Needing a little assistance for a guy that's been out of the "game" for quite some time now, probably close to 3 years. My primary listening objective is OHP A-Metro and the city of Edmond PD & FD from the OKC site. Using the ARC-XT Pro software to upload from the RR db with no success. I do have confirmation that channels are actively talking but nothing comes over the 996XT. I do remember prior to P25 migration that I had to enter a custom band plan for OkWIN sites. I attempted that route as well with no prevail. Can anyone shed some light a few settings I may be missing. I know its something small but I absolutely can't figure this out. Thank you for any information given.
996XT vs OkWIN P25
- Thread starter nickg405
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I've skimmed through a few sites on OKWIN and they appear to contain simulcast cells. Have a read here about simulcast distortion, it's one of the most widely discussed topics/issues here. Though a few workarounds are suggested in the wiki, they work for very few people. Ultimately the only surefire solution would be to sell the 996XT to help fund an SDS100 or 200
Simulcast can be a tough thing to deal with. Read the Wiki article at the link orovided by Whiskey3. Here's what the database shows for tower locations on the OKC site:
As noted in the article, if you are very close to a transmit tower, like a quarter mile or less, possibly the strong signal from that location might be able to wash out the out of synch signals from other locations. In some cases, using attenuation can help. In others, using "less" antenna, even down to a paperclip, may help. Some members have a measure of success using a directional antenna, such as a yagi. Aim it at a specifictower, hopefully that it is not in the same direction as one or more other sites. The downside is that by concentrating on trying to hear that one system, you may diminish, or even lose, reception on other agencies & systems. Simulcast is very location specific. In some cases, moving the scanner just a few feet in one direction or another may make all the difference in the world. However, if none of the suggestions on the Wiki page work, then your best bet ie to get a receiver that can handle the simulcast. The SDS100 & SDS200 both are designed to deal with Simulcast. One of the Unication pagers also work well, though it is not a true scanner, and you're limited as to how much else you can listen to. The Blue Tail receiver reportedly works well for simulcast, but again, you cannot monitor a number of other systems at the same time. The other possibility, if just listening at home via your computer, is to use one of the SDR dongles.
Good luck.
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If you wanna part ways with that 996 send me a pm
tvengr
Well Known Member
Before giving up, give this file a try. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC-XT and Upload to Scanner. System quick key is 1. Group quick keys as follows.
| GROUP QUICK KEYS: | |
| 1. Edmond Fire | |
| 2. Edmond Emerg Ops | |
| 3. Edmond Police | |
| 4. Highway Patrol A |
I live west of Lake Hefner, and I just tried to pick up the OKWIN Oklahoma City site with my 996XT. The simulcast is so bad here that the 996XT just doesn't work with an omnidirectional antenna. Connecting it to a directional antenna aimed southeast (to eliminate simulcast), it works fine. So an SDS scanner might be what you need. My 436 and 536 scanners seem to work well even with an omni antenna. My SDS200 and 100 scanners work perfectly with any antenna. I don't have ARC-XT.
If you can monitor the Guthrie site, you should be good to go with the OHP. Not sure about Edmond, though. They may only affiliate with the OKC site.
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@nickg405 - you will be happy with the SDS line...so much better for simulcast. When I lived in Austin, TX I had the 996 next to my sds on their simulcast and the 996 would often be totally silent when the SDS pulling in good. I would suggest if its staying at home to get a directional yagi antenna they are cheap and point it the right direction will help a lot too. I have mine laying under my bed but pointing to the tower direction and so so much better than my telescopic or remtronix antennas. Google Yagi Antenna on Amazon like $18 and work GREAT !!
nd5y
Member
I can tell you it's not a band plan problem. OKWIN sites send the P25 band plan over the control chanel. There is no need to manually enter it in a 996.
I had to retire my 996 in favor of an SDS200. My office is next to Integris BMC, and I couldn’t get anything. Tried multiple yagis, locations, etc. SDS200 fixed it right up with the included antenna.
I keep an XTL 5k on my desk monitoring as well, but I like that the SDS will do Phase II for OKC, and DMR.
I keep an XTL 5k on my desk monitoring as well, but I like that the SDS will do Phase II for OKC, and DMR.
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