PSR-500 Failure to Track P-25 Systems Thread

[kikito]

Austin Update.

While the latest firmware upgrades are a significant help to the Austin P25 system, there are still multiple locations in Austin where the radio begins flipping from VC to DG, audio dropping out, etc.

I still notice that too in some areas and some voice channels (VC/DG hopping).

What I've narrowed it down to in my case is, when the voice channel the radio is trying to go to is only one frequency step from a nearby control channel, it still receives intermod from the CC and that seems to be what's confusing the radio (i.e. CC is 154.665, VC is 154.6725). In my area there's at least two voice channels that fall real close in frequency to distant control channels. Once I get far enough from the offending CC and/or closer to where the voice channel is used, it seems to work fine.

For what is worth, the Pro-96 shows almost identical behavior and the BCD396T acts as if there's nothing going on and I would've never known there was a transmission happening.

 

[vanillajedi]

I would be interested in hearing other experiences of the PSR500 and the Austin system.

Yeah, I live on the Travis county/Williamson County border (my zip code straddles it) and reception is pretty good and the PSR-500 seems to pickup things that my Pro-96 will miss. However, my primary listening location is on the 2nd floor of my house with no obstructions around. I'm also fairly close to a tower about 2-3 miles away. So good luck at my house.

At work (I work in round rock) about a mile from the Travis county line, the reception is not so hot. I work in a lab with hundred of computers so my reception is totally random. I almost always get a strong signal (5 bars) but the decode rate is anywhere from 45% to 99% percent on mostly EMS traffic. I also see the channel come on and no voice. It's like there is some more settings to tweak and everything would be much better. Hopefully, future firmware releases fix this or someone discovers a secret expert setting formula

 

[RoninJoliet]

We all seem to realize that location in ones home is CRITICAL...In my two story home up in my computer room one spot on a nearby shelf proves fantastic with keeping 4-5 bars and "T" for one tower 22miles west of my location for the ILL-Starcom...As mentioned at times there is still that dumb-founded look on some towers if your in a bad location but the upgrade has been a miracle...Stupid question please: I do not have computer software back up yet, i know the procedure of the V-Folders having had a PRO96/2096 for years but, when i save my Working Pad in folder "00" and load say V-Folder #1, would i have to re-work so to speak V-Folder #1 the same as my Work-pad folder and save #1 back or is there a "copy like" feature i can do....Hope this sounds sane!!....Thanks to everyone on these boards for there great information...

 

[LauraQ]

GRE500 and San Diego RCS

Unfortunately, the GRE-500 will not decode the San Diego (CA) RCS digital system. The talkgroups come up, but there is no audio. The CC is being received fine (after using another antenna). I've reduced the squelch settings and can barely get static-y audio on analog TGs and machine gunning sounds on digital TGs.

Yes, I applied the updates, and they didn't help at all.

Very disappointing! I'm thinking I may have to return this scanner.

-- Laura

 

[DaveIN]

Did you try the V-Scanner #6 Scan List #17? This is the Preprogrammed San Diego RCS file.

 

[fmon]

Unfortunately, the GRE-500 will not decode the San Diego (CA) RCS digital system. The talkgroups come up, but there is no audio. The CC is being received fine (after using another antenna). I've reduced the squelch settings and can barely get static-y audio on analog TGs and machine gunning sounds on digital TGs.

Yes, I applied the updates, and they didn't help at all.

Very disappointing! I'm thinking I may have to return this scanner.

-- Laura

Set T Tables: Splinter.

 

[LauraQ]

San Diego RCS works!

Set T Tables: Splinter.

Bingo! That was the magic setting! Thanks a million. I was just about ready to throw in the towel.

Thanks again,
Laura

 

[fmon]

Bingo! That was the magic setting! Thanks a million. I was just about ready to throw in the towel.

Thanks again,
Laura

Great, the Pro-96 users pointed to this issue 4 years ago.

Dave, GRE goofed on V-Folder 6 List 17 as T Table is Default which will produce the same problem Laura experienced.

 

[rhalld38]

Ok, I see alot of problems with this scanner and the fixes but to me this is my first digital scanner and it is a bit confusing with the V-folders, but here is the problem that it might sound the same that LauraQ had. Here in IL. we have the starcom 21 and I placed in the digital 800mhz freqs. for Winnebago, Boone, Cook, and McHenry. I downloaded the updates, placed the control channels in and what I get is no audio on some of the freqs. but I do see the signal strength bars and I would get that machine gun sound. Maybe this has been covered in this forum but could some one explain how to fix this. Thank you for any replies. Also sometimes I get broken audio or garbled.

 

[DaveIN]

Great, the Pro-96 users pointed to this issue 4 years ago.

Dave, GRE goofed on V-Folder 6 List 17 as T Table is Default which will produce the same problem Laura experienced.

Good to know Frank. Thank you.

 

[fmon]

we have the starcom 21 and I placed in the digital 800mhz freqs.

Do you mean P25 or Mot?

 

[rhalld38]

It would be the P25.

 

[fmon]

Did you manually program the scanner or use software? STARCOM21 freqs use default setting for T Table.

 

[rhalld38]

I manually programmed the scanner. For the default setting where do I go to place the T? The T does not show when the scanner is on a 800mhz freq.

 

[LauraQ]

Did you try the V-Scanner #6 Scan List #17? This is the Preprogrammed San Diego RCS file.

I tried the default V-Scanner listing first, which is what scared me...because I getting no voice and I figured GRE would have the system programmed correctly. Guess not. It's working great now and I can say that the audio is much improved over the BC396T (which always sounded muffled to me).

Thanks for your help!
Laura

 

[DaveIN]

FYI: GRE America has put a new version of the V-Scanner folders (version 1.2) on the support page: http://www.greamerica.com/support/

 

[TES]

I tried the default V-Scanner listing first . . . I figured GRE would have the system programmed correctly. . .

In reference to the V-Scanner "folders", the User's Guide that GRE includes with the PSR-500 states the following: GRE acknowledges RadioReference.com, LLC for providing this trunked radio system configuration data. Given the multitude of systems & the geography covered I expect to see a few errors creep in, especially when the source of the RadioReference.com database is user-submitted information. GRE's speed in handling errors is outstanding!

 

[Russell]

I know about the 70 miles from the Mexcan border uses splinter freqs rule, but does this apply to the Candian border,as well?

 

[mikey60]

I know about the 70 miles from the Mexcan border uses splinter freqs rule, but does this apply to the Candian border,as well?

No, at least not in the Detroit area.

Mike

 

[fmon]

I manually programmed the scanner. For the default setting where do I go to place the T? The T does not show when the scanner is on a 800mhz freq.

Look in TSYS Menu Reference on page 103.