leonzo
Member
Loudoun County VA DTRS
Simulcast site TDMA
NFM - fair to poor
FM - fair to poor
Simulcast site TDMA
NFM - fair to poor
FM - fair to poor
Test for P25 Decode Improvement
- Thread starter UPMan
- Start date
- Status
From the first page of this thread:
I also repeated this another couple of times.
Some folks decided not to follow the above instructions and have been issued
infractions as a result. Please don't get yourself added to this list.
Do not reply to this thread unless you have results to provide in the format that was requested.
Thanks!
Marshall KE4ZNR
I also repeated this another couple of times.
Some folks decided not to follow the above instructions and have been issued
infractions as a result. Please don't get yourself added to this list.
Do not reply to this thread unless you have results to provide in the format that was requested.
Thanks!
Marshall KE4ZNR
BCD536HP/BCD436HP Test for P25 Decode Improvement
New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS)
West Orange Simulcast
Before:Excellent
After:Excellent
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS)
West Orange Simulcast
Before:Excellent
After:Excellent
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
No difference
STARCOMM Sioux City simulcast STARCOMM Sioux City simulcast
South Dakota State System, Vermillion Site
Excellent on both FM and NFM. SD System slightly preferable on NFM.
STARCOMM Sioux City simulcast STARCOMM Sioux City simulcast
South Dakota State System, Vermillion Site
Excellent on both FM and NFM. SD System slightly preferable on NFM.
Suffolk County NY Motorola Type II SmartZone Suffolk County Trunking System, Suffolk County, New York - Scanner Frequencies
Site 001 Full strength all bars
Before (NFM) Poor to Marginal
After (FM) Very good
Was missing about 40% of P25 transmissions on the BCD536 set to NFM when compared side-by-side with my old 396T (also set to NFM). 536 error rates well above 50. 396T error rates are 0 to 5.
BCD536 set to FM was a big improvement. No missed transmissions. Error rate 20 to 35 range, but have to set threshold to "manual 11" to get this. Can't find any setting to get the error rate below 20.
Also note I'm receiving P25 transmissions on multiple VHF & UHF (NFM) non-trunked freqs very well. Error rates in the single digits using threshold "auto 8".
Site 001 Full strength all bars
Before (NFM) Poor to Marginal
After (FM) Very good
Was missing about 40% of P25 transmissions on the BCD536 set to NFM when compared side-by-side with my old 396T (also set to NFM). 536 error rates well above 50. 396T error rates are 0 to 5.
BCD536 set to FM was a big improvement. No missed transmissions. Error rate 20 to 35 range, but have to set threshold to "manual 11" to get this. Can't find any setting to get the error rate below 20.
Also note I'm receiving P25 transmissions on multiple VHF & UHF (NFM) non-trunked freqs very well. Error rates in the single digits using threshold "auto 8".
doctordave
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
- Messages
- 1,562
BALTIMORE CITY, MD PHASE 1 SIMULCAST
Baltimore City Trunking System, Baltimore, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Single "site" system
Before: Very good/excellent
After: Poor/Fair
HARFORD COUNTY, MD MOT TYPE II DIGITAL
Harford County Trunking System, Bel Air, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Single "site" system
Before: Poor/Fair
After: Very good
Decoding of this system is essentially comparable to that of a BC996, after changing to FM mode.
There was also some additional (slight) improvement when shifting threshold to manual 10.
Baltimore City Trunking System, Baltimore, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Single "site" system
Before: Very good/excellent
After: Poor/Fair
HARFORD COUNTY, MD MOT TYPE II DIGITAL
Harford County Trunking System, Bel Air, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Single "site" system
Before: Poor/Fair
After: Very good
Decoding of this system is essentially comparable to that of a BC996, after changing to FM mode.
There was also some additional (slight) improvement when shifting threshold to manual 10.
Calgary Digital Radio Trunking System, Calgary, Alberta - Scanner Frequencies (Motorola P25 Phase 1 with all sites configured for 3600 Smartzone operation)
Site: Spy Hill (3)
Condition before: Excellent
Condition after: Excellent
No difference detected between NFM and FM. This radio is providing near-perfect decode of P25 CAI with just its stock antenna, sitting on a desk, 24 miles line-of-sight from the tower. HomePatrol on a vehicle-mounted antenna in the same location barely receives the analog portion of this trunk system and decodes less than 5% of received P25 CAI audio. Even a Motorola radio properly affiliated with this system is not providing as good reception/decoding.
