396T P25 decoding delay

[B4U]

MPSCS PROJECT 25 STANDARD. Sorry I dont know the tech details of this system. This is the system I get the noise on.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=100

 

[kikito]

MPSCS PROJECT 25 STANDARD. Sorry I dont know the tech details of this system. This is the system I get the noise on.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=100

OK, well, that blows away any common thread I can think of so far.

How about if we can narrow it to a specific system or sites within a system i.e. Simulcast/QPSK sites, etc.

Just trying to help and figure out something guys....

 

[Skylab]

Well, my problem was occuring on an 800mhz mixed mode system.
I forget the specifics, but it's listed on this website.

San Diego County RCS (Regional Communications System)

 

[DaveIN]

MPSCS PROJECT 25 STANDARD. Sorry I dont know the tech details of this system. This is the system I get the noise on.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=100

I monitor the same system you are and am not having any problem with the upgrade.

What setting are you using for the APCO-25 decode? Automatic, manual, 8? Do you also monitor it with the PRO-96?

 

[DaveIN]

THEN>>>>>>>The auto needs to be tweaked to work as auto, and NOT be left at the current state of "as close enough auto". The fix, if one comes out at all, doesn't need to contain constant eprom writes

Walter, what system are you monitoring with the problem? What settings do you use? What signal strength do you see? Does the system work ok with the PRO-96?

 

[Al42]

Actually auto is rarely the best setting on anything. It's usually a compromise. Its there for people who can't be bothered to maxmize the results.

Auto, in the 396, means that the decoder will start in the same place as if it was on Manual - but it will change if the manual setting isn't the best one.

I think he's comparing it to the Pro96, which is always on auto yet handles things just fine...

Everyone is always making that comparison, but we don't know what GRE is doing. They may very well be saving the "last known good" setting every time it changes - which is good for the short term, but pretty bad for the long term. Maybe they think that people will only be using the scanner for a couple of years, so ...

 

[robwilson]

Everyone is always making that comparison, but we don't know what GRE is doing. They may very well be saving the "last known good" setting every time it changes - which is good for the short term, but pretty bad for the long term. Maybe they think that people will only be using the scanner for a couple of years, so ...

Wasn't Paul O. involved with the PRO-96 also? If so, maybe he could shed some light as to the differences between the two.

BTW, I'm monitoring a Motorola Type II Smartzone system with both analog and digital talkgroups. Just for the sake of it, I downloaded the firmware again and reloaded it into the scanner in case something got corrupted in the process last time. I also cleared the scanner's memory and wrote the configuration again. I know that they are not related, but I thought it couldn't hurt. I still experienced more noise/motorboating at the begining of transmissions no matter what setting I used, Auto or Manual. Even fine tuning didn't seem to help. When I revert back to the previous firmware, it sounded a lot better. This is all with full signal bars.

The noise/motorboating has always been heard on the 296/396 while monitoring this system. Never with the PRO-96. I'm in no way bashing Uniden, just stating my personal experience.

Rob

 

[Al42]

I still experienced more noise/motorboating at the begining of transmissions no matter what setting I used, Auto or Manual. Even fine tuning didn't seem to help. When I revert back to the previous firmware, it sounded a lot better. This is all with full signal bars.

The noise/motorboating has always been heard on the 296/396 while monitoring this system. Never with the PRO-96. I'm in no way bashing Uniden, just stating my personal experience.

Did you tune it the way Paul said to tune it? Using the table he posted in the Yahoo group?

I can post it here if some mod wants to make a sticky, although I think most of them saw it in Paul's post.

 

[Voyager]

Wasn't Paul O. involved with the PRO-96 also? If so, maybe he could shed some light as to the differences between the two.

Yes, he was, and I seriously doubt he can due to confidentiality agreements.

Joe M.

 

[robwilson]

Did you tune it the way Paul said to tune it? Using the table he posted in the Yahoo group?

Yes, I have. Thanks. It does eliminate most of it, but not all.

Yes, he was, and I seriously doubt he can due to confidentiality agreements.

I thought I'd read that somewhere before... and I figured as much. I just thought that maybe he could give a general overview that wouldn't give away too much info. Besides, if GRE had a patent on it, wouldn't it be public information? Just curious.

