I was wondering if anyone would know the best tweaks for the pro-668, to get good reception/decode on Phoenix RWC Simulcast A - B, such as Threshold values, DSP....etc.
Pro-668 Tweaks
- Thread starter mswells
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KC5KAW
Member
I'm looking for a similar answer. I'm having issues reliably hearing the TxWarn P25 Simulcast system in the Houston area while I'm mobile. I'm occasionally hearing transmissions, but not nearly as many as I should and the trunking indicator on the display is off more often than on when that is the only system I'm following. I suspect multipath distortion but I haven't actually listened to the control channel yet to see what the scanner is "hearing".
Since the Pro-668 appears to be related to the 800:
For RWC, Simulcast A and B:
DSP Level Adapt: 52
Data Decode Thresholds: Low: 15 High: 95
Since I have my scanners set up to use a "single site" system/method, it was necessary to create a "dummy" site (no frequencies) which shows as "Site No. 002". Without the "dummy", the DDTs are greyed out.
Of course, the above will succeed only as well as the "signal" that the radio gets from the antenna.
For antennas, I use: ProComm JBC290M JBC290MM JBC290WC Mobile Scanner Antenna
Please peruse: http://forums.radioreference.com/un...07767-hp-2-extreme-how-evaluate-antennas.html
Between the antenna and the scanners, I use the following:
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...ww.amazon.com/Digital-Amplif.../dp/B001EKCGT8
Please peruse:
http://forums.radioreference.com/scanner-receiver-antennas/307872-multiple-scanners-one-antenna.html
For RWC, Simulcast A and B:
DSP Level Adapt: 52
Data Decode Thresholds: Low: 15 High: 95
Since I have my scanners set up to use a "single site" system/method, it was necessary to create a "dummy" site (no frequencies) which shows as "Site No. 002". Without the "dummy", the DDTs are greyed out.
Of course, the above will succeed only as well as the "signal" that the radio gets from the antenna.
For antennas, I use: ProComm JBC290M JBC290MM JBC290WC Mobile Scanner Antenna
Please peruse: http://forums.radioreference.com/un...07767-hp-2-extreme-how-evaluate-antennas.html
Between the antenna and the scanners, I use the following:
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...ww.amazon.com/Digital-Amplif.../dp/B001EKCGT8
Please peruse:
http://forums.radioreference.com/scanner-receiver-antennas/307872-multiple-scanners-one-antenna.html
KC5KAW
Member
Thanks! That made a huge difference here in Houston. I may still play with the settings a bit, but those numbers at least got me in the ballpark.
I believe that I tested for the DSPLAs and the DDTLHs before I got the "E" for my first HP-1. If I remember correctly, the setting making the most difference was the DSPLA. Make test changes there by one at a time. DDTLs can be tested by changing five at a time and the DTTHs by two at a time.
Also, if I remember correctly, the results were purely subjective... "Am I hearing more now than before?" If I had gotten the "E" (HP-1) first, and than acquired my first 800, I probably would have not even messed with the 800 settings. Once ALL of my scanners were presented with (what I know now is) a suitable signal from the antenna, they all became "screamers".
Also, if I remember correctly, the results were purely subjective... "Am I hearing more now than before?" If I had gotten the "E" (HP-1) first, and than acquired my first 800, I probably would have not even messed with the 800 settings. Once ALL of my scanners were presented with (what I know now is) a suitable signal from the antenna, they all became "screamers".
KB7MIB
Member
Rob, what settings would you suggest for the 500? I program by hand, not computer.
John
Peoria
John
Peoria
Hi John,
Had to search around, but I found the 500, lol. Hooked it up to an antenna feed and wall power, and it sounds horrible. Then I saw that all the action was on "C" Deck. That means that I haven't listened to the 500 since Phx PD garbled the C channels. Also, that puts it back a computer or two, so I might have trouble finding suitable software laying around, just to check/change programming. Haven't done much "manual" programming of any of my scanners. May be a day or so to give a real answer, but just guessing, the key is probably the antenna and booster. My hazy memory says that when I got a suitable signal to the 500, it simply "came alive" like my other scanners. For a few years before that, I probably believed that the 500 was not capable of "suitable" listening to the Phx PD.
Progress Report: Going great. Found Win500 Software on an old laptop. Fired up the Program on the laptop. Looked under "Help" and found my Registration Name and Activation Key. Cut and pasted the Name and Key to a Wordpad text file. Copied the text file to the Win500 Program Folder. Copied the Win500 Program Folder to a USB portable hard drive. Moved the USB portable hard drive to a Win 8.1 32/64 desktop. Copied the Win500 Folder from the USB drive to the desktop C: Program Files(x86) Folder. Opened the new Win500 Folder and created a Desktop Shortcut to the Win500.exe File.
