Help me help you

[JoeBearcat]

So seriously...when will it be safe to buy an SDS200? I got burned once...I will not be burned again

Keep an eye on the boards here.

Keep in mind once things are fixed in production, I really have no way to know how old the dealer stock is.

Worst case, I suspect there will be people who will be more than willing to perform the hardware updates. Perhaps people named Jon.

 

[CanesFan95]

I have noticed the sound quality on the P2 at times. It appears that it is related to the system users. Some systems, I hear phase 2 traffic crystal clear, others, it sounds muffled, just as Homeboy says. I think that is an equipment related issue on the system user end. As far as the DMR holding, I have shortened that by changing the hold time. If you set it to zero, it doesn't hold near as long. I agree on the conventional DMR. Not much info there, but if it works.... As far as as the "tone" settings (CTCSS, DCS, CC, etc) I use Proscan for programing. You can set up your audio type to "ALL" so it will decode whatever format it is receiving, along with the search mode in the "tone" column to let you know what that specific figure is. I don't listen to any CAP + systems, so I cannot comment on that. Utilizing the entire display may be able to be done with a firmware update. More knowledgeable people will have to comment there.

Well, I definitely want a scan / search delay. So I wouldn't wanna put that at 0. The BCD996P2 is flawed because it will stop on a DMR frequency and stay there even when it's just data junk and not a real voice call. The scanner needs to realize when it's not a voice call, then resume scanning/searching.

It is also flawed because you can't even program a talk group ID or slot # for DMR conventional.

And it's flawed because it misses voice calls on Cap+ and doesn't properly stay on the rest channel (which you can see on ProScan side-by-side with DSD+).

But where are you seeing this "ALL" setting?

 

[lu81fitter]

Personally, I have my systems programmed by state police districts (in Illinois). All the sites in that particular district are programmed in to one system. It works quite well. If a site is out of range, it will quickly skip over it when it does not detect a CC. I have no need to program an entire statewide system in my radio. It really serves no purpose if I will not be in those areas. I only program where I want to listen. If you want to listen to district 8 on a 996P2, simply press 8, and all the sites in that system will be scanned. Same with district 9, 1, 7, etc. For systems with a double digit number, just press ".17, .10, or .15", and it will scan those districts and the sites within that district. Just my method.

 

[jonwienke]

Come on Jon, you should know better than anybody that's easy - GPS, HELLO

Actually no. GPS doesn't toggle systems, it toggles sites. It's utterly stupid to give up the ability to toggle a system via quick key just to match a programming paradigm made obsolete 7 years ago.

 

[JoeBearcat]

OK. Throwing this out there for a request. Memory format such as the 996 or 15X scanners (No SD card), same user interface as those models (buttons, keys, etc.), only use the SDR of the SDS100/200 models. I have 2 15X's, a 996P2, and a 325P2. They are great radios. The 15X and 996 line are rock solid and are good performers for their intended purpose. Adding the SDR to these would be... well, Wonderful!

That is a distinct possibility for the base/mobile versions. Not so much with the portables since I doubt many would buy a scanner that only lasts only 2 hours on a charge. (based on 2x 1.2V 2400mAH NiMH cell)

Ideas for a 996P2 replacement was one thing UPMan and I talked about.

 

[lu81fitter]

On DMR conventional, you don't need to program talk group ID's or slot numbers. If its just a single freq, it comes thru just fine.

If you look at the column that says "Audio Type" it will give you a drop down menu. You can select "All", "Analog only", or "Digital only".

