MECA Digital: reception issues and solutions

[GTO_04]

Yes, I've updated to 3.01, set to P25, and I have four CC programmed. I've also experimented with the AGC and P25 Adjust Level settings. Still, very poor reception...garbled and broken up most of the time, but with strong signal strength. Any recommended settings? Thanks.

I think from where you are located, the 396 sensitivity is too low to pick up MECA. My 396 cannot pick it up either. My PSR-500 can pick up MECA from Noblesville. I recently got a Pro-197 and and with an external antenna it can pick up MECA just like I was located in Indy.

You may want to try an external antenna with your 396. For the best decoding on the 396, set the P25 adjust to "Manual" and set it to 8. Even with the new firmware the auto decode is not all that great, especially with weaker signals. Also it seems that the decoding is better in scan mode compared to search mode.

GTO_04

 

[usswood]

P25 digital Modulation does not travel as well or as far as non P25 Digital Modulation (IMHO). I monitor Ill's StarCOM which is P25...I have a tower only 15 miles away, I have to have my INSIDE antenna turned just right to pull enough of the signal in to decode it properly. My suggestion is to invest in some kind of outside antenna setup if you want to decode MECA properly.

 

[racin06]

Thanks for the information on the 396T. OK, I also own a Pro-2096. So far, the Pro-2096 is much better at bringing in MECA-1; however, I think there is some room for improvement. Are there any settings that I need to pay particular attention to? I'm using Win96 to program the 2096. For one thing, I don't see an option for P25...only MOT.

 

[mcema699]

2096 decodes P25 trunking automatically when set as MOT...page 55
"For APCO-25 trunking systems using the 9600 bps
control channel, program the system using the steps
outlined above for Motorola systems. Your scanner will
automatically detect the proper control channel type."

 

[racin06]

Recommended setting for Pro-106?

Can someone help me on the Pro-106 settings to monitor MECA?

P25 (Currently set to Auto)
Dwell (Currently set to 0)
Att (Enabled or Disabled)
AGC (Enabled or Disabled)
Super Track (Enabled or Disabled)
NFM (Enabled or Disabled)
Boost (Enabled or Disabled)
Trunking Table (Default, Splinter, Custom)
MultiSite (Off, Roam, Stationary)
Audio Boost (Checked or Unchecked)
Delay (Checked or Unchecked)
Record (Checked or Unchecked)
Delay Time (Currently set to 2000)
Hit Count (Currently set to 0)

 

[GTO_04]

Can someone help me on the Pro-106 settings to monitor MECA?

P25 (Currently set to Auto)
Dwell (Currently set to 0)
Att (Disabled)
AGC (Enabled )
Super Track (Enabled )
NFM (Enabled or Disabled)
Boost (Enabled )
Trunking Table (Default)
MultiSite (Off)
Audio Boost (Checked )
Delay (Checked )
Record ( Unchecked)
Delay Time (Currently set to 2000)
Hit Count (Currently set to 0)

I edited your settings to the ones I use on my PSR-500 which is supposed to be identical to the 106.

GTO_04

 

[racin06]

Thanks for the settings. Well, my Pro-106 doesn't do any better job of picking up MECA than my 396T. Most transmissions are broken and garbled; however, the signal strength is strong at 5 bars. This is very frustrating. I guess I should just accept the fact that I no longer can monitor MECA from here in Westfield.

 

[rdale]

Settings in the radio won't help your cause. It shouldn't frustrate you since you knew the fix before you tried

 

[racin06]

What's frustrating is that I am getting strong signals (5 bars) from the MECA towers, yet poor, broken up reception. Therefore, it definately isn't a signal strength or antenna issue.

I can also pick up traffic from the SAFE-T tower in Marion County clear as a bell.

 

[rdale]

It _is_ an antenna issue... It has NOTHING to do with the number of bars you see on the scanner. Plain and simple.

 

[racin06]

Then educate me on why it's an antenna issue. I'm using the RS 800Mhz antenna. SAFE-T comes in just fine from Marion County with this antenna, so why not MECA? Are you saying that I need a directional antenna?

 

[rdale]

Are you saying that I need a directional antenna?

That recommendation hasn't changed since post 1 of this very thread. It has nothing to do with how Safe-T comes in.