Clicked on the shortcut and shazam! Win500 V01.94 opened up. Oops, says I have a 30 day trial? Went into the Win500 folder and found my text file containing name and key. Cut and pasted the name and key into the open Win500 page. Another shazam! Program accepts my name and key. Time to search the cable bonepile for a suitable USB to 500 cable. Found a likely suspect and hooked it up. Yahoo! Win500 says use Port #4 (or something like that). I try a Download from Scanner. Zippo! First thing I do is go to the Phx PD System and LockOut all the C (HOT) TGs. Then I make sure just the same TGs that are scanning on a nearby 996xt are open in the 500 Program.Then I looked at the General Settings and the Extended Settings. I don't remember changing any of the settings in the past, but in the Extended Settings I hit the "Default" button, just to make sure. I didn't see anything change. Then I Upload to Scanner.
Once again, I see what some have said is not possible. Both the 996xt and the GRE500 are locking onto Phx PD transmissions virtually SIMULTANEOUSLY, and HOLDING on those transmissions for the DURATION of the open mike. Some of these "lockons" are longer than 30 seconds! It's a different topic than this thread, but I can't help saying it again. Before I acquired the "E" to my first HP-1, the GRE500 never locked on a Phx PD transmission for more than 8 seconds, and rarely longer than 4 seconds, which is, of course, not conductive to pleasurable scanning.
Now, back to John, Peoria. Looking at General Settings, and Extended Settings, I believe they are all set to "default" values. Looking at the "System Frequencies" for my setup for the Phx PD, I see only four entered: 867.212500, 867.962500, 867.175000, 868.162500. This info will probably not make a lot of sense if you don't have the Win500 Software.
Clicked on the shortcut and shazam! Win500 V01.94 opened up. Oops, says I have a 30 day trial? Went into the Win500 folder and found my text file containing name and key. Cut and pasted the name and key into the open Win500 page. Another shazam! Program accepts my name and key. Time to search the cable bonepile for a suitable USB to 500 cable. Found a likely suspect and hooked it up. Yahoo! Win500 says use Port #4 (or something like that). I try a Download from Scanner. Zippo! First thing I do is go to the Phx PD System and LockOut all the C (HOT) TGs. Then I make sure just the same TGs that are scanning on a nearby 996xt are open in the 500 Program.Then I looked at the General Settings and the Extended Settings. I don't remember changing any of the settings in the past, but in the Extended Settings I hit the "Default" button, just to make sure. I didn't see anything change. Then I Upload to Scanner.
Once again, I see what some have said is not possible. Both the 996xt and the GRE500 are locking onto Phx PD transmissions virtually SIMULTANEOUSLY, and HOLDING on those transmissions for the DURATION of the open mike. Some of these "lockons" are longer than 30 seconds! It's a different topic than this thread, but I can't help saying it again. Before I acquired the "E" to my first HP-1, the GRE500 never locked on a Phx PD transmission for more than 8 seconds, and rarely longer than 4 seconds, which is, of course, not conductive to pleasurable scanning.
Now, back to John, Peoria. Looking at General Settings, and Extended Settings, I believe they are all set to "default" values. Looking at the "System Frequencies" for my setup for the Phx PD, I see only four entered: 867.212500, 867.962500, 867.175000, 868.162500. This info will probably not make a lot of sense if you don't have the Win500 Software.
Update: I forgot that I had moved the 996xt to the bedroom for 24/7 duty near my pillow. The "nearby" scanner referred to in the above post is actually a 996t. Two old warrior scanners, sitting side-by-side, and spitting out RWC Phx PD as good as any brand/model operating anywhere in Maricopa Co., AZ.
KB7MIB
Member
Living in Peoria, my main interest is Simulcast G for Glendale PD and city services, Peoria's city services, El Mirage PD, and Avondale and Goodyear PD's (since only Peoria and Surprise PD's are on the White Tanks IR site which I can receive fine); Phoenix FD's K and L-decks since they're no longer on most of the IR's; and Phoenix PD's 200, 300, 800 and 900 precincts, as well as the PSAP's. Oh, and Maricopa County's EOC TG 1565.
I'm also interested in Simulcasts A & B mostly for Phoenix PD & FD, and the PSAP's.
I'd need an rooftop antenna to receive Buckeye and Goodyear PD's on Simulcast J from my home, but improving reception while mobile in J's coverage area would be nice.
I really do need to update to the current firmware/DSP version. I haven't done so since I bought it, but I don't have a computer of my own to do so. I don't know if it would help with the multipath issues that I'm most likely experiencing, but it needs to be done anyway.
John
Peoria
I'm also interested in Simulcasts A & B mostly for Phoenix PD & FD, and the PSAP's.
I'd need an rooftop antenna to receive Buckeye and Goodyear PD's on Simulcast J from my home, but improving reception while mobile in J's coverage area would be nice.
I really do need to update to the current firmware/DSP version. I haven't done so since I bought it, but I don't have a computer of my own to do so. I don't know if it would help with the multipath issues that I'm most likely experiencing, but it needs to be done anyway.
John
Peoria
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