Cranston FD Where Are You?

[floridafuzz]

Im a little bit confused by what youre saying - did you read what I said? I was responding to the guy asking if his Baofeng UV5R can scan a trunked 800mhz system.
Of course your G5 can, that's what its meant to do, and its a professional-grade device.

Hi- was just trying to let people know how well the G5 receives without any simulcast distortion. Nothing more.

 

[ScubaJungle]

Hi- was just trying to let people know how well the G5 receives without any simulcast distortion. Nothing more.

No problem - I thought you mightve thought I was directing what I said at you.
I agree though - the G5 is probably the best device for simulcast systems out of any scanner, the only downside is it lacks a lot of the scanning features "traditional" scanners have. If you primarily scan PS/simulcast though, this would be the way to go

 

[floridafuzz]

I was researching a new scanner and looked at the SDS100 and SDS200. My previous scanners were missing all or parts of the transmissions. I read where if you didn't want to run into simulcast distortion or miss parts or all of calls, look into the Unication G4 or G5. I decided to try the Unication G5 and could not be more happy. I guess you could say I have become a Unication fanboy.

 

[mike1126]

@mike1126
Did you get scammed on Offerup by the people selling Baofengs as a "scanner"? If so, you got scammed - its a ham radio - not a scanner.
Research Uniden BCD436, BCD536, SDS100, SDS200, etc.
Also simulcast distortion, which is what is happening with people listening to this system

Haha no it was a radio that my father had given me. He has a few more i can see if those can be programed to pick it up. It picked up the old cranston feed just fine along with other departments in the state. Thank you for the response I will look into one of those other radios.

 

[bobruzzo]

I have been using a Unication G5 to monitor the RISCON system, all 4 zones, and so far have not run into any simulcast distortion with my radio.
The transmissions on both sides of the call are coming in loud and clear. I am also not missing parts of the transmissions. Previously using Radio Shack and GRE scanners that missed all or parts of the calls. So far I am very happy with my G5.

Hey I am just a short distance from you in western Cranston. We go to Hope Dam to kayak a lot.

 

[floridafuzz]

Hey I am just a short distance from you in western Cranston. We go to Hope Dam to kayak a lot.

Hi Bob- If that is the dam behind the substation on Hope Furnace Road, where they fish also, I know exactly where that is. How did you make out clearing up the distortion on your SDS200 that you posted about?

 

[hummin24]

Hi- was just trying to let people know how well the G5 receives without any simulcast distortion. Nothing more.

You're welcome!

 

[hummin24]

Well it is a known fact now that the 996T and XT suck when it comes to simulcast. I am not sure the SDS200 would be any better but the 536HP is said tob e better but still not perfect. My few years maintaining and installing a few RISCON sites make me wonder why we have this issue. Each transmitter on different sites on the same frequency are synchronized by a high stability time base with GPS synchronization. The issue may originate from the zone's Prime Site where launch delays have to be factored to be certain that the sites closest to the Prime site on the microwave path delay key up to account for the sites father down the chain. it is only a matter of milliseconds, but it matters. I suspect this is not the cause of multi path distortion but could be a product of FM capture (scanner) and multi path reception. Simply put, if you are receiving a signal from two transmitters in phase, if one signal intermittently is reflected off a building before getting to, it is then out of phase and can cancel part of the signal received directly. THis can unsync the scanners codecs causing clipping, dropping out or better yet, the r2D2 audio effect. For us older folks, the MAX HEADROOM effect! I wish there was an easy way to defeat AFC in the scanner as an option in programming.

From my talks with cybercomm recently at a South County tower site... most sites are in the process of being UPDATED with new microwave antennas/s systems and even new 800 antennas. Seems the addition of the east zone has kicked them into gear.

 

[floridafuzz]

You're welcome!

If I haven't already said so, I just wanted to thank you for your recommendation of the Unication G4/G5. Reading your and others threads, it helped me make a decision to go with the G5.

 

[wa1lad]

What south county tower site would that be?

 

[bobruzzo]

Hi Bob- If that is the dam behind the substation on Hope Furnace Road, where they fish also, I know exactly where that is. How did you make out clearing up the distortion on your SDS200 that you posted about?

Yep that where we go kayaking. We went today too. I used to live right around the corner about 20 years ago. As far as the distortion, I tried everything possible but the way I find I get the least amount of problem is to use the 800 mhz mag antenna, and it's low just on 2nd floor gutter. Picks up all 4 zones. I adjusted filters and set the NAC option and it seems to behave much better. You just have to experiment with filters. I set all 4 systems to "wide normal" and it seems to be the best so far. It could be my location, being close to some of the towers. I may try a beam at some point to narrow down my reception of the PROVIDENCE sites. Hopefully still be able to pick up the other zones off the side of beam. One thing I noticed was the SDS200 picks up the EAST zone perfectly. I was never able to hear it on my BCD996P2 with any antenna. So thats good.