Squelch and antenna selection

[Pro-95]

I have a ducky and I have a all-purpose not spectacular in one band but decent in most discone scanner/ham antenna on the roof.

If I have to turn up or down the squelch depending on what antenna I'm using what does that mean? More squelch = ??? Less squelch == ???.

I'm sure that factors like RG-59 length and fittings come into play.

Also what is the preffered BNC style fitting, a solder on?

[loumaag]

More squelch = More noise.
Less squech = Less noise.

Seriously if when you hook to the outside antenna you are picking up more noise you may have devices or power line issues in your neighborhood. The higher the noise floor the more you need to adjust the squelch up to quiet it out. If, on the other hand, the opposite is true, that is you need to increase the squelch with the rubber duck, there is something local (like in the room) which is doing the same thing. Things to look for (depending of what frequency you are talking about) An open or bad cable TV connector, a WiFi device, cordless phone, a poorly shielded TV or radio, computer (especially LCD screens), non-incandesent light, etc. If the local (your rubber duck) noise is the issue, try turning everything off and making sure the cable is connected or dead and then see if the noise goes away, if it is the outside antenna, learn to live with it as you have no real options.

Hope this helps.

[scanfan03]

less squelch is kind of like more sensitivity but not quite, you should only turn the squelch up more if you are getting interference or bleed over.

[Voyager]

Originally Posted by Pro-95

I have a ducky and I have a all-purpose not spectacular in one band but decent in most discone scanner/ham antenna on the roof.

If I have to turn up or down the squelch depending on what antenna I'm using what does that mean? More squelch = ??? Less squelch == ???.

I'm sure that factors like RG-59 length and fittings come into play.

Also what is the preffered BNC style fitting, a solder on?

The antenna should not affect the squelch at all. The only change should be your ability to pick up more signals. With the better antenna, you could turn the squelch up and still hear the same, but you are essentially reducing the effective sensitivity of the unit by doing that.

Yes, feedline will affect the signal strength (more loss = weaker signals), but again, this should not affect the proper squelch setting. RG-59 is 75 ohm cable. Severe mismatches can affect the squelch operation. You should stick with 50 ohm cable since that's what the radio is designed for.

You should turn the squelch down all the way (until you hear squelch noise), then turn it up until it quiets the receiver. If you are hearing too many really weak signals, you could turn it up some more to get rid of those. Anymore, use of CTCSS/CDCSS would be a much better method of squelch than just the squelch knob. Using CTCSS/CDCSS, the squelch will not open unless a signal is present with the correct code.

A solder BNC is the best. Just stay clear of UHF connectors - especially if you are listening to anything on 800 MHz.

Joe M.

[Pro-95]

Oops. RG-58. Typo.

I'm going to get a solder on tomorrow. The PL-259 (at the antenna) is factory, chopped the other PL-259 off to install the push-on BNC.

Thanks!