Ok I'll apologize up front for the long post. I live in the Omaha Metro area & have a GRE PSR-500. I've had the radio for a little over a year, but I still consider myself new to digital scanning (I don't feel I have a handle on the tech. details). From the beginning I've experienced problems with crappy, incomplete and sometimes nonexistent reception. I'm a volunteer firefighter & listen to the public safety freqs in the area. Mostly have problems with the digital stuff. I go between the stock antenna & a Diamond RH77CA for normal use and have a mobile antenna for my car. Don't see any noticeable difference from one to another; the problems persist. I guess I'm not sure if it's a problem with the scanner itself, the settings or just interference in the airwaves. I've been considering selling the GRE & buying a different scanner but I'm not sure if there is a better scanner for this area, or if I just need to adjust the settings. Can anyone help? Thank you!
GRE Problems...New Scanner?
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SquierStrat
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i have everything you mentioned, and what works best for me, while listening to the douglas county system, is a radio shack 800mhz antenna on my psr 500. As far as digital "problems" go, buying a uniden will be a step backwards (from my experience). Theres very few things i liked about my psr 800, but one of them was it does even better then my psr 500 on douglas countys system. You mention youre a volunteer firefighter.. is that rural? Cuz i have never been able to get good reception on the douglas county system, no matter what, unless i am INSIDE of omaha..
Maybe pick up one of those antennas ($20), or if buying a scanner is an option, maybe look into the psr 800
Maybe pick up one of those antennas ($20), or if buying a scanner is an option, maybe look into the psr 800
Yeah I work for LaVista Fire so I'm barely outside Omaha city limits. Any recommendations for mobile antennas? I have a permanent trunk lip mount which I normally have a stubby 800mHz antenna on, but switch to a longer VHF antenna if I'm going to a mostly-conventional freq. area. Around here it hasn't mattered which one I use, I still get the same results.
KF0SKV
Member
From what I have been reading, PSR 800 does a much better job handling simulcast systems, which is the reason ORION is tough to receive.
Read here for more information about simulcast systems:
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
Unfortunately, it is a problem that isn't going to go away unless ORION split all the towers and have individual frequencies assigned to them, live in Omaha proper, or sit near a tower. I lived near 72nd and Military a few years ago and my Pro106 had few problems, but once I went north towards Immanuel Hospital, or anywhere outside of Omaha, break ups were bad, but at least County Fire Main was still being simulcast over 453.3250.
But when conditions are right, I will get ORION up here in Norfolk without the reception problems found outside Omaha.
Read here for more information about simulcast systems:
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
Unfortunately, it is a problem that isn't going to go away unless ORION split all the towers and have individual frequencies assigned to them, live in Omaha proper, or sit near a tower. I lived near 72nd and Military a few years ago and my Pro106 had few problems, but once I went north towards Immanuel Hospital, or anywhere outside of Omaha, break ups were bad, but at least County Fire Main was still being simulcast over 453.3250.
But when conditions are right, I will get ORION up here in Norfolk without the reception problems found outside Omaha.
KF0SKV
Member
Speak with a radio tech at D&D Communications off 132nd/L St. They should be able to recommend a decent 800mhz mobile antenna and/or advice. But be forewarned, you will pay a few bucks if you buy from them.
I use one of these for my PSR500. It works good for VHF, UHF and 800. It is cheap and not noticable.
Laird Technologies QWB8063 806-866 3dB Blk open coil | TESSCO
On the comparison of the Uniden to GRE, I use a Uniden 996xt in the work truck and it struggles with Omaha. I use a 800 gain in the roof of truck
I have tried a couple different type of antennas and found the one above works best for all around scanning.
Laird Technologies QWB8063 806-866 3dB Blk open coil | TESSCO
On the comparison of the Uniden to GRE, I use a Uniden 996xt in the work truck and it struggles with Omaha. I use a 800 gain in the roof of truck
I have tried a couple different type of antennas and found the one above works best for all around scanning.
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Here is link to a thread about the technical side of the problem you are having.
There is great info and learnging to be had with this thread.
http://forums.radioreference.com/ge...ast-multipath-interference-3.html#post1909206
It might take more than one reading on some of the post to understand.
There is great info and learnging to be had with this thread.
http://forums.radioreference.com/ge...ast-multipath-interference-3.html#post1909206
It might take more than one reading on some of the post to understand.
Anyone asking me about what to buy, If they plan on listening to areas that are simulcast, I then STRONGLY recommend Uniden, an XT or Home patrol. Main reason there is for the simulcast firmware update. I also mention to 'em about the GRE situation, putting $400 or so towards something that may not have future support and if it might need repairs in the following years, where might you send it to? No spare parts etc. to repair.
SquierStrat
Member
I have to disagree. I own the psr 500, and the bcd396xt. Even with the bcd396xt's newest firmware, the psr 500 continues to do better (and the psr800 even better then that). Maybe on the simulcast system you monitor, the uniden works better. But i can say from personal expereince, that on the system the OP is trying to monitor, the GRE wins. As for GRE not being there several years down the road; i called GRE on the phone and spoke with Raj. Based on that conversation, i would feel comfortable buying another new GRE scanner today. You can call and have your own conversation with him and form your own opinion. he is very willing to speak with anyone..
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W0JJK, I am now feeling dumber for having read that...I have no idea what they mean really. I'm not an idiot by any means, but I'm used to the old way of scanning so all this new technical stuff is usually beyond me! I just wish there was a scanner that could get really good reception for all these systems and didn't require a lot of technical knowledge to program it.
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Try the below.
Laird Technologies QWB8063 806-866 3dB Blk open coil | TESSCO
My goal was not to confuse but educate how system like ORION work.
Laird Technologies QWB8063 806-866 3dB Blk open coil | TESSCO
My goal was not to confuse but educate how system like ORION work.
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For a house antenna, a yagi pointed directly at one of the 7 rf sites that Douglas County system has would provide best, reliable singal.
Below is an example what kind of antenna that could help.
Laird Technologies PC804N 806-902 MHz 6dB 4 Element Yagi Antenna | TESSCO.
You should use a good cable, because you will have better results with good cable.
Below is an example what kind of antenna that could help.
Laird Technologies PC804N 806-902 MHz 6dB 4 Element Yagi Antenna | TESSCO.
You should use a good cable, because you will have better results with good cable.
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