New Baltimore County P-25 System

[doctordave]

Jodi, I sent you a PM with a few suggestions.

 

[patrolman123]

my thoughts

Well I have been pondering on how to write out my thoughts so if you would allow me a moment.
Along with the majority of us out there I am also having a difficult time with the new Baltimore County system. I was able to get hold of an actual stubby used on the radios for the new Baltimore County system. I purchased a SMA adapter and it is now mounted on my 396T. I must say that I find not much of a difference in the way the scanner picks up the system. It boggles my mind that as I write this message that I have the scanner next to me and it is picking up the system pretty good but let me move the scanner an inch or more in any direction and the reception is GONE.
I took time to send Uniden an email. In that email I asked if the engineers or developers had any plans to develop a radio that will pick up these systems any better. Additionally I asked if there are plans for a 396T firmware update after hearing word that there is a firmware update for the 396XT.
Basically what I got back as a reply from Uniden was junk. Here is a copy of Unidens reply.

Our Solution:
Thank you for using our system.
The firmware updates are on our web site Home - at Uniden at the bottom of the page under product information and then downloads. Then click where it says click here to get the latest firmware updates. This scanner should pick up digital transmissions as long as the frequencies are correct.

Sincerely,

I call this response pathetic. Some may disagree.
It would be nice to know if there are any plans to address the reception issues on the digital systems.
I understand from speaking with a friend who also is in the scanner hobby that GRE may be looking into the issue.
I must say that when it comes time to purchase a new radio Im thinking of taking my money somewhere other then Uniden.

 

[ocguard]

Well I have been pondering on how to write out my thoughts so if you would allow me a moment.
Along with the majority of us out there I am also having a difficult time with the new Baltimore County system. I was able to get hold of an actual stubby used on the radios for the new Baltimore County system. I purchased a SMA adapter and it is now mounted on my 396T. I must say that I find not much of a difference in the way the scanner picks up the system. It boggles my mind that as I write this message that I have the scanner next to me and it is picking up the system pretty good but let me move the scanner an inch or more in any direction and the reception is GONE.
I took time to send Uniden an email. In that email I asked if the engineers or developers had any plans to develop a radio that will pick up these systems any better. Additionally I asked if there are plans for a 396T firmware update after hearing word that there is a firmware update for the 396XT.
Basically what I got back as a reply from Uniden was junk. Here is a copy of Unidens reply.

Our Solution:
Thank you for using our system.
The firmware updates are on our web site Home - at Uniden at the bottom of the page under product information and then downloads. Then click where it says click here to get the latest firmware updates. This scanner should pick up digital transmissions as long as the frequencies are correct.

Sincerely,

I call this response pathetic. Some may disagree.
It would be nice to know if there are any plans to address the reception issues on the digital systems.
I understand from speaking with a friend who also is in the scanner hobby that GRE may be looking into the issue.
I must say that when it comes time to purchase a new radio Im thinking of taking my money somewhere other then Uniden.

The problem with adding antenna power to this problem is, it's not a reception issue. The new system has excellent power/coverage. It's the way your scanner handles the signals. In a strange turn of events, you're actually better of receiving the system's signal with as little power as possible (ideally, from ONE transmitter).

Uniden's reply is crappy. GRE's was no better. As more and more LSM systems pop up, hopefully they'll eventually try to deal with the problem.

 

[ffbryant2008]

how do you upgrade pro 106

Hey Everybody does anyone know how i upgrade my pro 106 scanner with the new firmware or upgrade? any help is appreciated and thank you and have a good day

 

[ka3jjz]

Go to the RS forum - there's a sticky on the subject

Radio Shack Scanners - The RadioReference.com Forums

Mike

 

[patrolman123]

I hear ya OCGUARD. It would be nice if the scanner manufactures would acknowledge that there exists a problem. It would be even better if they went further and said that they were looking into a solution.
Im an owner of an original 396T and it would be great to to be able to have a firmware update for this unit. Instead I understand that the only firmware update is for the 396XT. Maybe that guy UPMAN is reading these remarks and he has some input. Until then I would like to say thank you to Uniden.

 

[800mhz]

46.46

I heard something from the fire station about 46.46. I heard that as of May 1, 2012 that the county will only set the tones over the low band with no voice. Does any one know If thats true?

 

[AdamHLG]

I heard something from the fire station about 46.46. I heard that as of May 1, 2012 that the county will only set the tones over the low band with no voice. Does any one know If thats true?

Why would you even think of believing this? It would make no sense whatsoever.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[riveter]

I heard something from the fire station about 46.46. I heard that as of May 1, 2012 that the county will only set the tones over the low band with no voice. Does any one know If thats true?

Yeah that doesn't really make much sense. Think about it. You're a station officer, you have a pager, and suddenly it goes off, but you have no idea what the dispatch was for. Indeed, they could have paged you by mistake- that happens sometimes. So you leave your job in a rush, haul it to the station, and you find out that it was an accidental tone. Not very helpful.

 

[mdpsmd]

GRE 500 and 800

I've been a Uniden user for many many years. I'm hearing some good things about GRE radios. My question is will the 500 and /or 800 receive the new digital Baltimore County and Baltimore city systems. Thanks for your help.

 

[CqDx]

Both 500 and 800 will pick up the system just fine.

 

[patrolman123]

Both 500 and 800 will pick up the system just fine.

I believe "JUST FINE" is a matter of opinion!!!

 

[CqDx]

Well perhaps I just happened to be in a good location. I used the RS800 antenna at downtown Baltimore and was able to hear the city system perfectly and the county system fairly well. The system parameters in the database are correct!

