PSR500 and Multisite simulcast

[KK4JW]

Just picked up a PSR500 for cheap and I want to see how it does with a local P25 multi site simulcast system. Probably a lost cause, as I understand these types of systems are notoriously difficult to scan, but I'm a sucker for punishment I guess.

The system in question is this one: Madison County Public Safety System Trunking System, Richmond, Kentucky

I am using ARC500 to program the scanner, and the object oriented scanning is a little different layout to me than what I'm used to. I hope I'm doing it correctly. When I go to program in the frequencies for each site, do I need to add ALL of the frequencies to each respective list? Or just the control frequencies? Would it make a difference either way?

In ARC500, I've also selected the "Trunking Table" thing and put in each table for each respective site per the database information. Is this going to help anything? Maybe? Maybe not?

Also in ARC500, I've NOT entered any talkgroups for either site. Right now I'm not concerned with anything specific, I mainly just want to see if the scanner will work with this system before I get to that point. On the talkgroups portion of ARC500, it's showing "Wildcard" for each site, which I'm assuming puts the scanner in "talkgroup search" mode and will receive any and all talkgroups that happen to come across the system.

Thanks for any and all suggestions, advice, and input y'all can provide!

 

[jaspence]

Due to the age of this radio's design, it does not usually handle simulcast very well. Your location and antenna choice will be a big factor. Strictly by luck, I have very good reception. Get the factory upgrade for the 500 if it hasn't been done. There are multiple posts on RR concerning this subject.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Map below shows the cluster of simulcast cells on north and south simulcasts. You're just about certain to experience some degree of simulcast distortion unless you're on the absolute outer fringes of coverage. You'd be much better off with a Uniden SDS100 or SDS200 if this is a system you intend on monitoring regularly

When I go to program in the frequencies for each site, do I need to add ALL of the frequencies to each respective list? Or just the control frequencies?

Enter the control channels only. They should do the work to pull up the active voice channels when in use so there'd need not be a reason to program voice channels into memory

 

[buddrousa]

This is the 2nd time this has been posted but the GRE PSR500 HAS NO FACTORY UPGRADE.

 

[brian]

FWIW, I passed through Madison County, KY just last week. And I attempted to monitor that system with a couple of different GRE scanners. I stopped at Buc-ee's in Richmond and worked with it for a while. I was never even able to receive an active control channel, which is unusual. There is a tower site right next to Buc-ee's and I wasn't able to receive anything. You can read my thread here: Lexington/Fayette Co

As I recall from a previous trip there, the North site is much more active than the South site. So perhaps try to monitor the North site frequencies first. If I had more time on my visit, I would have programmed all of the North site frequencies into a system, and used the "Analyze" function to see if I could receive any signal on a any frequencies. I would expect to use different antennas, maybe even no antenna, and engage the Attenuator as possible remedies. I suspect my radios were de-sensitized due to strong nearby transmitters.

 

[KK4JW]

FWIW, I passed through Madison County, KY just last week. And I attempted to monitor that system with a couple of different GRE scanners. I stopped at Buc-ee's in Richmond and worked with it for a while. I was never even able to receive an active control channel, which is unusual. There is a tower site right next to Buc-ee's and I wasn't able to receive anything. You can read my thread here: Lexington/Fayette Co

As I recall from a previous trip there, the North site is much more active than the South site. So perhaps try to monitor the North site frequencies first. If I had more time on my visit, I would have programmed all of the North site frequencies into a system, and used the "Analyze" function to see if I could receive any signal on a any frequencies. I would expect to use different antennas, maybe even no antenna, and engage the Attenuator as possible remedies. I suspect my radios were de-sensitized due to strong nearby transmitters.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the area over there next to I75. When I worked for the county road department, I took many a nap at that tower site, ha.

From what I've gathered the SDS100/SDS200 are really the only scanners that can competently track a simulcast system like this. I've tried it with my 996T, with poor results. I imagine I'm in for much of the same with the PSR500, but we will see. I like to experiment.

 

[tvengr]

Get the factory upgrade for the 500 if it hasn't been done. There are multiple posts on RR concerning this subject.

This is the 2nd time this has been posted but the GRE PSR500 HAS NO FACTORY UPGRADE.

There is no factory upgrade for the GRE PSR-500, GRE PSR-600, Radio Shack PRO-106, Radio Shack PRO-197, Radio Shack PRO-651, Radio Shack PRO-652, Whistler WS1040, or Whistler WS1065! They are all base and mobile versions of the same scanner based on the original GRE design. If you hold down the 3 button while turning on the scanner, it will display the CPU and DSP firmware versions currently in the scanner.

 

[jgorman21]

Try using a Diamond RH77CA. For some reason or other it brings in my local simulcast systems fairly well! Now I’ll duck after saying this!

I purchased the Unication G5 solely because of simulcast issues in my area. A few years later I got the SDS 100 really just to have the “latest and greatest” (supposedly) there is. Anyway. For me the G5 is the better receiver Overall of those two.

Back to the PSR 500. It’s a great radio! It CAN do a lot! It’s still my “go to” “utility radio” and can “hear” a lot of non simulcast things very well. As I’m writing this I’m listening to it with that Diamond antenna doing quite well on a normally “finicky” simulcast system! So…as they say YMMV.

