I will continue to learn about the Unication. I've read about the ability to use RR and a new radio in development that will make things easier. Not giving up.
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New Unication G5 owner- need some guidance
- Thread starter floridafuzz
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Hi captainmax1-
Like you, I have been listening to scanners since the 1960's. My first unit to monitor my local PD was an FM radio that a radio tech had turned up the cans in the radio so I could listen to the PD. Then on to crystals, switches, and current day computer programming.
My Radio Shack and GRE scanners missed all or part of the transmissions. I was thinking about a new Uniden SDS100 or SDS200. I read threads about the pros and cons of the Unidens. Reading in the RI forum someone extolled the virtues of the Unication G4 or G5. I started to read the Unication forum about how well they received calls. I took the plunge within the last 2 weeks and purchased my G5. I am very happy with my G5 and with the help of others on the Unication forum have learned how to program it with the Unication software.
Before I purchased my radio I had never downloaded or used the software. I started to watch one long video on how to program the radio that said it was simple. After about 5 minutes I stopped watching. It seemed overwhelming. I reached out to the folks on this forum and received encouragement not to give up. My radio arrived. I downloaded the software. I went back on Youtube and watched a 20 minute video on how to program the radio. I fired up the software and followed along with the video. I kept pausing it as I programmed. My first try was partially correct but I did not hear any transmissions. I asked questions on the forum, people answered and helped. Tim sent me a completed program of the system that I wanted to monitor. I loaded it into the software and step by step, compared my settings to the working program. After a few tries, I had my ahh-ha moment. Success! My radio was receiving transmissions. Start out small and get one or 2 departments working, then build from there. Now that mine is working, I am going to make it bigger and better.
Now for some good news, if you order your radio by 5/31/2020, Unication is extending the warranty for an additional 3 years making it 5 years in total. I also know that at least 1 or 2 dealers that have a code which will save you additional funds if you order by the end of this month.
Bottom line, don't give up! Two weeks ago I didn't know a thing about programming a Unication G5. I am still learning. Also if and when you purchase your radio, sign up for the Beta trunking software, although I am not sure how long the window will be open to sign up.
I apologize in advance if I have been too long winded, but by reading and with the help of others, this has turned out to be a positive experience during these trying times we are going thru.
Cheeseburgers
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There is a video posted by a guy named Dave who works for Unication up on YouTube. After watching it start to finish I was able to program my G5 upon receiving it. The software is actually fairly intuitive in the way it is laid out .. once you add a few systems you'll get comfortable with it.
<-- This one was particularly helpful.
I added a bunch of new talk groups to the PPE program in the RISCON system. I want to program them into my G5, but they don't show up to add in a current or new zone. I have the program working fine. What am I missing? Is it something simple? Please advise.
Thanks-
Thanks-
DId you add the relevant system information in the "P25 Trunking System Setting" tab in #2 "Frequency & System Setting"? Did you add the talkgroups to the "Group & Group Call ID Setting" tab in #4 "Group ID Setting"? Then did you select a "Receiving Mode" of "Trunking TG-Scan" in the "Zone and Channel Setting/Receiving Table Setting" in #5 "Zone & Channel Setting"?
Hi Bob-
I'm going to check each of those suggestions out. I will get back to you. In the middle of dinner. Thanks for your input.
I checked all the things that you suggested. Everything was programmed properly. I clicked on an empty knob position and was able to add 2 of the existing talk groups I originally programed successfully. Heard a transmission on the new programmed knob position 5 fine.
So here is a followup question: I originally programmed a P25 phase 1 system(RISCON) properly and got it working.
I then programmed a P25 conventional system and got it working properly with the help of one of the members.
Would that sequence of events prevent me from adding any additional new talk groups to the program? My P25 phase 1 talk groups are all programmed properly, both original ones and new added ones.
The relevant system information in #2 was already there. There are 4 zones in RISCON and I have them all there with all the respective control channels.
The only programming restriction is that PPS will not allow more than 64 talkgroups in a single knob position.
It turned out to be operator error due to a case of COLUMN OVERLOAD! OK, here is what happened. When I first programmed my G5 I programmed a P25T system(RISCON). Got it up and running properly, all data in the RIGHT COLUMNS. So the 2nd system I programmed was a P25C(Cranston PD) system. The P25C TGID's and the P25T TGID's are in different columns. When I went to load additional P25T channels with names and TGID's, I entered the P25T TGID's in the P25C TGID's column by mistake. Seeing the P25C TID's for CPD, I just continued entering P25T data into that column following along underneath the above data. That is why the new stations were not ending up in my available talk groups list in #5 Zone and channel setting.
I finally figured it out when i printed out the detail report and realized that the new data was in the wrong column. I moved the data to the right column, deleted the data from the wrong column, and BAM, everything shows up in #5 and I programmed new data successfully.
Bottom line: Too many columns! Thanks to all for your suggestions.
With any multi-site system, it's important to know which talkgroups go with what sites, especially since you can only have one site per knob position. When you are pulling the TG's over to the knob you're programming, you'll see all TG's listed as available, even though many may not be applicable to the specific site you've set up for that knob.
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