TRX-1 on Monroe County

[KD2OKC]

I just purchased a Whistler TRX-1 in hopes of listening to the Monroe/Ontario P25 system. So far, I've had zero luck on picking anything up. I'm just curious if anyone else has been successful using this model?

I am able to pick up the Wegmans MotoTRBO Connect Plus system and all the MCSO UHF digital channels without issue.

I have tried importing the entire system from RR, locking out the sites to just one, adding just one site manually with a wildcard TG, lengthening dwell times, adjusting squelch along with the ADC and DAC gains to no avail. I've read a little on the digital simulcast issues but it seems that's more to do with the voice. It doesn't seem like the scanner is even decoding the control as it very rarely will hit a TG. When it does, it's just briefly shows up before returning. I added the control freq to a conventional analog channel and I can hear the digital signal fine. I've been around town a few times and haven't been able to pick up anything then either.

I'm in a location where I can get signals from the three different simulcast zones. I have a cheap SDR connected to Unitrunker on my PC, I can verify the three control signals and decode them all.

I haven't been in a different area to try any other P25 systems, nor do I have any other equipment to test with for now. My only next step at this point would be to get a portable 700/800 band high gain antenna as I'm just using the standard rubber duck. I'm not entirely sure that would help though.

Any help is appreciated... thanks!

 

[62Truck]

I just purchased a Whistler TRX-1 in hopes of listening to the Monroe/Ontario P25 system. So far, I've had zero luck on picking anything up. I'm just curious if anyone else has been successful using this model?

I am able to pick up the Wegmans MotoTRBO Connect Plus system and all the MCSO UHF digital channels without issue.

I have tried importing the entire system from RR, locking out the sites to just one, adding just one site manually with a wildcard TG, lengthening dwell times, adjusting squelch along with the ADC and DAC gains to no avail. I've read a little on the digital simulcast issues but it seems that's more to do with the voice. It doesn't seem like the scanner is even decoding the control as it very rarely will hit a TG. When it does, it's just briefly shows up before returning. I added the control freq to a conventional analog channel and I can hear the digital signal fine. I've been around town a few times and haven't been able to pick up anything then either.

I'm in a location where I can get signals from the three different simulcast zones. I have a cheap SDR connected to Unitrunker on my PC, I can verify the three control signals and decode them all.

I haven't been in a different area to try any other P25 systems, nor do I have any other equipment to test with for now. My only next step at this point would be to get a portable 700/800 band high gain antenna as I'm just using the standard rubber duck. I'm not entirely sure that would help though.

Any help is appreciated... thanks!

How strong are the 3 sites hitting you? You scanner could be suffering from simulcast distortion.

 

[k2hz]

I used a TRX-1 with mixed results on the P25 system for a few years before I recently switched to the SDS100. Results on the simulcast were marginal where I live in Brighton but I could generally get reception by placing the scanner in critical locations in the room which could change from day to day.

Antenna gain makes the problem worse unless you are in a weak signal area. I found the Radio Shack "racetrack" 1" stubby antenna improved results in a strong signal area.

You must lock out all sites except the one with the best signal. A Yagi antenna may be of no value since more than one tower may be within the beam width of the antenna. Unless you live within about 1/2 mile and have line of sight to a tower, reception can be a problem. It is all about "location, location, location" that determines if the signal can be received without simulcast distortion issues.

The SDS100 receives the P25 system perfectly but it is a disaster otherwise with desense issues on VHF and UHF.

 

[k2hz]

Monroe County initiated an application in September to add a tower at 1605 Buffalo Rd to the West site.

This may either help or hurt your situation when it is on the air depending on how close it is to you vs the other West towers.

 

[KD2OKC]

Thanks for the info. I am leaning towards the simulcast distortion being my biggest problem. I've found recently that I can get very marginal audio from Monroe South which is probably furthest away and least likely to be picking up multiple towers. I'll keep tweaking with the locations and antenna options for now.

Glad to hear the SDS100 works well on P25. I might keep that option open also.

 

[hardsuit]

KD2OKC - try using a stubby Dual Band antenna , may improve reception, you may need to set Squelch to a different setting as well.

 

[RF-Burns]

To monitor this system with any sense of clarity a Unication G4 or G5 must be used. The SDS100 works ok but overall it still misses traffic. The other option is to buy a Harris P7200, P7300, XG25, or XG75 with Phase II in it. Make sure it can be programmed with RPM10B and you can have an actual radio on the system that can't be seen by system admins. Cheapest way out is the G4 or G5 but the Harris Radios can be found pretty cheap too. You can also use Motorola's APX Radios to monitor this system but we can't talk about that here. Non Affiliated Scan is not allowed to be talked about on RR.