So a little update. Recently switched to nights at work and I'm just now leveling out and getting back to some of my other interests. So far I've left the screen and my P25RX running for several days at a time and all seems to be well. Performance wise it seems to be working great. My only complaints are really just some small aesthetic things.
So I turned off my Unidens and decided to make the P25RX coupled with the display my main scanner for a bit so I could really get a feel for it.
I love the screen, but all the information can be a bit 'much'. I would suggest perhaps a basic view and an advanced view. I don't know how everyone else uses their radios, but once I get mine programmed for what I want to hear I just set it and let it be. I only glance up at it to see who's talking occasionally, to hold on a tg, and to make sure all my sites are still there and no control channels have changed.
With that being said, I like having the talkgroup displayed largely across the bottom of the screen just as Todd has done here. But I did find one little issue with that. If you have a talkgroup saved and aliased it will display the name along with the tg number on the same line. This isn't really a big issue, but if you are like me and use tags longer than just "EMS1" or "FIRE" it will clip the tg number off the end (see attached picture). Personally if I have the tg saved and aliased I don't have a need for the number as well. I would like to see the unknown talkgroups display the number, and known ones just display the name.
Another thing that could be condensed down a bit for a 'basic view' would be combining the site id and the frequency. If I have just a site alias that will tell me everything I need to know (in a basic sense). I enjoying seeing sites change as everything is roaming but I would rather just see "TOWN 1" or "TOWN 2" as site names and not necessarily the frequency and actual site id as far as the system is concerned.
On that same note, an option to add a system alias would be great. I know what system 0xBEE00-0X1FC is when I look at it, but if I were scanning multiple systems it would be easier to just glance and see 'NC VIPER' or 'GUILFORD'.
RSSI I think is an absolute must on a display, but (get your pitchforks out, because I know some hate it) I prefer bars of signal strength. It's easy to glance at and see what you've got. I do like knowing what the dBm value is, but it's not something that is easy to just glance at in a mobile environment like a bar indicator. The IQ symbols definitely have their purpose as well but I don't find myself using them very much even when I'm using the P25RX with my PC.
Like I said earlier, I do like having access to ALL of the information when I want it, I'm certain some of you do as well. But for just normal scanning, especially when mobile, having a nice uncluttered screen where I can get all the basics with a glance would be nice.
I think a simple display laid out like this would work well. Unit ID also would be nice but I am kinda on the fence of whether that is an advanced view or basic view kind of thing.
(< 0 TGHOLD 0 >)
SIGNAL STRENGTH METER
SYSTEM ALIAS
SITE ID/ ALIAS
TALKGROUP ID
So there's my initial review! I wouldn't say any of these things are a deal breaker, but I think streamlining everything a bit would be easier on the eyes. I attached a picture to explain the talkgroup cutoff thing I was mentioning and giving a good look at the current layout.
As always
@btt great job! Thanks for the opportunity to test this thing out and I'm really looking forward to see what is to come with the display and the P25RX. I'm going to continue on now that I finally have some time again to do things. I'll keep everyone updated with my findings.