Site: Spy Hill (3)
Condition before: Excellent
Condition after: Excellent
No difference detected between NFM and FM. This radio is providing near-perfect decode of P25 CAI with just its stock antenna, sitting on a desk, 24 miles line-of-sight from the tower. HomePatrol on a vehicle-mounted antenna in the same location barely receives the analog portion of this trunk system and decodes less than 5% of received P25 CAI audio. Even a Motorola radio properly affiliated with this system is not providing as good reception/decoding.
United States Air Force (BEE00-3D6) Trunking System, Various, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies
Site: Tyndall (10)
Condition before: Excellent
Condition after: Excellent
No difference in audio from FM to NFM. This was done on the BCD536HP.
Site: Tyndall (10)
Condition before: Excellent
Condition after: Excellent
No difference in audio from FM to NFM. This was done on the BCD536HP.
kfallsbob
Member
KYQ323 (MEDFORD, CITY OF) FCC Callsign Details
P25 156.210
Audio quality terrible on NFM out of box.
Using diamond external D-120 Discone. Live within 5 miles of signal source.
Women's voice easier to decode but Men's voice way too bassy and garbelled. Grade 4 of 10
Changed NFM to FM and it seems Grade 6 of 10
Using Yaesu base station adjustable extension speaker to adjust best audio.
Still missing 20 to 25% of what is being said due to bassy garble.
P25 156.210
Audio quality terrible on NFM out of box.
Using diamond external D-120 Discone. Live within 5 miles of signal source.
Women's voice easier to decode but Men's voice way too bassy and garbelled. Grade 4 of 10
Changed NFM to FM and it seems Grade 6 of 10
Using Yaesu base station adjustable extension speaker to adjust best audio.
Still missing 20 to 25% of what is being said due to bassy garble.
Link to the system in RRDB: Hamilton County - Cincinnati Public Safety P25 Phase I APCO 25
Specific site monitored (if known): Hamilton County Simulcast
Condition before: Fair to Poor
Condition after: Good
This test was with a 436. I had previously tested this system with my 536 several days ago with opposite results (reported earlier in this thread). My reception was pretty garbled today trying to listen to a drug stakeout and the switch to FM made a nice improvement - almost excellent. I was probably on the "Cincinnati Simulcast" site when doing the first test with the 536 - I seem to be getting better results on that site than on the "Hamilton County Simulcast" site using both scanners.
Specific site monitored (if known): Hamilton County Simulcast
Condition before: Fair to Poor
Condition after: Good
This test was with a 436. I had previously tested this system with my 536 several days ago with opposite results (reported earlier in this thread). My reception was pretty garbled today trying to listen to a drug stakeout and the switch to FM made a nice improvement - almost excellent. I was probably on the "Cincinnati Simulcast" site when doing the first test with the 536 - I seem to be getting better results on that site than on the "Hamilton County Simulcast" site using both scanners.
Last edited:
kfallsbob
Member
I may upgrade my grade report to 7 out of 10 instead of 6 of 10.
mnnance3
Member
Howard County, maryland
Most of the P25 signaling was fine with a few bad to unintelligible (southern district dispatch in particular mostly bad).
Those with a problem the audio sounded as if digital data was being dropped regularly. Sounds kinda like they were talking into a fan with a 1khz squeal behind them if you can imagine that.
Afterwards All that were good before remained so, Those with a problem before were better MOST of the time, but not always.
Link to the system in RRDB : Howard County Trunking System, Ellicott City, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Condition before: Overall Excellent/ some stations Poor
Condition after: Overall Excellent/ Problem stations Better
Most of the P25 signaling was fine with a few bad to unintelligible (southern district dispatch in particular mostly bad).
Those with a problem the audio sounded as if digital data was being dropped regularly. Sounds kinda like they were talking into a fan with a 1khz squeal behind them if you can imagine that.
Afterwards All that were good before remained so, Those with a problem before were better MOST of the time, but not always.
