HP-1 Sometimes Picks Wrong Site

[Drkatzjr45]

I have nothing but good to say about HP, but there is one factor that is sometimes disconcerting......
And that is that the scanner will sometimes select the wrong site.


For example, I live in Oklahoma, where we have about 20 sites, or towers.


I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma.


Sometimes when typing in Tulsa, Oklahoma as my location, (even at a very narrow range) 2 miles .....
the scanner will select a site 20 miles away, thus reducing and/or not receiving a strong signal,
commensurate with my appropriate location.

 

[UPMan]

First, understand that the selection process is based on a combination of your range input and the range setting in RRDB (How it Works: Location, Location, Location explains this in some detail). Unfortunately, since RRDB location settings are based on circles, there is no way to avoid some overlap. However, if a site's range is set unreasonably high in RRDB, then you might submit a specific suggestion for a new site location setting with a lower range.

Alternatively (or simultaneously), you can bring the system into a Favorites List and tweak the site locations more precisely for your needs. Sentinel allows you to use multiple rectangles to define site coverage, a method that allows you to create "no overlap" mappings of multisite coverage. Takes a bit of work, but in doing this, you might have data in hand to provide to RRDB at such time as rectangle support is added (hoped for but not announced).

 

[Drkatzjr45]

But....a customer shouldn't have to do that ..... "tweaking"


My point, in absolutely no disrespect (as I otherwise LOVE) HP...is we...the customers, should not
have to "tweak" ----anything---, especially a top-end scanner such as HP.

 

[UPMan]

If the location data in the database were better, no tweaking would be needed. The HP-1 is capable of working much better in this regards than the data supplied (which overall is excellent).

 

[loumaag]

...
Sometimes when typing in Tulsa, Oklahoma as my location, (even at a very narrow range) 2 miles .....
the scanner will select a site 20 miles away, thus reducing and/or not receiving a strong signal,
commensurate with my appropriate location.

First, 2 miles is not a narrow range, zero for the HP-1 is a narrow range, that means you will rely only on the settings on the sites, not the sites plus 2 miles around whatever "Tulsa, OK" sets in the HP-1. Second, unless you are moving around, why don't you just type in the specific LAT/LON of your location (and set your range to zero); that way you are not including anything else besides your location. Finally, if you are using the radio primarily at home, setting up a favorite list for where you are is the best solution and in that list, take out the sites (or avoid them) in the list thereby leaving only the site(s) you think are appropriate.

Just for general information, even when I use this radio mobile with a GPS unit attached, I leave the HP-1 range set to zero and in that way, I only pick up things as I move into the "circles" established in the DB.

 

[Drkatzjr45]

First, 2 miles is not a narrow range, zero for the HP-1 is a narrow range, that means you will rely only on the settings on the sites, not the sites plus 2 miles around whatever

Ok. I guess I did not understand this. Again, I am happy with the HP-1 overall, and would suggest it to others -- I simply had no idea that 2 miles would be deemed as "not a narrow range"


I do, however, stand by my statement that: "customers should not have to tweak..anything"

 

[loumaag]

...
I do, however, stand by my statement that: "customers should not have to tweak..anything"

You are correct and you don't but even setting a range or setting a location can be considered a "tweak". It is all relative.

 

[Drkatzjr45]

Not Quite All Relative..

You are correct and you don't but even setting a range or setting a location can be considered a "tweak". It is all relative.

It isn't all relative in my purview when we are talking about a $450.00 scanner...whose unique selling feature is the ability to locate systems/sites with ease---and..it should be with ease. But I understand your point. I hope you understand mine. And I understand UpMan's situation
with RR

Again, I am happy overall with the scanner, and was simply not aware of the "setting to zero" option as a soution. I will try this, and thanks for your input.

I feel there is a paucity of information about the scanner's range option (ie what Range actually means) and that if communicated effectively,
which you have done, this would invariably help others with this issue/misunderstanding.

 

[UPMan]

How it Works: Location, Location, Location

 

[loumaag]

How it Works: Location, Location, Location

Didn't you say that in post #2 of this topic?

 

[UPMan]

Yes, but it seems it was buried in the rest of my post. Or I missed the point.

 

[thewenk]

I do, however, stand by my statement that: "customers should not have to tweak..anything"

A lot of customers like tweaking. A numder of scanner owners have indicated they don't think the HP-1 allows enough tweaking. But, at least as far as I'm concerned, the HP-1 hits a kind of happy medium in that respect.

Dave

 

[reconrider8]

well the database admins dont live at your house either to do the tweaking so they use us to help get everything tweaked down thats what we are really here for is to help them tweak the database if they tweaked everything down that would take alot of the fun away

 

[Drkatzjr45]

well the database admins dont live at your house either to do the tweaking so they use us to help get everything tweaked down thats what we are really here for is to help them tweak the database if they tweaked everything down that would take alot of the fun away

Ouch! Kind of a hard statement. I don't feel that way. In general, I think they are really trying to help make our hobby more accessible, and in that regard, are both genuine and helpful.

 

[ST-Bob]

The database is USER-CONTRIBUTED and is not under Uniden's control. You expect way too much.

The initial pass through the database to assign locations and ranges was done, almost exclusively, by Uniden Upman himself from what I've heard. If your local DB admins have location-based scanners like the HP-1 then they have a motivation to go through them all and correct/refine them. Otherwise - not so much.

When you find a problem, it's recommended by all of us here at RadioReference.com to SUBMIT the updated information so everyone may benefit.

As for the user not having to tweak it - yeah; right... Not gonna happen.

 

[GTR8000]

Some people have very unrealistic expectations and/or don't want to put forth any effort at all. Maybe Uniden should clone Paul and include one of him with every HP-1 purchase, that way he can take care of all this backbreaking work like turning the device on and off.

 

[Drkatzjr45]

Or..maybe they should lower the scanner down a few hundred dollars..... now...That's "not gonna happen"
Or better, include the Extreme Update (no comment on my opinion of its value) as part of the basics of the HP-1 But again, as someone said in the thread above...... "not gonna happen."

I say....let's all lower our high expectations. j/k