Test Firmware for DMR OFT and Band Plan Issue logging

[UPMan]

University of Toledo Medical Center (DMR} UTMC log file.
Hi guys hope this helps,Gary

This log is Capacity Plus site.
It seems to be not any problem.

Site ID: 1
TGID: 30
Unit ID: 243, 245
Color Code: 5

 

[jonwienke]

One other note; the latest test firmware does a really crappy job of decoding simplex DMR. If the channel is coded as audio option "Search", the scanner will stop on the channel when there is an active DMR transmission, but most of the time there is no audio or DMR indicator; the scanner simply hangs on the channel with no obvious indication as to why. If you set the channel to Color Code / NAC Search, then it generally skips past the channel without stopping. I've tried playing around with digital threshold and mode settings, but nothing gets me anything remotely resembling reliable reception. Do you want a log file for this?

 

[timbartell]

This is happening to me on the following system as well.

Chautauqua County Public Safety System Trunking System, Chautauqua County, New York - Scanner Frequencies

My $20 sdr dongle follows it just fine in op25. My 436 has never had a single hit or audio yet usually populates the band plan and shows tgid on screen. I have been going nuts thinking I wasted $500 as this is why I bought this scanner. I have tried various firmware versions here, etc. I will do some logging and submit next week as I have some time off. Hoping you can help UPMan.

 

[SFW]

I have been going nuts thinking I wasted $500 as this is why I bought this scanner.
+1

 

[jonwienke]

One other note; the latest test firmware does a really crappy job of decoding simplex DMR.

I figured out the problem, it's a signal strength issue. Decoding doesn't work well when the transmitter is in the same room as the scanner, unless you put a dummy load on the transmitter.

 

[gary123]

can you say front end overload

I made the same mistake LOL

 

[jonwienke]

I had the transmitters turned down to low power (1 watt), but even then the dummy load was needed.

 

[timbartell]

Here are my 3 logs from about 2-3 mins of runnning the .22 test firmware for this system:

Chautauqua County Public Safety System Trunking System, Chautauqua County, New York - Scanner Frequencies

I have not been able to get ANY audio in multiple locations but after doing analyze and coming out I do show the TGID when it sees a transmission but no audio decode yet. First log "bad mode" right into discovery, second analyze mode, third discovery after analyze where I made sure I waited until a TGID alpha came up for Police Dispatch so I knew it had recognized a transmission but as always, no audio decode. The band plan seems to vary and never fully populates. Same antenna my sdr dongle and oop25 decode the audio on this without issue. I did try to engineer requested firmwares above with no changes. Since I have had this I have yet to get any audio on this system, ever.

Hoping you can help!

Tim

 

[N0BDW]

Here are my 3 logs from about 2-3 mins of runnning the .22 test firmware for this system:

Chautauqua County Public Safety System Trunking System, Chautauqua County, New York - Scanner Frequencies

I have not been able to get ANY audio in multiple locations but after doing analyze and coming out I do show the TGID when it sees a transmission but no audio decode yet. First log "bad mode" right into discovery, second analyze mode, third discovery after analyze where I made sure I waited until a TGID alpha came up for Police Dispatch so I knew it had recognized a transmission but as always, no audio decode. The band plan seems to vary and never fully populates. Same antenna my sdr dongle and oop25 decode the audio on this without issue. I did try to engineer requested firmwares above with no changes. Since I have had this I have yet to get any audio on this system, ever.

Hoping you can help!

Tim

Tim,

Did you see UPMan's request here:

http://forums.radioreference.com/un...ft-band-plan-issue-logging-3.html#post2714289

The firmware versions he mentions can be downloaded here:

http://forums.radioreference.com/un...ft-band-plan-issue-logging-3.html#post2713146

I'd love to run this test myself, but I'm in the process of moving and all of my scanners are packed away.

Ben

 

[timbartell]

Tim,

Did you see UPMan's request here:

http://forums.radioreference.com/un...ft-band-plan-issue-logging-3.html#post2714289

The firmware versions he mentions can be downloaded here:

http://forums.radioreference.com/un...ft-band-plan-issue-logging-3.html#post2713146

I'd love to run this test myself, but I'm in the process of moving and all of my scanners are packed away.

Ben

Got the firmware and going to work on this shortly. Interesting both are similar systems it appears we are having issues with. Thanks for the firmware links I was struggling to find it again.

 

[timbartell]

Here are my log files running firmware ver1.10.02 on my 436

 

[devicelab]

Disregard.

