BCD325P2/BCD996P2: 996P2 "cutting out" while receiving a broadcast

[bjverzal]

Hey everyone ... I've scanned the forum with several different keywords in the hopes of finding a fix, but none of the search terms have led me to a solution.

I recently migrated to a 996P2 from an old and very reliable PRO-2051. I have a mix of P25 and conventional channels programmed into the P2 and it's working great overall. Great reception. Small learning curve, but things I really initially disliked about the P2 are in fact things I really like about it now. Anyway, my question:

When the radio stops on a P25 channel (generally with 4-5 bars of strength), I'll get about 1-2 seconds of audio, then the radio flips off the traffic and does something else, then returns. It's almost like a Priority behavior, but I'm 99% certain I have all of the priority settings "off." Also ... I just noticed this on a Conventional channel as well. So I'm still thinking some sort of Priority, but I cannot find the magic setting. Any tips what I might be missing?

 

[hiegtx]

Hey everyone ... I've scanned the forum with several different keywords in the hopes of finding a fix, but none of the search terms have led me to a solution.

I recently migrated to a 996P2 from an old and very reliable PRO-2051. I have a mix of P25 and conventional channels programmed into the P2 and it's working great overall. Great reception. Small learning curve, but things I really initially disliked about the P2 are in fact things I really like about it now. Anyway, my question:

When the radio stops on a P25 channel (generally with 4-5 bars of strength), I'll get about 1-2 seconds of audio, then the radio flips off the traffic and does something else, then returns. It's almost like a Priority behavior, but I'm 99% certain I have all of the priority settings "off." Also ... I just noticed this on a Conventional channel as well. So I'm still thinking some sort of Priority, but I cannot find the magic setting. Any tips what I might be missing?

Make sure Priority is not enabled.

Other things that can cause that behavior is if you have Close Call or Weather priority enabled. Either of those can cause a regular break in receiving transmissions.

 

[Ubbe]

The display have to show a PRI text label if any of the priorities are enabled. The closecall prio will have that c into a C symbol on screen. If weather prio are on it should says WX on the display. As that isn't mentioned it has to be a receive problem, likely a simulcast issue.

/Ubbe

 

[bob550]

When the radio stops on a P25 channel (generally with 4-5 bars of strength), I'll get about 1-2 seconds of audio, then the radio flips off the traffic and does something else, then returns.

That certainly sounds like a simulcast issue. What system are you monitoring that's causing this problem?

 

[doctordialtone]

I think it's one of the priority modes.

A very common problem with newbies!

Watch the display closely. If the interruption happens on a regular rythm, that's what is causing it.

👍

 

[bjverzal]

That certainly sounds like a simulcast issue. What system are you monitoring that's causing this problem?

Lake County simulcast.

 

[bjverzal]

I think it's one of the priority modes.

A very common problem with newbies!

Watch the display closely. If the interruption happens on a regular rythm, that's what is causing it.

👍

I made sure the priorities were off before I posted this and confirmed after seeing the suggestions for that setting. Indeed no priorities are set.

 

[bjverzal]

Make sure Priority is not enabled.

Other things that can cause that behavior is if you have Close Call or Weather priority enabled. Either of those can cause a regular break in receiving transmissions.

Close call and wx priority are off.

 

[doctordialtone]

That's bad news if it turns out to be Simulcast.

It means either more money for an SDS scanner or you will need to move.
😀👍

 

[900mhz]

You can try to set the P25 threshold manually. While the unit is off, hold down the hold/resume button while powering it up. Once it starts booting, you can release the hold/resume button. The screen will start booting in different colors. After it boots, press menu, scroll to settings, press enter, Scroll up to P25 settings. Hit enter. Scroll to Level 8 as a start. Press enter. Press menu several times to back your self out. You can always fine tune to an other level number if 8 is not satisfactory by entering the P25 threshold menu again. Be advised, if you power down the device, the radio will default back to the auto setting and you will have to restart the manual access to the P25 threshold again.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Lake County simulcast.

Have a read here about simulcast distortion, seems like you're describing it "to a T". It's one of the most discussed topics/issues on these forums and is basically kryptonite to any scanner other than a Uniden SDS100 or 200...

 

[cg]

If, as you post, it is happening to a conventional channel, it is unlikely to be simulcast issues.
A couple thoughts...
- outside antenna or behind the set?
- Do you have it near any other electronics such as a computer?
- Try monitoring a strong constant signal like the NOAA weather radio 162.xxxx. Do you hear or see anything that indicates a loss of signal. If so, is it regular and predictable?
- Do you have any strong local signals with a repetitive signal such as Passport, XPT, or Cap+?

chris

 

[wtp]

bjversal,
is the squelch set to 2 or 3 ?
5 is right out*


*monty python.

 

[RMason]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Can you post a video of this happening?

To me, it sounds like an elusive priority setting - especially if it happens on all broadcasts.

 

[bkramm]

Make sure you do not have any delay settings to -numbers as this tells the scanner to move on after X seconds.
I don't have a 996P2 but this is a setting in the SDS series, not sure if it applies here.

 

[wtp]

to add to what bkramm posted.
Set Delay Time
sets the delay (in seconds) the amount of time the scanner stays on a channel after the transmission has ended before moving to the next channel. A negative delay will force a resume after that number of seconds. This setting applies to all channels in the system. You cannot set the delay on a ‘per channel’ basis. The default setting is 2 seconds.
1. Scroll to ‘Set Delay Time’ and press E/.
2. Scroll to the desired delay time (-10, -5, -2, 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, or 30 secs.) and press E/ to save and exit.
think of the negative setting as a sample of what is being broadcast.
like when you tune a radio and wait for X numbers of seconds until you go to the next freq.
and that was from

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD996P2om.pdf

another manual is,

Easier to Read BCD996P2/XT Digital Scanner Manual

 

[bob550]

Lake County simulcast.

Lake County Florida? Illinois? Indiana? California? Ohio? Minnesota? Michigan? Colorado? Montana? Oregon? South Dakota? Tennessee?

 

[bjverzal]

Lake County Florida? Illinois? Indiana? California? Ohio? Minnesota? Michigan? Colorado? Montana? Oregon? South Dakota? Tennessee?

IL

 

[werinshades]

Much of Lake County, IL is encrypted so I suspect that's the behavior you're seeing. No scanner monitors encryption.

 

[iMONITOR]

When the radio stops on a P25 channel (generally with 4-5 bars of strength), I'll get about 1-2 seconds of audio, then the radio flips off the traffic and does something else, then returns. It's almost like a Priority behavior, but I'm 99% certain I have all of the priority settings "off." Also ... I just noticed this on a Conventional channel as well. So I'm still thinking some sort of Priority, but I cannot find the magic setting. Any tips what I might be missing?

What are you using for an antenna? Any cellphone towers nearby?