GRE PSR-500 Post Release Thread

[n4jri]

I have 2 slight problems... One is that when picking up a conventional freq it misses the first 1-2 seconds of the conversation. Is there a fix?

Second, The scanner seems to stop on frequencies as if its picking up something however nothing is transmitting.... If I turn the squelch all the way down all I hear is the open squelch static. If i turn the squelch up further I tend to miss weak signals so it's a no win situation... Is there a fix for this as well, I'M sick of it getting stuck/locked on a frequency. I have tried to move the scanner around thinking it had to do with RF interference but this seems not to be the case.

On the first item, are you actually seeing it set on the freq for 1-2 seconds before opening squelch? After all, it's the nature of scanners to arrive at conversations in mid-sentence. Another possiblity is that the radio is checking for digital content before opening squelch (but I would doubt this for 1 second or more, unless youre around sources of QRM). You might try setting the modulation for your non-digital conventional freqs to FM and squelch to CT search. This may prevent the radio from checking for digital content. In fact, to search if you can on the post-release thread, because I'm basically paraphrasing something that I'm pretty sure I read there.

On the second item, I see some of what you're seeing. It could be that this version of the DSP has a tendency to keep the radio silent when it doesn't detect and real audio. A normal scanner would probably be making noise and you'd lock the frequency out. With this, your radio is quieter, but you may not realize you're on a freq with QRM until you glance at the display.

Let us know how it goes.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[BOBRR]

"TUNE" Mode ?

Hello,

Not sure if this is a firmware bug, or more probably something I am doing wrong:

I want to enter manually a single frequency (and its mode) and just sit on it.
Don't wish to use it as a starting point for a scan, or anything like that.
Just want to monitor a single frequency, indefinitely, that I enter.

So, I guess i want to use TUNE.
Right ?

I use the TUNE button, enter the frequency (and mode), and press the ENTER button.
It goes into a PSE mode automatically.

And, it works.

But after a few minutes, the screen suddenly shows that it is apparently picking up some
Trunking "stuff"
The "T" appears, and also M36 and o1%SID...S--
and also VC

So I guess it's found some trunking frequency. (BTW: what's M36 ?)
Never hear it, though.
The comm on the frequency I entered stays O.K.

Is this a glitch ?
it shouldn't be doing this, right ? Thoughts on ?

Bob

 

[mtindor]

Hello,

Not sure if this is a firmware bug, or more probably something I am doing wrong:

I want to enter manually a single frequency (and its mode) and just sit on it.
Don't wish to use it as a starting point for a scan, or anything like that.
Just want to monitor a single frequency, indefinitely, that I enter.

So, I guess i want to use TUNE.
Right ?

I use the TUNE button, enter the frequency (and mode), and press the ENTER button.
It goes into a PSE mode automatically.

And, it works.

But after a few minutes, the screen suddenly shows that it is apparently picking up some
Trunking "stuff"
The "T" appears, and also M36 and o1%SID...S--
and also VC

So I guess it's found some trunking frequency. (BTW: what's M36 ?)
Never hear it, though.
The comm on the frequency I entered stays O.K.

Is this a glitch ?
it shouldn't be doing this, right ? Thoughts on ?

Bob

Bob,

It does the same thing for me. Obviously the TUNE works fine, but I also see those similar things in the background. I don't know where it is getting that information - I mean I don't have any priorities set up on my TSYS's or anywhere else on teh scanner. Plus, when I'm listening on TUNE and I see those items come up on the menu, I don't hear any lapses in receive (not even for a split second), so it could not have possibly switched to another frequency, a trunked control channel especially, and obtained that data legitimately.

Personally, until proven otherwise, I'd have to assume it's a glitch - although nothing that affects the performance of the TUNE function.

M36 is what you'd see when there is Motorola (M) 3600 baud (36) data. VC is what you'd see if you were monitoring a trunked system and it was displaying the voice channel that a trunked transmission is on. So I agree, it's trunking data that we are seeing - but I seriously doubt it is legit. If it were, then it would have had to sample some CC recently - and if it had done that, we'd notice it on recieve because it would interrupt, albeit for a brief period, our receive of whatever we are listening to on TUNE.

Mike

 

[DonS]

M36 is what you'd see when there is Motorola (M) 3600 baud (36) data. VC is what you'd see if you were monitoring a trunked system and it was displaying the voice channel that a trunked transmission is on. So I agree, it's trunking data that we are seeing - but I seriously doubt it is legit. If it were, then it would have had to sample some CC recently - and if it had done that, we'd notice it on recieve because it would interrupt, albeit for a brief period, our receive of whatever we are listening to on TUNE.

The PSR-500/600 will attempt to decode the lowspeed data from a Motorola analog voice channel while in TUNE mode. No CC tune is required. Since that data has practically zero "error checking" capability, it's very easy to "false".

If you're really not tuned to a Motorola analog trunking voice channel, the radio is likely seeing lowspeed noise - noise that the radio is "decoding" as valid Mot lowspeed data.

