

 

[fireman244]

Ok thanks! One question though and I don’t mean to sound dumb, but how would I know if my county has lsm? I do know that the pro-197 works perfectly on the conventional p25 channels, it just doesn’t do phase 2 so it won’t pick up the starnet system. Not sure if the pro-197 is better or worse for lsm

 

[tglendye]

You may want to ask in the Pa Forum, where they can guide you to scanners that will work well. Someone nearby may even share a file if necessary.

 

[Papa-Bill]

If I am learning what these great guys have told me before, then bedford P.D. is simulcast
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?fccCallsign=WQNT809
and hers Fultons Towers
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?fccCallsign=WQWP910

Did I read the call signs correct?
Trying to copy what someone did for me in Stanislaus county showing the towers.

 

[fredva]

Having multiple towers with the same or nearly the same frequencies is often one indication of a simulcast system. However, as far as I know, the simulcast systems that cause problems for scanner listeners are all trunking systems. The licenses for these county systems say Public Safety, Conventional. Also, the radioreference database pages indicate that these freqencies are conventional frequencies and not part of a trunking system. So the way I read it, these towers are repeaters on a conventional system and the OP shouldn't experience simulcast garbling issues with them.

If you see a trunking system and the license shows the same frequencies on multiple towers, then you have a simulcast system that could give problems.

I will let somebody else with knowledge of the PA statewide system speak about it.

 

[Papa-Bill]

Thank you Fredva for the clarification.
I forgot about the trunking and non trunking.

 

[Anderegg]

I would recommend staying as far away as possible from the TRX series for Phase II LSM simulcast systems. See below for a test of my local 700MHz Phase I LSM system...the TRX2 is broken and garbled, the older WS1098 is crystal clear decode. The county here just started doing voice testing on a new Phase II LSM system, and the TRX is just as bad...the WS1098 handles the Phase II LSM perfectly clear with a slight DSP level adjustment. My TRX2 was bought new and has current firmware, the WS1098 was purchased refurbished from Whistler and has current firmware. I will let the video tell the story.

 

[gmclam]

The issue I have with the TRX-1 & TRX-2 scanners is programming them. It is "designed" such that you use EZ Scan to import the DB from RR and use their zip code feature (or similar) to select channels. No means to organize channels as you want. And it takes a lot of time to get Alpha Tags and LED programming as you like it (to name a couple of things). THEN there is the reception issues as stated above ...

 

[Ubbe]

In the video it looks as if the scanners use different antennas and not a common one? The TRX have less signal to work with and looks as if two RF signals are colliding and cancelling each other out, while the 1098's antenna have a better position and show full signal strenght.

/Ubbe

 

[Anderegg]

Scanners were sharing an antenna feed, split with a T. The video is demonstrative of the decode problem of my TRX's, as any combination of independent antenna, or which part of a splitter feed it gets, results in the same failure to properly decode. Tried every possible DSP setting also, the thing just refuses to decode properly, while the WS1098 does so at 95% rate. Repeatable every time, any location, any signal strength.

Paul

In the video it looks as if the scanners use different antennas and not a common one? The TRX have less signal to work with and looks as if two RF signals are colliding and cancelling each other out, while the 1098's antenna have a better position and show full signal strenght.

/Ubbe

 

[Wackyracer]

Strong Signal is being clipped on the trx, try it with a inline variable attenuator.

 

[Anderegg]

It's not being clipped, ATT on just takes it down to 1 bar and 10x worse. The TRX will not handle the LSN no matter the location, signal strength etc. My point being the OP asked about the TRX2, and I just wanted to show that it is inferior to the WS1098, if you are set on that brand and form factor. Unless he also has a need for NXDN that is...


Paul

 

[gmclam]

Scanners were sharing an antenna feed, split with a T.

Well that sounds like an impedance mismatch right there. If you're just using a T, the other radio is also an antenna and signals get mixed out of phase and it's a mess. At the very least a splitter should be used.

The video is demonstrative of the decode problem of my TRX's, as any combination of independent antenna, or which part of a splitter feed it gets, results in the same failure to properly decode. Tried every possible DSP setting also, the thing just refuses to decode properly, while the WS1098 does so at 95% rate. Repeatable every time, any location, any signal strength.

How do you measure the decode rate on the TRX? I don't see that function in the firmware.

 

[Anderegg]

The TRX is garbled, broken voice, unintelligible most of the time...the WS1098 is clear...that is really all there is left to say on the issue. There is no reason to buy a TRX for an LSM system when the WS108 outperforms it...PERIOD...and cheaper at that.

Paul

 

[Wackyracer]

This is really YMMV.

 

[APX7500X2]

The issue I have with the TRX-1 & TRX-2 scanners is programming them. It is "designed" such that you use EZ Scan to import the DB from RR and use their zip code feature (or similar) to select channels. No means to organize channels as you want. And it takes a lot of time to get Alpha Tags and LED programming as you like it (to name a couple of things). THEN there is the reception issues as stated above ...

I have never used the data base to program mine. (after the 24 times of trying to get the USB to work or the SD card to play nice) I imported all my info from a excel sheet I keep with everything... That said it could have been a good scanner but its mostly crap

 

[Wackyracer]

I have never used the data base to program mine. (after the 24 times of trying to get the USB to work or the SD card to play nice) I imported all my info from a excel sheet I keep with everything... That said it could have been a good scanner but its mostly crap

If your computer will not write to the sdcard with a card reader, then there is something wrong with your pc, The usb cable is only needed for firmware updates, setting the clock via the pc and remote control, Otherwise is much faster using a card reader to copy configurations to and from the card.

 

[APX7500X2]

If your computer will not write to the sdcard with a card reader, then there is something wrong with your pc, The usb cable is only needed for firmware updates, setting the clock via the pc and remote control, Otherwise is much faster using a card reader to copy configurations to and from the card.

Weird mine didn't come with a card reader...No matter anymore I just use it to listen to 1 analog channel 24/7
Its no surprise they are out of business