P25RX-II P25RX-II Firmware Updates / Testing

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btt

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I'd love to see the following issues fixed before new features:
-Incorrect talkgroup labels on Con+ systems
-Impossible to switch between conventional P25/DMR and trunked systems; conventional P25 seems to tune to the frequency after shutting off software and restarting device, but no voice traffic heard; can't even get to tune to conventional DMR, it just keeps reverting to last Con+ system.

In terms of new features, I'd love to see Cap+ figured out. New Cap+ systems popping up every day here in New England.
DMR should be in much better shape with release 02-27_0723.
 

btt

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One more request..
Can you add a $TG_DESCRIPTION$ field to the display view options?
I didn't see it in the list an I would like to display the description field in addition to the $TG_NAME$ field.
Thanks!
Yes, I will get this added. Thanks!
 

btt

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@Vermonster , there were still issues with DMR in the previous version I referenced. It appears that it is working well in version 02-27_1133. (based on limited traffic received today). This is probably the best shape that DMR has been in.

Any thought about NXDN?.. Time line ??
It shouldn't be too much longer. As I get multi-mode scanning working in the coming days, I will be working to get scanning support implemented for P25 Trunked, P25 conventional, DMR, NXDN-4800, NXDN-9600, and FMNB.
 

raidamation

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So far so good using laptop on P1 system and 02-27_1133. I am anxious to get the updates for my P25RX and see how much better that will be. I see more units available for sale. Order now for those without one, you will enjoy it! Remember I am a noob so there is a time delay in my posts. ;)
 
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btt

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Just received some email from a frustrated user. I don't know what version they are running yet, but I suspect it might be the latest version. There are some differences with the SearchDB and how you test / save frequencies. These changes are made in preparation for adding multi-mode scanning support. I made a video demonstrating testing / saving frequencies and entering the frequencies manually as well as some of the new features. The video also shows how to get P25 Trunked scanning configured. I hope this helps. They also mentioned that they were frustrated that I keep removing features, then adding them back and never making progress. I hope that isn't the general consensus. I spend most of my hours working to improve the firmware and software. I know that there are issues along the way. This is a reminder that you can always downgrade or stick with a version that works for you. I make all the changes available because some people enjoy this and I believe it really helps to improve the speed that it can be developed by helping to find bugs before things stray off path too far. If you don't like bleeding edge, then please wait for a release that gets lots of feedback and good reviews. I will continue to try and push forward. From my perspective, the latest release appears to be much better and the code is definitely going to be much easier to make forward progress. The new CRC-verified "EVENTS" vs parsing scrolling ASCII was a good idea. It was really quick to get DMR working great today because of all the code re-writes. The hardware is performing excellent and the demodulation and decoding have never been better. I feel very good about selling this product at this point. I will continue to do my best to juggle all the different aspects of being a one-man small business that designs, manufactures, and codes RF related products in a world where the electronics industry has gone off the rails. I thank you all for the support and allowing me to make it this far!
Todd

 

btt

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Sorry about that guys. I posted the wrong link for the video in the previous post. Luckily, someone pointed that out to me. The link has been updated to show a video of the latest software release. Thank you @goldmyne99!
 

btt

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Kudos to you Todd, for having the cojones to do this. Having been in R&D and QA in medical devices for almost 40 years... I admire your responsiveness and customer support. Nice work my friend... let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Thank you sir!
 

FreqNout

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I feel very good about selling this product at this point. I will continue to do my best to juggle all the different aspects of being a one-man small business that designs, manufactures, and codes RF related products in a world where the electronics industry has gone off the rails.
Todd, You have the highest level of talent: Java/C programming, Software Defined Radio, Digital Signal Processing, RF Design, TIA Digital Radio Standards, STM32, ESP32, USB, Circuit board design, and MORE!

Folks, All of this experience is hanging out on a hobby scanner forum!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and products!
 
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kb8q

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... I will continue to do my best to juggle all the different aspects of being a one-man small business that designs, manufactures, and codes RF related products in a world where the electronics industry has gone off the rails. I thank you all for the support and allowing me to make it this far!
Todd

I've been monitoring for more decades than I should probably admit. Like before scanners existed. The P25RX is the most amazing radio device I've ever owned. It runs circles around my collection of TRX-1's & Unication G5's. Some days, I actually forget to turn the other radios on. I monitor the dispatch stuff in one zone on an original P25RX (111 TG's) and everything else (1,900 TG's) in 5 zones on the P25RX-II. I don't miss much.

The software than runs these babies keeps improving. The audio is better than ever and the capabilities seem limited only by our imagination and Todd's programming skill.