 

[jerk]

What's frustrating is that I am getting strong signals (5 bars) from the MECA towers, yet poor, broken up reception. Therefore, it definately isn't a signal strength or antenna issue.

I can also pick up traffic from the SAFE-T tower in Marion County clear as a bell.

There is some recommended settings in the wiki for this radio and in the Gre-500 forum for the signal bars, changing them will reflect a better reality.

Try holding on a control channel, and the physically walking around various locations and see what happens with reception. You may happen to find a sweet spot just using the duck antenna. It should be doable, I received MECA to the South 11 miles out with a rubber duck in a vehicle. But I think the Southern coverage is much better than the northern coverage for MECA.

Safe-T and MECA are two different systems in operating parameters, and not using the same physical locations. So that explains most of that difference in reception.

 

[AK9R]

Are you saying that I need a directional antenna?

Maybe. Maybe not. There are two issues that you are dealing with:

1. The GRE radios have sensitive front ends. Problem is, they aren't as selective as they could be. If there is an 800MHz transmitter physically close to you, such as a cell phone tower, it will overload the front end of the radio. The signal strength meter will show lots of bars, but it won't necessarily mean you are getting an un-distorted signal at that strength. When I tested a GRE PSR-600 back-to-back with a Uniden BCD996T this past summer, I was getting a full-scale signal on MECA, but the GRE couldn't decode it. There's a cell phone tower about a quarter mile from my house.

2. Because MECA simulcasts on the same frequency from various transmitter sites, it is possible that you are receiving a distorted, though full-scale signal. The problem here is similar to multi-path. The digital stream from a tower arrives at the radio slightly later in time than the digital stream from the closest tower. The decoder in the radio can't sort out the data, so you get either no voice or garbled voices. The user radios don't have this problem because they have better decoders. It's the difference between a $5000 user radio and a $500 scanner.

A directional antenna may or may not solve both of these problems. However, a directional antenna does reduce some of the variables. If you can point a directional antenna at the closest MECA tower, and assuming there isn't a cell phone tower in that direction, you will help the radio receive just one un-distorted digital stream.

 

[racin06]

W9RXR/newsalan,

I appreciate you taking the time to provide the good information. Much the opposite of rdale's comments above...short, abrasive and which have no beneficial value.

 

[rdale]

Next time - read the thread first before posting. All of this has been discussed MANY times in this (and every other MECA thread.)

 

[racin06]

I read the post and that doesn't mean that someone won't be willing to give me some additional thoughts. I've looked back at some of your posts and you have a very negative attitude. Perhaps you should try to be a little more positive...who knows, you may enjoy life a little more . Then again, with 6000+ posts, you probably don't have much of a life outside of RR .

 

[davidchomes]

I read the post and that doesn't mean that someone won't be willing to give me some additional thoughts. I've looked back at some of your posts and you have a very negative attitude. Perhaps you should try to be a little more positive...who knows, you may enjoy life a little more . Then again, with 6000+ posts, you probably don't have much of a life outside of RR .

I was just thinking the same thing. And in addition if people think that a post is a repeat of a question already addressed or they think it's posted in the wrong thread, then just don't respond with an answer at all. Some people may think its worth responding to in a positive fashion. Some people seem to have to act as Moderator even when they are not. Takes some of the fun out of reading the forums.

 

[rdale]

Seems like you're taking this to a personal attack level. Nice.

 

[ind224]

The signal strength meter should not be used. Instead, have all 4 CC programmed. Press manual then TSYS.
Analyze the CC's, all 4 of them. Until you see a 90% or > decode rate, on several "sweeps" you probably will not receive it nicely.
I have a defective P25 decoder in a 600 sitting next to a new 106 on the same antenna system at the same time; difference is night and day. I knew based on my 96's ability to handle the system with no issues that in MY location near the State Fairgrounds a beam should not be needed.
Where in Westfield are you? If you are up near 31/32 or west that would be better than downtown or going into the valley towards Noblesville, or farther north, IMO.
That far out I would say you *may* need a beam to get good decode. Are you able to leave the squelch wide open without interference on the CC's?
Please post your decode numbers and more finite location (not your actual house number).
Could I ask the same of others in this sticky? If everyone posts decode numbers and major cross streets, we can grid out this monster we call MECA and find bad P25 decoders that individuals might have. 46th and Keystone 99% on 858.1875 discone 40' up