Correct Unication model

[WeBeCinYa]

I am looking at Unication pagers and I’m not sure if G4 or G5 is the correct one for the system I want to monitor.

Below is the system in Cleveland County

Cleveland County Trunking System, Shelby, North Carolina

Cleveland County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[belvdr]

Either one will work. The G5 simply includes VHF or UHF capabilities.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

Either one will work. The G5 simply includes VHF or UHF capabilities.

So the G5 would be more versatile should I need to have either VHF or UHF?

How many system talkgroups can be programmed? I understand I can only listen to one at a time correct?

 

[N6ML]

So the G5 would be more versatile should I need to have either VHF or UHF?

With the G5, you choose one secondary band, which can be either VHF or one of three different sub-bands of UHF. Whichever you choose, it uses an internal antenna. VHF performance is generally regarded as mediocre. I'm not sure how UHF performance is, really. I have a VHF G5, but I really never use the VHF band. I'd get the G4 (less expensive) if I was starting over.

How many system talkgroups can be programmed? I understand I can only listen to one at a time correct?

You can monitor one P25 trunked system ("scanning" multiple talkgroups within that system, but you'll be locked onto one site at a time), or you can scan multiple conventional (non-trunked) FM or P25 (or DMR, if you pay for the upgrade) systems.

You can define up to 8192 talkgroups. You have 8 "knob positions" (using the select knob on top of the radio), and up to 64 "zones". Each zone is a set of knob positions. So you can have 8x64=512 different "collections of stuff to listen to" for the user to select from.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

Wow so if I mainly listen to just one system talkgroup I’d have no issue.

My next question, as I understand it the Unication pagers work longer distances. What is the the typical working distances based on average terrain? Reason I ask is my goal is to continue to monitor this system but I’m moving 34 miles away from tower.

 

[N6ML]

My next question, as I understand it the Unication pagers work longer distances. What is the the typical working distances based on average terrain? Reason I ask is my goal is to continue to monitor this system but I’m moving 34 miles away from tower.

That's tough to say. I assume you're talking about 770MHz or 850MHz? There's a lot of "it depends"... but I think that's a fairly long haul. You might need an outdoor directional antenna, especially if there's anything else using the same channels in a different direction.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

That's tough to say. I assume you're talking about 770MHz or 850MHz? There's a lot of "it depends"... but I think that's a fairly long haul. You might need an outdoor directional antenna, especially if there's anything else using the same channels in a different direction.

Yes 850MHz. I can pick up transmissions on my SDS100 in certain areas there so I was hopeful the G5 would be able to since it seems to be stronger on distance.

 

[kg4pbd]

Wow so if I mainly listen to just one system talkgroup I’d have no issue.

My next question, as I understand it the Unication pagers work longer distances. What is the the typical working distances based on average terrain? Reason I ask is my goal is to continue to monitor this system but I’m moving 34 miles away from tower.

I’m about 50 miles away from Shelby, in south Charlotte, and I can receive the Cleveland county system on my G5. It can be intermittent depending on weather but I just switched over and I’m hearing it fine. This is with the stock antenna.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

I’m about 50 miles away from Shelby, in south Charlotte, and I can receive the Cleveland county system on my G5. It can be intermittent depending on weather but I just switched over and I’m hearing it fine. This is with the stock antenna.

Thats great info thank you. It looks like I will be buying a G5, fingers crossed it works.