Personally, I'll gladly accept the "glitch" if it means I can also get Mot lowspeed data in TUNE mode.

 

[mtindor]

Personally, I'll gladly accept the "glitch" if it means I can also get Mot lowspeed data in TUNE mode.

Me too. That was one of my first concerns/gripes - I panicked when I couldn't find a way to just plug in a freq and have the scanner actually know it has data on it. I was thinking that I'd end up having to add a TSYS and then manually 'Analyze' in order to get it. Thankfully not.

I had also hoped that there would be a way, in SEARCH mode, to have detection of Mot - but I suspect that this is likely more of a patent issue rather than an issue of the scanner not being able to do it. If it's not a patent issue, maybe GRE will add that in a firmware update.

Mike

 

[mtindor]

If you're really not tuned to a Motorola analog trunking voice channel, the radio is likely seeing lowspeed noise - noise that the radio is "decoding" as valid Mot lowspeed data.

I didn't take notice of whether or not it was a Mot analog trunking VC or not. I noticed this occur multiple times though. I'd find it hard to imagine that I would have, on more than one occasion, used TUNE to sit on an analog VC - but I certainly may have. I'll make note of it the next time it happens. I personally had been experiencing a lot of problem with noise through the PC/IF cable when plugged into my laptop, which may account for some of that as well. I'll have eto determine if it happens without the PC/IF cable hooked up.

Mike

 

[n4jri]

Also try moving the converter module around

I didn't take notice of whether or not it was a Mot analog trunking VC or not. I noticed this occur multiple times though. I'd find it hard to imagine that I would have, on more than one occasion, used TUNE to sit on an analog VC - but I certainly may have. I'll make note of it the next time it happens. I personally had been experiencing a lot of problem with noise through the PC/IF cable when plugged into my laptop, which may account for some of that as well. I'll have eto determine if it happens without the PC/IF cable hooked up.

Mike

I've found that I am more susceptible to QRM from plugged, and that an even bigger factor might be the proximity of the USB/SERIAL converter unit that's in the line. I've stopped quite a bit of noise by maximizing its distance from the radio. I wonder if it might be worth GRE's while to have more cable between the unit and the radio in future production.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[stlouisx50]

On the first item, are you actually seeing it set on the freq for 1-2 seconds before opening squelch? After all, it's the nature of scanners to arrive at conversations in mid-sentence. Another possiblity is that the radio is checking for digital content before opening squelch (but I would doubt this for 1 second or more, unless youre around sources of QRM). You might try setting the modulation for your non-digital conventional freqs to FM and squelch to CT search. This may prevent the radio from checking for digital content. In fact, to search if you can on the post-release thread, because I'm basically paraphrasing something that I'm pretty sure I read there.

On the second item, I see some of what you're seeing. It could be that this version of the DSP has a tendency to keep the radio silent when it doesn't detect and real audio. A normal scanner would probably be making noise and you'd lock the frequency out. With this, your radio is quieter, but you may not realize you're on a freq with QRM until you glance at the display.

Let us know how it goes.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

On the first item, I realize that when scanning through frequencies it takes time and may miss some of the conversation however this is not the case I'M speaking of. I can keep it held on 1 frequency and Ill miss the following, here are some, examples. A dispatcher calling 141 , Id just hear 1. Or If a officer says hes 10-8 I'll just get the end of him un-keying the radio. Another example is if the officer is running a plate such as 314-XKM Ill just hear XKM until I hear him repeat the plate. This happens with all frequencies that are programed in not just 1.

 

[DonS]

On the first item, I realize that when scanning through frequencies it takes time and may miss some of the conversation however this is not the case I'M speaking of. I can keep it held on 1 frequency and Ill miss the following, here are some, examples. A dispatcher calling 141 , Id just hear 1. Or If a officer says hes 10-8 I'll just get the end of him un-keying the radio. Another example is if the officer is running a plate such as 314-XKM Ill just hear XKM until I hear him repeat the plate. This happens with all frequencies that are programed in not just 1.

If these are CONV objects, try forcing them to analog (it sounds like it's the radio's "auto digital" timeout cutting off some of the transmission).

To force a CONV object to analog, set its Sq Mode item to CTCSS, leaving its "CTCSS Hz" item set to "Search".

Alternatively, you can change the "auto digital timeout" to a lower value by decreasing the FUNC + GLOB menu item's "DG Int Prime" setting.

 

[stlouisx50]

If these are CONV objects, try forcing them to analog (it sounds like it's the radio's "auto digital" timeout cutting off some of the transmission).

To force a CONV object to analog, set its Sq Mode item to CTCSS, leaving its "CTCSS Hz" item set to "Search".

Alternatively, you can change the "auto digital timeout" to a lower value by decreasing the FUNC + GLOB menu item's "DG Int Prime" setting.

Don, I appreciate your help the first suggestion worked. The SQ Mode is set to CTCSS HZ - Search. I know the local police use D 32 and not CTCSS however your setting worked great and nothing is clipped by setting it to CTCSS. If I experience any other frequencies with the same issue, I'll change their setting too.

