Anyone else having volume problems with certain TG's after the upgrade? I'm using a 536 with the latest firmware, and one of my TG's can't seem to keep the volume at the same level. I'm going to get a 996 to host a single feed, I'm hoping that might work better? Would it help if I remove a control channel since its not a mobile scanner?
Wake County P25 switch
- Thread starter ccfire918
- Start date
This seems to be a system issue not scanner issue. I hear units telling dispatch (or vice versa) all the time "Be advised you have very low volume" and after a while it corrects itself.
You think it will be any better on a Unication? My work radio isn't re-programmed yet so I can't tell if a radio on the system makes a difference.
It's the same on my TRX and G4 both.
After installing the adapter and adding all the new talkgroups, the Yagi is working fairly well. I still have not managed a 'perfect' decode with the Wake P25 system, but it's hovering around 80%, enough for decent audio to come through. I think playing with the direction could help some more. For now the depicted orientation is working best, targeting site 3 (NCSHP Training Center): FCC Callsign WPYR985 (WAKE, COUNTY OF)
Although the performance is much better than the discone, I think I'm still picking up more than one tower. Setting attenuation helps a bit. As I'm pointing at site 3 (which has a Wake and VIPER transmitter), the VIPER site 'behind' the antenna (NNE of my location) is also received very strongly. Great for VIPER reception, but unfortunately, there is also a Wake site within the rear lobe, perhaps the source of most remaining distortion.
Although the performance is much better than the discone, I think I'm still picking up more than one tower. Setting attenuation helps a bit. As I'm pointing at site 3 (which has a Wake and VIPER transmitter), the VIPER site 'behind' the antenna (NNE of my location) is also received very strongly. Great for VIPER reception, but unfortunately, there is also a Wake site within the rear lobe, perhaps the source of most remaining distortion.
Well, further testing has been... Interesting! Last night I found an antenna location that yields 90% decode success. Often up to 99%, occasionally dropping to 70%. Attenuation absolutely helps both Wake P25 and VIPER reception. Even with a near-perfect decode rate, it is clear I'm still missing a lot of audio from the Wake system. At least I'm getting some now, but it's just not quite happy yet!
This new orientation is interesting, because it's not using the Yagi as one may naively expect. Because I'm 'pinned in' among all these towers, and there is an obvious rear lobe of gain, shooting for 1, 2, 3, or 5 gives me a strong signal, but plenty of distortion from behind. I did try aiming towards tower 6, but found the best decode rate aiming 180° away from tower 6.
This behavior, in combination with attenuation obviously improving the decoding of both systems, makes me think I'm still dealing with far too much signal from towers I don't want to hear. Looking at signal strengths, it's basically maxed-out without attenuation on, and is still very strong with attenuation on. So my current game plan is:
Any thoughts on this? My current theory: Now that I seem to have found a decent 'lock' on one tower, by using the Yagi's gain to partially reject other towers, I need to cut down all incoming signals, to drop those other towers near/below the noise floor. Hopefully, leaving the signal I want with enough strength for the scanner.
In other news, the old discone seems to work fairly well hooked up to my 2m/70cm HT. Looking forward to actually having a base station of sorts when I want to play around.
This new orientation is interesting, because it's not using the Yagi as one may naively expect. Because I'm 'pinned in' among all these towers, and there is an obvious rear lobe of gain, shooting for 1, 2, 3, or 5 gives me a strong signal, but plenty of distortion from behind. I did try aiming towards tower 6, but found the best decode rate aiming 180° away from tower 6.
This behavior, in combination with attenuation obviously improving the decoding of both systems, makes me think I'm still dealing with far too much signal from towers I don't want to hear. Looking at signal strengths, it's basically maxed-out without attenuation on, and is still very strong with attenuation on. So my current game plan is:
- To keep the antenna exactly where it currently is (clearly I'm on to something as no other orientation has yielded such consistently-high decode rates).
- To add a variable attenuator, something like this: https://www.scannermaster.com/ATT_20_Variable_Attenuator_p/24-531021.htm
Any thoughts on this? My current theory: Now that I seem to have found a decent 'lock' on one tower, by using the Yagi's gain to partially reject other towers, I need to cut down all incoming signals, to drop those other towers near/below the noise floor. Hopefully, leaving the signal I want with enough strength for the scanner.
