Atlanta P25 and Uniden 996T Performance

[wise871]

I’ve been watching RR and the ScanAtlanta Yahoo group and I’ve noticed that a few folks who are using the Uniden 996T are seeing signal drop issues due to the system being simulcast. I’ve seen mentions there using firmware version v2.00.06 to v3.02.00. Even last night I remote logged into my dads computers while on the phone with him and watched his 996 perform on the Atlanta system. The signal strength was all over the place. Nice and crisp one minute and crappy the next. Has anyone had any luck with the 996T?

 

[rmiller818]

Same deal with the 996T on the Cobb system. Granted where I live is an issue with reception, but moving about the county it improves. I tried the updated firmware and it was worse so I went back to the older one and it does not fluctuate. I forgot the numbers to look at but with the new firmware they change constantly, with the older version they are steady.

 

[b7spectra]

The Cobb system? No such thing. Now if you are talking about the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative system, yeah, it sucks! If you read the Cobb, er, ah AUASI threads, you will see that they are like 2 versions behind on their system where Atlanta (not to be confused with Atlanta UASI) is working with the current system. I've been all around the metro Atlanta area and have been able to receive the Atlanta DTRS (not to be confused with the Atlanta UASI) with amazing clarity. I believe my firmware is v2.

 

[Casey]

I'll chime in with my experience, I owned the 396T which is a close cousin of the 996T, and through the occasional firmware update that Uniden provided it made my experience worse (the updates prevented the user from going backwards to earlier firmwares). With major firmware releases I had less sensitivity and they changed something in the DSP to garble the digiital signals more in marginal signal areas or near cell towers...tried many different threshold settings, etc. I ended up buy a PSR-500 and PSR-600 and the voice quality and performance is worlds better than my old Uniden 396t which I got rid of...the voice quality rivals the warmnes and eveness of analog. I will hand it to Uniden though, they included a fully working version of the programming software with the scanner and the unit itself was very small, but in the end I got the GRECOM equipment because it was quite a lot better on the 9600 baud digital systems. I don't know if the new Uniden handheld scanner is any better, but I didn't want to take a chance. Casey

 

[MTS2000des]

I'll chime in with my experience, I owned the 396T which is a close cousin of the 996T, and through the occasional firmware update that Uniden provided it made my experience worse (the updates prevented the user from going backwards to earlier firmwares). With major firmware releases I had less sensitivity and they changed something in the DSP to garble the digiital signals more in marginal signal areas or near cell towers...tried many different threshold settings, etc. I ended up buy a PSR-500 and PSR-600 and the voice quality and performance is worlds better than my old Uniden 396t which I got rid of...the voice quality rivals the warmnes and eveness of analog. I will hand it to Uniden though, they included a fully working version of the programming software with the scanner and the unit itself was very small, but in the end I got the GRECOM equipment because it was quite a lot better on the 9600 baud digital systems. I don't know if the new Uniden handheld scanner is any better, but I didn't want to take a chance. Casey

anyone on here using a 396XT which supposedly will perform better on CQPSK/LSM (which is what Motorola Astro 25 simulcast uses) than the older version?

 

[wise871]

anyone on here using a 396XT which supposedly will perform better on CQPSK/LSM (which is what Motorola Astro 25 simulcast uses) than the older version?

Next month I'll be taking my 396XT up there. I hope there’s a beta tester in the Atlanta area testing the 996XT. You couldn't ask for a better mix environment for testing.

 

[kk4eb]

I monitor Cobb on my 396T. My new 396XT should arrive tomorrow. I will let you know if the performance difference is noticeable.

 

[wise871]

I monitor Cobb on my 396T. My new 396XT should arrive tomorrow. I will let you know if the performance difference is noticeable.

Can't wait to hear your results.

 

[b7spectra]

I'm using the 396XT and the quality of reception on the COBB DTRS is awesome! My old Pro-96 made it sound like crappola. The 396XT sounds like real quality digital! It, IMHO, is about the best digital scanners I have ever heard.

