Downloaded new Phase 2 P25 freq. [700 mhz] San Francisco on Pro 668 with Whistler upgrade, picks up signal intermittently or not at all....San Francisco still patch broadcasting on old Motorola Smart zone system...no problem picking that up at all ? Do you have any setting recommendations or antenna srecomindations for hand held scanner P25 Phase 2?, SF City & County?
Question on receving P25 Phase 2 City & County of San Francisco: Settings? Antenna recommedations ?
- Thread starter Hyd25
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The new system is P25 Phase 2 simulcast. The Pro-688 is an older generation scanner not designed to properly handle digital simulcast, so reception will be hit or miss. The SDS-100 and SDS-200 are the only scanners designed to be compatible with simulcast systems. Unication pagers also work well on simulcast, but they have limitations, such as only being able to monitor one trunking system at a time. Then there are certain SDR software programs and USB tuner dongles that can turn a computer into a scanner. That last one is the least expensive option, but some IT background is almost a requirement.
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You are likely experiencing P25 simulcast distortion, "most" scanners have a very difficult time with this.
Thanks, SDS 100 and Unication BIG $$$...proably would get the Unication G4 if I am going to spend...interested in Fire only [SFFD]
Do you think the Bearcat Uniden Trunk Tracker V B996P2 would have the same problem?
Yes, they are expensive. That's mainly because radio systems have become more sophisticated.
It's very likely.
I'm using a BCD325P2 with no issues.
A note of caution.
Simulcast Distortion is extremely location specific. It can be affected by both your physical location, as well as by the placement of the scanner within your home. If you happen to be very close to a transmit site, the strong signal may override out of sync signals from other transmitters. Or, terrain, or a cluster of taller buildings, may obstruct signals from many of the other sites. Sometimes, metallic siding, or foil backing on the insulation in your walls, may let you use a scanner other than one of the SDS scanners. This is even to the point that, at times, a move of only a foot or more, within your house, can be the difference between reception & distortion.
While mlangeveld may have "won the simulcast lottery", in that specifics where he is located allows a 325P2 to work, there's no guarantee that it will work for you, even if you lived on the same block.
If you want to try a 996P2, or even the 325P2, be sure & purchase from a dealer that allows you to return it promptly, with little or no penalty, if you cannot make it work for you. And, of course, the 'advantages' of your location (if that does work for you), will not apply if you are out and about within the service area of the system. Your only sure defense against simulcast is one of the SDS series scanners, a Unication pager, or the BlueTail receiver. The fourth option would be to use one of the SDR dongles and a PC, but that's not a portable solution.
Yes
I have had good luck with the BCD325P2 from a range of locations inside and outside of SF. That being said, @hiegtx is correct that location can be a factor in simulcast distortion, and getting a different scanner might not solve the problem.
I have one of these and it depends on your listening location. I suspect if you used a yagi and an attenuator, you could make sure the radio is receiving mostly one site and not getting the simulcast distortion.
And this is something that could be tried with the PRO-688 also, if the OP wants to make the attempt. I will caution that this doesn't always work though. Sometimes it leads to an improvement but not perfection.
Thank you, I am trying a yagi with the Pro-688 now with mixed results ...I belive the Pro-688 has a attenuator that can be turned off and on from the front of the panel labeled ATT ? When you say "sites " for San Francisco, I would assume: Christmas Tree Point [Twin Peaks], Bernal Heights, Jones St. Building at Clay and a few others?
specialmed1
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I have a uniden bc00996p2 . I have programed SF Fireand EMS and most of what I get is a not a clear signal
The 996p2 doesn't do a good job of excluding the encrypted transmissions. The SFFD A channels should be in the clear, the EMS channels not always.
I'm not sure what you mean by "not a clear signal." If an entire transmission is just noise, that may be encryption. On the other hand, if you receive unintelligible noise mixed in with a few understandable words in the same transmission, that is likely simulcast distortion.
I have a 996P2 that works fine with EBRCS phase 2. I do live in a area where there is no distortion and it does not work well in some parts of the East Bay. My Whistler TRX 1 and 2 do not work nearly as well on phase 2.
Eng74
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When I am in the Bay Area I use the SDS -100/200 on EBRCS, SF P25, and SVRCS. I use the 436HP for San Mateo since their fire is still VHF. Use I got the 996P2 in SF see how it works without the antenna if you are in the City. You might be getting too much signal. Also try the paper clip trick. Or if you have a racing antenna for a handheld scanner try that.
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