 

[JoeBearcat]

The BCD996P2 has a few shortcomings that I’ve always wished could be fixed:

• Digital audio quality sounds quiet and muffled like someone’s talking into a towel.
• The scanner gets stuck on DMR frequencies only transmitting data with no voice call. The scanner doesn’t know to realize there’s no voice call and to resume scanning / searching.
• For conventional DMR, there’s no way to tell it what slot # or TGID you want.
• The scanner does not properly track Capacity Plus. It misses voice calls and doesn’t properly stay on the rest channel.
• There’s a search setting where you have to choose between CTCSS/DCS or NAC/CC/RAN/Area. So if you want to see the CTCSS or DCS, then you can’t see/hear digital modes or vice-versa. So you have to keep changing the setting. Let’s get rid of that setting and just make scanner do either one automatically.
• Why not use all the pixels to show us more information, like the slot and TGID, as well as the color code. Or maybe show both the RF frequency and the EDACS TGID. There’s physically room to display all of it.

I tried to parse your post, but the bullet points won't parse well.

How is your scanner oriented? The bottom-firing speaker will be affected by surrounding materials, and will have a more bassy quality since it's larger. Some people like more tinny audio. For that you can use a smaller external speaker.

Good point on the data channels. Added to the feature request list.

One-frequency Trunk.

The rest channel changes. If it stayed on one it would miss calls.

Again, switching is a good idea. Another feature request listing.

What would you get rid of on the display? Or would you just make lines 2 and 3 smaller?

 

[lu81fitter]

That is a distinct possibility for the base/mobile versions. Not so much with the portables since I doubt many would buy a scanner that only lasts only 2 hours on a charge. (based on 2x 1.2V 2400mAH NiMH cell)

Ideas for a 996P2 replacement was one thing UPMan and I talked about.

I agree with the base/mobile thing. I would definitely be on board with one of those! Bring it JB!!!

 

[JoeBearcat]

... and the system, department, channel, info areas dont necessarily be locked in. Also the volume and squelch info areas could use a delay off.

Thanks for listening JoeBearcat

I made those points (well, about the full customization). For whatever reasons, it was not adopted. But with the semi-customization, it will be easier to make that leap next time or in an update.

 

[jonwienke]

It is also flawed because you can't even program a talk group ID or slot # for DMR conventional.

No. You can have any number of talkgroups show up on a DMR frequency. Programming multiple talkgroups as 20 conventional DMR channel entries is far less efficient than programming 20 talkgroups in a 1-frequency trunked system. It's not a flaw, you're just not willing to use a better mousetrap.

And it's flawed because it misses voice calls on Cap+ and doesn't properly stay on the rest channel (which you can see on ProScan side-by-side with DSD+).

That won't happen if you program 1-frequency trunked instead of conventional. (Hint: a "1-frequency" system can actually be programmed with as many sites and frequencies as needed for the system...)

 

[JoeBearcat]

Still waiting for my Home Patrol 3/HP-SDS... all the goodness of an SDS scanner in a car-friendly Home Patrol package (but with a slightly larger speaker and more audio power)...

Using an external speaker is always an option. It's hard to increase the speaker size while decreasing scanner size, and smaller is always what newer cars call for.

 

[ur20v]

oops

 

[MStep]

Keep an eye on the boards here.

Keep in mind once things are fixed in production, I really have no way to know how old the dealer stock is.

Worst case, I suspect there will be people who will be more than willing to perform the hardware updates. Perhaps people named Jon.

Hey Joe, your "slip" is showing! Is someone named Jon joining to enterprise? Maybe I missed a post or two. Well having one more tech on board certainly can't hurt matters, as long as those hardware updates are being paid for by Uniden of course, and not the consumer. And as long as they do not void the consumer warranty.

Additionally, as long as he can keep up with the amount of stuff that is likely to come his way from scanners currently under warranty from past, present and future inventories which are not part of the newest "improved" batches expected to coming off production at some point.

What may be needed might be a "Jon" type person heading up a centralized team of trained specialists to handle just those matters which seem to come under his purview.

And while that would be a great step forward, folks are still going to be leery about making a $700 USD purchase at this time knowing that there is a chance that one's investment is going to take a month or two to come to the proper fruition while awaiting said repairs/modifications.

But of course, this is all hypothesis at this point. Or is it?

