Louisville Metrosafe

[ofd8001]

I completely agree with BigDog 911. As a system user, I love the MetroSafe system. We've never had any better coverage. Places that were dead zones with the old system are alive and well. The audio quality is super and the footprint of the system is much larger.

As a scanner listener it does get frustrating when I'm between sites with overlapping coverage and the resulting garble. The firmware update for the 396XT helped quite a bit, but the 996XT's did not.

I understand the downside of the on-line feed as you don't have the ability to select a specific channel that you'd like to listen to. Our fire department is doing this feed and it is connected to an actual MetroSafe radio. We have that radio set so that Fire 6 is the priority channel (figuring that if anything major was going on, Fire 6 is where it would be at).

 

[k9jus]

Well. This little beam has yielded the best results of anything so far but i still think ill opt for a radio when the time is right.

 

[k9jus]

Well, just got an email from uniden. They claim a firmware update to fix "all" simulcast distortion issues is in the works but said they have no idea on any sort of availability timeline. Go figure. Im not going to just sit and wait

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

I won't hold my breath.

 

[SCPD]

I won't hold my breath.

You got that right!!

 

[k9jus]

Me neither, i think i've taken a step in the right direction and uniden can just do its own thing. Still love scanning as a hobby and always will, lol

 

[pjscott51]

My money's on a new scanner and not a firmware update.

 

[Surfer240]

My money's on a new scanner and not a firmware update.

I don,t know, the last firmware upgrade made a huge difference, if they can hit the mark with another
I would be happy, I really don,t what to put out any more cash for new scanner considering what the prices
have become..

I tried the yagi routine and where I live, it made no difference whatever, I,m close to two of the sites
and almost exactly in the same distance from both, with not enough separation for the beam to make
a difference. tried two different beams, same result......

------------------------------
Your mileage may vary......

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

I don,t know, the last firmware upgrade made a huge difference, if they can hit the mark with another
I would be happy, I really don,t what to put out any more cash for new scanner considering what the prices
have become..

I tried the yagi routine and where I live, it made no difference whatever, I,m close to two of the sites
and almost exactly in the same distance from both, with not enough separation for the beam to make
a difference. tried two different beams, same result

Yeah I have the same issue, I'm 5 miles from 3 tower sites so yagi antennas won't help, I tried.

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

Is anyone hearing ANY traffic from LFR other than dispatch? I've been listening for a couple hours and have heard dispatches but no traffic from units.

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

Have the talkgroup numbers changed at all?

 

[Surfer240]

Is anyone hearing ANY traffic from LFR other than dispatch? I've been listening for a couple hours and have heard dispatches but no traffic from units.

LFR ?

If you are referring to Louisville Fire, I,m hearing no change, working as before..

 

[ofd8001]

There have been no changes in talkgroup assignments. I doubt any changes are likely for numerous reasons.

FIRE 1 is Louisville fire's primary operations channel.
FIRE 2 is Louisville fire's secondary operations channel, also used by arson investigators and fire prevention inspectors.
FIRE 3 and FIRE 4 are additional channels available for Louisville fire's use, though such use is extremely rare.

 

[17sCaptain]

I have read all of your posts and am totally lost about buying a hand-held scanner that will work with the Metrosafe system. What are any of your opinions about what to buy? I bought a Radio Shack Pro-106 right after the new system started and have had awful luck with it.

 

[Surfer240]

I have read all of your posts and am totally lost about buying a hand-held scanner that will work with the Metrosafe system. What are any of your opinions about what to buy? I bought a Radio Shack Pro-106 right after the new system started and have had awful luck with it.

I have the Pro-106 and the BCD396XT and with the newest firmware, the BCD396XT is pretty impressive

IMHO:
I don,t think ANY scanner wil be perfect for metrosafe.

Your mileage may vary


Disclaimer:
This message was brought to you using at least 70% post-consumer recycled electrons

 

[k9jus]

Yes, it really depends on your location and if you are able to pick up one site only. The 396xt seems to be working best for people who are taking the scanner route. Im sure you have read the above post and know how to experiment with the attenuator and other settings.

 

[ofd8001]

I've got the following four Unidens and rank them on MetroSafe reception as follows:
396T (Best)
396XT (pretty good)
996XT (well, I'm hoping for another firmware upgrade)
996T (not too good if you are between sites, but is okay if where you are is "dominated" by one site).

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

I've got the following four Unidens and rank them on MetroSafe reception as follows:
396T (Best)
396XT (pretty good)
996XT (well, I'm hoping for another firmware upgrade)
996T (not too good if you are between sites, but is okay if where you are is "dominated" by one site).

I'll add another one to the list, Uniden Home Patrol 1: Can't hear jack!

I had one for a week and only once did it pick up anything from Metrosafe.

 

[msradell]

Does anyone know why the online scanner for Metro fire channels 5-8 is off-line or when it will come back up? I miss hearing all the local action.

 

[ofd8001]

The firefighter that deals with the feed has been out of town and is due back at work Saturday. Hopefully he can do what needs to be done then.

The computer at the fire station that is used for the feed gets re-booted from time to time for unknown reasons. When that happens some programs have to be re-activated including the sound card, if I understand correctly.