Link to the system in RRDB : Howard County Trunking System, Ellicott City, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies
Condition before: Overall Excellent/ some stations Poor
Condition after: Overall Excellent/ Problem stations Better
BigEvil
Member
Link to the system in RRDB. Los Angeles City Police Department
Condition before: Moderate
Condition after: Excellent
Condition before: Moderate
Condition after: Excellent
Re: BCD536HP/BCD436HP Test for P25 Decode Improvement
Houston General Government Services Simulcast Site Details (Texas Wide Area Radio Network (TxWARN) Project 25)
Houston General Govt Services
ALL HPD channels (MA) listed in the Wiki
Before: Poor
After: Good
A lot still depends on whether you have a good antenna and signal.
My outdoor antenna works better than the stock antenna.
If you change the band defaults in the scanner from NFM to FM, then when
you turn the scanner off and back on the next time they have reverted back
to NFM again. I found a better way was to change NFM to FM in the profile
on Sentinel and then upload it to the scanner. That way it stays as FM when
the scanner is powered down.
teknishun KF5OPQ
Houston General Government Services Simulcast Site Details (Texas Wide Area Radio Network (TxWARN) Project 25)
Houston General Govt Services
ALL HPD channels (MA) listed in the Wiki
Before: Poor
After: Good
A lot still depends on whether you have a good antenna and signal.
My outdoor antenna works better than the stock antenna.
If you change the band defaults in the scanner from NFM to FM, then when
you turn the scanner off and back on the next time they have reverted back
to NFM again. I found a better way was to change NFM to FM in the profile
on Sentinel and then upload it to the scanner. That way it stays as FM when
the scanner is powered down.
teknishun KF5OPQ
Re: BCD536HP/BCD436HP Test for P25 Decode Improvement
Department of Public Safety (DPS) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
APCO P25 Statewide
REG II DPS HOUSTON (Houston, Pierce, Texas City)
Before: Poor
After: Good
Conventional P25
teknishun KF5OPQ
Department of Public Safety (DPS) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
APCO P25 Statewide
REG II DPS HOUSTON (Houston, Pierce, Texas City)
Before: Poor
After: Good
Conventional P25
teknishun KF5OPQ
S1099
Member
I agree with doctordave. The Baltimore City Phase I system performed worse after the change to FM.
BALTIMORE CITY, MD PHASE 1 SIMULCAST
Single "site" system
Before: Very good/excellent
After: Poor/Fair
MADMAG486
Member
TEST FOR P25
US > New Jersey > Middlesex (County) > Woodbridge Township
All of Woodbridge Township law and fire p25 phase 1
not Perth Amboy as not part of Woodbridge
Before Very Good
After Very Good
US > New Jersey > Middlesex (County) > Woodbridge Township
All of Woodbridge Township law and fire p25 phase 1
not Perth Amboy as not part of Woodbridge
Before Very Good
After Very Good
kfallsbob
Member
Retract previous upgrade
Nope....after a week, I just can't give a 7 of 10 upgrade to my audio. I have to revert back to my original grade of 6 out of 10 for audio quality with P25. I had something going on in my neighborhood yesterday and all I could decypher was the street name.
That was worse case (and frustrating) but most of the time I can decypher 60% of the dialouge.
Nope....after a week, I just can't give a 7 of 10 upgrade to my audio. I have to revert back to my original grade of 6 out of 10 for audio quality with P25. I had something going on in my neighborhood yesterday and all I could decypher was the street name.
That was worse case (and frustrating) but most of the time I can decypher 60% of the dialouge.
FORMAT FOR REPORTING (to make my life a little easier):
Link to the system in RRDB.
Specific site monitored (if known).
Condition before: Excellent / Poor
Condition after: Excellent / Poor
Alexandria, VA P25: Alexandria Trunking System, Alexandria , Virginia - Scanner Frequencies
Site 102
Condition Before: Excellent
Condition After: Fair
Virginia STARS for Virginia State Police: Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) Trunking System, Statewide, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies
Fairfax and Arlington
Condition Before: nada
Condition After: Fair to Excellent (I think this may be signal strength related due to my physical QTH).
Link to the system in RRDB.
Specific site monitored (if known).
Condition before: Excellent / Poor
Condition after: Excellent / Poor
Alexandria, VA P25: Alexandria Trunking System, Alexandria , Virginia - Scanner Frequencies
Site 102
Condition Before: Excellent
Condition After: Fair
Virginia STARS for Virginia State Police: Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) Trunking System, Statewide, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies
Fairfax and Arlington
Condition Before: nada
Condition After: Fair to Excellent (I think this may be signal strength related due to my physical QTH).
- Status
