Adjusting PSR-500 Signal Strength Indicator

[AerialEars]

Anyone tried adjusting the signal strength indicator on their PSR-500? I realize this radio is very sensitive, but it seems to me the indicator is still too generous.

 

[jpryor]

From watching the actual RSSI, signal strength ranges from the low 300s and hits about 930 max. I've set my levels much higher than the defaults. I'm using 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 for the five bar settings. Only if I get a really strong signal will I see five bars. The only side affects seem to be that the LED RSSI on the tune mode is impacted (colors are different, never hits the max color of red). Also the radio itself does not seem to accept the higher values (gives an error), I'm only able to enter these with PSREdit software.

 

[AerialEars]

I was able to take the top bar up a maximum of 70 to a setting of 750 through the menu. Bumped all the other settings up 70 as well. Just that little adjustment seems to make SSI read truer.

Before, if I moved the scanner around and got some white noise, the meter was still full scale. Now when the signal strength audibly drops, the meter dips a little.

 

[WayneH]

I've also "dulled" mine down a bit. 470/540/610/690/750

 

[SCPD]

The only side affects seem to be that the LED RSSI on the tune mode is impacted (colors are different, never hits the max color of red). Also the radio itself does not seem to accept the higher values (gives an error), I'm only able to enter these with PSREdit software.

Yes the Tune mode RSSI -> tri-color LED use the same numbers.

I think they limited the max value that you can enter to be just above the maximum value that the hardware can present to the CPU.