Another Stupid Question From A Dumb Freelancer:)

[CityNewsSupport]

Hi Guys Happy Holidays
Let me start by apologizing I know this question has been asked & answered! I am however having a Difficult time finding solid advice For The Digital P25 System is there a Specific Antenna For Mobile NMO Application That seems to work well in The Sacramento Region? I know The Control Channels dictate the Antenna But I don't think my Larson Tri-band is doing the Job! I would Like a Laird Product but am open to any Suggestion.
Thanks James

 

[scannerboy02]

It's all about your location, location, location. Try a paperclip.

LSM is the problem and it's a MAJOR problem with that system.

 

[gmclam]

Ironically when both the analog and new systems were on the air I had little trouble picking up either. When the analog system was shut off, I then started having issues receiving on my PSR-500/PSR-600 (whether base with a discone or mobile). I will note I'd always had issues receiving the Roseville system, but not East Bay (to name just one).

Moving to an SDS-100 made all the difference. I can't say enough. Same antennas, etc. Shortly after getting my SDS radios I took a trip to the Pacific Northwest. There's a lot of Phase II up there (which is not supported on the PSR-500). But my trip ended up in rural areas, which is largely old school VHF analog. I remember driving back into the Sacramento region and the difference in audio quality was astounding.

There are some simplex channels on the 800MHz band operational in the area, such as State Parks. How well do you receive those on your existing antennas? If they're coming in clear (or the same as always) and yet the SRRCS P25 system is not clear, it confirms an LSM issue. Unfortunately the only choices right now to monitor those systems are SDS (radio) or SDR (dongle).

 

[scannerboy02]

Unfortunately the only choices right now to monitor those systems are SDS (radio) or SDR (dongle).

Don't forget about the Unication G4/G5. They are becoming more and more scanner like with each firmware update. The latest public update took care of most of the downfalls I had with them. I own 3 of them now (G4/VHF G5/UHF G5) and I use them more than my SDS100.

 

[hexagon_keyhole]

Don't forget about the Unication G4/G5. They are becoming more and more scanner like with each firmware update. The latest public update took care of most of the downfalls I had with them. I own 3 of them now (G4/VHF G5/UHF G5) and I use them more than my SDS100.

What flavor Unication do you like to use for SRCCS? I've been thinking of getting the G4, but I recently read @jonwienke opinions that the Unication series is great for monitoring a single system, but it's not a scanner.

 

[buddrousa]

Jon is correct if you just want a single system simulcast receiver the G4 G5 will work.

 

[scannerboy02]

Some good points are made in that post.

As I said, Unication is making improvements to the firmware that are making them more scanner like. The current public version of firmware is still only single site per knob position but it includes talk group lock-out and talk group hold and for me those were my biggest drawbacks so that's not an issue any more. The next expected firmware release is supposed to include the ability to monitor multiple sites.

With the SRRCS only having one site that covers the entire county (not including Davis and the Folsom and Twitchell ASR sites that you can switch to if you're in those areas) you really don't need to monitor more than one site to hear everything, including Davis.

As for what model to get, I personally would go with the VHF G5 for the Sacramento area. That would allow you to have 700/800 MHz trunking and conventional as well as VHF trunking (Placer County) and conventional (CAL FIRE and just about everyone else in the surrounding area) that you can switch to when you are in those areas. And as the firmware updates progress you will likely be able to scan all of it at some point in the future.

And for @EmergencyToday he should definitely have more than one radio in that business (I was a stringer in Sacramento from 1994 to 2011) so a VHF G5 for SRRCS that could be switched to other systems as he moves, and another scanner (that he currently has) for actual scanning would work great.

 

[jonwienke]

Unication's hardware is great. The issues I listed are all with their software and firmware. The only thing I don't like about the G5 hardware is that it's only dual-band. One could reasonably hope that a scanner would be at least tri-band--VHF, UHF, and 7/800. Competition is a good thing, and if Unication can deliver a solid competitor to the SDS100, that would be a win for everyone.

 

[scannerboy02]

I would agree. If you need to be able to scan multiple systems and multiple bands the SDS is the way to go, if you only need one system or band at a time I would go with the Unication.

One (or two or three) of each is even better.