 

[timbartell]

Here are the logs for firmware ver1.11.17


Observed: This version did not seem to even analyze the system and get a solid Q bar and NAC at all. Neither engineer requested firmware tested versions got tgid diplays at all as never versions are after analyze mode. Still no audio decode at all. Tested multiple locations.

 

[timbartell]

For good measure logs back to the latest stock firmware (.20) with the tgid hits after the analyze mode and near solid LNK and DAT, same time and location. Hoping for good news.

Tim

 

[N0BDW]

Thanks Tim! Hopefully Upman can pass these results along to engineering and we can get a proper fix in an updated firmware.

 

[timbartell]

Thanks Tim! Hopefully Upman can pass these results along to engineering and we can get a proper fix in an updated firmware.

Hoping so still no luck though with the test .22 firmware I did get a recorded the other night but it was blank (no audio decode). I shelled out the money to listen to this p25 2 TDMA system and it still does not work and I am passed the return period for Amazon. Any additional testing and logs I am happy to do.

 

[UPMan]

Ok, a few conditions to try for the missing band plan issue. All of these initial state is trying to scan the system from fresh (i.e. while the problem is occurring).

Pattern 1:
1. Remove the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
2. Please do not operate any key and do not turn off the power.
3. After that, connect the antenna and try normal scan.



Pattern 2:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, reset all band plan to 0 by the menu, but do not exit menu mode. (Still not go back to scan)
4. In addition, overwrite setting to ID Search mode in menu.
5. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.


Pattern 3:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, reset all band plan to 0 by manual.
4. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.


Pattern 4:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, push menu key.
4. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.


Will be these received without any problem?
Or will occur problem again?
Depending on the above results, I might ask for other requests.

Please use the firmware version 1.11.20 or later.

 

[N0BDW]

I've got a 536 set up in my temporary location. Here the signal and quality bars in analyze mode (stock antenna) are both near 100%, which is much better than my previous location.

Sanity check... Test0:
Powered on scanner (scanner is in bad state)
Powered scanner off

Ok, a few conditions to try for the missing band plan issue. All of these initial state is trying to scan the system from fresh (i.e. while the problem is occurring).

Okay. Before performing each test I powered the scanner off so upon power up it is in a fresh (bad) state. At the end of each test I waited ~5 min to make sure nothing changed.

Pattern 1:
1. Remove the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
2. Please do not operate any key and do not turn off the power.
3. After that, connect the antenna and try normal scan.

Test1.1:
Powered scanner on with antenna connected
Waited 10 seconds after scanner entered normal scan mode (bad state)
Disconnected antenna
Waited 10 seconds
Connected antenna
Waited 5 minutes

Nothing received during entire duration (meanwhile on-system radio in next room is chattering away). Occasional blink of DAT indicator (every 3-5 sec).

Test1.2:
Powered scanner on with antenna DISCONNECTED
Waited 10 seconds after scanner entered normal scan mode (bad state)
Connected antenna
Waited 5 minutes

Same results as test1.1.

Pattern 2:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, reset all band plan to 0 by the menu, but do not exit menu mode. (Still not go back to scan)
4. In addition, overwrite setting to ID Search mode in menu.
5. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.

Test 2.1:
Powered up scanner
Entered Analyze mode (currently in bad state)
Waited for S and Q bars to jump up
Hit FUNC+SYS to return to scanning (now in good state)
Scanner is already in ID search mode
Entered menu > manage favs > LIVINGSTON > review/edit > LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 > edit site > SIMULCAST > edit band plan (band plan appears to be populated correctly)
Set entries 0, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D to 0
Hit menu 3 times to return to LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 menu
Selected Edit Sys Option > ID Search > Off
Hit Avoid to return to scan
Waited 5 min

Scanner is in good state (DAT/LNK rapidly flashing) and is in ID Scanning mode.

Test 2.2:
Powered up scanner
Entered Analyze mode (scanner is in bad state)
Waited for S and Q bars to jump up
Hit FUNC+SYS to return to scanning (now in good state)
Scanner is in ID Scanning mode (not ID search)
Entered menu > manage favs > LIVINSTON > review/edit > LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 > Edit Sys Option > ID Search > ON
I wasn't sure if at this point you wanted me to return to scanning or not. For this test I did NOT.
Hit menu once then went to Edit Site > SIMULCAST > Edit Band Plan
Set 0 & 6 - D entries to 0
Hit menu 3 times then went to Edit Sys Option > ID Search > OFF
Hit AVOID to return to scanning
Waited 5 min

Scanner is in good state (DAT/LNK rapidly flashing) and is in ID Scanning mode.