Like the past 20 somewhat pages of the thread, you HAVE to find the sweet spot of your monitoring location to hear them, move a few inches and your scanner will be deaf quiet on the control channel.

 

[ka3jjz]

and I might mention that the wiki for the P25 system has settings for the object oriented scanners - but they're only a starting point - you do need to finagle (yes that's a techie term, hi) with them for local variances...Mike

 

[CRVFC500FF]

Best Antenna To Use

I know most of this has probably been said but I thought I'd throw it out again:

1. If you are picking up more than one tower at about the same signal strength then the multiple signals (multipath) will confuse the scanner and the audio will drop out or become garbled. Since it's 800MHz just a few inches of movement can change the signal strength from one tower or the other and the audio will clear up. If your lucky enough to live in a spot that gets a strong signal from one tower (as I do at my home) your reception usually is much more reliable but even then it may not be 100%. Weather conditions, leaves on the trees or anything else that can cause fluctuations in signal strength will have some effect.

2. Stubby antennas can help because the reception from towers further away will be attenuated but, again, if you are getting signals about the same strength from more than one tower this does not help.

3. I've been using a Uniden BCD996XT (with updated software) and a GRE PSR500 and I think the PSR500 does a little better than the BCD996XT in tolerating the multipath.

4. My fire station is in one of the highest points in the county and reception is terrible for the above reasons. I have installed a 14 element 800MHz yagi and carefully pointed it towards the strongest tower. It has enough rejection of the other towers to make the scanner usable.

5. A $3500+ Motorola radio does not have this problem because Motorola designed the system and placed enough sophistication (read $$) into the radio to avoid this. Eventually the scanner manufacturers will catch up but I think it will take more than software to really fix.

6. Because of FCC mandate to reuse frequencies and the push for interoperability and better building penetration expect virtually all metropolitan radio systems to eventually be Motorola LSM CQPSK types like Balto Co.

 

[pratzert]

I know most of this has probably been said but I thought I'd throw it out again:

1. If you are picking up more than one tower at about the same signal strength then the multiple signals (multipath) will confuse the scanner and the audio will drop out or become garbled. Since it's 800MHz just a few inches of movement can change the signal strength from one tower or the other and the audio will clear up. If your lucky enough to live in a spot that gets a strong signal from one tower (as I do at my home) your reception usually is much more reliable but even then it may not be 100%. Weather conditions, leaves on the trees or anything else that can cause fluctuations in signal strength will have some effect.

2. Stubby antennas can help because the reception from towers further away will be attenuated but, again, if you are getting signals about the same strength from more than one tower this does not help.

3. I've been using a Uniden BCD996XT (with updated software) and a GRE PSR500 and I think the PSR500 does a little better than the BCD996XT in tolerating the multipath.

4. My fire station is in one of the highest points in the county and reception is terrible for the above reasons. I have installed a 14 element 800MHz yagi and carefully pointed it towards the strongest tower. It has enough rejection of the other towers to make the scanner usable.

5. A $3500+ Motorola radio does not have this problem because Motorola designed the system and placed enough sophistication (read $$) into the radio to avoid this. Eventually the scanner manufacturers will catch up but I think it will take more than software to really fix.

6. Because of FCC mandate to reuse frequencies and the push for interoperability and better building penetration expect virtually all metropolitan radio systems to eventually be Motorola LSM CQPSK types like Balto Co.

Nice Recap of the current reception situation.... thanks !

 

[2106]

FYI,
I have heard a report that "at times" even the $$$ county radios will get garbled and the dispatcher or whomever will have to repeat the transmission. I haven't heard this myself although I have heard dispatch call a unit multiple times and heard them answer every time but dispatch didn't ?

 

[kuiper]

FYI,
I have heard a report that "at times" even the $$$ county radios will get garbled and the dispatcher or whomever will have to repeat the transmission. I haven't heard this myself although I have heard dispatch call a unit multiple times and heard them answer every time but dispatch didn't ?

I've heard this a few times but I wouldn't say it was frequent. Seems like they have more trouble with their computers.

 

[pratzert]

Rick, I'm curious - even though I have the older 396T, I can't get any signal to work from them at all - and I'm quite close to at least 2 towers (which may well be part of my problem - multipath is causing too much distortion for the old firmware to handle).

How about a pic of how you set this up? What software did you use, if any?

best regards..Mike (yes, from the Listening Post)

Mike,

Have you had any luck yet in getting your 396T to receive any of the new P25 simulcast system?

I have a friend who has a Uniden 396T and is "missing the listening".

It seems I have read a thread on the Uniden Scanner Sub-Topic that someone claims they do, in fact, listen to P25 Simulcast.

I wonder if anyone else can report their success, ro lack of, in picking up Balt.Cnty ?

 

[ka3jjz]

Yes, I have finally been somewhat successful - I get Woodlawn pretty well, but Wilkens can be a bit of a problem - kinda choppy, but it is readable.

Set your system type to MOT II /P25 and the site type (which, of course, in this case is really a continuation of the system form, since the original 396T cannot do multi site) to MOT P25 / P25 Standard. I have been fooling around a little with the decode levels, but so far haven't found one that works really well in a mobile environment. I'm using 3.x firmware and FreeScan for programming

Mike

[edit] I forgot to mention that, since where I am I get a signal from at least 2 - maybe 3 - towers at the same time, I get hit with the simulcast distortion issue. I turned on the attenuator and that has helped somewhat.

By the way, all the programming tips for the digital scanners that have been in this thread, I've attempted to collect and put here...

Programming the Baltimore County P25 system - the RR Wiki

Of course, these should all be thought of as starting points - there will be some tweaking for everyone's particular environment that cannot be predicted.