SOFA_KING
Member
I have been scanning since the early 70's and I always had "top of the line" scanners. I have two great GRE digital scanners now (PRO-106 & PRO-197) and just purchased a HP for my mobile travels around the state and country. I'm excited about it (waiting delivery), but actually a little worried that it may have issues.
I took the liberty of downloading the software in advance of my delivery and did a database update to see what I could expect to hear in my area, and also in areas I know very well around me. Let me tell you, I was shocked to see what needed fixing. Everything from lat & lon being way off (like outside the county), to missing talkgroups that are hot (meaning really good to listen to...and yes, they are in the RR database but NOT IN THE HOMEPATROL DATABASE!), to missing CTCSS/DCS tones on so much stuff (that actually has tones on it)…It will need work to get it right. And what is up with the huge amount of "depreciated" frequencies in the HP scan lineup that have been decommissioned over 20 years ago? Florida Highway Patrol, FDLE and Marine Patrol on low band? (no PL on those either, which means a potential noise lockup) Plus there are multiple entries for the SAME FREQUENCY under the SAME AREA (wasted scan time). It is a total mess, and the amount of cleanup that needs to be done is staggering! Sure, there is a bunch of stuff in there that I had little idea was around me, but it is generally not something I would ever be interested in listening to, however I think it is good to have the 'option' (someone may want to hear it). But I really am concerned that this device will let some people down because the database, and I guess application of it to the HP, has major issues. To the credit of the good people who are supporting this effort, I commend their hard work to promptly handle issues and updates, but the base information needs a whole lot of work. Continued improvement will be a "long term" commitment until it is good enough to serve the application of plug 'n' play scanner users. We have a long way to go!
I have been a provider of good database information for my county and surrounding areas. I'm an advanced snoop and search hound that perfects my scanning lineup as I get to understand system design and usage. I spend many hours investigating frequency usage in various places I visit. My scanner is "tight", and I hear it all without waste. I hate unwanted noise, so I'm always looking to keep the scanner hearing only what is intended by making proper use of CTCSS/DCS tone (and P25) filters when transmitters use them (most do). I'm a bit surprised that some of the solid data I provided RR ended up corrupted in the database and poorly implemented in the HP. But I have already committed to help clean up what I can with what I know about in areas I'm intimate with. I sincerely hope that people who have the equipment and skills to verify accuracy in the RR database help get things right or I think the HomePatrol is at risk of partial (maybe substantial) failure. I guess the RR database is not 100%, and the lat/lon information is really not near 100%, so you get what you get until someone fixes it.
There might be an easier way to fix things if there were slight modifications to firmware and software.
One feature addition that would greatly help users and future users get better performance out of the HP would be instant tone recognition and a STORE key to add it to a channel in the list. Then you need a software function that adds that tone information to the RR database so the info becomes available for all scanner users. Using tones keeps a scanner from unwanted noise and lockups on interference.
Maybe another feature could be a lat/lon correction "update" button in Sentinel, so that when people fix a coverage center, that info can be instantly updated in the RR database.
You know what RR needs to get some of this cleaned up? I have another idea... How about a special modified version of a "top of the line" scanner that runs a special firmware and software package that collects data and allows the user to easily mark and update all things that need fixing in the database. Like a special scanner tool that makes it easy to "clean up" and interface with the RR database for instant corrections. This would accelerate the cleanup process, but it has to be easy to modify and update or it will become too much work. Think about it...with fewer people buying advanced scanners (the people who might help cleanup the database) you will have fewer people contributing needed data. I really believe the advanced scanners should have the HP functionality to begin with, and I also think us advanced users need all the best tools at our disposal to help in the effort to get things right. It would do the scanning community a greater overall service. And for Peat's sake, modify the Sentinel software to allow users to add stuff! Maybe even make a function in it to 'upload' the stuff they add to help cleanup and expand the RR database. There just needs to be a better way to do it than what you have now...a ticket system where someone has to 'key it in'. Let's make this easy and get the tools in the hands of the users to make the database as accurate as it can be. The technology is within reach. We are close to a revolution, but not ‘there’ yet.
Until I actually get my HomePatrol unit, I will be making many notes to submit for correction. I'm excited to get this device, I really am, but I know it will need allot of work. And I really do not think 'fixing' just my unit with my own added corrections in my "favorites" list is the right answer. These corrections need to be available to all users who may venture into my area. Let's get this done right! Help us to help you.