MetroFire31 is trying to get a "ScanIn" (Remember those from the old ScanAtlanta days?) together, so all us GEORGIANS can get together to meet and share scanner info and good times! See the new thread that I'll be posting momentarily!

 

[wise871]

I'm using the 396XT and the quality of reception on the COBB DTRS is awesome! My old Pro-96 made it sound like crappola. The 396XT sounds like real quality digital! It, IMHO, is about the best digital scanners I have ever heard.

MetroFire31 is trying to get a "ScanIn" (Remember those from the old ScanAtlanta days?) together, so all us GEORGIANS can get together to meet and share scanner info and good times! See the new thread that I'll be posting momentarily!

Good to hear. How does the Atlanta P25 come sound?

 

[b7spectra]

Atlanta sounds like they are standing there talking to you! And for the size of the radio, you can't go wrong. I only have 1 complaint - the inverted SMA type connector for the antenna. I would have rather seen a standard Motorola type screw (Saber, MT series) or a BNC connector.

 

[MTS2000des]

looks like I know what I will be buying myself for my birthday here in a few weeks: BC396XT.
thanks for the input, wanted to confirm it was a vast improvement on simulcast before putting out that much coin for a scanner.

 

[b7spectra]

I'm sure there will be more than a couple at the ScanIn!

 

[jthorpe]

Pretty sad when my BC796D sounds better on P25 then my 996. Ever since I upgraded the firmware in this hunk of junk, it's been horrible on VIPER.

 

[jcanupp]

I have had problems with my 396T since I upgraded to the new firmware. I spoke with Uniden and they say you can't go back to the older firmware. My reception is crap in northern Gwinnett. Now, the others systems do well as I commute. I have a buddy who says ALL of the P-25 owners bought a different type of software to make the systems work. Gwinnett did not buy this, instead going with the Motorola softare. They label it a disaster and have now purchased the better second party software like everybody else did. It should go up on Aug. 1st. Gwinnett is my worst system to scan. I'm going to wait before I send my radio off for repair,as Uniden recommends.

 

[jthorpe]

I just went from firmware 3.0.something to 1.04.12. The downgrade DID work surprisingly. Guess what? My P25 audio is perfect again. Hmmmm, Uniden should look into this, but I know they won't.

 

[jcanupp]

396T and Uniden firmware saga

Well, It really got where my radio was worthless, so I sent it to Uniden for repair. They continue to say you can't downgrade your firmware. I would like to know how if anyone has done it! I'll let you guys knowjow this plays through.

 

[wise871]

I just went from firmware 3.0.something to 1.04.12. The downgrade DID work surprisingly. Guess what? My P25 audio is perfect again. Hmmmm, Uniden should look into this, but I know they won't.

So what were the steps and version of BC_VUP you used to downgrade? Are you still seeing an improvement?

 

[jthorpe]

So what were the steps and version of BC_VUP you used to downgrade? Are you still seeing an improvement?

Yep, my P25 audio is 100 times better on the VIPER Simulcast system then it was with any other version of firmware. I just followed the normal steps you would use for a firmware upgrade, and it worked great. The version of BC_VUP that I used is 2.0.0.7. Took about 10 minutes for it to complete. It took my scanner from 3.something to 1.04.12

By doing this downgrade, I went from 90% choppy audio to 100% perfect audio. NONE of it is choppy now. The RSSI indicator is stable again etc. The bad thing is that when rebanding occurs, I'm screwed because I don't believe this version will support it. I wish upman could make it possible with this version but I don't think they are going to be touching the 996T anymore.

My next scanner is going to be a GRE

 

[jcanupp]

I ended up sending my 396t back to uniden, they said it was broken??? Always worked great prior to the new firmware. They say you can't downgrade...so, if you know how, PLEASE share!!! Can you get rebanded systems without the new firmware?