Scanner Antenna

[wagondriver12]

Ok I need help. I just moved into a new house and my reception is crap now. If I put my scanner outside it works fine the second I bring it in I can only pick up local departments. I live in Baltimore and the city are county are both using a P25 system.. Like I said county works fine city is another story. Its almost like this house is lead lined. My questions is I see they sell amplifires for scanners are they any good? Or am I wasting my money? How about a antenna upgrade what is good or again wasting my time? I have three scanners all radio shacks a Pro 96,2096 and a Pro 106. All worked wonderful till the new house. I am scratching my head now. Thanks in advance.

 

[marksmith]

There is a thread on this site specifically commenting on a great antenna for Baltimore City reception. Check the scanner antenna forum.

 

[KG4NEL]

If you own the house, I don't see why you couldn't put the antenna outside?

 

[DickH]

Ok I need help. I just moved into a new house and my reception is crap now. If I put my scanner outside it works fine the second I bring it in I can only pick up local departments. I live in Baltimore and the city are county are both using a P25 system.. Like I said county works fine city is another story. Its almost like this house is lead lined. My questions is I see they sell amplifires for scanners are they any good? Or am I wasting my money? How about a antenna upgrade what is good or again wasting my time? I have three scanners all radio shacks a Pro 96,2096 and a Pro 106. All worked wonderful till the new house. I am scratching my head now. Thanks in advance.

Before you do anything, put the scanner beside a window. Glass will not bother radio waves.
Your house may have aluminum siding or insulation in the walls with a metal backing.

 

[dmg1969]

You should probably post this is the Scanner-Receiver Antennas sub-forum.

Scanner / Receiver Antennas - The RadioReference.com Forums

 

[ka3jjz]

Like the County, Baltimore city uses a LSM driven simulcast system which is difficult for consumer grade scanners to handle. Part of your problem may be that you are receiving signals from more than one tower at a time, causing a simulcast distortion issue. This has been widely discussed in the Maryland forum in the past.

Before you try another antenna, try putting some attenuation on the city system....Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

You might want to read up on this subject - we have an article in our wiki with several links and more specific information on programming the 9...

Programming the Baltimore City System - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

 

[Tom_G]

I was thinking aluminum siding also.
Cell phones are also effected so check that too.

 

[rob12770]

Ok I need help. I just moved into a new house and my reception is crap now. If I put my scanner outside it works fine the second I bring it in I can only pick up local departments. I live in Baltimore and the city are county are both using a P25 system.. Like I said county works fine city is another story. Its almost like this house is lead lined. My questions is I see they sell amplifires for scanners are they any good? Or am I wasting my money? How about a antenna upgrade what is good or again wasting my time? I have three scanners all radio shacks a Pro 96,2096 and a Pro 106. All worked wonderful till the new house. I am scratching my head now. Thanks in advance.

pre amps WILL bring the signal in a little bit better BUT ( and she has a big butt) it will also bring in the noise more too..thay are handy to have though.

 

[jonwienke]

If I put my scanner outside it works fine the second I bring it in I can only pick up local departments.

Then the solution to your problem is obvious--you need an outdoor antenna. Something in your home's walls is blocking radio signals. It could be aluminim siding, or the wire mesh stuff they put under stucco, or any of several other commonly-used building materials.

An ST-2 mounted on a pole above the roofline will work wonders for your reception.

 

[Blackink]

I concur.....

Then the solution to your problem is obvious--you need an outdoor antenna. Something in your home's walls is blocking radio signals. It could be aluminim siding, or the wire mesh stuff they put under stucco, or any of several other commonly-used building materials.

I live in a mountainous region and my BCT15X works better when I go outside and down one level, go figure.
My house is wood frame structure with vinyl siding.

An ST-2 mounted on a pole above the roofline will work wonders for your reception.

After I installed my ST-2 antenna, mounted it on a 10' pole above my peaked metal roof....B-A-M....reception improved dramatically !!!! Maybe as much as 100% improvement from what I was getting with the stock antenna.

Follow Nike's lead......Just Do It !!!