Washtenaw TRS to MPSCS transition

[rkraatz]

Pro-96 Scanner

HI:
I have a Pro-96 scanner. I have always programed the scanner myself. My own programs.The 12th it stopped finding everything but pitts dispatch. I just finished upgrading the firmware to 1.4. That did not help either. There must be a problem with the scanner that I cannot fix. Sorry for bothering everyone. I will put it in the trash the next time I get up from my computer. I would not want to be thought of as a whip.

 

[SCPD]

HI:
I have a Pro-96 scanner. I have always programed the scanner myself. My own programs.The 12th it stopped finding everything but pitts dispatch. I just finished upgrading the firmware to 1.4. That did not help either. There must be a problem with the scanner that I cannot fix. Sorry for bothering everyone. I will put it in the trash the next time I get up from my computer. I would not want to be thought of as a whip.

The Pro 96 is digital, don't throw it away. Program in the new Washtenaw County MPSCS freqs: 855.2875, 855.0875, and 866.45. They're Motorola just like the old system so all you have to do is change the freqs. The new talkgroups are on the MPSCS page under Washtenaw County Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies

 

[mgorman]

HI:
I have a Pro-96 scanner. I have always programed the scanner myself. My own programs.The 12th it stopped finding everything but pitts dispatch. I just finished upgrading the firmware to 1.4. That did not help either. There must be a problem with the scanner that I cannot fix. Sorry for bothering everyone. I will put it in the trash the next time I get up from my computer. I would not want to be thought of as a whip.

Make sure you put the TGRP as P25AUTO and not MOT 800/900

 

[SCPD]

Make sure you put the TGRP as P25AUTO and not MOT 800/900

he has a Pro 96, it doesn't have these settings, they treat all Motorola systems the same.

 

[i5adam8]

What sucks for me is just about all of the traffic I receive from MPSCS is from the Munith and Jackson towers. The Washtenaw Co. talkgroups are not steadily on the Munith Tower. Metro West is kind of in and out so I have to wait for a unit to get close enough to the Munith tower before I can really hear anything and then it usually disappears after about 15-20 min. If I walk around the house and hold my scanner up to the window I can just barely get the Washtenaw tower near Chelsea.

 

[krokus]

If you have an outside TV antenna, with UHF, hook you scanner to that. You will probably get a good signal, then.

 

[nitroharley]

I am using Psredit500 to program my pro 106. My goal is to listen to Washtenaw county again, like I did a few days ago, before the radio system switch. I am able to upload frequencies to my radio from the radio reference site with no problem. My issue is I am not hearing any of the local agencies on my radio. Is there a setting somewhere that I am over looking? Or is the database somehow off? Just searching for clues. Thanks

 

[rdale]

You might start a new thread, it sounds like a programming issue and not related to the MPSCS transition.

 

[stanrock]

I have had the same problem with the pro-2096. Live in Saline and cant pick anything up since the transition to MPSCS. I think the problem is with signal strength, although the TRS system works fine.

 

[nitroharley]

I have had the same problem with the pro-2096. Live in Saline and cant pick anything up since the transition to MPSCS. I think the problem is with signal strength, although the TRS system works fine.

I reprogrammed my radio using ARC500. All of state police calls come in loud and clear. Washtenaw county continues to be garbled and choppy. I find it interesting that I can hear action as far away as 1-75 but local stuff not so much. Perhaps you are on to something regarding signal strength?

 

[rdale]

Sounds like a programming issue - talkgroups come in the same regardless of state police or county or local. You probably have multiple towers instead of just WashCo's MPSCS towers.

 

[detroit780]

Washtenaw

Washtenaw is a simulcast system. If you are hearing the state police fine off a tower other than the Washtenaw frequency and everything else is choppy off the Washtenaw tower it's to the system being simulcast.