Enjoy the radio! It CAN do many things very well!

 

[KK4JW]

Try using a Diamond RH77CA. For some reason or other it brings in my local simulcast systems fairly well! Now I’ll duck after saying this!

I purchased the Unication G5 solely because of simulcast issues in my area. A few years later I got the SDS 100 really just to have the “latest and greatest” (supposedly) there is. Anyway. For me the G5 is the better receiver Overall of those two.

Back to the PSR 500. It’s a great radio! It CAN do a lot! It’s still my “go to” “utility radio” and can “hear” a lot of non simulcast things very well. As I’m writing this I’m listening to it with that Diamond antenna doing quite well on a normally “finicky” simulcast system! So…as they say YMMV.

Enjoy the radio! It CAN do many things very well!

I had a PSR500 many moons ago and enjoyed it. Couldn't pass up the bargain on this one. There's lots of conventional P25 in my area that I plan to use it for. The Madison Co simulcast system just would have been a nice bonus, but not something I was expecting TBH. For conventional P25, it's a little rockstar.

 

[jgorman21]

I had a PSR500 many moons ago and enjoyed it. Couldn't pass up the bargain on this one. There's lots of conventional P25 in my area that I plan to use it for. The Madison Co simulcast system just would have been a nice bonus, but not something I was expecting TBH. For conventional P25, it's a little rockstar.

Oh it’s “rock solid” on that for sure! I stumbled upon using that Diamond antenna on the 500. It’s for a couple other radios! But somehow…it works?

 

[tvengr]

Here is an abbreviated ARC500 file for you to test the scanner. The file has only the Madison County Fire dispatch and ops talkgroups. The file has 2 systems with one using only the North site in scan list 1 and the other using only the South site in scan list 2. You will be able to toggle the North site on and off by pressing 1 on the keypad. You will be able to toggle the South site on and off by pressing 2 on the keypad. You will be able to determine if one site works better than the other. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC500 and Upload to Scanner.

 

[KK4JW]

Here is an abbreviated ARC500 file for you to test the scanner. The file has only the Madison County Fire dispatch and ops talkgroups. The file has 2 systems with one using only the North site in scan list 1 and the other using only the South site in scan list 2. You will be able to toggle the North site on and off by pressing 1 on the keypad. You will be able to toggle the South site on and off by pressing 2 on the keypad. You will be able to determine if one site works better than the other. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC500 and Upload to Scanner.

Cool! Thanks!!! I'll try it out this evening!

 

[tvengr]

You only need the control channel capable frequencies for each site. For some reason, the database shows separate trunking tables for each site. With the system type set to P25 Auto, the tables should automatically load from the control channel unless this is one of those extremely rare systems where the band plan is not advertized on the control channel. I could see a problem if the control channel frequencies for both sites are loaded into the frequency list for a system. There is only one set of trunking tables per system. With the 2 sites in separate systems, as I have it programmed, that should not be a problem.

 

[KK4JW]

Here is an abbreviated ARC500 file for you to test the scanner. The file has only the Madison County Fire dispatch and ops talkgroups. The file has 2 systems with one using only the North site in scan list 1 and the other using only the South site in scan list 2. You will be able to toggle the North site on and off by pressing 1 on the keypad. You will be able to toggle the South site on and off by pressing 2 on the keypad. You will be able to determine if one site works better than the other. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Open the extracted file with ARC500 and Upload to Scanner.

Tried the file, heard nothing. It is receiving the system, as I'm seeing indication on the S meter. Nothing being decoded or heard though. I didn't have high hopes for monitoring anything on this system but figured it was worth a shot.

Thank you for the time you put into making the file for me.

 

[tvengr]

Tried the file, heard nothing. It is receiving the system, as I'm seeing indication on the S meter. Nothing being decoded or heard though. I didn't have high hopes for monitoring anything on this system but figured it was worth a shot.

Do you see a "T" at the top of the scanner screen? That is an indication that it detects a control channel. I suspect that you may see it flash only once in a while. You are probably experiencing simulcast distortion. It is time to take the scanner for a ride. If you are close to one of the towers, it can override the interference from the out of phase signals from the other towers. If the scanner works only in specific locations, that will verify that your problem is due to simulcast and not a scanner issue.

 

[KK4JW]

Do you see a "T" at the top of the scanner screen? That is an indication that it detects a control channel. I suspect that you may see it flash only once in a while. You are probably experiencing simulcast distortion. It is time to take the scanner for a ride. If you are close to one of the towers, it can override the interference from the out of phase signals from the other towers. If the scanner works only in specific locations, that will verify that your problem is due to simulcast and not a scanner issue.

Yes, I do notice a "T" at the top. I'll be in Richmond over the weekend. I'll bring it along and see what happens.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

In ARC500, I've also selected the "Trunking Table" thing and put in each table for each respective site per the database information. Is this going to help anything? Maybe? Maybe not?

You shouldn't need to enter any tables - they are contained in the P25 control channel datastream and will be downloaded automatically by the scanner. The only time tables are required are when you're programming a non-800 MHz or rebanded Motorola 3600 system. Otherwise, leave the trunking type as P25 AUTO and let the scanner figure it out for you.