996XT (&396XT) Carroll Fire

[bwhite]

I'm just curious, for those listening to Carroll Fire with a 996XT or 396XT, are you hearing a fair amount of transmissions that are unintelligible,
they come through distorted or only pieces?
When I'm near an actual transceiver I sometimes hear transmissions occur that don't come thru the 996/396 at all. (on an incident I've been monitoring)
Is there a fix for this?
If so, I used FreeScan to program things, I'd be glad to share files or screenshots.
Thanx y'all.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I'm just curious, for those listening to Carroll Fire with a 996XT or 396XT, are you hearing a fair amount of transmissions that are unintelligible,
they come through distorted or only pieces?

What you are witnessing is the phenomenon known as simulcast distortion, it's one of the most discussed issues on these forums. Best bet would be to sell the XT radios and get the SDS series radios (100 and or 200). These were designed to combat the effects of simulcast distortion, especially if this is a system you intend to monitor frequently. Although there are a number of workarounds mentioned in the wiki I linked they work for very few people. It all boils down to your location relative to two or more simulcasting towers

 

[bwhite]

What you are witnessing is the phenomenon known as simulcast distortion, it's one of the most discussed issues on these forums. Best bet would be to sell the XT radios and get the SDS series radios (100 and or 200). These were designed to combat the effects of simulcast distortion, especially if this is a system you intend to monitor frequently. Although there are a number of workarounds mentioned in the wiki I linked they work for very few people. It all boils down to your location relative to two or more simulcasting towers

Yup, I know about that but does it make sense that this would occur on back to back transmissions from the same unit that hasn’t moved nor has my device moved?
Yes, I’d love to go the SDS route but soon as wifey saw that and the cost the next call coming would be a homicide, mine

 

[maus92]

Yup, I know about that but does it make sense that this would occur on back to back transmissions from the same unit that hasn’t moved nor has my device moved?
Yes, I’d love to go the SDS route but soon as wifey saw that and the cost the next call coming would be a homicide, mine

If you are listening from a fixed position that has a decent computer, there are free / low cost software packages that work with inexpensive SDR USB devices. They typically receive P25 signaling better than previous generations of scanners, and output almost subscriber quality audio. Transmission quality is affected by lots of variables, and the scenario you described is not unusual. All this said, the system design in Carroll County could use more sites considering the rolling terrain.

 

[bwhite]

I often use various phone apps and Broadcastify on the computer. My only complaints there are the 1-2 minute audio delay and, because the source scanner is understandably in scan mode, it may get stuck on a transmission on an undesired talk group obstructing the incident that is a priority.

 

[tvengr]

Give this file a try. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with FreeSCAN and Upload Programming. System quick key is 5.

 

[bwhite]

Give this file a try. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with FreeSCAN and Upload Programming. System quick key is 5.

Thanks. So have you found that this set up receives pretty solidly without a lot of garbling and dropouts?

 

[bwhite]

Thanks. So have you found that this set up receives pretty solidly without a lot of garbling and dropouts?

I took a quick scan, the only 2 diffs I see are that I have all the frequencies loaded, in the order specified by the RR database, I think you have just the control freqs (prob a better idea). I also note that on the group screens you specifically selected digital where I left it at all.
Anyway, how has your listening been with this file? If pretty solid I'll give it a try. Thx

 

[maus92]

I took a quick scan, the only 2 diffs I see are that I have all the frequencies loaded, in the order specified by the RR database, I think you have just the control freqs (prob a better idea). I also note that on the group screens you specifically selected digital where I left it at all.
Anyway, how has your listening been with this file? If pretty solid I'll give it a try. Thx

Your issue is the radio, not the programming. Motorola systems only require control channels to be programmed; the data contained in the cch tells the radio which traffic channel is active. Either programming method will have the same end result. You need a radio specifically designed to receive simulcast signaling or a SDR based solution.

 

[bwhite]

Your issue is the radio, not the programming. Motorola systems only require control channels to be programmed; the data contained in the cch tells the radio which traffic channel is active. Either programming method will have the same end result. You need a radio specifically designed to receive simulcast signaling or a SDR based solution.

Yeah. I’d love to upgrade but, as mentioned, that would result in my death.

 

[maus92]

Yea I get that, but it’s physics that’s killing you, lol. Have you tried listening to the Carroll County Broadcastify feed? It says that the source radio is an XTL1500, and perhaps it is located in a good receive location.

 

[bwhite]

Actually the Broadcastify source for Carroll is a direct tap off the dispatch panel. It’s not a scanner

 

[maus92]

I’m only reading what the Broadcastify description says - I have no direct knowledge. (XTL1500 is a Motorola subscriber - could be a control station.)

 

[Ronaldski]

Be sure to have the latest and last really firmware in them, some work was done to help out this issue.

BCD396XTFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

BCD996XTFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

Take a look at

The Paper Clip Antenna

to clear up the p25 sytem in KCMO...have to take off the 800meg....and use the paper clip antenna...cut's down on the overload of the simulcast system... pro 106 pro 197

forums.radioreference.com

 

[maus92]

Kludges *might* work if you are stationary - it's worth the effort. Otherwise, invest in a receiver specifically designed to address the issue..

 

[bwhite]

Be sure to have the latest and last really firmware in them, some work was done to help out this issue.

BCD396XTFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

BCD996XTFirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

info.uniden.com

Take a look at

The Paper Clip Antenna

to clear up the p25 sytem in KCMO...have to take off the 800meg....and use the paper clip antenna...cut's down on the overload of the simulcast system... pro 106 pro 197

forums.radioreference.com

Have they updated in the last year? I checked about this time last year and had the latest. Thanx

 

[mikev10]

The source for the Carroll feed is an XTL1500 mobile. I've supplied that feed for 10 years since
I retired as the radio system manager. I'll keep it up as long as I can. It does sound nice. I'd like
to setup another system on the new "CALLS" format which I hope to do in the next few years and
keep both running. I'm sure it won't sound as good as that mobile radio feed as it uses SDR's. That
would give everyone access to all talkgroups.

 

[maus92]

Have they updated in the last year? I checked about this time last year and had the latest. Thanx

They just recently updated the firmware to address supply chain issues with parts. It was not to improve functionality.

 

[bwhite]

The source for the Carroll feed is an XTL1500 mobile. I've supplied that feed for 10 years since
I retired as the radio system manager. I'll keep it up as long as I can. It does sound nice. I'd like
to setup another system on the new "CALLS" format which I hope to do in the next few years and
keep both running. I'm sure it won't sound as good as that mobile radio feed as it uses SDR's. That
would give everyone access to all talkgroups.

It's been doing a super job Mike. I hope you are enjoying your current climate, I'm jealous.

 

[bwhite]

They just recently updated the firmware to address supply chain issues with parts. It was not to improve functionality.

For my 396XT I have 1.11.01 loaded, best I can tell as I hop around Uniden's site this is current.
Looks like 1.07.03 is the current version for the 996xt; I'll check the 996xt in a bit but I'm sure I have this version.
Anyone, feel free to correct me and point me elsewhere if there is something newer. Thanx