In other news, the old discone seems to work fairly well hooked up to my 2m/70cm HT. Looking forward to actually having a base station of sorts when I want to play around.
Last edited:
Use a HDTV antenna. Seriously. You don’t need much to pick up Cary/Wake P25. I pick up two at my house in southern wake county. Using a yagi in the attic a little extreme. Discone antennas are unidirectional but really need to be outside and up high to work effectively.
With COVID testing going hot and heavy several of the Wake County Testing sites have been using the Wake County Government Common Talkgroups (NOT listed in the database). Site activities have been heard on WC GOV 1 TG 46849 and WC GOV 2 TG 46850. WC GOV 3 TG 46851 and WC GOV 4 TG 46852 haven't been heard.
Thanks for the idea - I am curious what kind of HDTV antenna may work? Classic bunny ears, or something more directional made for attic/outdoor use?
Unfortunately, I'm rather limited in placement due to HOA. This is above the second story, which has worked out well for 2m/70cm, 1090MHz ADS-B, and all my scanning needs. Before P25 simulcast, of course. But I can give this a shot, and may try some other options to pick up just one tower.
I guess at a certain point I should convince myself to get a fancy new scanner that's easily up to the task, but it's fun trying things!
@K4XOR instead of trying more, have you tried less? Does it help any if you use a small rubber ducky antenna? A number of reports have suggested even a paper clip has helped in simulcast conditions. Just a thought.
As for the HDTV antenna there is a big selection, the one that was recommended to me and I use with my SDRs is this one...
As for the HDTV antenna there is a big selection, the one that was recommended to me and I use with my SDRs is this one...
Amazon.com: RGTech Monarch Indoor AM/FM Antenna, True 60 Mile Range Multidirectional Reception Radio Antenna : Electronics
Amazon.com: RGTech Monarch Indoor AM/FM Antenna, True 60 Mile Range Multidirectional Reception Radio Antenna : Electronics
www.amazon.com
Thanks!! I may check that out after more thoroughly trying your other suggestions. 'Less is more' does sound good to me, but I have yet to make much progress that way. I do have a couple rubber duckies I've tried in various orientations inside (second story, not attic). But it seems being surrounded by so many towers limits effectiveness. Using those or a paper clip results in plenty of signal, but generally <50% decode. (With these antennas, I must leave attenuation off, otherwise the signal is too weak to decode much at all.)
QUESTION: I'm looking to get another scanner just to monitor one talkgroup for a Broadcastify feed (Holly Springs Police). Currently using my 536HP for this and want to use that for other purposes. Would it benefit to lock the new scanner to one control channel since I'm only going to listen to one TG, the scanner is never going to leave the location in my house and I will never listen to anything else on that scanner? I was going to look at SDR's as well but not yet. I was thinking using a 996P2 for this.
I have a WS1080 I use for my RDU Broadcastify feed, only scans about 10 TGs for RDU PS, never use it for anything else and it just sits on the corner of the desk.
Are you using one control channel? I see that my 536 is scanning 3 control channels. I wondering if one of them is farther than the rest and is causing my reception (audio drops) issues as we spoke about in the past. I have been using a Unication g5 for over a week to monitor this TG and there have not been any volume differences like issue I’m having with the 536.
There is only one control channel (and three alternates) on the Cary/Wake System Site two, and I hear the volume fluctuating daily on my G4 between different TGs.
Chris0516
Active Member
Is there not a lot of traffic on the system? I have Cary/WakeP25 split into two systems. So, Site 1 in Cary is for the first 20 groups. Site 2 for Wake County has the rest. I am not seeing traffic from either one. I double(and triple)-checked the CC's n' ACC's. They both were working. But not now.
There’s a ton of traffic, I use commercial Motorola and G5 stays busy all the time. Must have something set incorrectly
If you have them as two totally separate systems, site one for Cary, site two for Wake, as @murrayustud said, it stays busy and you will hear something, unless you are in a bad simulcast area. Sounds like you have a programming issue on your radio.
Chris0516
Active Member
Messed around with again. Holly Springs PD came through on the Wake County Simulcast. A couple days ago, the Cary Simulcast was no problem.
Chris0516
Active Member
Finally got Wendell PD off of Cary(Site).
Similar threads
BCD325P2/BCD996P2:
Programming two different P25 systems
