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

[walsabrook]

I live in Plano, TX area, and have the PAWM system loaded in both my SDS200 and BCD996P2. The only way I could use the 996 is using a 4 element 800 MHz yagi . This is the main reason I purchased the SDS200. It works flawlessly on the PAWM system as well as the new Collin county system.(PAWMCo). You will not be happy with the performance of the 996 in this area.

 

[walsabrook]

I live in Plano, TX area and having both the SDS200 and the 996P2, on the PAWM system , the 996 doesn’t work well without a directional 800mhz antenna. This is the main reason I got a SDS200

 

[walsabrook]

Sorry fo the double post. My first one looked like it didn’t go !

 

[hiegtx]

*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).

The "Motorola" system the OP was referring to is the now deprecated Collin County Public Safety.

Collin County Public Safety Trunking System, McKinney, Texas

Collin County Public Safety Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

It was simulcast, but in the numerous posts I've seen about simulcast problems, just about all have been regarding digital systems- P25 Phase I or Phase II.

The current City of Dallas Local Government system is Moto Type II (analog), and simulcast. But I don't recall ever hearing anything remotely resembling simulcast issues being reported on the system, either here on RadioReference, or on the now defunct DFWScan Yahoo group. I've had no issues with any of the scanners I have now, nor previously owned. That will change in the next year or so as Dallas (city) as well as Dallas County migrate to a new P25 Phase II system, with multiple simulcast sites. That's one of the reasons for my purchase of the SDS100 & SDS200.

 

[hiegtx]

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

I presume you really mean a P25 digital trunked system, which could be one using Motorola, Harris, or another manufacturer's equipment.

From what you've said you want to do, besides being able to monitor PAWM, I suspect you'd be happier with the SDS100 rather than the SDS200. While you could mount a 200, or 536HP, or a 996P2 in your vehicle, unless you spend the time to remove it from the brackets when you get home, then "re-install" the scanner when you are about to be in your car, you would be fairly restricted to only being able to use it when mobile. The repetitive 'install' & 'de-install' to try and use a base/mobile scanner in more than one place would get old very quickly (at least for me, it would).

You might also look at the Remtronix website. They have 'Uniden factory refurbed' units for sale about $100 less than the normal retail price. Yes, these are not 'new', and only have a 90 day warranty, but comments from a few members that have purchased one of these have been very positive, that it looked the same as 'new'.

 

[walsabrook]

Thanks heigtx ! I was unaware that refurbished units were avail. I may want to get a SDS100 in the future ..

 

[twjr80]

I monitor PAWM & PAWMCO in the mobile with a 996P2 on a Larsen tri-band nmo antenna. In certain areas of Collin County, I do experience some simulcast issues with PAWM. However, I have yet to notice any simulcast issues anywhere with PAWMCO.

 

[walsabrook]

I have found that in Allen,TX I have a lot of issues with both systems on the 996P2 with an Omni antenna …

 

[JoeBearcat]

The "Motorola" system the OP was referring to is the now deprecated Collin County Public Safety.

Collin County Public Safety Trunking System, McKinney, Texas

Collin County Public Safety Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

It was simulcast, but in the numerous posts I've seen about simulcast problems, just about all have been regarding digital systems- P25 Phase I or Phase II.

The current City of Dallas Local Government system is Moto Type II (analog), and simulcast. But I don't recall ever hearing anything remotely resembling simulcast issues being reported on the system, either here on RadioReference, or on the now defunct DFWScan Yahoo group. I've had no issues with any of the scanners I have now, nor previously owned. That will change in the next year or so as Dallas (city) as well as Dallas County migrate to a new P25 Phase II system, with multiple simulcast sites. That's one of the reasons for my purchase of the SDS100 & SDS200.

Simulcast affects analog the same way, but the effects are more heard as distortion which does not result in scrambled data as it does with P25, so you hear the signal (and the distortion) on analog simulcast. It can still affect decoding of the channel grants.

 

[hiegtx]

Simulcast affects analog the same way, but the effects are more heard as distortion which does not result in scrambled data as it does with P25, so you hear the signal (and the distortion) on analog simulcast. It can still affect decoding of the channel grants.

True, but we see very very few posts about 'simulcast issues' in analog systems, whereas there's often a tidal wave of posts regarding simulcast in digital systems.

 

[iMONITOR]

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.

I'd be a cautious running either the SDS100 or 200 in a mobile environment due to subjecting it to constant vibrations. Some SDS100's have had poor solder connections on the circuit boards causing them to stop working. Some SDS200 had a poor grounding problem accelerated by joining to dissimilar metals causing oxidation that seems to cause intermittent that cause unwanted noise in the audio and would likely be exacerbated from vibrations over time.

 

[IAmSixNine]

I have had my SDS100 over a year (purchased used) drive an hour to work and hour back home each day. I put my SDS100 in a phone mount sitting in a cup holder and have no issues with vibration.

 

[JoeBearcat]

True, but we see very very few posts about 'simulcast issues' in analog systems, whereas there's often a tidal wave of posts regarding simulcast in digital systems.

That is likely because the distorion effects are much more pronounced with digital signal decoding. With analog, you can still hear the signal.