Not Able to Receive P-25 Phase 2 transmissions.

[daveo89]

davo89, when dealing with Simulcast, enabling Global Attenuation only on the Simulcast System should limit the number of towers that your radio will receive when scanning this system and will not alter the reception when scanning objects outside

I changed the "Global" setting with no change. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Whistler_Support]

daveo89, please attach your recent configuration so we may review.

 

[daveo89]

daveo89, please attach your recent configuration so we may review.

daveo89, please attach your recent configuration so we may review.

Here is the current config that I'm running right now. The conventional channels are working fine. It's just the P-25 channels that won't come in. Thanks for the help.

 

[Whistler_Support]

Daveo89, I see several little things that I wish to point out.

You mentioned that the conventional channels are working however this configuration file contained no conventional frequencies. Were these removed recently?

I noticed you have scanlist 11, 12, 13, and 14 enabled, but your scan set only encompasses scanlists 1 - 10.
With the scanset of 1-10, the unit will ignore objects assigned to scanlists outside the listed scanset even if enabled.

Regarding the Monroe/Ontario Counties P25 system, Monroe South has LCN 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 locked out.

Regarding the East Site, the Data Threshold Low should be 88 and I see you have this set to 75

I did not see Attenuation applied to the Monroe/Ontario Counties P25 system in question (maybe you just tested this briefly with the ATT button instead)

You also have a Monroe/Ontario Counties Motorola Trunking system without any talkgroups entered. I could not find this system when reviewing the radioreference database. Can you elaborate?

I would recommend that you look over and address the items mentioned above, then we can begin making small changes only to the system in question to see if there is improvement.

 

[daveo89]

I think I sent the wrong file. No! I did send the wrong file. I made some of the changes you suggested and am running the radio. I'm not seeing much difference though. I copied the file from the radio and here it is.

 

[Whistler_Support]

I will review and let you know if I spot anything on the Monroe P25 system.
Give me a bit to run some tests.

btw, I see that your DMR Trunked system LCN frequencies are not grouped together, you may want to correct this as I do not know how the unit will perform on this DMR system with 0.00000 positioned between several of the LCN frequencies.

 

[daveo89]

I will review and let you know if I spot anything on the Monroe P25 system.
Give me a bit to run some tests.

btw, I see that your DMR Trunked system LCN frequencies are not grouped together, you may want to correct this as I do not know how the unit will perform on this DMR system with 0.00000 positioned between several of the LCN frequencies.

I'm just happy for you and the other's here taking the time out to try to help me out.

 

[Whistler_Support]

It seems you did not set the Radio ATT to Global and as a result the Attenuation you set to "Global" on your specific P25 system was ignored. This would result in no change which you have confirmed.

For the scanner to respond to individualized Attenuation selections, you must set the scanner to show the letter G along the top line of the LCD. This tells the scanner to apply Attenuation only any individual object that has the Attenuation box checked or to any system that has the Attenuation set to Global.

If setting this using the scanner keyboard, be sure you do not select GA as this will attenuate everything in your configuration regardless of the Attenuation box status.

To cycle thru these settings on the radio, you can press and release the ATT button, otherwise you can use EZ Scan to change the Attenuation Settings of Attenuation Mode from Normal to Global then write the configuration to your scanner.

Do not change the Global Attenuation On/Off selection as this will apply Attenuation to ALL objects and this is not what you want.

 

[daveo89]

It seems you did not set the Radio ATT to Global and as a result the Attenuation you set to "Global" on your specific P25 system was ignored. This would result in no change which you have confirmed.

For the scanner to respond to individualized Attenuation selections, you must set the scanner to show the letter G along the top line of the LCD. This tells the scanner to apply Attenuation only any individual object that has the Attenuation box checked or to any system that has the Attenuation set to Global.

If setting this using the scanner keyboard, be sure you do not select GA as this will attenuate everything in your configuration regardless of the Attenuation box status.

To cycle thru these settings on the radio, you can press and release the ATT button, otherwise you can use EZ Scan to change the Attenuation Settings of Attenuation Mode from Normal to Global then write the configuration to your scanner.

Do not change the Global Attenuation On/Off selection as this will apply Attenuation to ALL objects and this is not what you want.

I got the Global Att set and reloaded the program in to the radio. I had it running this evening. The "G" is on the top line of the scanner display now but unfortunately, the P-25 stations are still not making it. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Whistler_Support]

daveo89, do not give up we will work the issue.

 

[tvengr]

"G" shows attenuator is in Global mode. Press the ATT button. Display will switch to GA. when global attenuator is on.

