BCD325P2 firmware update

[Bdub85]

I updated to V1.08 recently and now get significantly reduced APCO P25 Ph1 performance. Where can I find and install the V1.07 firmware I used previously ? Receiving fewer broadcasts and audio quality is not improved with V1.08.
Thanks very much

 

[JoeBearcat]

V1.07 should now be available again on BC_VUP. Please let me know if the performance is restored with the downgrade.

 

[Bdub85]

thanks very much Joe!
Would you mind going back to 1.07.07 for me, it was the last version I used.

I would like to update incrementally and try to note performance differences.

 

[RoninJoliet]

My 325P2 works great with1.08 very clear audio.....

 

[N9JCQ]

My 325P2 works great with1.08 very clear audio.....

Same with mine. The update made a significant improvement.

 

[PriorMike]

My 325P2 and both 996P2's work just fine with 1.08.01.

 

[JimD56]

None of my 3 996P2's have any issues with P25 Phase 1 or 2 with 1.08.01

 

[PriorMike]

Maybe double check squelch and your programming; something might have gotten changed during the update...

 

[JoeBearcat]

thanks very much Joe!
Would you mind going back to 1.07.07 for me, it was the last version I used.

I would like to update incrementally and try to note performance differences.

I don't seem to have 1.07.07 available. Can you check 1.07.09?

In the mean time I will try to get a copy of 1.07.07.

 

[RoninJoliet]

I just received my second Uniden325P2 today with the DMR-NXDN extras and it works great, no first word cutoff at all....1.08 firmware.....

 

[Bdub85]

Joe Bearcat,
Thanks very much for your time on this. I spent the week working with 1.07.09 and 1.08. The problem of missed transmissions remains in each of them. I live on the outskirts of the county so it is not the strongest of signal environments, but still receiving with 5 bars. The county fire dispatch is simulcast on VHF, so I used that as a benchmark. Tried increasing and decreasing signal strength with various antennas, but it made no difference. I used the P5 threshold setting throughout. I know there are a many trade-offs in digital signal processing. Perhaps the 07.07 firmware was more tolerant of weaker signals at the expense of clarity.

 

[JoeBearcat]

1.07.07 added to BC_VUP for testing.

 

[lu81fitter]

I am running the 1.08 firmware on my 996P2. There have been 2 departments in my area that recently switched over to P25. Both of them have terrible audio over my radio. I mentioned it in a local forum, and someone else said the same thing. I think its the equipment they are using. The system is the STARCOM system in Illinois. I can hear the State Police over the same towers crystal clear. With the other 2 departments, its sometimes unreadable.

 

[pro92b]

Do these two departments you receive poorly have any problem communicating amongst themselves on the system?

 

[SteveSimpkin]

I am running the 1.08 firmware on my 996P2. There have been 2 departments in my area that recently switched over to P25. Both of them have terrible audio over my radio. I mentioned it in a local forum, and someone else said the same thing. I think its the equipment they are using. The system is the STARCOM system in Illinois. I can hear the State Police over the same towers crystal clear. With the other 2 departments, its sometimes unreadable.

STARCOM is a simulcast system which the BCD325P2 was not designed to handle well. What you are describing sounds like simulcast distortion. It is possible the OP is experiencing the same.

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[buddrousa]

Hearing States Police clear and some other TG's rules out SIMULCAST for the most part it is back to the users

 

[lu81fitter]

STARCOM is a simulcast system which the BCD325P2 was not designed to handle well. What you are describing sounds like simulcast distortion. It is possible the OP is experiencing the same.

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

The towers in question are NOT simulcast. There are 2 towers that I receive signal from, 1 is the tower in Congerville, IL / Woodford Co., and the other is also Woodford Co., which is the Metamora site. Illinois State Police are clear as a bell on both towers, however, Woodford Co. Sheriff and some Tazewell Co radios sound pretty bad. The only thing I can think of is the type of equipment that these entities are using.

 

[lu81fitter]

Do these two departments you receive poorly have any problem communicating amongst themselves on the system?

I don't know anyone that works there, but they keep using the system. It's not one that I monitor continually, so I guess I'm not really sure. When I do hear traffic, I've never heard the users complaining.

 

[RoninJoliet]

Here in the chicago area Starcom towers on my 325 and 996p2 are great with no problems they are T113,102,126 , the last two are 25 miles away and work fine with in attic RS ground planes with lmr coax using “ man7

 

[lu81fitter]

I just checked the range of the Congerville tower. It's saying a range of 25 miles, but I'm about 35 or so and getting 2 bars of signal on my 996P2 with a Laird multi-band antenna with a GP kit at about 25 feet AGL at my location and about 60 feet of LMR 400.