Antennuator Clarification

[dsmall]

Would someone please explain in "newbie terms" when the antennuator should be used or when it is deemed to be useful. Is it when a signal comes through but the transmission is garbled? I have pressed the att button several times and it seems to just kill the transmission and effect the sensitivity of the frequency it was used on. Thank you in advance for the tips and explanation.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by dsmall

Would someone please explain in "newbie terms" when the antennuator should be used or when it is deemed to be useful. Is it when a signal comes through but the transmission is garbled? I have pressed the att button several times and it seems to just kill the transmission and effect the sensitivity of the frequency it was used on. Thank you in advance for the tips and explanation.

Its like putting on sunglasses.

Most of the time scanner listening is like reading indoors (enough signal, but not too much extra), but every once in a while the sun (a strong interfering signal) comes in and makes it difficult to see.

So, much like trying to read with sunglasses on, the best thing to do is put it on, and see if it gets better and if not take it off.

[jimyleg]

I listen to a p25 system, The entire state uses the same system. The talk id (plymouth) is being decensed some by a local id (mound) Would using the attenuater on plymouth improve listening? Thanks

ps,(396t) I turned it on and I still hear the same tranmissions as usual. Except there is a slight difference in sound. Audio seems improved voices sound more like voices. Does this feature just protect the specific signal?

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by jimyleg

I listen to a p25 system, The entire state uses the same system. The talk id (plymouth) is being decensed some by a local id (mound) Would using the attenuater on plymouth improve listening? Thanks

ps,(396t) I turned it on and I still hear the same tranmissions as usual. Except there is a slight difference in sound. Audio seems improved voices sound more like voices. Does this feature just protect the specific signal?

Back to teh sunglasses analogy.

Think of the ATT as grey sunglasses affecting all light the same.

All it does is lower EVERYTHING which helps if something is overwhealming the receiver.

[jimyleg]

lol ok gotcha, How can I tell if something is over whealming the scanner?

[dsviper22]

You can tell by listening to the transmission. If you turn on the attenuator and the signal sounds clearer or there's less static, then the signal is overloading your scanner. If when you turn on the attenuator it cuts out the transmission completely then the signal is just very weak and the attenuator will not help you.

It also can sound like a stock car stereo turned as loud as it can so the music is all distorted

[DPD1]

The only thing I've ever found it useful for is taming broadcast radio signals. Other then that, most radio's take it down too much to make it useful. They would be more useful if they were stepped. Maybe there's a radio out there that has that, but I've not seen it.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -

[brandon]

I find the ATT very useful when mobile. I turn on the ATT to reduce all of the noise from cellular towers and from the local PD when I drive near their transmitter site. The signal is so strong I could hear it crystal clear with the antenna disconnected.

These are all 800 Mhz freqs. That's where I find it pretty useful.

[jimyleg]

I agree, I live very close to a tower so after having it on all day, and havin it in the car too I notice a alot better quality of sound and clarity. Just my opinion. Plus plymouth now comes in alot smoother, It's hard to explain. The voices have more character and don't all sound the same. If any one has a p25 id(non local) being decensed by a (local) id just turn on the attenuation on your pro96 or 396t.

Incase ya don't know, You can tell your nonlocal id is being decensed by a local id usually- when the signal strenth drops when the scanner stops on the non local. So you can have full bars but when the scanner stops on an id further away and the bars drop then you most likely are being decensed, from what I have experienced. NOT always so but more often than not this is the case.