 

[daveo89]

daveo89, do not give up we will work the issue.

I am sure will get some kind of an answer.

 

[Mason69]

I'm in Rochester NY, Monroe County and the public safety went to the P-25 phases 2 system. Since then and with much downloading and tinkering with my radio, TRX-1, I am at a brick wall. I can receive all the conventional channels with out any problem. But nothing on the P-25. I also noticed that when I am running the "Whistler Control" program, the P-25 frequencies show that they are "muted". Not locked out but muted. I had tried to find what would do that in the radio and the program but to no avail. If anyone has any idea what could help me out, I would be forever in your debt. Thank you.

They are more than likely simulcast. If not, try changing your thresholds. Or DAC gain. Ive seen that work before even though it just supposed to ve a audio control.

 

[daveo89]

This saga has ended. With the help of the people who responded to my needs and a week long interaction of a "Whistler Support Rep" who got me in the right direction, I have gone as far as I can go at this point. The Whistler support rep and I narrowed it down to an attenuation issue. Everything from the stock antenna to a paper clip was tried with the paper clip working rather well. But the rep also suggested a "Banana clip to BNC" connector along with a stubby antenna. They both worked OK. I am now able at least, to receive the transmissions. But simulcast distortion is a big problem. With the transmissions I do receive, probably only 20% of them are understandable.

From there, I "Thank" everyone who took the time out of their day to help me out. I learned a lot more about my radio than I did before. I'll still keep trying to find out if I can get it to decode more transmissions with taking it in to the field and playing around with it and everything I learned here. Thanks again.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Sell the TRX and pick up a Uniden SDS100. Night and day difference regarding simulcast, believe me and many others here!

 

[19-685]

They are more than likely simulcast. If not, try changing your thresholds. Or DAC gain. Ive seen that work before even though it just supposed to ve a audio control.

Try THRESH LO to 10% and THRESH HI to 99% for the site(s) which are difficult to receive.

NOTE: for systems with only one SITE, you'll need to do this manually.

Your mileage may vary...

 

[Gronner8]

Recognizing limits of these units to sort-of receive simulcast, to get your best reception with this, i can agree & see the great wisdom & clever technique tvengr described here how to put into scanlists:[post#33]. I had limited successes with that. As regards to tweaking settings, etc i can certainly confirm your mileage DOES vary, & sometimes exactly 3ft movement makes a big difference, & orientation of radio antenna/paperclip,etc to be directionally "in-line" with transmit site when you know where it is in relation to your radio. I can mention my tweaks that helped, but cut to my bottom line: I had only minor success "scanning" across just a few saved talkgroups in getting the radio to stop on it to let me hear it. They could be talking & i hear it only if i just stopped scanning & sat on that talkgroup object [on radio: browse Objects, locate & SELect button to sit on it] just that TG i hear it all just fine.
NOTE Even when i removed,locked out all sites[in edit system on my '1080'] except just 1 i am direct line of sight of,
"scanning" is not good enough as it might not stop when i know its active & find it active if i "sit on" just that TG object in this way. As tvengr:& 19-685 astutely advised given the scanner's limits there are certain things you CAN do. I know i was missing some audio when i tried "scanning" even when i put just 3 TG's in its own scanlist it just didn't always give me the audio i know was active, so i have to just sit on that one object TG to hear it.
_HERE's_TWEAKS that I DID do:
removed all but control channel freq's, have Locked out all sites but one i am located line of sight of up on mountain, SO that prevents multi-site confusion to the scanner[only WHEN i 'scan']. Squelch knob ~all way down, also increased Dwell time to over 2sec (in EZscan for each line set to 2.6 but no benefit since i am only parking on one TG 7777 since i'm not "scanning") , had even tried successfully paperclip idea but now use only a BNC Load resistor as antenna at home. As he said, Results vary. If i move 5ft, results change. If local strong signal, orient radio "antenna' in-line. No, all that ATT settings stuff discussed i did not find improve anything.

Also Of note, When the mobiles are further away [closer to another antenna site i'm sure] the voice may be more "warbled". Someone said that may indicate Harris radios in use? For warbling distortion, i think i recall advice to ?further decrease DAC??.
Global settings:
DSPLevelAdapt 48,
ADC Gain -2db,
DAC Gain-7
Edit System: Dwell 3.6sec
Edit Site: ThreshLo 69%
Thresh Hi 94%
So YUP, it IS a lot what you CAN tweak to work within limits of a non-similcast scanner else another $650 sds100 or UnicationG4/5 or sdr/android-v-PC contraption made to be portable.