HP-2: HomePatrol 2 - Signal drop even with only 1 system

[mattrowland789]

HI all. I'm trying to determine why my HP-2 appears to be constantly dropping a signal while scanning.

I have only one Favourite system programmed and selected, which contains a P25 TRS. That system contains only one site, with only the CC and SCC programmed. The received signal from the CC is strong.

While scanning, the reception bars repetitively go from 4/4 to none. This occurs every second or so. I would describe it as similar to what is seen with close call on other Uniden scanners. When a talkgroup is active - or when a Department or Channel is locked on the screen - the reception bars remain at 4/4. When the unit goes back into scanning mode, or the Department/Channel is unselected, then the issue commences again.

The signal dropping is causing the HP-2 to miss transmissions, which has been confirmed when it is side by side with other Uniden scanners.

I don't know if this is 'normal', or if the scanner has some setting which needs modifying to prevent this, but I can't find anything that would be causing this. I thought maybe the weather channels are set to permanently scan, but if so I can't find a way to disable that.

Can anybody shed any light on why this may be occurring?

 

[hiegtx]

HI all. I'm trying to determine why my HP-2 appears to be constantly dropping a signal while scanning.

I have only one Favourite system programmed and selected, which contains a P25 TRS. That system contains only one site, with only the CC and SCC programmed. The received signal from the CC is strong.

While scanning, the reception bars repetitively go from 4/4 to none. This occurs every second or so. I would describe it as similar to what is seen with close call on other Uniden scanners. When a talkgroup is active - or when a Department or Channel is locked on the screen - the reception bars remain at 4/4. When the unit goes back into scanning mode, or the Department/Channel is unselected, then the issue commences again.

The signal dropping is causing the HP-2 to miss transmissions, which has been confirmed when it is side by side with other Uniden scanners.

I don't know if this is 'normal', or if the scanner has some setting which needs modifying to prevent this, but I can't find anything that would be causing this. I thought maybe the weather channels are set to permanently scan, but if so I can't find a way to disable that.

Can anybody shed any light on why this may be occurring?

What system are you trying to monitor? Is it a simulcast site? Or is there a site from a different system close enough to cause interference?

For ANY of the database scanners, both Uniden & Whistler, try formatting & reloading the memory card. If you scroll through some of the past threads, you'll find a number of comments of strange behavior with a database scanner, where formatting & reloading the card has solved the issue. There's been more than a few that, at first glance, you think 'no way it's the card' because it's an oddball problem. Yet, in a fair number of cases resetting the card & reloading the Favorites lists restores normal operation.

 

[mattrowland789]

Thanks Steve - in answer to your questions:
- System in the NSW Public Safety Network (NSW, Australia). Details on RR database are outdated, so don't rely on them.
- The site I am monitoring is not a simulcast site.
- There are no other nearby sites that operate on the same CC or have voice channels on the CC frequency.

There is no database on these scanners (or any other Uniden scanner) for us outside of the US/Canada, and as such it is not used here and not selected (should have added that in the original question too). I've just gone through and formatted the SD card for completeness, re-did the Favourites list from scratch and uploaded it, and the same issue is present.

I feel it is not a programming error as such, but some feature of the scanner that I don't have turned off, or alternatively a feature that can't be turned off, that is likely causing the scanner to leave the CC and scan another frequency, and thereby appearing to go from 4/4 reception to nothing.

 

[jtwalker]

Sounds like a priority or close-call behavior.

 

[hiegtx]

Sounds like a priority or close-call behavior.

Priority Channels are not an available choice on the HP-1/HP-2 series scanners. Neither is Close Call.

While the Extreme Upgrade does add some features, it does not activate either of these.

 

[Ubbe]

As it normally stays one or 2 sec on a trunked control channel and then continues to next system if there's no call activity, it seems it has some other frequencies to scan, or it is the "housekeeping" time it needs to manage its GPS function.

Look at all location control functions that they are disabled. If this is a system that uses a standard trunking bandplan then have only the control channel frequency programmed.

