First let me say that I am returning the 197 for a new one. I would like to know just for my own head what the problem may be with my scanner. I've had the scanner now for 3 days with no problem but now I am having a problem with the squelch control. When I turn the squelch completely counter clock wise I get no white noise what so ever and the scanner steps through the scan list very very slowly. When I turn the squelch completely clock wise it's like putting the scanner in hyper scan. I also receive transmissions from the stations that I have programmed in whether the squelch control is fully open or closed. Any thoughts?
Trouble With Squelch Control
- Thread starter max2248
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P.S.
Also like to mention that the radio also has the latest firmware update.
Also like to mention that the radio also has the latest firmware update.
If a squelch code (or something that works like one) has been programmed for everything you're scanning, then what you describe happening is exactly what should happen. The squelch control is working properly.
For a channel with one of these codes programmed, turning squelch all the way counter-clockwise will not give you white noise. What it will do is cause the scanner to stop on the frequency long enough to determine if the proper code is present. In other words, the scanner will run as slow as molasses.
If you turn the squelch clockwise, the scanner will scan much faster but, if you turn the knob up too far, the scanner won't stop on anything, even things you want it to stop on.
The squelch setting is very important.
A good guess at where you should set is 1/3 to 1/2 the way up.
What I do is make sure I have a little used frequency in an active scan list and use it for setting the squelch. I turn the squelch fully counter-clockwise and the scanner will stop on that frequency. Then I turn the squelch up a little past where the white noise stops.
You can't really adjust the squelch on a channel for which you've programmed a code.
Coded squelch and the like goes by various names, depending on the system and brand: CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System), PL (Private Line), CG (Channel Guard), DPL (Digital Private Line), DCG (Digital Channel Gurard), NAC (Network Access Code), etc.
Someting is definitely wrong or it has changed.
I owned a couple of the early PRO-197 scanners. They were purchased within the first year of the model release. Those scanners produced white noise when the squelch control was turned counter clockwise. This is the way that most radio operators are accustomed to using a squelch control. My BCD996XT scanners work this way, for example.
The two PRO-197 scanners that I received within the past month do not produce white noise when their squelch control is turned counterclockwise. Both scanners were received with old versions of the firmware: RF 1.8, 1.4, 1.0 are displayed when pressing the '3' key and turning on the scanner.
Given that old versions of the firmware are still on these units, I believe that RS/GRE has exhausted their supply of new hardware and is recycling old hardware. For all practical purposes, GRE is out of business.
I have a couple other reasons that confirm my assertion about hardware recycling, including that the display of the latest scanners I received did not have plastic covering. When I bought PRO-197 scanners a couple years ago the display had a thin plastic, protective film.
I owned a couple of the early PRO-197 scanners. They were purchased within the first year of the model release. Those scanners produced white noise when the squelch control was turned counter clockwise. This is the way that most radio operators are accustomed to using a squelch control. My BCD996XT scanners work this way, for example.
The two PRO-197 scanners that I received within the past month do not produce white noise when their squelch control is turned counterclockwise. Both scanners were received with old versions of the firmware: RF 1.8, 1.4, 1.0 are displayed when pressing the '3' key and turning on the scanner.
Given that old versions of the firmware are still on these units, I believe that RS/GRE has exhausted their supply of new hardware and is recycling old hardware. For all practical purposes, GRE is out of business.
I have a couple other reasons that confirm my assertion about hardware recycling, including that the display of the latest scanners I received did not have plastic covering. When I bought PRO-197 scanners a couple years ago the display had a thin plastic, protective film.
JoeyC
Senior Member
For those not hearing white noise with squelch opened, reread post #3 in this thread. Your answer is there.
I already read post #3. For those not understanding squelch, read post #5.
By the way, read the user manual too. It has its own version of how the squelch control should operate. According to its procedure, my scanners are working properly. But I know darn well those early PRO-197 scanners I had did NOT work this way with the squelch control!
By the way, read the user manual too. It has its own version of how the squelch control should operate. According to its procedure, my scanners are working properly. But I know darn well those early PRO-197 scanners I had did NOT work this way with the squelch control!
Thanks guys. I am using arc500pro and I had uploaded some lists I suspect that a setting in the file may have add'd some thing that I was not aware of. The scanner is working fine now except for a beep after every hit, went in and fixed that. MK is right I was expecting the Squelch Control to work just like my other scanners. Thanks again.
I did some testing this evening. This squelch issue is going to take a long time to figure out, and I do not have a lot of time these days due to various commitments.
So far I know that by creating a Conventional object the squelch control operates as one would expect with a setting of either "None" and "Search" for the Squelch configuration of the object. Compared to my older PRO-197 scanners, these new units I received within the past couple weeks require the control to be turned farther counterclockwise to about the 7 o'clock setting. The old units required the control to be turned to only 8 o'clock - 9 o'clock for the noise to be heard. The control on the older units was more sensitive, in other words.
I also tested the squelch control by putting the scanner in Tune mode and following the user manual directions. The results I received were exactly according to what is expected according to those steps. Interestingly, the latest downloaded manual is dated "12/99" on the last page. The PRO-197 was released about 2008, if I remember correctly. I bought my first two units in about 2009, though I cannot recall exactly when I ordered them.
When I received my first PRO-197 I tested it by loading pre-programmed frequencies. The programming was so good that I left one of the scanners programmed that way for a long time. I owned other scanners anyway, so there was no reason to change working systems. I distinctly remember using the squelch control on trunked systems in the usual way that one would expect to use such a control - by turning it counterclockwise until noise was heard, then turning it the opposite direction. Often I kept the control setting a little too far counterclockwise, but I preferred it that way because I did not miss any transmissions. As far as I know, this is no longer possible with my newer PRO-197's, but more testing is necessary to confirm they work differently, perhaps due to a firmware change.
So far I know that by creating a Conventional object the squelch control operates as one would expect with a setting of either "None" and "Search" for the Squelch configuration of the object. Compared to my older PRO-197 scanners, these new units I received within the past couple weeks require the control to be turned farther counterclockwise to about the 7 o'clock setting. The old units required the control to be turned to only 8 o'clock - 9 o'clock for the noise to be heard. The control on the older units was more sensitive, in other words.
I also tested the squelch control by putting the scanner in Tune mode and following the user manual directions. The results I received were exactly according to what is expected according to those steps. Interestingly, the latest downloaded manual is dated "12/99" on the last page. The PRO-197 was released about 2008, if I remember correctly. I bought my first two units in about 2009, though I cannot recall exactly when I ordered them.
When I received my first PRO-197 I tested it by loading pre-programmed frequencies. The programming was so good that I left one of the scanners programmed that way for a long time. I owned other scanners anyway, so there was no reason to change working systems. I distinctly remember using the squelch control on trunked systems in the usual way that one would expect to use such a control - by turning it counterclockwise until noise was heard, then turning it the opposite direction. Often I kept the control setting a little too far counterclockwise, but I preferred it that way because I did not miss any transmissions. As far as I know, this is no longer possible with my newer PRO-197's, but more testing is necessary to confirm they work differently, perhaps due to a firmware change.
Hello MK, I had returned the scanner and got another new one. The results were the same, hit tune – set squelch and good to go. I can turn the squelch control all the way counter clock wise and not get any white noise but it does slow the scan rate down to a crawl, turn it clock wise and the scan rate goes into super scan so I set it at the mid way point. I have a second scanner and set both of them in scan mode and both picked up the same signals at the same time so I am sure that the 197 is working as it should.
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