You don't say if you only have the Washtenaw control channels programmed or if you have several in the area. The Pro-96 and 2096 is not the best on a Simulcast system, the PSR 500, 600 Pro-106, 197 are better but not perfect. The PSR 800 I hear is a bit better. It's an FM Multi-Path issue. The receiver in scanners are not as good as they are in a Motorola radio. Has something to due to the fact of $500 Vs. $3,000. Although the Motorola radios do have problems from time to time on a Simulcast system. All scanners could be better on this type of system but then they wouldn't sell all that well because they would be much more expensive. The scanners are however getting better with each generation.

Search the threads for discussion on Multi-Cast or Simulcast. Basically your scanner is receiving the Washtenaw sytem from several different locations on the same frequency. The scanner thinks it is locked onto a signal and then it sees it again at a stronger level and again and again. On many vehicles without diversity radio tuners in a downtown area you will get a picket fence effect on the audio. The car radio receives the radio frequency then receives it again off the reflection of tall buildings and the effect is heard as on the radio as a choppy signal fading in and out. The scanner issue is much the same however the digital effect is signal, no signal so you miss a lot of the conversation.

What most people find helps is finding a location in your house where it is least affected and or using a beam antenna aimed at one specific tower.

Thia has been discussed for several years here so look around and you'll see what it all means.

Les

I reprogrammed my radio using ARC500. All of state police calls come in loud and clear. Washtenaw county continues to be garbled and choppy. I find it interesting that I can hear action as far away as 1-75 but local stuff not so much. Perhaps you are on to something regarding signal strength?

 

[krokus]

A more technical bit, is that the digital signals are relayed by changes in the phase of the radio signal. When you have multiple signals arriving, on the same frequency, they can appear as changes in the phasing. This can cause problems, as well.

More expensive radios can have circuitry to anti-alias these signals.

 

[krokus]

Slight drift: Has anyone tried the PSR-800 on the Washtenaw Simulcast yet?

I have seen people using the new scanner on MPSCS, and other P25 systems, with good results. I'm just wondering if the system here has improved reception. (I get a lot of drop-out on my PSR-500, but prefer to not carry my agency-issued Motorola around, just to scan.)

 

[stanrock]

I will try a single frequency

Good posts guys. I love a technical discussion. Multipath makes sense, and I know these scanners have such a wide band I am sure their sensitivity is lacking. I bought a 800-900 MHZ antenna just to see if a narrow band antenna would solve my issues, but to no avail. All I hear with my pro 2096 is a hiss when someone is transmitting on a talkgroup. I also plan to drive in to Ann Arbor to increase my signal strength and see if that works. If I am sitting under the site I should hear SOMETHING!

 

[diskmonger]

Slight drift: Has anyone tried the PSR-800 on the Washtenaw Simulcast yet?

I have seen people using the new scanner on MPSCS, and other P25 systems, with good results. I'm just wondering if the system here has improved reception. (I get a lot of drop-out on my PSR-500, but prefer to not carry my agency-issued Motorola around, just to scan.)

Yep, listen everyday.

It's better, won't say it's perfect. The PSR-800 really digs in and tries to decode the signal, whereas the PSR-500 would just sit there and be silent a lot of the times. It's still hit and miss if your moving around, but definately better.

I have been unplugging the antenna from my PSR-600 and using the PSR-800 because the radio ID function works so much better.

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

There are seven towers in the county, you don't need to be under the tower.

Is your scanner set for P25? It won't decode the signals if set for automatic, it only checks for AM and FM.

 

[stanrock]

Pro 2096 not working with MPSCS

I have given up on the Radio Shack (GRE) Pro 2096. I have tried a 800-900MHZ antenna, but no avail, the unit does not receive the APCO-25 signals. All I hear is a light hiss when a talkgroup is decoded. I beleive it is what the other users have advised me, simulcast problems.

I wish I had better news about this receiver, and it is maddening, since I bought it specifically for the MPSCS about 6 years ago, since I knew they were going that way.

On the plus side, the 2096 receives the TRS Trunking system just fine, so I can hear snowplows in action

 

[krokus]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Get a hold of someone that is knowledgeable of that model scanner. It sounds like a minor programming error, to me.

 

[mgorman]

I got a talkgroup ID of 2099 on the Washtenaw tower. It is not listed in the database and I don't remember what was said on there.