GRE PSR-500 Post Release Thread

[DonS]

Regarding the charging of NiMH batteries:

"Yes, the batteries will charge if the scanner is turned off. In fact, it would be preferable to charge them with the scanner turned off."

From Don: "Only if you keep an eye on it, and don't leave it plugged-in / turned off for too long. Charging with the scanner turned off defeats a couple of things:
* The charge timer "

Let's say I have the unit OFF, but plugged in, and presumably charging the batteries.
As I understand it, the 16 hour timer is therefore not functional at all. True ?

True. The charge timer is not functional (meaning the batteries will be charged forever). Also, the "don't charge Alkaline" feature can't work (only a problem if you put non-rechargable cells in the yellow holder).

So, what's the potential danger here ?
Can you overcharge the batteries ?
Fire danger ?
Or, ?

Overcharging the batteries is one possible danger. On other radios, people have reported that such 'overcharging' has led to heat build-up, resulting in melted battery holders and covers, as well as burst cells.

 

[kikito]

When I set up my scan lists, is there any reason not to use (populate) Scan List No. 1 ?

Guess I'm asking is if it the Default for anything, etc., and should (initially) be left blank ?

Any reason not to use it as a standard Scan List like the others ?

Yeah, you can use your default scanlist for whatever and however you want. You can also change which list is the default. I have mine set to scanlist 20 as default. You can still populate it and use it as long as you remember that every time you store something, like from a search or sweeper, it'll go to that list automatically. Also when you create a new object, if you don't purposely change the scanlist, it'll go to your default.

 

[bc780l]

Shielding?

Has anyone actually tried to coat the inside of the case with RF shielding paint? In high cellular RF areas that might help the interference issues many have encountered. I remember the early MX7000 had that problem which was solved by RF paint inside the case--it might be good here.

 

[williafa]

I am looking at the database for new jersy, somerset county trunk system. I notice it is a motorolla type II amartone and apco-25 commonair interface. Also it is a multi site system I think with 3 custom tables. I am very confusedon how to program this on psr500. Not even sure were to start.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank Frank

 

[fmon]

TSYS as Mot VHF/UHF
Enter the 1st 4 red freqs for site 001 followed by the blue and 3 red freqs for site 002

T Tables as follows:

01 ChLo 380 ChHi 429 Offset 380 Base 500.3375 Step 25
02 ChLo 430 ChHi 449 Offset 430 Base 501.9125 Step 25
03 ChLo 450 ChHi 759 Offset 450 Base 502.5125 Step 25

TGRP
Enter as desired form the Database listings.

 

[ScannersUnlimited]

New Shipment Of PSR-500's Arrived at Scanners Unlimited

Hi,

I just wanted to let the reader's know that we received a new shipment of the updated GRE PSR-500's yesterday, Monday, and they are available for immediate shipment. If you mention this site at the time of ordering, you have your choice of Free UPS Ground Shipping (within the 48 continental states) or a Free cigarette lighter plug adaptor.

Glenn Cohen Scanners Unlimited

 

[KC9NEG]

"Updated"? You mean firmware, or hardware?

Thanks,
Todd/Indy

 

[rdale]

Yes, the latest are shipping with 1.1/1.1 (same as the downloads.)

 

[williafa]

TSYS as Mot VHF/UHF
Enter the 1st 4 red freqs for site 001 followed by the blue and 3 red freqs for site 002

T Tables as follows:

01 ChLo 380 ChHi 429 Offset 380 Base 500.3375 Step 25
02 ChLo 430 ChHi 449 Offset 430 Base 501.9125 Step 25
03 ChLo 450 ChHi 759 Offset 450 Base 502.5125 Step 25

TGRP
Enter as desired form the Database listings.

Frank
Do I have do anything for the apco25. Do I set up 2 tsys one for the mot II and the apco25.
Frank

 

[DonS]

Do I have do anything for the apco25. Do I set up 2 tsys one for the mot II and the apco25.

It's a Motorola system (3600 bps control channel) with P25 digital voice.

You only set up one TSYS, with type "MOT VHF/UHF". The radio will automagically give you analog or digital voice, depending on what's in use for each transmission.

 

[williafa]

Thanks Don.
Frank

 

[rvawatch]

this might have been mentioned...i cant remember, but

how can you get flexstep to work with a search object?? I know how to set flexstep, allowing you to enter freqs with any step, but playing around with like...cordless phones. the search wants to default to 12.5 khz steps, when the majority of the freqs for cordless phones in the wiki are 30, 60, or 100 khz steps.

thanks

 

[BOBRR]

NiMHi Batteries: Default Charging Tim, etc. ?

