WS1098: Trunk System Settings

[w5rah]

I am trying to get the settings in my 1098 set up optimally, and it seems like the Whistler (Radio Shack/GRE) scanners require much more tweaking in settings than their Uniden counterparts. I have a Homepatrol 1 and a Uniden 436 both programmed to the same system, scanning just one site and the same talk groups. I have the same system/site/talkgroups programmed in the 1098 and when all three are scanning the same thing, using the RS 800 MHz antennas, the Unidens will be chattering away and the Whistler seems to not hear much. I'm trying to scan the TxWARN system in Houston, Texas and am trying to see if there is a better approach to tweaking the Whistler. I'm adjusting the High and Low threshold for the site and even when adjusting the low to below 50, it seems to not be working as well as the Unidens. Should I be looking to adjust the ADC and DAC gain as well on these sites? Its just frustrating since the Unidens just seem to receive with just minimal tweaking and the Whistler products require so much more tweaking than seems necessary to receive the same traffic.

 

[Redneck0410]

Considering Uniden is based in TX, it would stand to reason (At least in my eyes) that there are folks there who have been able to more "fine tune" settings for that area. Whistler is based in Arkansas, so the settings that work in AR may not be "optimal" for a system in TX. Since TXWARN is simulcast, the Whistler series is notorious for being virtually deaf on simulcast systems. You may also consider one of the offerings from Unication, as those have been proven by some to vastly improve the simulcast issue that has plagued this hobby for years.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Ubbe]

If you have simulcast issues and you use a seperate antenna for each scanner, it only takes a couple of inches in distance between them to make it successfull or not to receive a site in the system.

To compare scanners you must connect them to one common antenna, or move the antennas around in the room while listening to a conversation.

/Ubbe

 

[w5rah]

I've tried common antennas, moving them around, etc. I am starting to think it is simulcast issues. For instance, my Uniden 436 can be receiving a talkgroup and the 1098 display will show the same talkgroup/site/system/etc but I will often not hear audio, despite the S-Meter indicating full scale. I'm not a simulcast issue guru, but I am guessing it is receiving more than one site of the simulcast and the vocoder is trying to decide which one to use. In that case, should I increase the site threshold or adjust the ADC or DAC levels?

 

[Ubbe]

I would set one scanner to only receive analog and then listen to the datasignal if is sounds distorded, can be tricky to decide, and move around and see if the sound changes. Compare with another frequency that have the same system type.

There's probably nothing you can do with the scanner itself, it is an antenna issue. If it is a simulcast issue you have to try something that will increase the signal from one site and decrease the other. Directional antennas, variable attenuator, screening off the direction to one site in some way, maybe using aluminum foil attached to the antenna with a distance of a couple of inches.

/Ubbe

 

[w5rah]

I found back a wiki on the Whistler scanners and tried it as guidance. I think I'm on the right rack now and just need to play with it a little more. I think Whistler makes a nice unit, but I have to give Uniden credit for making a unit that plays nicer with simulcast systems out of the box. I'm not expecting it to sound like a high end Motorola unit, but they all need to work on their firmware to improve how their receivers process simulcast systems.