P25RX-II P25RX-II Firmware Updates / Testing

[maus92]

CQPSK is selected.

P25RX-II dBm range -100 to 90dBm (roughly 2.5 bars);
SDR (Nooelec) -41dB to -40 dB steady;
SDS -60dBm steady (full bars.)

I'll pull some data of a G5 when I get a chance, but it's using the stock antenna system and works flawlessly, so likely is not helpful.

 

[Vermonster]

My observation with Con+ systems on yesterday and today's firmware. I recognize my experience with Con+ may be different than those monitoring trunked P25.
On systems with moderate to strong signal, everything is great with default settings both stationary and mobile.
However, on weaker systems the RX-II with current FW seems to struggle vs the Rx-I (running 2022-01-09 09:46). Many times the RX-II will show decent signal level (typically within 5 dBm of the RX-I), Sync, and show DMR CC BLKS_SEC of >30 (which historically is sufficient for good decode). However, the RX-II will either completely miss the voice call (console log shows no sign of voice call), or the voice call will be recognized but no audio decoded.
Here is a comparison of what I'm currently seeing on the same Con+ System:

RX-II





RX-I

 

[btt]

CQPSK is selected.

P25RX-II dBm range -100 to 90dBm (roughly 2.5 bars);
SDR (Nooelec) -41dB to -40 dB steady;
SDS -60dBm steady (full bars.)

I'll pull some data of a G5 when I get a chance, but it's using the stock antenna system and works flawlessly, so likely is not helpful.

I think the issue is that version from a couple of days back. There were quite a few issues that should be resolved now. The current version 01-23_1003 (although labeled experimental) is working very well here. I recommend giving it a try when you have a chance. Thank you for testing/reporting!

 

[btt]

My observation with Con+ systems on yesterday and today's firmware. I recognize my experience with Con+ may be different than those monitoring trunked P25.
On systems with moderate to strong signal, everything is great with default settings both stationary and mobile.
However, on weaker systems the RX-II with current FW seems to struggle vs the Rx-I (running 2022-01-09 09:46). Many times the RX-II will show decent signal level (typically within 5 dBm of the RX-I), Sync, and show DMR CC BLKS_SEC of >30 (which historically is sufficient for good decode). However, the RX-II will either completely miss the voice call (console log shows no sign of voice call), or the voice call will be recognized but no audio decoded.
Here is a comparison of what I'm currently seeing on the same Con+ System:

Thank you for the details and observations! I'm going to be pretty busy today and tomorrow, but I will get back to the firmware after that. I'll dig into what might have changed with DMR. That have been so many changes these past couple of months. I did test DMR here on a Con+ system, but I may have missed something.

 

[Vermonster]

@btt : Thanks. Honestly no rush. To test you will need to find, or travel to, a fringe reception area. That's where the issues occur. Things really seem rock solid in stronger reception areas.

Honestly, if you have a moment and can work on DMR, my personal preference would be to fix the conventional DMR issue. At present, if you try to write a conventional DMR frequency it does not "take" and the console log shows either the prior trunked system being tuned; or if no prior trunked system, it will show tuning to 915.000. Don't be tricked if it looks in the console log like it tunes to the correct conventional DMR frequency, eventually (no more than a minute in my experience) it will revert to the incorrect one.

 

[btt]

An equalizer has been added to the firmware today for LSM systems. Here is a screencap of what the signal insights page looks like with the equalizer enabled on a simulcast system. Very good EVM (tightly packed symbols clusters).

 

[btt]

If you are using the LSM demodulation option, it is recommended to update to 01-24_0649. In testing this improvement against the various IQ files that have been sent in from challenging locations, the improvement is significant.

 

[kb8q]

If you are using the LSM demodulation option to monitor a P25 simulcast system, it is recommended to update to 01-24_0649. In testing this improvement against the various IQ files that have been sent in from challenging locations, the improvement is significant.

Although I'm not in a weak signal area, I do notice some significant improvement in several areas with this new version. The ERR is down to 0.000 almost all the time and the EVM is down to 2%.

The audio sounds as clean and excellent as ever.

I'm just using the auto settings on a simulcast system actively monitoring over 900 TG's in 3 zones with 8 levels of priority.

Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of these improvements to the original radio.

Bravo Todd !!

 

[btt]

@kb8q, thank you for testing the latest. I'm going to continue with getting the scanning profile support added to the P25RX-II model first, then I will work on getting all the updates into the orginal model.

 

[kb8q]

@kb8q, thank you for testing the latest. I'm going to continue with getting the scanning profile support added to the P25RX-II model first, then I will work on getting all the updates into the orginal model.

Sounds good !

 

[btt]

Had to update again. I left some debug code in version 01-24_0649 that is activated with a single press of the TG hold button. The TG button works as it should in version 01-24_1017. Sorry about that. This should be the last update for the day.

 

[shirsch101]

Todd did you post somewhere that you can give the zone buttons an alias?

 

[K9DAK]

Hi Todd... will scanning support include the ability to scan conventional VHF narrow-band FM frequencies along with 700/800 MHz P2 systems?

@kb8q, thank you for testing the latest. I'm going to continue with getting the scanning profile support added to the P25RX-II model first, then I will work on getting all the updates into the orginal model.

 

[btt]

Todd did you post somewhere that you can give the zone buttons an alias?

Sorry about that. That page was getting really cluttered with all the massive changes lately. I added a "tool tip" text to the buttons. If you hover the mouse over the button, it will show "Press Shift While Pressing Button To Set Zone Alias".

Hi Todd... will scanning support include the ability to scan conventional VHF narrow-band FM frequencies along with 700/800 MHz P2 systems?

Yes.

 

[maus92]

Version 01-24-1017 seems to have fixed the inaccurate RSSI indication. Burning it in now, and with test more extensively later tonight or tomorrow.

 

[K9DAK]

Alrighty then... I'm in. I'll order a -II as soon as they're back in stock. Birthday present to myself! But then wife will say, "wait, I thought that dual carb setup for your vintage VW was your birthday present!" No dear, that was my Christmas present.

Sorry about that. That page was getting really cluttered with all the massive changes lately. I added a "tool tip" text to the buttons. If you hover the mouse over the button, it will show "Press Shift While Pressing Button To Set Zone Alias".


Yes.

 

[btt]

Version 01-24-1017 seems to have fixed the inaccurate RSSI indication. Burning it in now, and with test more extensively later tonight or tomorrow.

Yes, I drove all over the place today with the latest firmware. I drove by several cell phone towers (no issues). I saw RSSI values from -120 dBm to -67 dBm show up on the LCD panel for the 9-site LSM system here. It is working good.

 

[btt]

The latest release for the P25RX-II takes it to the next level. (01-28_1741). I discovered a bug today in the DSP decode that has been there from the beginning of the P25RX-II. This version addresses that.

 

[freqseeker]

Running 01-28_1242 currently. It's doing good here stationary. I don't see 01-28_1741 listed.

 

[wmlovell]

Running 01-28_1242 currently. It's doing good here stationary. I don't see 01-28_1741 listed.

It looks like the link has been updated for _1741 now. Downloading/updating now.