BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD996P2 How well does it handle Motorola multi site P25 phase II

[dmurman]

I had a scanner from Whistler and it was poor when it came to monitoring the local Motorola multi site system. I either looking to buy the BCD996P2 or one that works with Motorola trunking.


Thanks;
David

 

[doctordialtone]

I either looking to buy the BCD996P2 or one that works with Motorola trunking.

Mine works great on our multi site CSERN system here in CT.

It really depends on your location, relative to the sites whether you will suffer any Simulcast Distortion.

@hiegtx would be able to address this for you best. He's in Texas.

 

[walsabrook]

Depends on where you are in relation to the towers. I had to buy a small 800mhz yagi to be able to receive properly where I live. I just purchased a SDS-200, and it is great not having to deal with multi-site issues anymore.

 

[nessnet]

SDS100 or SDS200....

 

[walsabrook]

If you can afford the SDS100 or SDS200, get that instead of the 996P2, I will now use my 996 on analog channels now, and the SDS200 for the multi-site system here

 

[dmurman]

I live a couple miles from one tower. The handheld I have will receive ok when stationary at home. When traveling between sites the audio breaks up. I know the Whistler TRX-2 I used had that problem and was useless mobile. Looking for a good P25 Phase 2 scanner to run mobile. SDS-200 is a little out of my price range but looks to be the best.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Search the forums for the words "simulcast distortion" and you'll get countless testimonials. It's discussed daily here. Also have a read at this wiki for an understanding of what it is. Whistler scanners do a notoriously poor job on these systems. Very few people have Doc's good luck with anything other than an SDS100 or 200

 

[dmurman]

Whistler scanners do a notoriously poor job on these systems. That I have experienced. When I worked as a LEO I had a Motorola portable that I wish I still had. Retired now.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

When I worked as a LEO I had a Motorola portable that I wish I still had. Retired now.

Can't get a better receiver than that! One designed specifically to receive these systems. Thanks for your service

 

[walsabrook]

I am also former law enforcement… I understand the cost of the SDS series is prohibitive, I saved a long time to get mine, but it’s a HUGE improvement over anything I’ve worked with .

 

[dmurman]

I am also former law enforcement… I understand the cost of the SDS series is prohibitive, I saved a long time to get mine, but it’s a HUGE improvement over anything I’ve worked with .

Do you run it mobile? I would like to since I do a lot of driving. Kinda like the days working patrol LOL. Thank you for your service.

 

[walsabrook]

I have a BCD325P2 I use , but it suffers the same multi site effects as my 996P2. I mainly use the 325P2 to scope out new frequencies using close call feature. I put it in my pocket and let it log any frequencies that store may use. I live in the Dallas area, and multi site interference is bad here.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I understand the cost of the SDS series is prohibitive, I saved a long time to get mine, but it’s a HUGE improvement over anything I’ve worked with

I sold a 436HP and a Whistler TRX-1 to fund my SDS100 . Rarely ever misses a beat on numerous simulcast systems in my region

 

[walsabrook]

Learning curve was quite steep on the SDS, but using ProScan helped a lot. Best scanner I’ve ever owned though

 

[tvengr]

I had a scanner from Whistler and it was poor when it came to monitoring the local Motorola multi site system. I either looking to buy the BCD996P2 or one that works with Motorola trunking.

Please let us know your city and county and which systems you want to monitor so that we can check if simulcast is a problem.

 

[dmurman]

If you can afford the SDS100 or SDS200, get that instead of the 996P2, I will now use my 996 on analog channels now, and the SDS200 for the multi-site system here

When you purchased did you add the Programming Upgrade Keys? Seems that if you add them and County Programming it gets kinda pricey.

 

[dmurman]

Please let us know your city and county and which systems you want to monitor so that we can check if simulcast is a problem.

It is the PAWN system in Plano Texas. Before our SO went to that system they were 800 trunking analog. Miss my county portable.

 

[hiegtx]

It is the PAWN system in Plano Texas. Before our SO went to that system they were 800 trunking analog. Miss my county portable.

The PAWM system is simulcast, both for the original site PAWM, for Plano, Allen, Wylie, & Murphy), as well as the second site, PAWMCo, which is the site now used by Collin County, and the various cities & agencies that previously on the county's Motorola type II system. See the site maps below.



Depending on your exact location, you may well experience simulcast distortion on either, or both, of the sites. If you are very close, such as a quarter mile, to one of the tower sites, you might not have an issue on that part of the system. But if you are out & about in Plano or the rest of the county, you almost certainly have simulcast issues receiving clear transmissions.

I don't think that an SDS200 would be that much harder to successfully mount in a vehicle than the BCD536HP. I own both. While the SDS200 is a little taller, unless you're trying to wedge it into a small area, it shouldn't be a deal breaker on size.

While the 536HP may be slightly better than the 996P2 on Simulcast, if simulcast is a serious problem, which is the case in Collin County, you would be better off with one of the SDS scanners. When I'm out in various parts of the DFW area, I generally take my SDS100. It fits easily in a cup holder on the SUV's console, and I can use a 12V adapter to power it instead of only relying on the battery. I leave the SDS200 at home.

 

[hiegtx]

When you purchased did you add the Programming Upgrade Keys? Seems that if you add them and County Programming it gets kinda pricey.

When purchasing a scanner, you are overpaying if you have the dealer 'add' the upgrades. You can purchase the upgrades direct from Uniden for $60 or less. Dealers charge anywhere from $75 to $99 (each) to purchase & "install" the upgrades for you. I would not purchase any of the upgrades when you first get the scanner. Wait until (1) you are sure that there is nothing wrong with the scanner that would possibly return it to the selling dear, and (2) make sure that the scanner meets your needs & you plan to keep it. If you return a newly purchased scanner, with upgrades, those upgrades are not transferable to a different scanner.

I also advise against paying any of the dealers to program the scanner for you. All they are going to do is add what the database shows for the county (or counties) that you specify. You're spending $60, and up, for something that you can do yourself in a short amount of time. This is especially true for the database scanners, such as the BCDx36HP & SDS series scanners (as well as the HP-2). Install Sentinel on your PC, even before you get the scanner. Update the database, then when you get your new radio, write the updated database to the scanner. Then, using your location, range, and selected service types, you'll be scanning the same things a dealer would have programmed and charged you for. There are a lot of videos on YouTube on programming, as well as lots of information in multiple forum threads as well as the Wiki. Also, there are many people here on the forums that can, and will, put together a programming file, both to give you a jump start towards enjoying your new scanner, as well as providing examples of how various systems should be programmed.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I had a scanner from Whistler and it was poor when it came to monitoring the local Motorola multi site system. I either looking to buy the BCD996P2 or one that works with Motorola trunking.


Thanks;
David

*MULTI-SITE* or *Simulcast*??? (there is a huge difference)

If merely multi-site either should work. For simulcast, the SDS200 would work better than the 996P2 (generally speaking).