WiNRADiO now offers APCO P25 Decoder

[EricCottrell]

Hello,

Well I was being generous when I said six months. I have come to know that Scott is very particular when it comes to radios.

I really like my AOR 5000 even though it does not get high marks for dynamic range. I am thinking of getting a Icom 8500 but it seems the AOR 5000 is more flexible in some of the settings. Some people recommend a used Icom 9000 but it is still $$$.

I have an interest in SDR. I have an USRP using open source GNURadio. Very flexible since I can do stuff like digitize 8 MHz worth of spectrum. It is more second generation SDR where a high-speed A/D digitizes a wide portion of the radio spectrum. If I had the time I could likely code some great VHF/UHF receivers.

The G305e and the like are more first generation where the A/D digitizes a low frequency IF. The G305e was partly an impulse buy at Dayton because it was at a cheaper price and I wanted to see how a first generation receiver works and how PC decoding of P25 works.

So in the end I am only moderately disappointed. The G305e does do a good job on HF and with DRM. It is interesting to play with some of the Professional Decoder features. Now that I know it's limitations I can make the P25 work with some effort. I still have not tried out all the features yet. I also want to see how easy it is to do XRS plugins. If I can figure out how to put in a better TCXO it will be a better receiver.

Maybe I should look at the SDR-IQ since a bunch of people in my BCB/SWL club got one and are really happy with it.

73 Eric

 

[n2pqq]

Wow that was quick. Where you able to return the p25 software also ?

One of the nice things about having multiple receivers in the shack is that I can "experiment" like this with new gear. Most of the time my experiments with new gear work out for me. I change gear frequently because I like to try new things. This was one of the hardest receivers to research prior to buying.

I turned this receiver on again this morning and immediately experienced the drift we've been talking about. I had to fiddle around to get the P25 decoder to work, which it did of course. Then it mysteriously stopped working. I found myself having to restart the program, which made it work again.

Then I sat there and stared at the thing for a while...

Last night I thought things were going to be ok with this receiver. Now granted, I haven't been in front of it long, but from what I have seen I can tell that I'm never going to be happy with this receiver. I'm coming to the conclusion that I am more of a traditionalist with receivers, and I far more enjoy having hands on than the virtual approach of this radio and the Icom black boxes.

After corresponding with the seller, Archer Trading Post, I will be sending it back for a full refund (minus shipping of course). The gentleman that runs this establishment is top notch and was fantastic throughout the deal. I located him on EBay and I'd recommend him to anyone that is interested in a WinRadio receiver; nice price on a brand new receiver and a willingness to take it back without any hassles.

This setup, regardless of what receiver was in place, has always been the secondary position, as the primary one is the AR5000A+3 with the SDR-14. I'll probably take this money and go back to an Icom IC-R7000 or an AR3000A if I can find one with a 10.7 MHz IF output. Using the computer for unattended monitoring and recording of audio is fantastic; I think it's safe for me now to conclude that I've just never warmed to it with regards to tuning a receiver with it.

So, Eric, you were wrong about the 6 month period, and Vince, I wouldn't call it a waste of money; it just isn't comfortable for me to use between its problems and the oddities of the software. I really thought this software was wonderful when I demo'd it, with everything at my fingertips, but the telling tale is always with the actual use (DUH).

Experiment over. Onward and upward(?) I go.

 

[VE6BRW]

Icom pcr-2500

Disappointing to hear. Well, I'm committed at this point. If it doesn't work out it'll be just another receiver that passes through the revolving door that is my radio room. The PCR2500 was a good receiver, but I hated the software and never really warmed up to the remote head. The Winradio software demo I've been running seems to have an incredible ease of operation with everthing right at the user's fingertips, easily accessed and manipulated. Of course if the hardware doesn't cut it there's a significant issue.

I'll be running the latest software, both base application and P25, and will provide info. P25 will be a smaller part of my overall use, but it will have its moments, so it'll be interesting to see what will happen here. I had hoped that AFC use might help, but you've answered my question there Eric.

Ah well, that's why new software versions are released...we'll see how it goes with this whole thing, but I have to say that the control software for the G305E appears to be a thing of beauty...to me, anyway.

I love my 2500, Alberta has started to convert over to P25 system Provincially and the last time I was working in Grande Cache I was listening (or trying too) to the Prison, all I got was an open carrier with P25 audio. hmmmmm interesting so I switched over to P25 and wahla once again I could hear all conversations (on remote head) connected to the Labtop and utilized all of the features, very nice indead. So getting ready for the future Prov switch