[PCR-1000] Re: PCR1000 and Optoelectronics Digital Scout questions

[Ubbe]

Optoelectronics made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and now I have
the new Digiscout MKII connected to my pcr1000.

But, it's just the same as the old digi. The only thing it captures
during my 2 hours travelling to and from work is my own GSM phone.
I get a total of 4-5 captures when the phone roams from one site
to the next on my way to work. It should be much more.

I have tried different settings and fiddled with squelch levels
and the only time it captures anything analog is with the filter
set to off. But then it only captures garbage and not actual
transmitter frequencies.

The Scout40 gets about 20 captures, all bonafied and "real"
frequencies, travelling the same route to work. I refuse to
belive that I got two digi lemons in a row, 2 years apart.

I absolutly cannot see that the "search" technique of the digi
in any way can compete with the "tug of war" method of Scout40.
I start driving 20 minutes away from Stockholm, then into the
City and out again at the other side. I pass several big sites
where the Scout40 blurts out 3-4 frequencies when passing a site.
I also get some taxi and busses on board position systems and
some local FM broadcast stations. But nothing on the Digi.

With the filter off I can see that it shows frequencies within
a couple of Mhz of a transmitter, but never comes closer than
a few hundred Khz. The pcr1000 doesn't have a chance to monitor
the correct frequency.

I've tried every setting possible but can not get this Digi
to work for me. Funny thing is that when I connect it to an
RF signal generator it works just fine and shows better values
than it says in Optos specifications. If I try to use it in
the house and try a couple of GSM phone calls, it captures
only 1 of 4. About the same with analog 2-way radios from a
distance of 1 meter. Doesn't give a blink from further away,
even though the signal level goes from blank to filled with
each PTT.

Ubbe.

Miguel Puchol wrote:
> 
> I think the RF performance of the Digital Scout must have been
> improved since you got your unit, I sincerely am getting much
> better results with it than with the Scout 40.