GRE PSR-500 Post Release Thread

[troymail]

I must be trying to hard -- now I have one TGRP in scanlist 3 - Baltimore City Fire Dispatch - that refuses to work... I've verified that the TGRP is not locked out, it's in scan list 3, etc.... If I MAN on that TGRP, it works fine.... while they are dispatching, I hit scan and wait for it to lock back in on that TG but it doesn't.

I'm ready to FLUSH the system to factor defaults but I'd REALLY like to have some software to put everything back afterwards.... oh well, here goes...

 

[DonS]

I must be trying to hard -- now I have one TGRP in scanlist 3 - Baltimore City Fire Dispatch - that refuses to work... I've verified that the TGRP is not locked out, it's in scan list 3, etc.... If I MAN on that TGRP, it works fine.... while they are dispatching, I hit scan and wait for it to lock back in on that TG but it doesn't.

I'm ready to FLUSH the system to factor defaults but I'd REALLY like to have some software to put everything back afterwards.... oh well, here goes...

Are you sure that you don't have another "copy" of the same talk group ID in another TGRP, a TGRP that either is locked out or isn't in an enabled scan list?
For example:
TGRP object #1: Baltimore City Fire Dispatch, in just SL03.
TGRP object #2: Baltimore City Fire Dispatch, in just SL02.
SL03 is enabled for scanning.

If #2 is locked out and SL02 is enabled for scanning, you'll possibly never hear #1.
If #2 isn't locked out, but SL02 isn't enabled for scanning, you'll possibly never hear #1 (may depend on the GLOB setting "TGRP Ignore").

 

[mharris]

Very poor front end..

I know that nobody wants to hear it but the receiver's ability to filter out junk is terrible. I bought the radio to use at work in my cruiser (yes I know that the MDC and monitor are bad for reception). On analog trunking the radio emits a sort of buzzing noise which makes hearing the audio on a talk group almost impossible. If I move the radio around inside the car it does not help. Digital signals do not seem to have this problem, however some voice traffic is missed in this mobile environment. The radio works fine outside and in the house.

The signal strength meter indicates full strength on weak signals and sometimes on no signals at all. Very strange.

My 396 does not suffer from this receiver issue. I can use it in the cruiser with the MDC running all day long. In todays world there are many mobile computers in use. I cannot endorse a scanner that cannot be used near an MDC when there are other scanners on the market that can be used(296, 396, 996). This is a HUGE, HUGE issue for me. If you do not plan on using the radio in a mobile computing environment then you should enjoy it. It does have many nice features.

I like the scanner outside of the cruiser. The digital audio quality is nice, it seems to be very "crisp". I like the NAC decoding very much, and the screen displays a lot of good information.

I know there is nothing wrong with my unit, but I am still considering taking it back because I should be able to use it in the car. If the Uniden's didn't work in the car either, then I wouldn't complain as much. Come on GRE, tightening up the front end on a radio these days should be TOP PRIORITY with all of the wireless devices in use around us. I'm not saying you have to build an XTS front end, but please just something that works around other electronics. Remember also that regardless of price, this is a TOP end scanner, it should be held to a standard well below an XTS, but good enough to receive in all environments.

Thanks for reading my comments everyone.

Matt

 

[troymail]

The signal strength meter indicates full strength on weak signals and sometimes on no signals at all. Very strange.

Hey Matt - I think I agree with just about everything you said -- the above segment of your comments are most troubling to me.... I'd like to know what this means (from GRE)... is it seeing the signal very strong but getting too much interference to decode it (for one of my problem children systems, the FUNC TUNE says it's decoding at 99% so that doesn't seem to be it - unless that is as misleading as the 5 bars of signal).

 

[troymail]

Are you sure that you don't have another "copy" of the same talk group ID in another TGRP, a TGRP that either is locked out or isn't in an enabled scan list?
For example:
TGRP object #1: Baltimore City Fire Dispatch, in just SL03.
TGRP object #2: Baltimore City Fire Dispatch, in just SL02.
SL03 is enabled for scanning.

If #2 is locked out and SL02 is enabled for scanning, you'll possibly never hear #1.
If #2 isn't locked out, but SL02 isn't enabled for scanning, you'll possibly never hear #1 (may depend on the GLOB setting "TGRP Ignore").

I've wiped the radio and started over and that TG is working fine now... it could well have been a copy of the same TG in another scanlist but finding it in all of the objects woudhave required me to step through every one of the objects...unless someone knows an easier way (I guess I could possibly try the FIND option...too late now).

I didn't change the TGRP Ignore so I don't think that was it...

I was wondering if using the demo software that came on the CD is causing me some problems... I've notice sometimes that when I shut down that sofware, the radio seems to get into a somewhat confused state and doesn't really continue to scan... I have to hit the SCAN button on th radio itself following software shut down to get the scan to "go" again...

 

[scan-pa]

Hey Matt - I think I agree with just about everything you said -- the above segment of your comments are most troubling to me.... I'd like to know what this means (from GRE)... is it seeing the signal very strong but getting too much interference to decode it (for one of my problem children systems, the FUNC TUNE says it's decoding at 99% so that doesn't seem to be it - unless that is as misleading as the 5 bars of signal).

remember the settings for each signal strength bar are user adjustable.