 

[BOBRR]

PC to 500 Cable ?

Hi,

Was wondering if there is any reason not to leave the PC-to-500 cable, which I guess is a USB to serial, always plugged into the PC, but the other end not connected to anything (except for the rare times it's plugged into the 500) ?

Any potential problems with the cable's module always "cranking away" but not seeing any load on the other end, etc. ?

Also, anyone experience any problems to the 500 so far due to the AC charger by forgetting to have it plugged into the 500 prior to plugging into the wall socket (like the manual insists on) ?

Sure is inconvenient not having it always just plugged into the wall AC socket, and just plugging it into the unit whenever are-charge is required.

Bob

 

[Sownman]

Another Battery question here. I don't see this in the manual, just holder colors and battery type settings.

I got some 2600 NiMH and put them in the yellow holder and plugged into the wall. I see no response from PSR500 at all. I expected to see it light, or display "charging" or something. How do I know it's charging ?

Also is it a timer control rather than a voltage control on the charge ? I recall seeing something about 16 hours to charge yet the default setting on Win500 is 99 hours.
Where should it be set ?

Thanks

Steve

 

[captaincraig44]

Another Battery question here. I don't see this in the manual, just holder colors and battery type settings.

I got some 2600 NiMH and put them in the yellow holder and plugged into the wall. I see no response from PSR500 at all. I expected to see it light, or display "charging" or something. How do I know it's charging ?

Also is it a timer control rather than a voltage control on the charge ? I recall seeing something about 16 hours to charge yet the default setting on Win500 is 99 hours.
What should it be set at ?

Thanks

Steve

No indication when the radio is off that it is charging or not. The 99 you are seeing tells the radio to charge at the default time for whatever kind of battery is selected. For NiMH it is 16 hours at 150mah.

 

[trido]

Question for any users in YORK,County SC.

If any one is using a GRE 500 or 600 scanner in York,County SC.

Would you please email me or call me at
1-800-729-4373 Jeff@ The Hamstation

Please email or call no later than Tuesday Jan 22th.

Thanks
Jeff
hamstation
800-729-4373
or email
hamstation@gmail.com

 

[k9xyz]

Would've been nice

Another Battery question here. I don't see this in the manual, just holder colors and battery type settings.

I got some 2600 NiMH and put them in the yellow holder and plugged into the wall. I see no response from PSR500 at all. I expected to see it light, or display "charging" or something. How do I know it's charging ?

Also is it a timer control rather than a voltage control on the charge ? I recall seeing something about 16 hours to charge yet the default setting on Win500 is 99 hours.
Where should it be set ?

Thanks

Steve

I love the PSR 500 but I do think it would have been nice to include some sort of indication on the scanner when it is charging. I miss that as well on the pro-96. Personally I don't charge batteries in my scanners but may have been more apt to if this feature was included. The battery icon should be broken into say 4 sections and be soild on full battery charge and decrease in sections as the batteries are discharged or some similar way.
Personally I have several sets of high capacity NIMH batteries and use a maha rapid charger and keep several of them charged and ready to go, I never run out of battery power. I don't even have the a/c adapter out of the box yet.

 

[rankin39]

FM trap helps cure overload

I have a Uniden 996 hooked up to a Scantenna in the attic. The Tower comes in perfectly clear on the Uniden.

When tuned to the same freq. with the 500, the Tower comms are full of static and very noisy. The ATT on the 500 just cuts everything out. Any idea as to why it might be ?

Sounds for all the world like front-end overload. Usually this comes from some f.m. broadcast or TV station. My PSR600 has the same problem. Local fire dept. comes in OK but lots of garbage accompanies it. I cured most of my problem by putting an f.m. trap in the antenna coax just before it connects to the radio. I had a trap made by Radio Shack in my drawer, and it took the interference 'way down. I don't know if RS still sells the thing or not. It's small, less than an inch square, and has F-connectors on both ends.

It seems to me though that you should still be able to hear the tower 5 mi. away with the ATTenuator turned on.

Bob, w0nxn

 

[BOBRR]

L/O Question

Hello,

Regarding the Permanent L/O function:

Looked in Global but didn't see anything on this:

Is there some simple way to make all permanently locked out Objects
(or a single selected Object) back to a Non-Permanent L/O status without finding a particular Object, or going through all Objects one by one ?

Something like a Global reset, or... ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[rdale]

No. Save your 'unpermanent' state as a v-scanner so you can reload that if needed.

 

[BOBRR]

"Z" In Upper Right Hand Of Screen ?

Hello,

Occasionally see a "Z" in the upper right hand corner of the display.

There is also a picture in the manual on pg. 62 of a screen shot also with the "Z".

Can't find any description of what it signifies anywhere, although I'm sure it is described, somewhere.

Anyone know what it is ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[BOBRR]

SRVC Mode Question: Key Function ?

Hello,

When in SRVC search, I understand that you temporarily lock out freq's by using
the FrL/O soft key rather than the normal L/Out case key.

What function does the case L/Out key do, then, while in a SRVC mode ?

Thanks,
Bob