/Ubbe

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks Steve - in answer to your questions:
- System in the NSW Public Safety Network (NSW, Australia). Details on RR database are outdated, so don't rely on them.
- The site I am monitoring is not a simulcast site.
- There are no other nearby sites that operate on the same CC or have voice channels on the CC frequency.

There is no database on these scanners (or any other Uniden scanner) for us outside of the US/Canada, and as such it is not used here and not selected (should have added that in the original question too). I've just gone through and formatted the SD card for completeness, re-did the Favourites list from scratch and uploaded it, and the same issue is present.

I feel it is not a programming error as such, but some feature of the scanner that I don't have turned off, or alternatively a feature that can't be turned off, that is likely causing the scanner to leave the CC and scan another frequency, and thereby appearing to go from 4/4 reception to nothing.

I don't know whether you can search the database (for Australia) and look for other licensees near you, using one or more frequencies close to the one of interest. From your comments, that may not be a choice, or perhaps it may not give you the details you need,

I have only one Favourite system programmed and selected, which contains a P25 TRS. That system contains only one site, with only the CC and SCC programmed. The received signal from the CC is strong.

If there is another system, of some sort, within range for you, try programming it as well, and see if the behavior of dropping signals exists there as well. And, am I correct in saying that it is dropping the signal's audio, though the signal strength seems to remain the same? Any chance that there might be part-time encryption used?

It's at least possible that interference from some other device (broadband modem, PC, certain types of lights, and more items), I think I'd try taking the scanner away from your house, so that any interference 'in house' is no longer an issue. If it behaves the same away from home, and , if it has the same behavior on an additional system, then I would have to suspect it is something in the scanner. (I presume you are not accidentally jittering the scanner by accident, making a poor connection internally, or in the antenna, come to the fore with a problem.)

 

[mattrowland789]

...it seems it has some other frequencies to scan, or it is the "housekeeping" time it needs to manage its GPS function.

Look at all location control functions that they are disabled. If this is a system that uses a standard trunking bandplan then have only the control channel frequency programmed.

Thanks Ubbe - yes, that 'housekeeping' is a good way of describing what it seems to be doing. Re your suggestions:
- Re GPS, I have no GPS/location functions set. All confirmed disabled, inactive or set to 0.0.
- I've tested with only the CC (ie no SCC added), meaning there is only one frequency programmed, and the issue persists.

I don't know whether you can search the database (for Australia) and look for other licensees near you, using one or more frequencies close to the one of interest. From your comments, that may not be a choice, or perhaps it may not give you the details you need,

If there is another system, of some sort, within range for you, try programming it as well, and see if the behavior of dropping signals exists there as well. And, am I correct in saying that it is dropping the signal's audio, though the signal strength seems to remain the same? Any chance that there might be part-time encryption used?

It's at least possible that interference from some other device (broadband modem, PC, certain types of lights, and more items), I think I'd try taking the scanner away from your house, so that any interference 'in house' is no longer an issue. If it behaves the same away from home, and , if it has the same behavior on an additional system, then I would have to suspect it is something in the scanner. (I presume you are not accidentally jittering the scanner by accident, making a poor connection internally, or in the antenna, come to the fore with a problem.)

Thanks Steve - the RR database for Australia is outdated, however the system I'm monitoring is very well mapped (we just don't use the RR database here). I am confident the system details are correct, they are used in my other Uniden scanners and by plenty of other hobbyists here, without issue. I have also personally confirmed them myself on UT and DSD Fastlane.

I've experimented with a bunch of other sites on this P25 TRN, the same issue persists. I reduced the favourites list to just one site as a test before my post to rule out other sites being scanned in the background. I've tested with conventional systems, however the issue cannot be replicated as there is no signal displayed while scanning, and when a signal is received the signal bars display a constant signal (which is also what occurs when a TG is being received on the TRS).

The signal is strong and there is no issue with received audio. As Ubbe surmised above, it seems to be doing 'housekeeping' in the background.

