Floyd Co., GA

[n3fhd]

I have a general question on reception for anyone monitoring the new P25 system in the Floyd Co./Rome, GA area. The HP-1 scanner is picking up the P25 signals and identifying them as to the departments but the voice transmissions are ‘clipped’ or choppy most of the times.

While I followed the threads on the firmware issues with V2.04 on the HP-1, my version with the V2.04 firmware was able to pick up the signals but missed most of the voice except for a few choppy communications. After about 4 days of this I replaced the V2.04 with the older V2.03 firmware which resulted in some improvements to the voice clipping and more frequent hits. Now, instead of a few words, I am picking up a few sentences at time but still rather choppy and not always consistent either. However, I should add that the firmware seems to be slightly improving in time on the digital conversion as the voice transmissions are lasting a little longer albeit choppy at times.

I am curious to find out if others are having similar experiences in this area with the city/county’s new P25 system or if it may be the limitations of the firmware or both. I have the ‘extended software’ enabled and could see from the Simulcast Reception Status the signal strength is good but the ‘quality’ is at only 20-40% -- mostly in the 20 to 30% range though.

I have noticed that not all the departments are on P25 and particularly the county FD (and some EMS) as they are still using the conventional FM mode on the standard frequencies.

Thanks

 

[Cedartown1]

I'm still getting "chopy" audio on the P25 system also. BTW: is the analog NFM or still FM? My BCD396XT shows NFM on the display but I was wondering if I could reset it some way for FM instead? I dunno if they went NFM like everyone was supposed too or just left it FM.

 

[n3fhd]

It should be NFM but I am not seeing the quality of the transmissions going up. So far everything is clipped or just silent on HP-1 Extreme though. Yet when in Marietta with the Cobb P25 system all voice was clear -- no clipping. Also, the signal quality reading was 50% to 95% most of the time unlike the 10 - 30% range for the Floyd Co. system.

It may just take time for it work a little better but I did see in the RN-T news that during the storm a few days ago that any radios that were exposed to rain or just got wet during the activities did not work. I sure the communications company received an early phone call the next morning.

N3FHD

 

[Cedartown1]

Gee whiz, for just 27 million what do you expect, for it to work?

 

[t0xPro-197]

on another forum i found out turning off AGC clears up the choppness try that i did and mine sounds alot better.Worth a shot anyhow

 

[Cedartown1]

on another forum i found out turning off AGC clears up the choppness try that i did and mine sounds alot better.Worth a shot anyhow

I checked mine and it has been set to OFF the whole time, maybe I should set it to ON? (lol)

 

[t0xPro-197]

i guess it depends but pretty much mines improved bigtime with it off just gotta get another ant. the one i bought last week broke but thats how i fixed the choppness prob on rome thanks too forums here

 

[Cedartown1]

Try the RadioShack in your town, they have good antennas.

 

[t0xPro-197]

Try the RadioShack in your town, they have good antennas.

yeah im gonna findout by reading on here thought whats best for what im trying too montor but im thinking maybe a discone one or 800 mhz dir. or both dunno yet