Unit ID accuracy

[troymail]

The radio(s) miss entire transmissions at times so it shouldn't be all that surprising that it misses data in some transmissions that it does actually receive.

 

[N0BDW]

The radio(s) miss entire transmissions at times so it shouldn't be all that surprising that it misses data in some transmissions that it does actually receive.

While I'm sure that may be the case for some setups I haven't had that issue. I'm only scanning one system though, so that probably makes things much easier on the scanner.

I was hoping there might be a setting that could be adjusted to compensate for this, but if suspicions are correct (that the scanners don't check the voice channel for UID information) then I don't imagine any setting is going to make any difference here. A firmware fix would be needed.

 

[marksmith]

They don't check voice channels. The only data comes from the control channel.

If the call is caught a second or so in, likely no UID will come up. Unless the system releases the channel before the next transmission, likely no second UID.

All systems, whether using analog or digital, are pretty much flawless as long as you are in the system and using their radios, as they use all info available, similar to Unitrunker, which is 100% as long as the signal us 70% or better.

Scanners do not capture all info, and all work as described in 2nd paragraph.

536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[N0BDW]

If they all work that way then I'm sure there is some logic for it, but again, it makes the UID display a fair bit less useful.

For such an otherwise powerful and high-end scanner it is unfortunate that the UID information presented cannot be relied upon more.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Maybe Uniden does not follow standards, even open ones, because the engineers are in Japan and they are trying to "improve" (copy) the standard for some planned new line of commercial gear. The scanner market is merely a testbed for their real revenue generators.

 

[marksmith]

Using unitrunker, I have identified around 14,000 ID'S for the local system.

Certain departments don't often change radios or don't at all, while others will for different reasons. This alone impacts the usefulness of the ID.

By loading these ID'S to several GRE, Whistler, and Uniden radios, I find that the ID info by unit is very useful.

It doesn't always come up, and it doesn't always change in multiple unit conversations, but when it does show, it is quite accurate for at least one unit in the conversation, and often more.

You have to keep up on updating the ID codes/descriptions as changes are made, but if you are frequently updating TGID descriptions, or other info in systems, it's not real hard to do as you are uploading data to the radio weekly or something similar anyway.

536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[N0BDW]

marksmith,

You're right: when it does show it is accurate in so far as it doesn't show a UID of a unit that has not been transmitting, or a bogus ID. Perhaps 'reliability' would have been a better word than 'accuracy'. The problem is more the UID not updating when someone else starts talking, or not appearing at all (less common), than it being wildly inaccurate.

 

[SCPD]

I've seen $7000 - $ 9000 commercial radios on Phase I systems miss or inaccurate display @ 20% of the radio ID's being broadcast, you actually expect a $ 500 scanner do better?

marksmith,

You're right: when it does show it is accurate in so far as it doesn't show a UID of a unit that has not been transmitting, or a bogus ID. Perhaps 'reliability' would have been a better word than 'accuracy'. The problem is more the UID not updating when someone else starts talking, or not appearing at all (less common), than it being wildly inaccurate.

 

[N0BDW]

I've seen $7000 - $ 9000 commercial radios on Phase I systems miss or inaccurate display @ 20% of the radio ID's being broadcast, you actually expect a $ 500 scanner do better?

I expect a $500 scanner to do the best that it can, and ignoring UID data transmitted on voice channels isn't the best.

I've got a $2800 commercial radio on the same phase II system that I'm monitoring with the scanner and it picks up the UID changes just fine.

No need to be snarky. If you're happy with the way your $500 scanner operates that is great. I am too. I'm just asking if some improvement in this area is possible. I don't think that is a totally unreasonable request.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Portable radio UIDs "change" a lot if the portables are in a pool rather than being issued to individuals.

I usually mark them as "[Agency] portable" and let it go at that.