P25RX-II P25RX-II Firmware Updates / Testing

[shirsch101]

Works good also for me

 

[shirsch101]

Display view suggestion.....I have one line of the display view that shows "Voice Frequency: XXX.XXXXX" when locked on a voice frequency but when it is searching for an active voice frequency is it possible to show "Searching" or Roaming?????
Thanks

 

[pcman67]

@btt , sorry, I've been out of state the last week and have not had time to do any testing or offer feedback on some of these latest versions.
Version BTCFG-II-2021-10-25_1914 seems to be the best release to date for me on the P25RX-II. I tried the "Alternate" version BTCFG-2021-10-27_1807 and even though it has been reported by some to work better, this version definitely degrades my reception and I notice much higher EVM's on both P1 and P2 transmissions and the EVM line on the Signal insights page is not good (some yellow and even some red on the EVM line when just sitting on the Control Channel waiting for a transmission) and the I/Q Symbol Plot does not look healthy in that version for me.

BTCFG-II-2021-10-25_1914 is definitely a far better release than the alternate version and seems to be the best to date based on my somewhat limited testing thus far.

 

[btt]

...
BTCFG-II-2021-10-25_1914 is definitely a far better release than the alternate version and seems to be the best to date based on my somewhat limited testing thus far.

I have the same results locally when driving through simulcast areas. 10-25_1914 is better. I'm still trying to figure out why one P25RX-II owner is having an issue with reception. The alternate version is the result. I'm still working on it. I appreciate the testing and feedback!

 

[Vermonster]

Here's my feedback on BTCFG-2021-10-27_1807.
Marginally better than 1914 on a Con+ system in the 936-939mhz frequency range. I am at the fringe of being able to receive this system, and 1807 made it so reception on the RX-II essentially the same as on my RX-I; very few voice transmissions being missed on 1807, whereas on 1914 I was probably missing 1/3 of the calls.

This weekend I will try to compare to a site on the Maine MSCOMMNET system, which is a trunked Ph1 P25 (Harris) system.

 

[btt]

Here's my feedback on BTCFG-2021-10-27_1807.
Marginally better than 1914 on a Con+ system in the 936-939mhz frequency range. I am at the fringe of being able to receive this system, and 1807 made it so reception on the RX-II essentially the same as on my RX-I; very few voice transmissions being missed on 1807, whereas on 1914 I was probably missing 1/3 of the calls.

This weekend I will try to compare to a site on the Maine MSCOMMNET system, which is a trunked Ph1 P25 (Harris) system.

Thank you. This is probably pointing to the need to be able to select between these two modes.

 

[pcman67]

@btt , I just downloaded BTCFG-II-2021-10-28_2015 and it was working fine initially and then all of the sudden it started losing connection to the device, and rediscovering it, and then lose connection to the device again pretty much over and over. Not sure if the P25RX-II was rebooting itself or if this is some sort of USB connection issue caused by this latest version. Reverting back to the BTCFG-II-2021-10-25_1914 seems to resolve the issue from what I was able to tell. This was on a Windows 10 machine. I will try flashing back to the 10-28 version again and see if perhaps it was some sort of isolated issue or if this is persistent after a while.

UPDATE: This issue is confirmed to only happen on the BTCFG-II-2021-10-28_2015 version.

 

[freqseeker]

@btt , I just downloaded BTCFG-II-2021-10-28_2015 and it was working fine initially and then all of the sudden it started losing connection to the device, and rediscovering it, and then lose connection to the device again pretty much over and over. Not sure if the P25RX-II was rebooting itself or if this is some sort of USB connection issue caused by this latest version. Reverting back to the BTCFG-II-2021-10-25_1914 seems to resolve the issue from what I was able to tell. This was on a Windows 10 machine. I will try flashing back to the 10-28 version again and see if perhaps it was some sort of isolated issue or if this is persistent after a while.

Same thing here.

 

[btt]

I didn't catch it because it is a phase 2 issue only. Thank you for reporting. I should have it fixed shortly.

 

[pcman67]

@btt , looks like BTCFG-II-2021-10-29_0939 fixed the issue and my initial results with this version are good.

 

[btt]

@btt , looks like BTCFG-II-2021-10-29_0939 fixed the issue and my initial results with this version are good.

The response of the soft AGC is very different on this version. I'm specifically interested in the performance in weak signal and simulcast conditions compared to previous versions.

 

[pcman67]

Thank you for testing! The response of the soft AGC is very different on this version. I'm specifically interested in the performance in weak signal and simulcast conditions compared to previous versions.

I will note the performance in weak signal and simulcast conditions and let you know how it compares to previous versions. My initial results from inside my office in a challenging simulcast environment are very encouraging at this point, even though it's only been running for about 10 minutes or so. I will test it further during a drive this afternoon and let you know my impressions.

 

[maus92]

Please check the linked file in the P25RX-II firmware section - the file linked to BTCFG-II-2021-10-29_0939 downloads BTCGF-2021-10-29_0939.exe

 

[btt]

Please check the linked file in the P25RX-II firmware section - the file linked to BTCFG-II-2021-10-29_0939 downloads BTCGF-2021-10-29_0939.exe

Thanks. The filename now matches the link name.

 

[btt]

I found some more related issues. I think 10-29_1456 should be working well. I'll leave this one up until some have had a chance to test it.

 

[btt]

A note about the latest version (10-29_1456): The default value for the AGC BW is 0.5. This may work better in mobile and simulcast environments. If you are in a fixed location and you don't have simulcast issues, you may see a better EVM with a value of 0.1.

 

[btt]

I left version 10-29_1456 up as the "previous version". In the "latest version" 10-30_0532, I've changed the AGC BW back to a value of 0.2, and changed the symbol sync LPF value from 0.001 to 0.004. This results in faster symbol sync PLL lock times. I'll take this version for a test drive later today. Like the previous version, it is working well at very low signal levels. I'll post images for a fixed location with a signal level of -97dBm from a control channel and with a 20dB attenuation in front of that. ( -116dBm).

 

[btt]

Version 10-31_1826 will become the new stable version. Hopefully the changes in this release will solve issues for a couple of people who have been experiencing choppy audio. I think it sounds better than ever here. P2 hasn't been tested yet. I will resume working on the to-do list. Once I get the current to-do list completed, I will resume assembling/testing P25RX-II hardware to sell.

 

[btt]

There was one more audio-related change made. Version 10-31_1911. Attached is an example of the audio output from this version while monitoring a local P1 system. Will start working on the requested change/feature to-do list again.

 

[rr60]

That clip is clean and well balanced. The audio is solid mid range to my ears. The large state NJICS system I listen to is all over the map with audio. Different subs having different radios from different manufacturers and all having different audio profiles. Even see this with different departments within the same city.

I only wish the audio could ever sound like that. Most do not.