The issue persists whether at home or mobile, and the antenna connection is solid.

I've added a GIF (from a video) of the reception bar while scanning the TRS. I'm becoming more confident it is a function of the scanner causing the issue (either something GPS/WX/etc) that can't be deactivated.

 

[Ubbe]

There's no kind of priority function in HP-2 scanners. What happens if you program that control channel frequency as conventional, and perhaps after that test change the frequency to a busy voice channel?

/Ubbe

 

[mattrowland789]

What happens if you program that control channel frequency as conventional, and perhaps after that test change the frequency to a busy voice channel?

Good idea. I programmed the CC as a stand alone Conventional System. Being a constant signal, the meter shows a solid 4/4 and does not flash - this is the same behavior that occurs when a normal conventional frequency is active.

Did the same with the voice channel, and it behaves the same as a normal conventional frequency (ie no signal when scanning, solid signal when receiving). As above, this is the expected behavior.

While the issue may also be happening in the background when scanning a System programmed only with conventional, it is only obvious when a System containing a trunked site is locked on and being scanned - likely because the CC shows a received signal which is obvious when it drops.

(Interesting side note, the receiver does not unmute on the P25 CC or VC when programmed as a 'conventional' channels - the VC is likely because it is a TDMA TRS)

 

[Ubbe]

Good idea. I programmed the CC as a stand alone Conventional System. Being a constant signal, the meter shows a solid 4/4 and does not flash - this is the same behavior that occurs when a normal conventional frequency is active.

Then it's probably just a normal function in the HP-2 as with other Uniden trunk track scanners, that if the control channel are idle for a while with no calls being set up, then it will hunt for another control channel with presumably some conversations to monitor. It does this as a courtesy to you to try and find some active channels to monitor. But if you only monitor one site in one system then there shouldn't be a need to leave the only control channel programmed. Maybe it could be considered being a functional bug.

/Ubbe

 

[RMason]

This appears to be normal behavior. The HP2 is going to continuously cycle between monitoring the system and housekeeping tasks. If you are monitoring a single a site, you'll see the signal bar drop every 1-2 seconds. That is when the scanner does "housekeeping"

It looks like the firmware for the x36hp series scanners was updated in 2019 to disable housekeeping when scanning only one site. It does not look like this update made it into the HP1/HP2 series.

 

[mattrowland789]

Maybe it could be considered being a functional bug.

Yes, it does seem that is the case.

This appears to be normal behavior. The HP2 is going to continuously cycle between monitoring the system and housekeeping tasks.

Thanks. The reasoning is understandable, just unfortunate that in the time it takes to reacquire the CC data then scan for TG’s, some transmissions are missed.

It does not look like this update made it into the HP1/HP2 series.

I currently have access to a USDS100, UBCD436PT and a UBCD325P2 (AU versions of the US variants) and the issue doesn’t present on any other of these, so definitely is something specific to the HP-2.

 

[Ubbe]

I currently have access to a USDS100, UBCD436PT and a UBCD325P2 (AU versions of the US variants) and the issue doesn’t present on any other of these, so definitely is something specific to the HP-2.

UPMan Paul Opitz where trying to minimize or even remove housekeeping as much as possible from those scanners but HP-2 never had any firmware upgrades done to it so still suffers from that "housekeeping" bug. Most of Unidens high end scanners share the same core of firmware code, so that one bug in one scanner are often found in the others.

/Ubbe

 

[Nasby]

UPMan Paul Opitz where trying to minimize or even remove housekeeping as much as possible from those scanners but HP-2 never had any firmware upgrades done to it so still suffers from that "housekeeping" bug. Most of Unidens high end scanners share the same core of firmware code, so that one bug in one scanner are often found in the others.

/Ubbe

That “housekeeping” is such a bummer. It really causes a lot of missed transmissions and keeps the HP scanners from being great. Too bad Uniden couldn’t figure out a way to get rid of it.