RISCON - Simulcast Distortion

[frankie811]

My BCD996P2 is just over two years old & for the most part, I've only programmed the Metro Zone frequencies in since, because I live in East Providence, I was only interested in listening to the EPPD/EPFD & intercity police/fire. I've read a lot of complaints from listeners about simulcast distortion & I didn't know what they were talking about as I wasn't experiencing this problem. I heard nothing but clean, crisp reception on the metro. However, some time in March, I noticed that I wasn't receiving the EPFD Ch 2/3 fire ground on metro, so I input the other 3 radio zones, and wow! Major distortion. I couldn't make out half of what was being said. And yes, I was getting EPFD Ch 2/3 on the North Zone freqs. I just heard #2 FG back on metro. So I began to seriously look at the SDS model units & I have a few questions. 1st, does the SDS100 & 200 totally eliminate simulcast distortion and 2nd, do I really need the following extras to effectively monitor RISCON:

DMR
ProVoice
NXDN
Waterfall

Thanks.

 

[pro106import]

1st, does the SDS100 & 200 totally eliminate simulcast distortion and 2nd, do I really need the following extras to effectively monitor RISCON:

DMR
ProVoice
NXDN
Waterfall

Thanks.

Welcome to the simulcast distortion world...
1st answer- Yes the SDS100 will totally eliminate the distortion. I am in SW Connecticut and I use an SDS100 and I monitor the South and East zones on a regular basis. I also have a Unication G5 which blows the SDS100 away with reception. If you are only looking to monitor the one system, I highly recommend the G5 over the SDS100. You can get a lower price by getting the single G4 700-800 band model.
2nd answer- No you do not need any of those extras.
Here is a photo of the G5 monitoring the system this morning


Bob

 

[rr60]

Ditto @pro106import comments, nailed it.

I am within 3 miles line of site of several NJICS sites. both my x36’s are terrible with decode rates.

G5 I have is remarkable and SDS rated as good close in. Distant Sites G5
wins hand down.

 

[K9KLC]

I am not in your area, but my G5s, blow anything else I've tried here out of the water. The SDS's will work of course but if you only need to monitor one system and understand a few other limitations, the Unications are pretty hard to beat. They monitor my simulcast systems here in South west IL, just fine.

 

[Chevyclub]

I'm listening to RISCON system this morning at work in Pawtucket Ri and hear everything clear I'm using my SDS100 no distortion.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

2nd, do I really need the following extras to effectively monitor RISCON:

DMR
ProVoice
NXDN
Waterfall

Thanks.

No. None of these will do you any good to monitor RISCON (or any P25 system at that)

 

[frankie811]

I am not in your area, but my G5s, blow anything else I've tried here out of the water. The SDS's will work of course but if you only need to monitor one system and understand a few other limitations, the Unications are pretty hard to beat. They monitor my simulcast systems here in South west IL, just fine.

I've been involved with the communications hobby for over 50 years now & never even heard of the Unication line of radios until a week or two ago. But I'm seriously looking at it now.

 

[frankie811]

Ditto @pro106import comments, nailed it.

I am within 3 miles line of site of several NJICS sites. both my x36’s are terrible with decode rates.

G5 I have is remarkable and SDS rated as good close in. Distant Sites G5
wins hand down.

Thanks! I had to look up NJICS. NJICS | New Jersey State Police

 

[frankie811]

I'm listening to RISCON system this morning at work in Pawtucket Ri and hear everything clear I'm using my SDS100 no distortion.

Yes, however, PPD is not on the RISCON trunking system. Their frequencies are conventional.

 

[Chevyclub]

I'm trying the RISCON system to see about the distortion talk.
I'm aware of Pawtucket thank you for the information though

 

[K9KLC]

I've been involved with the communications hobby for over 50 years now & never even heard of the Unication line of radios until a week or two ago. But I'm seriously looking at it now.

Just please be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They are GREAT devices at what they do, and with some creative programming can be even more but the one site at a time thing cannot be defeated. There’s a reason I have two LOL. Although I don’t want to always monitor two systems, at times I do and henceforth the second one which is actually for the wife who enjoys listening. I’m relatively new to the Unication world but, unless we were to go encrypted here, (totally) I can’t imagine not having them. Plus for something to carry out and about, 10-12 hour battery life, they’re pretty hard to beat.

 

[ecps92]

My BCD996P2 is just over two years old & for the most part, I've only programmed the Metro Zone frequencies in since, because I live in East Providence, I was only interested in listening to the EPPD/EPFD & intercity police/fire. I've read a lot of complaints from listeners about simulcast distortion & I didn't know what they were talking about as I wasn't experiencing this problem. I heard nothing but clean, crisp reception on the metro. However, some time in March, I noticed that I wasn't receiving the EPFD Ch 2/3 fire ground on metro, so I input the other 3 radio zones, and wow! Major distortion. I couldn't make out half of what was being said. And yes, I was getting EPFD Ch 2/3 on the North Zone freqs. I just heard #2 FG back on metro. So I began to seriously look at the SDS model units & I have a few questions. 1st, does the SDS100 & 200 totally eliminate simulcast distortion and 2nd, do I really need the following extras to effectively monitor RISCON:

DMR
ProVoice
NXDN
Waterfall

Thanks.

keep in mind, more antenna is not always better reception
I know folks who run a paperclip to eliminate the distortion issues
I know folks who point a beam in the opposite direction of any of the simulcasting towers to eliminate
etc etc, only YOU by experimentation will find out what works for YOU

Keep experimenting

 

[W1KNE]

Yes, however, PPD is not on the RISCON trunking system. Their frequencies are conventional.

I am fairly certain PPD has a tg on RISCON that is fully encrypted. (There is a TG in the range of Pawtucket that does come up every so often, but it is fully encrypted so without some insight, this is an assumption.)

 

[bobruzzo]

keep in mind, more antenna is not always better reception
I know folks who run a paperclip to eliminate the distortion issues
I know folks who point a beam in the opposite direction of any of the simulcasting towers to eliminate
etc etc, only YOU by experimentation will find out what works for YOU

Keep experimenting

Yes, I have to run an 8 element 800 mhz yagi pointing NORTHWEST for the best reception on my SDS200. I still get a little distortion on the north and east sites though. This puzzles me cause I am right in the middle of Cranston on a small hill and the north site has to be attenuated which eliminates most distortion. The east site gives me more distortion than the other 3 sites. If I point the yagi to the east, northeast its worse. It took me s long time fussing with antennas, placements till I found what worked.

 

[sefrischling]

I've been involved with the communications hobby for over 50 years now & never even heard of the Unication line of radios until a week or two ago. But I'm seriously looking at it now.

Unication G series pagers are just that, public safety pagers. They are not designed to be used as a scanner ... but they are fantastic.

I use a Unication G3 to monitor VHF/UHF , as the two fire services I work within are next door to each other and one is VHF and the other is UHF. I have a G5 VHF/7/8 to monitor the town cops and State Police on CLMRN, along with HazMat and other state agencies, all on the state system.

Much better than a scanner and much easier to carry than a portable.