Test 2.3:
Powered scanner on
Entered analyze mode (scanner is in bad state)
Waited for S and Q bars
FUNC+SYS to return (ID Scanning mode, good state)
Entered menu > manage favs > LIVINGSTON > review/edit system > LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 > Edit Sys Option > ID Search > ON
This time I went back to scanning at this point by hitting the AVOID button
Scanner is in good state and receiving transmissions (ID Searching)
Entered menu > manage favs > LIVINGSTON > review/edit > LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 > Edit Site > SIMULCAST > Edit Band Plan
Set entries 0 & 6 - D to 0
Hit menu 3 times then went to Edit Sys Option > ID Search > OFF
Hit AVOID to return to scanning
Waited 5 min

Same results as test2.2

Pattern 3:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, reset all band plan to 0 by manual.
4. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.

Test 3.1:
Powered scanner up
Entered Analyze mode (scanner is in bad state)
Pressed FUNC + SYS to return to scanning (ID Scanning)
Scanner is now in good state, receiving transmissions
Menu > Manage Favs > LIVINGSTON > Review/Edit System > LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 > Edit Sys Option > ID Search > ON
Hit Avoid to return to scanning (ID Searching)
Waited 5 min

Scanner is still in good state

Before powering off reset to ID Scanning mode (turned ID search off) to complete next test. Scanner is still in good state prior to power off.

Pattern 4:
1. Set to Analyze mode.
2. Return to scanning the system then change to ID Search mode.
3. After that, push menu key.
4. Push AVOID key and go back to scan.

Test4:
Powered scanner on
Entered Analyze mode (scanner is in bad state)
Waited for S and Q bars to come up
Pressed FUNC + SYS to return to ID Scanning
Turned ID search ON. Was in the SYS OPTION menu at this point. Hit menu key ONCE as instructed, which takes me to the LIVINGSTON COUNTY P25 menu (with options like edit name, edit sys option, edit site, etc).
Pressed AVOID to return
Now in ID Searching mode, good state
Waited 5 min

Still in good state

Will be these received without any problem?
Or will occur problem again?
Depending on the above results, I might ask for other requests.

It seems in every case the scanner remains in the good state after running an analyze until power off. Once power is lost the ONLY way I've found to get the scanner back into the good state is to run an analyze and wait for the S & Q bars to come up.

Please use the firmware version 1.11.20 or later.

FW 1.11.20 on a BCD536HP for all tests.


I hope this helps. Looking forward to a fix.

 

[UPMan]

Ok, a couple of additional test patterns:

Pattern 1-1:
1. Power on scanner with antenna connected.
2. Set to ID Search mode. (probably bad state)
3. Set to Analyze mode, and receive for a while.
4. Return to ID search state. (probably good state)
5. Disconnect the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
6. Please do not operate any key and do not turn off the power.
7. After that, connect the antenna and go back to ID search state.

Pattern 1-2:
1. Power on scanner with antenna connected.
2. Set to ID Search mode. (probably bad state)
3. Set to Analyze mode, and receive for a while.
4. Return to ID search state. (probably good state)
5. Disconnect the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
6. Reset all band plan to 0 by the menu.
7. After that, connect the antenna and go back to ID search state.

 

[N0BDW]

Pattern 1-1:
1. Power on scanner with antenna connected.
- Bad state.
2. Set to ID Search mode. (probably bad state)
- Bad state.
3. Set to Analyze mode, and receive for a while.
- S bar is full. Q, and A bars jump up after ~3 sec.
4. Return to ID search state. (probably good state)
- Good state.
5. Disconnect the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
- Disconnected... nothing received, no DAT/LNK light as expected.
6. Please do not operate any key and do not turn off the power.
- Okay.
7. After that, connect the antenna and go back to ID search state.
- Still in good state.

Pattern 1-2:
1. Power on scanner with antenna connected.
- Base state.
2. Set to ID Search mode. (probably bad state)
- Bad state.
3. Set to Analyze mode, and receive for a while.
- Same as step 3 above.
4. Return to ID search state. (probably good state)
- Good state.
5. Disconnect the antenna about 10 seconds. (Stop the receiving signal)
- Disconnected.
6. Reset all band plan to 0 by the menu.
- Reset
7. After that, connect the antenna and go back to ID search state.
- Antenna connected, hit AVOID to return to ID Searching, good state.