PSR-500 and PSR-600 Pre Release

[kikito]

Statewide talkgroup use efficiency: You only enter an object once. For example for a system, you enter it and then when you enter a talkgroup, you tell the talkgroup which system to use. Then you group the talkgroups into scan lists. So you can use the talkgroups in multiple scan lists and not have to enter the talkgroup more than once. I hear there will also be some pretty intelligent processing of multiple site (e.g. Statewide) systems.

OK, let me see if I understand. So I can create several scanlists like:

Fire
EMS
Police

Then put the corresponding talkgroups in each scanlist and then "associate" all three scanlists collectively to 8 different control channels of a system??

Other Trunking.. The System object properly keeps track of the control channel when it switches frequencies regardless of scanning, pause, or MAN mode. This is good. So it seems you can pause on a TG and leave it for days and the system object will handle all of the CC tracking just fine for as long as the radio is powered up.

So what you're saying is that you can pause on a TG and the radio will keep tracking that TG across several different control channels sequentially to see if it's active in any of them OR you're just saying that current scanners "loose" the tracking of a TG after being paused for a while?

Of course, it would be nice if the first assumption was true about tracking a paused TG across several CCs....

 

[Cobra_Commander]

Will these scanners be rebanding ready right out of the box or will you have to upgrade it?

 

[rdale]

Since rebanding won't be near to complete by then, and they already said it can be upgraded like the current Unidens - I'd chalk that up to the "doesn't matter" thread ;>

 

[iMONITOR]

The main feature with the Skywarn bank set is largely so that it can be used as an additional "priority bank" (as opposed to a single priority channel). I actually know of a few instances where this might well be handy (for example, if during a severe weather event you are monitoring local law enforcement/fire/EMS, and want to keep Skywarn stuff on priority--this is actually a big feature for spotters, because if (for instance) a tornado warning is announced on the local Skywarn nets and/or stuff like rotating wall clouds near their area they can be on the alert to pay special attention to that area).

Yes, this may be a bit moot with the PRS-500/PRS-600 due to multiple priority channels, but being able to group a set of "emergency" channels not normally monitored in a dedicated Skywarn "priority bank" is always handy IMHO. Again, your mileage may differ :3

Thanks for the explanation. I wasn't aware it worked that way. Makes sense now.

 

[b52hbuff]

Yes, P25 systems use a combination of base/offset/step tables to operate. It's done a little different than the 3600bps systems, but they are still used.

The Pro-96 doesn't read that information from the control channel. Instead it uses pre-programmed settings unless you use a program like Win96 to configure the multi-tables that may be used on some VHF/UHF systems.

Hopefully these new radios will read that information from the control channel when available, and use the defaults or a manually programmed set of tables when it isn't. This would keep the problems with the BCT396 during the Super Bowl in Detroit from happening again.

Mike

I think the best approach is a system where the data is read from the control channel and there is the ability to override if required. I can appreciate the 'PRo-96' approach, but having to carry a laptop with me to access the control channel output from the radio is a bit much...

Any word on if the radio provides any tools to assist in the determination of base/offset w/o having to attach a computer?

 

[Lodis]

I think the bandplan on this scanner should be able to be edited via software. One should be able to change the step sizes and modulation as they please.

So many times I have noticed inaccuracy in the already included bandplans of my radio scanners and many times the step sizes are too high or just totally wrong. The only radio that I have used that has an editible bandplan is my AR8200.

My UBC3500 radio even came with 3 bandplans to cator for different countries but none of them are quite right. Having a bandplan that can be edited will also save time in needed firmware updates that are just to compensate for step changes.

 

[b52hbuff]

I think the bandplan on this scanner should be able to be edited via software. One should be able to change the step sizes and modulation as they please.

So many times I have noticed inaccuracy in the already included bandplans of my radio scanners and many times the step sizes are too high or just totally wrong. The only radio that I have used that has an editible bandplan is my AR8200.

Leads to another interesting question... Did GRE get the bandplan right in the federal bands? I'm thinking 138-144 and 162-174? Are these now 12.5kHz or are they 5kHz?

That was a killer on the pro-96 if you were trying to monitor fed stuff...

 

[Steve2003]

It might already have been discussed, but does anyone know how the new GRE P25 scanners are going to handle talk group patching (APCO 9600)? Here in Colorado, the State Patrol always patches multiple talkgroups together (often every few minutes). It would be nice to know that I am always hearing a the right talkgroup and it has not been removed from the patch.