Genius.

Thank you Todd.
James
 

btt

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I've been monitoring for more decades than I should probably admit. Like before scanners existed. The P25RX is the most amazing radio device I've ever owned. It runs circles around my collection of TRX-1's & Unication G5's. Some days, I actually forget to turn the other radios on. I monitor the dispatch stuff in one zone on an original P25RX (111 TG's) and everything else (1,900 TG's) in 5 zones on the P25RX-II. I don't miss much.

The software than runs these babies keeps improving. The audio is better than ever and the capabilities seem limited only by our imagination and Todd's programming skill.

Genius.

Thank you Todd.
James
Thank you James. I'm really glad to hear that it is working well for you. I thank you for all the input to help make it a better product. I'm not sure I would have worked on all these changes to the way data is transferred without you and the others using the receiver the way you do. It is definitely a better product for all the input from the MI crew. Thank you guys!
 

freqseeker

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I watched the latest video and will watch it again to get what I missed the first time. This project of yours has evolved greatly.
Trying to please everyone is difficult. I have been scanning since the seventies and have witnessed a lot of changes to scanning receivers. I also tuned with a dial in the beginning.

Outside of BT I'm a Uniden guy, though I liked the earlier GRE stuff.
When Uniden released the DMR and NXDN modulation they (Paul aka Upman) made a public beta program to test revisions. It was interesting for me to see the progress and regress of the various releases along the way. Paul was smart enough to know that using a select group of beta testers would take way too long and would never find all the bugs.
Paul invited people to test the beta explaining that it is beta and it may suck. There were still posts complaining about this or that, or that they didn't pay $xxx amount of money to develope their product for them even though Paul explained everything up front.
I actually looked forward to firmware Fridays.

Another good example are the computer decoding softwares like DSD+, SDR Sharp, etc. They were are a work in progress and you have to have some computer skills to get them to work correctly. Hundreds of hours are put into their developement. Some people still are not happy.

I'm not sure about the emailers complaints or skill level, this post is not meant to say they are wrong either way.
My vote is to continue on. You have been so responsive that you appear to be super human.
I'm not sure how to make a poll in the forums, but I suspect if you took a poll it would be way more positive than negative.
This is not a jab to anyone here but this device is called P25RX, "P25" is what it started out as and is in my opinion it's primary function. My point is other modulation schemes kind of take a back seat to P25.

You're not going to satisfy everyone. Some people don't like change.
When we built a 900mHz repeater on a local hill (4000 ft) in the early 2000's it worked well for a 900 single site. You had to modify commercial radios to use as there were no FPP amateur radios made. People didn't like them because they were not user friendly, they just wanted to take it out of the box and turn it on. Some hams call them appliance operators. Half the fun was learning how to convert them.

I'm getting off track here. As @FreqNout stated we are lucky to have Todd and his talent doing hobby radio on these forums. You are never going to please everyone, and to be honest the P25RX/RXll do not fit the mold of what people think a scanner/receiver should be. Look what Steve Jobs did for the cell phone.

I like the way this has evolved!
 

btt

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Thanks for the comments @freqseeker . I appreciate all the input and testing! I realize from some of your comments that my earlier post might have come off like I was considering moving on to something else. I didn't mean for my message to sound like that. I will continue to work on the receiver and software the same way I have been with a cycle of code development, then hardware assembly, and sales (hopefully). The reason I often say "I appreciate you all allowing me to make it this far" is not to indicate that I'm done. It is to indicate that am well aware that without the support from the people here at RR, I would not be able to pay the bills. I will continue to work on this as long as there is interest in the hardware. It does appear that the interest is declining. That is probably due to the nearly constant "out of stock" message on the product page. I do have an inventory of parts. It does take time to switch modes and assemble the hardware and test it. I probably should have concentrated more on sales up to now, but I felt the firmware and software needed to remain a top priority until the performance approached the potential of the hardware design. I think we are there now with respect to the demodulation, and decoding. I know everyone has been waiting forever for the scanning capability. I apologize it is taking so long to get there. Getting close now.
 

AuggieActually

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My interest is definitely not going anywhere! This is one of the more promising pieces of tech to come out of scanner land in a long time. And that's including all the recent software/sdr stuff going on. If you reach half of what you're trying for in functionality, I'm quite certain I'm not alone when I say I'll buy several more.