Phil
I took the liberty of downloading the software in advance of my delivery and did a database update to see what I could expect to hear in my area, and also in areas I know very well around me. Let me tell you, I was shocked to see what needed fixing. Everything from lat & lon being way off (like outside the county), to missing talkgroups that are hot (meaning really good to listen to...and yes, they are in the RR database but NOT IN THE HOMEPATROL DATABASE!), to missing CTCSS/DCS tones on so much stuff (that actually has tones on it)…It will need work to get it right. And what is up with the huge amount of "depreciated" frequencies in the HP scan lineup that have been decommissioned over 20 years ago? Florida Highway Patrol, FDLE and Marine Patrol on low band? (no PL on those either, which means a potential noise lockup) Plus there are multiple entries for the SAME FREQUENCY under the SAME AREA (wasted scan time). It is a total mess, and the amount of cleanup that needs to be done is staggering! Sure, there is a bunch of stuff in there that I had little idea was around me, but it is generally not something I would ever be interested in listening to, however I think it is good to have the 'option' (someone may want to hear it). But I really am concerned that this device will let some people down because the database, and I guess application of it to the HP, has major issues. To the credit of the good people who are supporting this effort, I commend their hard work to promptly handle issues and updates, but the base information needs a whole lot of work. Continued improvement will be a "long term" commitment until it is good enough to serve the application of plug 'n' play scanner users. We have a long way to go!
I have been a provider of good database information for my county and surrounding areas. I'm an advanced snoop and search hound that perfects my scanning lineup as I get to understand system design and usage. I spend many hours investigating frequency usage in various places I visit. My scanner is "tight", and I hear it all without waste. I hate unwanted noise, so I'm always looking to keep the scanner hearing only what is intended by making proper use of CTCSS/DCS tone (and P25) filters when transmitters use them (most do). I'm a bit surprised that some of the solid data I provided RR ended up corrupted in the database and poorly implemented in the HP. But I have already committed to help clean up what I can with what I know about in areas I'm intimate with. I sincerely hope that people who have the equipment and skills to verify accuracy in the RR database help get things right or I think the HomePatrol is at risk of partial (maybe substantial) failure. I guess the RR database is not 100%, and the lat/lon information is really not near 100%, so you get what you get until someone fixes it.
There might be an easier way to fix things if there were slight modifications to firmware and software.
One feature addition that would greatly help users and future users get better performance out of the HP would be instant tone recognition and a STORE key to add it to a channel in the list. Then you need a software function that adds that tone information to the RR database so the info becomes available for all scanner users. Using tones keeps a scanner from unwanted noise and lockups on interference.
Maybe another feature could be a lat/lon correction "update" button in Sentinel, so that when people fix a coverage center, that info can be instantly updated in the RR database.
You know what RR needs to get some of this cleaned up? I have another idea... How about a special modified version of a "top of the line" scanner that runs a special firmware and software package that collects data and allows the user to easily mark and update all things that need fixing in the database. Like a special scanner tool that makes it easy to "clean up" and interface with the RR database for instant corrections. This would accelerate the cleanup process, but it has to be easy to modify and update or it will become too much work. Think about it...with fewer people buying advanced scanners (the people who might help cleanup the database) you will have fewer people contributing needed data. I really believe the advanced scanners should have the HP functionality to begin with, and I also think us advanced users need all the best tools at our disposal to help in the effort to get things right. It would do the scanning community a greater overall service. And for Peat's sake, modify the Sentinel software to allow users to add stuff! Maybe even make a function in it to 'upload' the stuff they add to help cleanup and expand the RR database. There just needs to be a better way to do it than what you have now...a ticket system where someone has to 'key it in'. Let's make this easy and get the tools in the hands of the users to make the database as accurate as it can be. The technology is within reach. We are close to a revolution, but not ‘there’ yet.
Until I actually get my HomePatrol unit, I will be making many notes to submit for correction. I'm excited to get this device, I really am, but I know it will need allot of work. And I really do not think 'fixing' just my unit with my own added corrections in my "favorites" list is the right answer. These corrections need to be available to all users who may venture into my area. Let's get this done right! Help us to help you.
Phil