BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 help please

[ka3aaa]

some people dont need DMR or NXDN there fore saving money. I already have a DMR and NXDN radio why do i need a scanner for it?

 

[buddrousa]

Then in your case its $100 savings
Not all people can get or program two way radios

 

[ka3aaa]

i can get two BCD006P2's for the price of one SDS100 / SDS200, or a G4 / G5 which is a pager that scans and not a scanner, something wrong here. My P2's do everything i need them to do and work well on simulcast systems if or when programmed correctly.

 

[buddrousa]

And the 996p2 is not working for the OP

 

[iMONITOR]

I guess I am fortunate because my 996P2 scanners (and my 325P2) work quite well on the simulcast systems in my area (as well as VHF receive, etc). But it took a lot of experimentation to get to this point. It didn’t happen right out of the box.

It doesn’t work well on ALL of the systems at the SAME time, because I find each system (simucast and Smartzone systems in my area) require different P25 Threshold settings. I have to dedicate a 996P2 to a particular system, in order for it to receive well, because I have to adjust the P25 Threshold setting for the system. For example, Chester County may require a setting of ‘7’, which will cause Montgomery County to come in garbled, as it prefers a setting of ‘11’. Berks County may want a setting of ‘5’, so I don’t believe you can monitor several systems well with these scanners.

Also, I have had my best results monitoring the simulcast systems, by using a small, cheap “mini dipole” scanner antenna, such as this UHF/800 mini dipole
I guess this little antenna has attenuated the other towers’ signals sufficiently, to allow me to receive well. I had tried many different antennas, and had little success until trying this one. Having a length of coax attached to it, allowed me to find a ‘sweet spot’ for reception.

What ever the reason, I enjoy excellent reception of my county simulcast system with my 996P2, as well as other P25 systems (Phase 1 and 2). The control channel does change occasionally, requiring I adjust the P25 Threshold setting, but this set up, along with the recent firmware update and NXDN upgrade, makes my 996P2 scanners a great value...for me. I understand why people will say ‘you need an SDS scanner to monitor simulcast systems’, but in my case, it is simply not true.

This has been my experience also using a BCD996P2 & 325P2 in S.E. Michigan with Macomb Counties simulcast system. People probably are getting tired of hearing me defending the ***P2 series scanners but I want to dispel the myth! It's misleading to tell everyone, everywhere that they absolutely need an SDS-*** series to receive simulcast systems.

 

[iMONITOR]

Hello all

I'm in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. I believe I have my scanner programmed correctly but apparently not. I'm not receiving much. I am receiving SOME transmissions some crystal clear and some broken up. I know there is more to be heard. Lots of traffic being heard on my scanner app on my phone.

I bought the scanner new less than a year ago. I have tried free scan and the arc software. I had a little luck but not much with free scan. I had a a little better luck with arc but mot much more,

As far as I know it is the ICORRS ststem. Any help would be appreciated, THANKS

I have tried a bunch of different settings and just cant seem to get what i need. any ideas on what I'm doing wrong ?

How far are you from the site? What are you using for an antenna? How many signal bars are you getting on the top of your display?

 

[N8IAA]

How far are you from the site? What are you using for an antenna? How many signal bars are you getting on the top of your display?

OP hasn't been on since the middle of February. Don't think you'll get a response.