Hello,

Just want to check:

What's the Default charging time (that the display should show) for NiMHi batteries ?

What other numbers under Battery shopuld show when:

fully charged ?
fully depleted ?
etc.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[bacon]

My PSR-500 Experience So Far…

Well after four (4) days, I have found some reception idiosyncrasies associated with the PSR-500. Unlike with my BCD396T, I have found that I must use different settings at home, at work, and in the car. It seems that the PSR-500 does not have very much or very good RF shielding on certain bands. Below is what I have experienced over the past four (4) days.

At Home – I never have much of a problem monitoring the BCD396T while connected to or near a computer. If I do, moving it a bit would usually solve the problem. It is a very different story with the PSR-500; I MUST use global attenuation (GA) on the PSR-500 if a computer is on in my apartment. If I don’t use GA, several conventional frequencies will stick in open squelch (some will stick even when GA is on and the squelch knob is in full clockwise position). Most low-band and a few VHF channels with no associated squelch codes are doing this. I tried attenuating just the offending frequencies but after viewing “RF SQ” readings while monitoring with Win500’s I noticed other channels temporarily pausing but not breaking squelch during scanning and thus drastically reducing the PSR-500’s scanning speed as compared to the BCD396T’s.

At Work – I work in a triple wide aluminum trailer that is right next to high-voltage lines and about 150 yards from a cell phone and radio transmission tower. So the only way to get decent TRS reception with my BCD396T is to use a RS 800 MHz antenna (connected via a RS BNC extended antenna cable) clipped upside down to the metal frame of my office window. I got maybe three (3) bars on the Indiana SAFE-T TRS on a good day.

With the PSR-500, I use the stock antenna connected the same way as above and receive everything pretty close to how I did with the BCD396T. The only differences with PSR-500 are if the antenna isn’t clipped to the window frame I get the same computer induced open squelch like at home and I must attenuate my local county TRS to get the best reception.

In the Car – They receive about the same. With the BCD396T, there was one (1) VHS and one (1) UHF channel that I needed to attenuate. With the PSR-500 I only need to attenuate that UHF channel.

I still haven’t decided yet which radio I prefer overall but I do like the PSR-500’s V-folders and scan lists.

 

[BOBRR]

Checking Unit's Firmware And Cpu Versions ?

Hello,

How does one check on the scanner for what Firmware, and also what CPU
versions the unit presently has ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[DonS]

How does one check on the scanner for what Firmware, and also what CPU versions the unit presently has ?

Turn the scanner OFF. Turn it back ON and, while the "welcome message" is displayed, press 3. You'll see the CPU and DSP code versions.

The latest versions are:
uP App ("CPU"): 1.1
DSP App: 1.1
DSP Voc: 1.0

 

[DaveNF2G]

Is there something special about the Skywarn scanlist? I put a bunch of objects in that list as a sort of alternate FAVorites list. When I scan SKY, nothing is ever received even though those frequencies are active.

If my question is addressed in the manual, please just mention a page number. I've been looking...

 

[kikito]

Is there something special about the Skywarn scanlist? I put a bunch of objects in that list as a sort of alternate FAVorites list. When I scan SKY, nothing is ever received even though those frequencies are active.

Are the objects locked out?

 

[BOBRR]

Backlight And Scan List Questions

Hello,

Neither are "big deals", but was wondering:

a. Is there some way to have the backlight on "permanently", on occasion, when you perhaps don't want it to go off with the timer (rather than actually having to change
the backlight timer itself ?

Would be nice if, e.g., there would be a simple double click of the backlight button that would force it to stay on

Just would like, now and then, to be able to have the backlight stay on.

b. is there a way to have the two rows of scan list numbers stay on the screen so you can select and de-select some of them, leisurely ?

Guess it takes me a bit of time to push the buttons, and it always seems to go back to scanning before I'm finished. Is there some sort of "lock" to hold the screen that shows the two rows ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[TES]

. . .Is there some way to have the backlight on "permanently", on occasion, when you perhaps don't want it to go off with the timer (rather than actually having to change
the backlight timer itself ?

Would be nice if, e.g., there would be a simple double click of the backlight button that would force it to stay on

Push & hold the light switch about a second.