GRE PSR-500 Post Release Thread

[kikito]

Hello,

When in SRVC search, I understand that you temporarily lock out freq's by using
the FrL/O

Actually, the FrL/O during SRVC search does a permanent lockout. It puts the frequency in the Search lockout lists just like with regular searches.

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

Nothing.

 

[stlouisx50]

Has anyone else noticed that the 500 seems to be less sensitive to the VHF band than the rest of the bands and more sensitive on the 700-956 Mhz Range?

I noticed this when comparing just last night while trying to listen to the frequencies that I used to listen to on my 296D. 800MHZ is great now but VHF reception is very poor.
Even on the WX frequencies.... for example I used to be able to listen to 162.550 and 162.450, 162.400, 162.475 and sometimes others on the 296D however on the 500 162.550 does not even have a full strength indicated on the meter and 162.450 comes in too staticy to even monitor.

While I'M pleased with majority of the features on the 500 it would have been nice to see:
- Steps to be changed
- More modes besides AM, NFM, FM
- More sensitive VHF reception
- Less Mirroring of the 800MHZ band on the 700MHZ band

 

[mtindor]

Has anyone else noticed that the 500 seems to be less sensitive to the VHF band than the rest of the bands and more sensitive on the 700-956 Mhz Range?

I noticed this when comparing just last night while trying to listen to the frequencies that I used to listen to on my 296D. 800MHZ is great now but VHF reception is very poor.
Even on the WX frequencies.... for example I used to be able to listen to 162.550 and 162.450, 162.400, 162.475 and sometimes others on the 296D however on the 500 162.550 does not even have a full strength indicated on the meter and 162.450 comes in too staticy to even monitor.

While I'M pleased with majority of the features on the 500 it would have been nice to see:
- More sensitive VHF reception

I haven't seen this myself. VHF seems very sensitive, but it does indeed some very prone to front end overload. If you have any high power vhf stations around you (pagers, tv stations) then you are likely going to have problems on VHF. I can't scan _any_ portion of VHF unless I turn the squelch all the way, or turn on the attenuator, or in worst cases both... a paging transmitter and a TV station swamp the front of this scanner from one end of VHF to the other. It could be that because of the front end overload you are feeling that the scanner is less sensitive.

I have a PSR-500 and I like it so much (for 800 mhz) that I wouldn't think of getting rid of it. But on VHF it's a p1$$poor performer in a high RF environment.

Two other possibilities are (a) you have the attenuator turned on - make sure this isn't the case, or (b) you are using a 800 mhz antenna to beef up your 800 reception, and it will signfiicantly degrade your VHF performance.


Mike

 

[stlouisx50]

Mike,

In the St. Louis Metro Area I experience the same problems with the VHF band front overload. There is an FM tower about 5 Miles Direct from me and causes the front end overload on the VHF for sure.

I am using the Radio Shack Discone Antenna and notice a much lower reception on this type of antenna as well as the stock antennas that have came from the 296D and other various hand held scanners.

Att is turned off

I have noticed on all antennas that the 700mhz and 800mhz are prone to the following:
Cell phone towers buzzing away on both the 700 and 800 mhz frequencies
TV or FM also making its way into the 700 and 800 mhz band here and there.
Also I have noticed on all antennas that some of the 800mhz trunked frequencies will come through as if they are a 700mhz frequency, however they are not.

But like I said the main problem is poor reception of VHF vs that of the 296d.

I guess the 500 will be my #1 scanner unless I need to listen to VHF and I will hook up the 296d.

 

[mtindor]

I've pretty much decided the same thing, dedicate something else to VHF. Fortunately that's pretty easy since there are tons of surplus scanners out there suited to the task.

I too have noticed everything you've described with respect to TV station audio being heard up in the 700-800 bands, even though in my case there isn't a UHF station anywhere nearby that would cause this. Must be some multi-order harmonic or something, I don't know. I also notice that I can tune a few close 800 mhz cell sites on another frequency on 700 mhz. I have even been successful at getting sell site information off of an 800 mhz PS site on a 700 mhz frequency. The decode was horrible, but i picked it up and was able to determine that it was one of our local TRS multicast sites located about 2.5 air miles away.

In a few 1-2 mhz spots between 851 and 868 I can't scan because of some strange interference or something that is causing undue increase noise there. I even turned off all power in my house at the breaker box and it still occurred.

Definitely the PSR-500 has a hot front-end - and I like DXing 800 mhz, so I'm loving it. Again, I too will sacrifice VHF to something else if I must

Mike

 

[kikito]

But like I said the main problem is poor reception of VHF vs that of the 296d.

I use mine mainly for VHF monitoring of analog and digital and it works great. Like it's been said, depending on how much and how strong interference you have on that band in your local area, it might overload the front-end for some people. Hence why it probably seems to receive poorly in that band for you.

Interesting enough, I had a BC296D and it wasn't nearly as good as the PSR-500 for the VHF stuff I monitor on a daily basis (P25 VHF trunked system).

 

[cookmaster]

do anyone on this Forum know how to Reset the the PSR-500 back to Factory settings thank you.

 

[TES]

The procedure is detailed on pages 96-97 in the Owner's Manual v1.10

 

[mtindor]

Sure...

It all depends on just what you want restored to factory defaults.


From instructions on page 93 in the GRE PSR-500 User Manual

During the power-on sequence (after you turn the scanner off and then back on), you'll see the welcome message. When the welcome message comes up, you press:

0, then 1

Destructive, clears working memory and resets all Global settings to factory defaults. Does not affect V-Scanners.

OR

0, then 2

Destructive, resets all Global settings to factory defaults. Does not affect working memory or V-scanners.

OR

0, then 5

Destructive, executes EEPROM memory test, then clears working memory and resets all Global settings to factory defaults. Does not affect V-Scanners.


Mike

 

[cookmaster]

thanks everyone Psr-500 as been back to Factory Settings again.