New Linn County P25 HELP

[ylekiot51]

Today I downloaded the latest RR update (one new talkgroup added since my last update) and on a whim went to "Settings" and clicked the "Edit Multi Tables" button, and clicked "Load Reband Table" and noticed that the settings changed, but now I'm not sure if it was just trimming off the extra zeros, or if there was really new data. Others reported new data recently above, so it is likely.

I also noticed in today's download that the first four (or so) frequencies in the list were set for MOT mode and the rest as FM/P25. I changed them all to FM/P25. (I later tested to see if having the first few set to MOT provided any improvement and it did not).

I'm hearing many more conversations now (it's also a busy day) and I'm not hearing any control channel data noise at all (and I don't have any frequencies locked out at this time). So, that makes me wonder if there was, in fact, an update to the reband table that was useful. Still no IDs showing, but good progress on hearing traffic. And, although I don't hear data noise, I do hear an occasional, digitally garbled transmission.

I've been experimenting with a few things (turning off un-used talkgroup ID sub-banks) but not having luck yet getting IDs to show.

(My Pro-96: CPU: F1.4 DSP-App: U1.4 DSP-Voc: F1.0)

 

[Bandit52240]

well that may work on the pro96 but how about the pro-106? Arc500 or psredit don't have fm/p25. linn county and Johnson county sound like crap.

 

[jimfromiowa]

well that may work on the pro96 but how about the pro-106? Arc500 or psredit don't have fm/p25. linn county and Johnson county sound like crap.

I have a PRO106 and PRO197 and both sound good; most of the time. In downtown Cedar Rapids, I get quite a lot of garbage that may be due to receiving multiple transmitters. A couple of users have found using directional antennas or attenuation helps.

Jim w0nkn

 

[jfinkstein]

I have a PRO106 and PRO197 and both sound good; most of the time. In downtown Cedar Rapids, I get quite a lot of garbage that may be due to receiving multiple transmitters. A couple of users have found using directional antennas or attenuation helps.

Jim w0nkn

Jim...
Yesterday’s RR download added the rest of the frequencies assigned to Linn county. Suddenly things are working better. Wonder if they changed some other parameters too. I am now hearing more than previously but still no TGs.
Joe W0MJN

 

[CA58]

Thanks yelkio51

 

[jimfromiowa]

What is everyone seeing on the scanner display? In P25 mode, I see the frequency on the second line, then Linn County on the third and Linn County Pub on the bottom.

If I change to 'MOT" mode for all the listed frequencies and check the "Display ID number box" the scanner appears to track with the display on the PRO197. I see "VC" on the second line followed by the frequency, "ID:" on the third line followed by the TG and "Mot" on the bottom line, but get no audio at all from the 96.

My guess is that the 96 is getting control channel data in "MOT" mode, but just scanning and stopping on the next active with P25 data. Don't think it is linking with the talkgroups at all.

 

[CA58]

What is everyone seeing on the scanner display? In P25 mode, I see the frequency on the second line, then Linn County on the third and Linn County Pub on the bottom.

If I change to 'MOT" mode for all the listed frequencies and check the "Display ID number box" the scanner appears to track with the display on the PRO197. I see "VC" on the second line followed by the frequency, "ID:" on the third line followed by the TG and "Mot" on the bottom line, but get no audio at all from the 96.

My guess is that the 96 is getting control channel data in "MOT" mode, but just scanning and stopping on the next active with P25 data. Don't think it is linking with the talkgroups at all.

I am seeing/getting the same on a 96.... and it's starting to P*** me off. How is one suppose to lock out a talk group/ alpha tag IF ONE CANNOT SEE IT. Good grief. (The 96 is my only scanner.) So I have no ability to test on others. The old system I would see the text of the talk group... IE: CRPD F3. I could hit lock out and it locked out that TALK GROUP ...... not the Freq. Oh well. One more question... how does one determine if signal is to strong and causing issues or just weak and causing issues. I was going to buy an antenna but then read if signal already to strong ....of course a antenna will make it worse. I then read about "filters" that tone down a strong problem causing signal. Any ideas????

 

[CA58]

I am beginning to wonder if it isn't the ARC96 software that is causing talk group issues. I have e-mailed Butel for some help. If they are no help... might try Don Starrs software. If someone has time... do a search on this software "Pro96Com" and download the PDF manual much different than ARC 96. It is not Don Starrs.

 

[IowaGuy1603]

I don't care to look , but if you go back into the lined thread you might find how things were done in Johnson County back when they first started JCOM.

It might help

http://forums.radioreference.com/io...9372-johnson-county-iowa-p25-system-info.html

 

[talkpair]

Looking at the control channel with Pro96Com would help in determining the correct band plan needed for the Pro 96 / Pro 2096 radios.

Here's a custom table that is commonly used on 800 systems:

Low     High            Base            
Chan    Chan    Offset  Freq             Step    
---------------------------------------------
 0      4095       0    851.00625        6.25

 

[jfinkstein]

I am beginning to wonder if it isn't the ARC96 software that is causing talk group issues. I have e-mailed Butel for some help. If they are no help... might try Don Starrs software. If someone has time... do a search on this software "Pro96Com" and download the PDF manual much different than ARC 96. It is not Don Starrs.

I am using both ARC96 and Don Starr's Win96. The results are basically the same. The Win96 downloads from RR does not offer FM/P25...only MOT. I am not sure is all this is a RR issue, a software issue, or a radio issue.