-Steve

 

[WayneH]

Then put the corresponding talkgroups in each scanlist and then "associate" all three scanlists collectively to 8 different control channels of a system??

No, the TGs themselves are associated or slaved to a system's common configuration. The TGs are independent objects. At least that's what I understand from what I've read so far.

 

[ka3jjz]

Did anyone else notice the odd hole in the coverage of the 600? It seems that the hole is exactly around the 220 Mhz ham band. Of course, that's only, AFAIK, a US allocation and not heavily used in all parts of the US, but still, it's interesting. Looks like the 400 does not have the hole...73s Mike

 

[SCPD]

Did anyone else notice the odd hole in the coverage of the 600? It seems that the hole is exactly around the 220 Mhz ham band. Of course, that's only, AFAIK, a US allocation and not heavily used in all parts of the US, but still, it's interesting. Looks like the 400 does not have the hole...73s Mike

That is probably a typo.

 

[SCPD]

OK, let me see if I understand. So I can create several scanlists like:

Fire
EMS
Police

Then put the corresponding talkgroups in each scanlist and then "associate" all three scanlists collectively to 8 different control channels of a system??

When creating a talk-group object, you associate the talkgroup-object with the system-object. The system-object has all of the control channel information and is only entered once. The above scan lists, in your example, will be lists of pointers to talkgroup-objects. As you create the talkgroup-objects you can assign them to any number of scanlists while you create them. However you can of course go back and edit this later. You only create a system-object once, and associate multiple talkgroup-objects with it. Then the talkgroup-objects can be pointed to by any number of the scanlists (including none if you want to temporarily just set aside the talkgroup but not delete it). You can see that the above method is very efficient in its use of memory.

So what you're saying is that you can pause on a TG and the radio will keep tracking that TG across several different control channels sequentially to see if it's active in any of them OR you're just saying that current scanners "loose" the tracking of a TG after being paused for a while?

Of course, it would be nice if the first assumption was true about tracking a paused TG across several CCs....

Since the talkgroup-object points to a system-object, yes the paused talkgroup will know everything about how to stay synched up with the entire system.

 

[rickak]

does anyone know how the new GRE P25 scanners are going to handle talk group patching (APCO 9600)?

This is one of my biggest question as well. It would be nice to be able to hold on a talkgroup and know you are going to hear the traffic on that talkgroup. I'm happy enough with the Uniden models I have and won't need to buy any new scanners without this feature.

Rick

 

[jehm1212]

Hopefully they can also fix the patch/multi-select issues on Type II systems, as well.

 

[DaveIN]

Will the PSR-500/600 block encrypted audio from the speaker?

 

[ka3jjz]

Will these scanners be rebanding ready right out of the box or will you have to upgrade it?

Since no one has come out with the firmware changes needed for ANY scanner - Uniden or RS/GRE - I would expect it would need to be done at some later time.

73s Mike

 

[brandon]

Hopefully the federal VHF range will be 12.5 KHz steps and have the ability to mute encrypted P25 audio.

Also be interested to see how the new radio handles patching on EDACS systems. My PRO-96 does not automatically switch to the right ID when a patch is setup. Say I am monitoring TGID 531 and they decide to patch with 529 the new ID becomes 2047 but the radio sits on 531 and doesn't pick up anything until I manually switch to 2047... can be very frustrating at times. This would be awesome if this can be addressed because other than that, the GRE's pick up EDACS very nicely and do not suffer the from the occasional burping noises I get with my Uniden scanners.

 

[RoninJoliet]

Am i not reading the specs on the digital models correct but where is the 764-776 band, it says 796-823...Here in ILL Starcom 21 system were using freqys in the 774 range....Thank You....

 

[kikito]

You can see that the above method is very efficient in its use of memory.

Since the talkgroup-object points to a system-object, yes the paused talkgroup will know everything about how to stay synched up with the entire system.

Thanks for the response, it's sounding really good and promising!

 

[astrodanco]

The 600 doesn't look like it has a true ISO DIN form factor. The 2096 was also not true ISO DIN. The 2096 had built-in non-removable trim which violated the ISO DIN form factor. That made the 2096 very difficult (to imposible in some cases) to fit as the second ISO DIN unit in a double din opening.

I hope the picture is inaccurate and that the 600 will have a true ISO DIN form factor with OPTIONAL REMOVABLE trim like every single other ISO DIN head unit sold in the world today (i.e., follow the standard, don't violate it). This is extremely important in todays vehicular mobile applications (for mounting in other than monster trucks and old '70s beaters in any case).