SDS100/SDS200: Filters

[KevinC]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but here goes...

In a trunking system you can't set the filters per frequency, it's per site only. Correct?

I have numerous sites with both 700 and 800 frequencies and need to filter below the 700's and above the 800's.

 

[mc48]

Split the site by frequency and then filter as if they are actually separate sites.(Ex 700 is site 1A 800 is site 1B.)

 

[KevinC]

Split the site by frequency and then filter as if they are actually separate sites.(Ex 700 is site 1A 800 is site 1B.)

Huh? if a site has both 700 and 800 frequencies how does one separate them?

 

[tvengr]

In a trunking system you can't set the filters per frequency, it's per site only. Correct?

To my knowledge, that is true. That is the only location I can find in the SDS scanner menus.

 

[GTR8000]

Per site

 

[mc48]

Make two identical sites except make one as 700mhz X filter the other as 800mhz Y filter.
You end up with twice as many sites but still the same number of frequencies.

 

[nessnet]

Make two identical sites except make one as 700mhz X filter the other as 800mhz Y filter.
You end up with twice as many sites but still the same number of frequencies.

You also double your scanning time.
Remember.... in trunking, you scan SITES, not frequencies.

 

[KevinC]

Make two identical sites except make one as 700mhz X filter the other as 800mhz Y filter.
You end up with twice as many sites but still the same number of frequencies.

Umm...no. I'm guessing you don't understand how trunking VC assignments work, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[GTR8000]

Make two identical sites except make one as 700mhz X filter the other as 800mhz Y filter.
You end up with twice as many sites but still the same number of frequencies.

I think you're misunderstanding. The site is mixed 700/800 MHz, and so there is absolutely no point in 'splitting them up'. If the control channel is on a 700 MHz frequency, and it tunes to an 800 MHz traffic channel...how exactly would you accomplish splitting them into two separate sites? Spoiler alert...you can't.

 

[werinshades]

IFX per frequency would be the only option I can think of.

 

[mc48]

I saw the problem with my theory as soon as I saw KevinC's reply. He can try auto but that's not that much of an option.

 

[hazrat8990]

Easy to see which filter works best. Just make multiple copies of the offending system(s) in question, and assign a different filter for each copy. It won't slow anything down, since all of the systems contain the same info. Just remember to change the name of the new copies to whatever the filter setting is, and take notes. When you have it figured out, just delete whatever doesn't work. Also, don't forget to include one with the filter turned off!

As for individual frequencies, make sure you can see the readout on your display, then add all the voice traffic channels that still have decoding issues to the IFX list in the 'miscellaneous' tab of Sentinel. You can also try adding the control channels as well.

Edit: In addition to FREQUENCY, you should also have RSSI and D-ERROR on your display while troubleshooting.

 

[KevinC]

Easy to see which filter works best. Just make multiple copies of the offending system(s) in question, and assign a different filter for each copy. It won't slow anything down, since all of the systems contain the same info. Just remember to change the name of the new copies to whatever the filter setting is, and take notes. When you have it figured out, just delete whatever doesn't work. Also, don't forget to include one with the filter turned off!

As for individual frequencies, make sure you can see the readout on your display, then add all the voice traffic channels that still have decoding issues to the IFX list in the 'miscellaneous' tab of Sentinel. You can also try adding the control channels as well.

Edit: In addition to FREQUENCY, you should also have RSSI and D-ERROR on your display while troubleshooting.

I know which filters work best, hence me asking if I could set them on a per frequency basis as I need 2 filters per site for numerous sites. But thanks for the suggestions.

 

[hazrat8990]

Best bet is to start adding trouble frequencies to IFX and see what happens.

Just out of curiosity, which system/site is causing grief?

 

[trentbob]

What it's worth, I've been into filters since they were first introduced. Global affect every object on the scanner and are a very quick way to ascertain the best filter for a system with multiple sites. It's a good starting place.

If you find there's an improvement through the reception indicators we all know, return global to normal as it will affect every object on the radio and you don't want to compromise anything that works well on normal. Then go into the sites of the system you want to improve. Apply the improving filter to each site, of course the less sites the better.

I have actually found that systems that have two or more sites that I listen to actually have a different optimal filter on each of the sites. Your choice, your pick, you might even find with atmospheric changes or changes in location those filters might change on each individual site you apply them to in a system.

It gets complicated so I usually apply a principle that I've always lived by since I was a young adult.. KISS.

 

[paramedic228]

I am finding that what works for me, in my case, wanting to receive mainly conventional UHF (a mix of analog and digital channels), with my particular indoor antenna set-up, is the WIDE INVERT setting. But, I wanted to ask for comments on what else I might be able to "tweak" to improve the scanner locking on to broadcasts quicker? I have my fire department handheld sitting right close to my SDS200 and SDS100. Sometimes, as the traffic is heard on the Kenwood radio, it is either completely missed, or lags by seconds, on the 200. I am wondering if adjusting the DIGITAL WAITING TIME in the Favorites List/System/Options tab might help? By default, it is set at 400ms. I am going to change it to 100ms and see what happens. Any other comments or thoughts are appreciated.

 

[dmfalk]

I set all my delays on my SDS100 to 0ms, personally......but that's just me.... Your experience may vary......

 

[Ubbe]

if adjusting the DIGITAL WAITING TIME in the Favorites List/System/Options tab might help? By default, it is set at 400ms. I am going to change it to 100ms and see what happens. Any other comments or thoughts are appreciated.

A better name for that function would be Initial Mute Time or something like that, as it doesn't affect the digital decode in any way.

If you have a system programmed to do both analog and digital mode and your scanning stops on a channel that transmits digital data, you will be listening to that data until the scanner detects and decode the data properly and then mutes the audio and only lets you hear the decoded voice audio.

If you do not want to hear that initial data burst you can use the Digital Wait Time to always mute audio for that time when scanning stops on a channel. It's only an audio mute function that isn't used when a system are programmed to do only digital mode.

/Ubbe