 

[talkpair]

I think the custom table I posted earlier is wrong.

This would be the correct table for Pro96/2096, using the screenshot timkilbride provided in the reference link.

Low     High            Base            
Chan    Chan    Offset  Freq             Step    
---------------------------------------------
 0      4095       0    851.01250       12.50

Reference screenshot: http://forums.radioreference.com/io...6t-w-new-cedar-rapids-police.html#post2132014

All of this is assuming that the screenshot data is for Linn county

 

[IowaGuy1603]

All of this is assuming that the screenshot data is for Linn county

It is....................our database administrator did the screenshot & those are the Linn county talk groups

 

[Bandit52240]

well i do security down by caseys area on wright brothers. radio sounds like crap. so does john county and i don't have a directional antenna, its a handhelp scanner. its gotta be firmware or something to fix this

 

[timkilbride]

It is....................our database administrator did the screenshot & those are the Linn county talk groups

Yes, it is Linn County.

Base-851.0125
Lo-00-0000
Hi-00-4095
Spacing-12.5

well i do security down by caseys area on wright brothers. radio sounds like crap. so does john county and i don't have a directional antenna, its a handhelp scanner. its gotta be firmware or something to fix this

These scanners are not designed properly for I/Q decoding. The GRE/RS scanner seem to work better then the Uniden's, but they still have there issues decoding. There is no "one fixes all" to get a 100% decode. Its purely trial and error for each individual situation. I have noticed some people saying one day it works great and not so good the next. This probably has to do due with multipatch. 800mhz signals will bounce off objects easier then lower frequencies. There is a lot of "nuts and bolts" when dealing with simulcast.

Tim

 

[IowaGuy1603]

These scanners are not designed properly for I/Q decoding. The GRE/RS scanner seem to work better then the Uniden's, but they still have there issues decoding. There is no "one fixes all" to get a 100% decode. Its purely trial and error for each individual situation. I have noticed some people saying one day it works great and not so good the next. This probably has to do due with multipatch. 800mhz signals will bounce off objects easier then lower frequencies. There is a lot of "nuts and bolts" when dealing with simulcast.

Tim

Or like mine (GRE800)

Sitting at home on my desk (South of Anamosa) with just about any antenna I want to put on it..........I am getting ALMOST 100% capture, 100% of the time.

Put the same scanner in my car and it becomes spacey. Drive toward Cedar Rapids and there are 3 or 4 spots where I get nothing but garble--------50 ft later it works fine.

I have played with several mobile antennas and between them found out it really doesn't matter much (in a mobile situation) but the ATT button helps ...........sometimes when it is on and sometimes when it is off.

The fact is unless you have one of the new Unidens, or the GRE's (and hopefully Whistlers) -----you are probably going to have trouble no matter where you are or what you do.

 

[jfinkstein]

I think the custom table I posted earlier is wrong.

This would be the correct table for Pro96/2096, using the screenshot timkilbride provided in the reference link.

Low     High            Base            
Chan    Chan    Offset  Freq             Step    
---------------------------------------------
 0      4095       0    851.01250       12.50

Reference screenshot: http://forums.radioreference.com/io...6t-w-new-cedar-rapids-police.html#post2132014

All of this is assuming that the screenshot data is for Linn county

Thank you for posting the table. I believe that was the one parameter I was missing for the PRO 96.
I am now seeing: VC, Frequency, Talk Groups etc. I downloaded the latest (20FEB14) RR Import. Then (In Win96) went into the MOT 9600 CC, selected Multi Table, Extended Tables, and changed the first line with your info. Also did the same thing in ARC96 as well. I believe the PRO 96 is now working as it should on the new Linn County P25 System. Thanks again for that important piece of data. I hope others are just as successful.
Joe W0MJN

 

[jimfromiowa]

I think the custom table I posted earlier is wrong.

This would be the correct table for Pro96/2096, using the screenshot timkilbride provided in the reference link.

Low     High            Base            
Chan    Chan    Offset  Freq             Step    
---------------------------------------------
 0      4095       0    851.01250       12.50

Reference screenshot: http://forums.radioreference.com/io...6t-w-new-cedar-rapids-police.html#post2132014

All of this is assuming that the screenshot data is for Linn county

talkpair

Thanks for the table. That appears to have solved the problem for at least 10 of us up hear. Where are you located in Clinton Cty? I was from Gower.

Jim w0nkn

 

[ylekiot51]

I guess I'm doing something incorrectly, because I'm still not seeing talkgroups.

I have downloaded the latest, changed all the freq. modes to FM/P25 and edited the multi table to show the first line of the index as the one shown above. Should I be deleting the data on the other lines of the table? Could someone who has had success with their Pro96 please post a screen shot of their table in ARC25 or describe how to set it? Thanks!

 

[jfinkstein]

I guess I'm doing something incorrectly, because I'm still not seeing talkgroups.

I have downloaded the latest, changed all the freq. modes to FM/P25 and edited the multi table to show the first line of the index as the one shown above. Should I be deleting the data on the other lines of the table? Could someone who has had success with their Pro96 please post a screen shot of their table in ARC25 or describe how to set it? Thanks!

I made all the frequencies MOT, none FM/P25.. I am using Win96 and ARC96. Both are working with MOT for all the frequencies and the table as noted above. Hope this helps.
Joe W0MJN