 

[troymail]

remember the settings for each signal strength bar are user adjustable.

eh? er? what?

 

[scan-pa]

eh? er? what?

You can set the signal threshold for each segment of the signal strength bar.

 

[troymail]

You can set the signal threshold for each segment of the signal strength bar.

In the PSR-500? where are you reading that? I just scanned the user doc (searched for "bar" and "signal strength") -- if it was there, I missed it....

Even so, if I haven't changed anything, I'd expect it would be using the defaults - still can't understand why it thinks it's getting such a stong signal when the 396 sitting right next to it shows alomst no signal.. I think the PSR-500 is receiving better - but no where near that much better....

 

[scan-pa]

Troy,

Look on the psrEdit main page at the 2nd. screen capture (WX & advanced settings page) on the right side mid way down.

signal strength values

 

[JASII]

I know that nobody wants to hear it but the receiver's ability to filter out junk is terrible. I bought the radio to use at work in my cruiser (yes I know that the MDC and monitor are bad for reception). On analog trunking the radio emits a sort of buzzing noise which makes hearing the audio on a talk group almost impossible. If I move the radio around inside the car it does not help. Digital signals do not seem to have this problem, however some voice traffic is missed in this mobile environment. The radio works fine outside and in the house.

The signal strength meter indicates full strength on weak signals and sometimes on no signals at all. Very strange.

My 396 does not suffer from this receiver issue. I can use it in the cruiser with the MDC running all day long. In todays world there are many mobile computers in use. I cannot endorse a scanner that cannot be used near an MDC when there are other scanners on the market that can be used(296, 396, 996). This is a HUGE, HUGE issue for me. If you do not plan on using the radio in a mobile computing environment then you should enjoy it. It does have many nice features.

I like the scanner outside of the cruiser. The digital audio quality is nice, it seems to be very "crisp". I like the NAC decoding very much, and the screen displays a lot of good information.

I know there is nothing wrong with my unit, but I am still considering taking it back because I should be able to use it in the car. If the Uniden's didn't work in the car either, then I wouldn't complain as much. Come on GRE, tightening up the front end on a radio these days should be TOP PRIORITY with all of the wireless devices in use around us. I'm not saying you have to build an XTS front end, but please just something that works around other electronics. Remember also that regardless of price, this is a TOP end scanner, it should be held to a standard well below an XTS, but good enough to receive in all environments.

Thanks for reading my comments everyone.

Matt

Matt,

Actually I DO want to hear this. What type of mobile computer do you have? I have a Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 and we are very close to switching to a Motorola APCO P-25 800 mHz digital trunked system at work. I probably won't be able to listen to it a lot during work, but I would like to have the option when I can, but if this doesn't receive well near a Toughbook, then that is an issue for me, too.

Jim NØJS

 

[scan-pa]

My PSR-500 is working good, but it does not like my cable STB, or my pc monitor.

Other then that, I have had no problems. Picks up Federal P25 with very good results.

Trunktracks EDACS Standard with no problems.

 

[troymail]

My PSR-500 is working good, but it does not like my cable STB, or my pc monitor.

Other then that, I have had no problems. Picks up Federal P25 with very good results.

Trunktracks EDACS Standard with no problems.

I concur on the Fed P25 systems -- works great for those (Fort Meade)... not so good fr the P25 systemat BWI Airport...

I'm about to take a drive towards to airport and see how things change... plan to also work west towards Howard County to check for improvements there by getting closer....

 

[Stick0413]

That is the only thing that I found it not to get along with, my monitor. Other than that I haven't found anything else that it doesn't like (including my laptop).

 

[troymail]

Toasted

I'm glad I don't plan to have more children since I think I have some much interference inside my house -- when my microwave is going, I lose my wireless internet connection.... I wonder was else is cooking!

 

[offsite]

scanlist tags

When you a programming a scan list, create a dummy or duplicate frequency or talkgroup object as the first object in your scanlist and program the text tag as the name of the scanlist (i.e. Autauga County, or Local PDs). When you go into manual mode, and then left and right arrow through the scanlists, the first object in the scanlist will display, which will be the dummy object with the name of your scanlist.
Warren

Cool idea! Thx.

 

[Swipesy]

TalkGroup Tag

Do I understand correctly that if you have multiple cities using a TrunkSystem that you have to enter the City Name in the talkgroup tag. The scanner does not automatically assign a name based on the numeric talkgroup ID?

Thanks,

John

 

[fmon]

Do I understand correctly that if you have multiple cities using a TrunkSystem that you have to enter the City Name in the talkgroup tag. The scanner does not automatically assign a name based on the numeric talkgroup ID?

Thanks,

John

Each TGID needs a tag if you want a tag displayed alternately on line 3 with Scan List tag.

 

[Swipesy]

Thanks Frank, that does make sense.

John

 

[kikito]

I'm ready to FLUSH the system to factor defaults but I'd REALLY like to have some software to put everything back afterwards.... oh well, here goes...

You have something better already! Save it to a V-folder and do what ever you want and then reload from the V-folder.