BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Simulcast Distortion

[2IR473]

Here are a few tips that have worked for me, so I can listen to the phase II system in Chester County on my 996P2, and it may work for you in Berks.

Try attenuating the incoming signals from other towers by using an antenna such as this..
Mini dipole antenna
It attenuates signals from other towers and made a big difference in my reception of Chester’s system. Perhaps it may work for you as well in your situation (there are cheaper versions on eBay and Amazon, but they are not exactly the same, so I don’t know how they would work. Probably good enough for what we need it to do).

Only scan the Berks Phase II system on your scanner, and lock out all other systems/channels you have programmed in. In my experience with the 996P2, it seems to work best on a Phase II system when it only has to scan that system.

As you had mentioned earlier, you need to adjust the P25 threshold setting in order to get the best reception. I am listening to Berks as I reply, and have a setting of “7”, but I am also using a Remtronix 800 mHz antenna, since I am a bit farther from the nearest Berks tower.

I don’t normally listen to the Berks digital system (although I have both North and South programmed in, I keep them locked out), because I listen to the analog simulcasts of fire and EMS dispatches on their VHF frequencies. Since you are closer to Reading, you may be interested in listening to some of the city traffic on the system, but at least you have the option of just listening to the analog simulcast, and using your scanner to monitor traffic besides the Berks Phase II system.

Also, I don’t understand why you have an issue with a squelch setting below “8” causing a delay in audio ? All my scanners have the squelch set to “2” and there are no issues. I would like to hear more about that issue.

 

[werinshades]

What we are tying to say is the 996P2 will work with a lot of hard work but it will only work on the ONE system and you loose everything else dumbing the scanner down to work on your target system. Best answer is the SDS200 for base of SDS100 handheld and keep both running you will find breaking up your scan load you will hear more. You could also not buy a SDS and you can use a Unication G4 or G5 just for the Simulcast System and run the 996P2 for everything else. The SDS has more options for other digital modes and unknown future upgrades.

....and that about sums it up.

 

[iMONITOR]

I've owned several BCD996P2's and currently still own two. I've never had to adjust anything on the scanner to receive Macomb County Michigan's P25 Phase 1 simulcast system. The scanners worked perfect right out of the box and still do. How did you program your scanner? If you look at Radio Reference's database, all the law enforcement talk groups as many others are encrypted in Berks County, PA. That would explain why you're not hearing anything.

 

[Tdubz6610]

What we are tying to say is the 996P2 will work with a lot of hard work but it will only work on the ONE system and you loose everything else dumbing the scanner down to work on your target system. Best answer is the SDS200 for base of SDS100 handheld and keep both running you will find breaking up your scan load you will hear more. You could also not buy a SDS and you can use a Unication G4 or G5 just for the Simulcast System and run the 996P2 for everything else. The SDS has more options for other digital modes and unknown future upgrades.

I have a unication G5 but it's used as my pager i cant have it running my broadcastify feed

 

[Tdubz6610]

I've owned several BCD996P2's and currently still own two. I've never had to adjust anything on the scanner to receive Macomb County Michigan's P25 Phase 1 simulcast system. The scanners worked perfect right out of the box and still do. How did you program your scanner? If you look at Radio Reference's database, all the law enforcement talk groups as many others are encrypted in Berks County, PA. That would explain why you're not hearing anything.

All the police talk groups are fully encrypted but Fire/EMS are Digtial & TDMA

 

[fredva]

You could try going the SDR route and use OP25 software on the system. OP25 has the demodulator needed for simulcast systems. There is work involved in setup but the tradeoff is less money spent than buying a simulcast-compatible pager or scanner.

 

[baj76]

location, location, location, that's what worked for my GRE 500.. I receive 99% audio transmission, try to find a good dead spot in your house where you only receive 0ne tower

 

[fredva]

While Phase 1/2 is a different aspect of radio systems than simulcasting on the same frequency from different towers, many users report that simulcast issues are worse when Phase 2 is involved vs. Phase 1. Something to keep in mind.

 

[iMONITOR]

While Phase 1/2 is a different aspect of radio systems than simulcasting on the same frequency from different towers, many users report that simulcast issues are worse when Phase 2 is involved vs. Phase 1. Something to keep in mind.