Rob

 

[pboy]

Solving The Problem

In regards to the issue that seems to have arisen after the recent firmware upgrade, some clarification could help in the troubleshooting everyone is trying to provide.

Decoding delay, motorboating, machine gun noise are descriptions BCD396T owners are using in their complaints about the scanner's digital perfomance.

There are different perceptions of what is happening.

I describe the problem as a noise burst at the beginning of transmissions that now occurs much more frequently since I installed the new firmware. The actual decoding is just fine other then the loud volume blasts (a different matter). It is happening on several different 3600bps CC with P25 voice systems.

I suggest we compare notes by providing recorded samples of what we are all hearing. It could all be the same problem. It could be many different problems.

I'll upload what I am experiencing. See how it compares to what you are experiencing.

Well, can we start isolating yet what type of system this is prone to happen?

I'm thinking is more likely on 3600bps CC with P25 voice systems from what I can see.

 

[B4U]

That is a great recording of the sound. Same problem I have. It started after the firmware upgrade and now ok after I went back one version. Thanks for uploading.

 

[pboy]

The weird thing is that nothing publicly posted about the new firmware mentions any digital decoding enhancements or fixes.

Unless something was tweaked but not revealed ?

Maybe these Motorola systems suddenly changed their firmware!

 

[DaveIN]

I've not heard this on the MPSCS 9600 P25.

So are you only hearing it on 3600 baud mixed mode systems? It sounds like it is between comms, did you adjust your digital settings at all?

What signal strength do you see?

Also, are you using control channel only?

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I can post it here if some mod wants to make a sticky, although I think most of them saw it in Paul's post.

Might be a nice addition to the Wiki. I just did a quick search of the Yahoo group but couldn't find it.

 

[John_M]

pboy Wrote:

The weird thing is that nothing publicly posted about the new firmware mentions any digital decoding enhancements or fixes. Unless something was tweaked but not revealed ? Maybe these Motorola systems suddenly changed their firmware!

There probably are minor tweaks in the new firmware that aren't listed.

 

[pboy]

It appears that it is only happening on 3600 mixed mode with the APCO-25 Common Air Interface. Clean ,full strength signals are affected.

It is not a decoder tuning issue.

Recovered audio sounds fine. Does not chop. Nothing missed at conversation start. Just a burst at the beginning of transmissions. Like something that should be muted is not being muted.

UPMan's tuning instructions do nothing for this.

Why the problem became worse with the firmware upgrade is a mystery.

I've not heard this on the MPSCS 9600 P25.

So are you only hearing it on 3600 baud mixed mode systems? It sounds like it is between comms, did you adjust your digital settings at all?

What signal strength do you see?

Also, are you using control channel only?

 

[brandonbv]

The digital mode that is affected on mine since the upgrade is a 400MHz digital system (Kentucky State Police). The weak signals are affected the most. Most of the weaker transmissions give me nothing but the digital noise now where before they did not. The strong (3-5 bar) transmissions seem to come in fine. I manually adjust my P25 settings and absolutely cannot tweak the weaker signals with the new firmware to where I do not get the noise.

 

[pboy]

Unless you need the FTO feature, I would just revert back to the previous firmware version.

Bad thing for me is I need the new firmware's fix for the tone out mode.

The digital mode that is affected on mine since the upgrade is a 400MHz digital system (Kentucky State Police). The weak signals are affected the most. Most of the weaker transmissions give me nothing but the digital noise now where before they did not. The strong (3-5 bar) transmissions seem to come in fine. I manually adjust my P25 settings and absolutely cannot tweak the weaker signals with the new firmware to where I do not get the noise.

 

[Al42]

Might be a nice addition to the Wiki. I just did a quick search of the Yahoo group but couldn't find it.

You'll notice an additional line in the BCD396T features - Automatic P25 Decode Level. That links to the table and a discussion of how to use it. In particular, near the bottom, Dan discusses how to eliminate that little digital burst - it might help people using firmware 1.08 who have the problem. (Someone with a more artistic soul than I have might want to make it look nicer.)