My MDC1200 sounds weird!

Johnny Grep · Post by **Johnny Grep** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:18 pm

Hi, I've heard previous samples (e.g. the Saber MDC vs Spectra MDC) and my MT2000 sounds like crap compared to these samples! Does it sound different depending on the ID programmed and/or the style of message sent? The squawk sounds just weird compared to all the audio samples I've heard...

Maybe it's just a number issue, I've heard Kenwood portables making different Fleetsync sounds depending on whether it had a unique id or a group id on PTT-ID...

Post by **alex** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:37 pm

Nope - they sound different... MT2000/MTS/MCS have different sounding MDC1200 databursts...

They both get the data across - but I have no clue what's so different with the software in the radio that makes them sound so off....

-Alex

Johnny Grep · Post by **Johnny Grep** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:38 pm

Sounds yucky to me. How do Waris portables sound like? And can someone send me a recording of a MT2000 MDC ID to see if my radio's programming is screwed?

central150 · Post by **central150** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 9:05 pm

Mt MTX8000's sound different than my HT1000's... I've always wondered that too..

-Tony

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 12:42 pm

Does it matter what is sounds like? If it works, that's what counts. The decoder has to like it, not your ears.

Johnny Grep · Post by **Johnny Grep** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:48 pm

Well, it does the job well - but you know, when you're a true enthusiast... you just ask yourself and wonder.

RapidCharger · Post by **RapidCharger** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:52 pm

I have also noticed this with an in-depth anaylsis!
They also sound different with what you enter in there.

One thing though, is the length of the MDC burst adjustable? Because I've noticed that some are longer than others (slightly) and I know other data bursts are adjustable. MAybe that's it?

Post by Pj » Tue Nov 04, 2003 5:18 pm

Acutally, I brought this topic up with sound samples awhile ago. Lemme see if I can find it.

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 4:50 am

RapidCharger wrote:I have also noticed this with an in-depth anaylsis!
They also sound different with what you enter in there.

One thing though, is the length of the MDC burst adjustable? Because I've noticed that some are longer than others (slightly) and I know other data bursts are adjustable. MAybe that's it?

I haven't played with MDC too much (as I have no use for it, and I'm not one of these guys with a hard-on for blasting out MDC every time I transmit, especially on ham repeaters), but I believe adding preambles to the mdc will alter it somewhat, if not make the it longer.

I have noticed that Saber MDC and MT2k do sound different - My saber's MDC (at least when I had a Saber) sounded more 'rich' than my mt2000's, which tended to sound more 'airy' and 'harsh'.

I bet you'd never thought anyone would be discussing Motorola data packets like one would be discussing fine wine (grin)

Anyone got any finer tips on the robustness of their MODAT?

CSHFD · Post by **CSHFD** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:11 am

I don't know why some people have such a seething hatred for MDC! I don't transmit it on ham repeaters, because I know most people hate it; besides, I am not hearing it anyway. MDC1200 on the Saber does sound weird. I love how it sounds on the Spectra. I especially like how the preamble sounds on the HT1000.

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:19 am

Its not a seething hatred - its just that a lot of people use MDC as some sort of a 'look at me! I'm using Motorola!' badge, and use it CONSTANTLY, for no other reason than because they think it makes them sound cool.

radar76 · Post by **radar76** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:38 am

Guys
One thing that i dont think was mensioned as far as what you are hearing goes is >> One thing you want to check in the programming is to make sure what your Preamble settings are. I know Ht1000, spectras. and astro sabers have this setting. It will make the MDC data burst sound somthing like a phone ringing.

Now as far as being a "radio geek goes" I personally like the sound my 10yr old saber 1 makes. and here is another one for you I have an old BK radio with an aftermarket "transcrypt INTL" signalling board in it, well depending on my "geekiness" i can do Mdc 600,1200 gstar ect. Hows that for geekiness>

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 2:49 pm

Heterodyne wrote:Its not a seething hatred - its just that a lot of people use MDC as some sort of a 'look at me! I'm using Motorola!' badge, and use it CONSTANTLY, for no other reason than because they think it makes them sound cool.

Thank you!

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 3:49 pm

Sounds like a personal Problem

Just like does a 454 sound the same as a 350 or a 302

all 3 are made BY GM but all sound differnt

RapidCharger · Post by **RapidCharger** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 9:31 pm

Instead of using MDC on the ham repeaters, I use Select V. I have a 5 character value set for a 10 second burst pre and post. No one seems to mind.

In all seriousness mdc sounds different on portables than it does on mobiles where it has a richer sound, and on the portables it's more of a chirp.

But like I said for the distinguished ANI connoisseur, I recommend the select V. It has a more origional taste to it and of course it can be customized to your liking. I have the number that will make it sound the most like the LAPD modat if anyone is interested.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 9:35 pm

Sure. My radio does select 5. What's the "modat" number?

-Mike

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:14 am

RapidCharger wrote:But like I said for the distinguished ANI connoisseur, I recommend the select V. It has a more origional taste to it and of course it can be customized to your liking.

I have an MX1000 in a few pieces that I was never able to get to work. I always thought that Select V sounded like Modat without balls, but its not without its charm.

Still, it is amusing to hear a $3000 radio use a twenty-year old signalling format. Kind of like having my G4 run DOS (grin)

CSHFD · Post by **CSHFD** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 6:08 am

What is Select V?

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 6:17 am

Select V is european MODAT.

x1sspic · Post by **x1sspic** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 9:56 am

I've also noticed that different HT1250s sound different. I thought maybe it was the ID number, so I programmed a radio with the ID from another 1250 with the different sounding ID, and there was no change in the sound leaving me to believe this difference must have something to do with when the radio was manufactured, or perhaps firmware (though I believe both had the same firmware).

Heterodyne · Post by **Heterodyne** » Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:57 am

Well, its like how back in the days of modems - I noticed that a Hayes modem would sound different than a US Robotics one.... as long as the end result is the same, it doesn't matter how it 'sounds'...

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 2:04 am

The apparent sound has to do with the compensation settings in the alignment, "soft pot" settings. Especially the high to low audio frequency balance that "compensates" for the frequency responce in the VCO and Reference modulation.
These settings are often "messed up" when "blowing in" codeplugs from other radios, or cloning in some cases too.

A carefull alignment is needed to correct for the "modulation" charitorstics. Different radio models do have different ways they generate the MDC string(s) so they sound different to the ear.

A poorly "compensated" HT1000 can sound like a "jap" radio,or a flat hard to understand or garbled radio.

RapidCharger · Post by **RapidCharger** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 10:14 am

ExKa|iBuR wrote:Sure. My radio does select 5. What's the "modat" number?

After listening to some recordings online (hard to find with the actual burst in there) I've determined that it's 98571. If someone has a real good recording I'd like to slow it down and figure it out that way. Set it to go in less than half a second or it will drive you nuts.

PReviously I had thought it sounded a lot like their 90--- zip codes but that proved to be false.

And yes it sounds like modat without balls, it's sort of like having only beeps whereas the real modat has a hint of MDC type burst for extra flavor.

My MDC1200 sounds weird!

My MDC1200 sounds weird!

mdc 1200