Edit to add: I think the majority of your users completely understand the developmental state of the project, and are as excited about I am for all the progress you are making. Regression and patchy progress are a natural part of a rapid development cycle, and are especially visible when it's so public facing. Keeping stable builds available and pointing to those for the malcontents is a good strategy.
 

kb8q

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My interest is definitely not going anywhere! This is one of the more promising pieces of tech to come out of scanner land in a long time. And that's including all the recent software/sdr stuff going on. If you reach half of what you're trying for in functionality, I'm quite certain I'm not alone when I say I'll buy several more.

Edit to add: I think the majority of your users completely understand the developmental state of the project, and are as excited about I am for all the progress you are making. Regression and patchy progress are a natural part of a rapid development cycle, and are especially visible when it's so public facing. Keeping stable builds available and pointing to those for the malcontents is a good strategy.

In my area, I've got over 3,000 TGID's with verified activity (Detroit area). I cannot effectively monitor with traditional scanners. That's exactly the reason I'm using multiple P25RX units. And the data capability of the P25RX allows for rapid discovery of previously unseen TGID's. I don't have to be actively listening to know what's going on, either. If something gets my attention when I'm not at the computer, I can look at the scrolling TG Log and rapidly see what's happening. While writing this, I see that the 4 Whistler TRX-1's and the Unication G5 sitting here have not been turned on this morning. I'm getting what I need from a pair of P25RX units. The audio is separated by using 2 Bluetooth speakers. It's a really great setup. The majority of departments in Michigan are on a P25 system run by the state. Now those who didn't adopt years ago are also coming on board.
 

scannerboy02

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I echo what others have been saying.

Unfortunately I have not had the time to really put the P25RX-II to the "test" in my local area but for what I do have it doing (monitoring the Duke Energy TDMA control channel sites) it's working VERY well.

I have been holding off on purchasing more devices because I kind of felt like I wanted to give others a chance to get one and not having the time to really play with them right now. My plan is to eventually replace most of the scanners I have monitoring a single agency/system with a P25RX-II. The capability of the device and the form factor are huge for me. I have 13 scanners in my office right now and they take up a lot of space. Replacing them with a P25RX-II would greatly reduce the footprint of the scanners, I also love the ability to power them via USB, 13 wall warts also takes up a lot of space.

One thing I would like to see (don't overdo yourself for it though) is the ability to stream the audio/channel data directly to Broadcastify/OpenMHz/others similar to what you can do with SDRTrunk or OP25. I know this can be done with third party applications but for me having that ability built in would be great, again not a front burner thing but perhaps some day.

Thank you for all the work you do, I truly see great things ahead!
 

vince48

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Just received some email from a frustrated user. I don't know what version they are running yet, but I suspect it might be the latest version. There are some differences with the SearchDB and how you test / save frequencies. These changes are made in preparation for adding multi-mode scanning support. I made a video demonstrating testing / saving frequencies and entering the frequencies manually as well as some of the new features. The video also shows how to get P25 Trunked scanning configured. I hope this helps. They also mentioned that they were frustrated that I keep removing features, then adding them back and never making progress. I hope that isn't the general consensus. I spend most of my hours working to improve the firmware and software. I know that there are issues along the way. This is a reminder that you can always downgrade or stick with a version that works for you. I make all the changes available because some people enjoy this and I believe it really helps to improve the speed that it can be developed by helping to find bugs before things stray off path too far. If you don't like bleeding edge, then please wait for a release that gets lots of feedback and good reviews. I will continue to try and push forward. From my perspective, the latest release appears to be much better and the code is definitely going to be much easier to make forward progress. The new CRC-verified "EVENTS" vs parsing scrolling ASCII was a good idea. It was really quick to get DMR working great today because of all the code re-writes. The hardware is performing excellent and the demodulation and decoding have never been better. I feel very good about selling this product at this point. I will continue to do my best to juggle all the different aspects of being a one-man small business that designs, manufactures, and codes RF related products in a world where the electronics industry has gone off the rails. I thank you all for the support and allowing me to make it this far!
Todd


edit: Fix the link to the video. I linked an old video in the original post.
Todd,
will this be available to the p25rx users also? This is great and just can't wait for the NXDN and DMR trunk tracking is available. Great work

vincent
 

freqseeker

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@btt I didn't think you were going to quit the project. I just know what it is like to work really hard and have it appear to go unnoticed.
You do list the releases as stable and test. Sometimes the latest isn't the greatest. If using the latest you have to be patient.
Maybe a list of features on the forum would help. ACARS isn't that important to me, but to others it is. To be honest scanning multiple systems isn't something I do often as I dedicate different receivers for different systems. The more you scan the more you miss. I would like scanning for times when multiple receivers isn't practical though.
 
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