 

[JoeBearcat]

Come on Jon, you should know better than anybody that's easy - GPS, HELLO

Rhetorical question: How many people would pay $100 more for a 996-type scanner that has a built-in GPS that they will never use in a stationary installation? GPS definitely has its place, but is not always needed or desired.

 

[lu81fitter]

On DMR conventional, you don't need to program talk group ID's or slot numbers. If its just a single freq, it comes thru just fine.

That is true if only one agency is using the freq. I more than one, as Jon states, you have to use a different method.

 

[ur20v]

Using an external speaker is always an option. It's hard to increase the speaker size while decreasing scanner size, and smaller is always what newer cars call for.

That would be fine and dandy if I drove a 1990 F150, but I'm not installing an external speaker in my my wife's new Q8 or in my S4. That being said, having the Home Patrol up on the windshield would have the speaker closer to my ears... Just make an SDS Home Patrol already

 

[CanesFan95]

No. You can have any number of talkgroups show up on a DMR frequency. Programming multiple talkgroups as 20 conventional DMR channel entries is far less efficient than programming 20 talkgroups in a 1-frequency trunked system. It's not a flaw, you're just not willing to use a better mousetrap.


That won't happen if you program 1-frequency trunked instead of conventional. (Hint: a "1-frequency" system can actually be programmed with as many sites and frequencies as needed for the system...)

Well, yes, I know any number of TGs could become active on a DMR frequency. But I wish there was a way to actually program in the TGID & slot so you don't hear a mixture of different stuff. DMR conventional isn't trunked and it would be silly to have to program it that way. Say you have 200 DMR frequencies in town. They often only have 1-2 different talk groups. I don't want to hear mixed up comms from both slots. Programming 200 "trunking" systems would be a mess. The Whistlers let you program DMR conventional with the slot and TGID.

 

[CanesFan95]

On DMR conventional, you don't need to program talk group ID's or slot numbers. If its just a single freq, it comes thru just fine.

If you look at the column that says "Audio Type" it will give you a drop down menu. You can select "All", "Analog only", or "Digital only".

Well, if the repeater has multiple TGs active on both slots, then I'd wanna be able to tell it which slot & TG to avoid hearing a bunch of mixed-up comms.

And what I mean isn't the audio type, but where you go to MENU > Srch/CloCall/ Opt > Tone/Code Search. I wish to just eliminate that whole setting and the scanner will always just do either or automatically.

 

[jonwienke]

Well, yes, I know any number of TGs could become active on a DMR frequency. But I wish there was a way to actually program in the TGID & slot so you don't hear a mixture of different stuff. DMR conventional isn't trunked and it would be silly to have to program it that way. Say you have 200 DMR frequencies in town. They often only have 1-2 different talk groups. I don't want to hear mixed up comms from both slots.

No. Programming as one frequency is always more efficient than programming conventional. If you have 3 talkgroups on a 2 frequency system, you have to program 12 conventional channels (3 talkgroups x 2 frequencies x 2 slots) to cover all of the permutations, each of which has to be scanned separately. Programming as 1-frequency means each frequency gets checked only once before moving on, and the system gets scanned 6x faster than the conventional channels. It's nuts not to use 1-frequency.

And you can include slot in a 1-frequency talkgroup entry...

 

[lu81fitter]

Rhetorical question: How many people would pay $100 more for a 996-type scanner that has a built-in GPS that they will never use in a stationary installation? GPS definitely has its place, but is not always needed or desired.

I routinely use my 996P2 as a mobile unit. When I am traveling, I enable systems and talkgroups far in advance to the time when I will be entering that area. I have found that the radio will pick up systems considerably farther than the site range suggests in the DB. Also, some entities in the statewide system use sites from an adjacent system to ensure saturation of signal. If you enable those talkgroups on the adjacent sites, you'll be able to hear them as much as 20-30 miles before actually entering their area. I don't use GPS, but not sure if that's possible with GPS. I suppose it is if you involve that in your programming.