I wasn't aware of that, haven't encountered any Phase 2 systems here in Michigan.

 

[Joe_Blough]

I talked to Uniden on the phone they really didn’t help much

Sad but not surprised.

 

[HMD]

What do you guys who know more about this than I think of this?

 

[hiegtx]

What do you guys who know more about this than I think of this?

There's nothing really new there.

Saying that you should see "bars" at the top of the display (which is indicative of signal strength) is basically mimicking the often repeated inquiry "are you close enough to hear the system". If you don't have reception, you won't hear the system

Keeping the error rate low has often been mentioned multiple times. If you have a high error rate, either from a poor signal or interference from other transmitters, yep, that's a handicap.

As far as the statement that "setting the P25 digital decode" to 10 or higher 'means you won't hear anything', that's also not completely correct. For most systems in my area, a figure of 8 seems to be best. But I've also seen other comments where someone states that, for a specific system in their area, they find the best results with a higher setting than 8. Bottom line is try and see what works best for you, not a hard and fast statement from someone in a different area, listening to different systems than you are.

 

[ofd8001]

1. Agree, mostly, though this is deceptive on simulcast distortion. Lots of bars could actually mean the scanner is bombarded with multiple sites. Also, P25 is digital. For non-simulcast P25, signal (as in audio) clarity is just as good at 1 bar or all bars. If you hear the static he mentions, that ain't a P25 signal - it's analog.
2. Threshold - No one size fits all. Some combinations work good for one system but not another. Also, it depends on where you are with respect to transmitters. I can use one combination and it sounds good, the guy next door uses the same and it sounds bad. I'm more inclined to a manual setting, as I find auto seems to be "worse" as I think it tries to perfect something that can't be perfected.
3. I go by how it sounds rather than what they numbers show. I'm probably in the minority though.

 

[hiegtx]

3. I go by how it sounds rather than what they numbers show. I'm probably in the minority though.

That's the same way I treat it.

 

[wtp]

tylerwentzel, i sent a personal message with some thoughts and a wrap up.

 

[wtp]

some of the trouble is trying to hear both towers.
it is a simulcast system, so you only need one.
it is a simulcast system not the towers.
so the same thing goes out over both towers.
just listen to one tower.
the reason things get cut out a with attenuation is that you have the squelch up at 8 and attenuation on.
attenuation cuts the signal to 1/100 of the original strength.
set the squelch to 2. and attenuation off.
i see ID SCAN so i hope you have the talkgroups you want saved, or you will not hear them.
put the radio on ID SEARCH and get to know who you can hear first.
then cut out the ones you don't want.
the ones you want might have gone to encryption and the database is always behind.

so squelch to 2
att off
only one tower.

 

[ofd8001]

I was under the impression that with a simulcast system (and not MULTI cast), there is no way to select just one tower. That was because all the simulcast towers are using the same frequencies. However, if someone has figured out how to really do that, I would like to see how.

Also some times, ATT on can help with simulcast distortion. I had a broken antenna cable on my vehicle recently (which is a big attenuator On). Our simulcast system can in perfectly, but I couldn't hear any of the other systems I monitor.

 

[KevinC]

I was under the impression that with a simulcast system (and not MULTI cast), there is no way to select just one tower. That was because all the simulcast towers are using the same frequencies. However, if someone has figured out how to really do that, I would like to see how.

I would suspect he is suggesting to attempt to isolate receiving RF from only one tower, via a yagi or some other means to eliminate/reduce the signal from the other one...but I could be wrong.

 

[iMONITOR]

I would suspect he is suggesting to attempt to isolate receiving RF from only one tower, via a yagi or some other means to eliminate/reduce the signal from the other one...but I could be wrong.

I pulled it off using minimal antennas semi-shielded by a full steel computer tower on one side about three feet on one side, a 4-drawer steel file cabinet on the one side of my office and aluminum mini blinds on a big window on another side of my office and mini blinds on the French doors entering my office. My 325P2, 996P2 and 536HP work perfect with a 12 tower simulcast system here in Macomb County. I actually didn't have to move or arrange anything, it just works perfect! Lucky I guess.

 

[wtp]

the system looks multicast.
at least from florida, and the map of the towers.