Balto County Frequencies (and 245xlt)

[bwhite]

I’ve been the owner of a 245xlt for quite some time,
I cannot say that this always does this, but, I think it does (I only monitor Baltimore County sporatically).

Question: Does anyone with a 245xlt or 235xlt have the frequencies for Balto County (and your scanner does not skip out to frequencies as it SCAN Ids) ? Let me explain below,

I have tried the frequencies I find on Radio Reference and various other sources (which seem to vary widely). Seems like no matter what source I utilize for the bank of frequencies, I can see the 245 drop ever-so-briefly out of SCAN ID to showing a frequency (and the Channel # in which the frequency is loaded)--this is not related to proximity to their antennas. Sometimes it finds a carrier or conversation as it bugs out to a frequency and I hear whatever misc chatter is occurring (usually something I don't care to hear).

Funny thing is, I’ve tried some of the same bank programming on my new 898T and I don’t see it drop out to frequencies; I’m guessing that the much newer logic in the 898T knows how to handle this (although probably at the expense of missing some transmissions).

Thanx very much.

 

[mlevin]

Do you have conventional freqs in the same bank as the trunk?

 

[bwhite]

I don't think so.

Don't think so, is there a sure-fire way to blow conventionals out but leave the rest? [From what I've heard, even if I do, they're not supposed to interfere with each other, but, I have no need for them so I'll be glad to delete the conventionals)

 

[ka3jjz]

I’ve been the owner of a 245xlt for quite some time,
I cannot say that this always does this, but, I think it does (I only monitor Baltimore County sporatically).

Question: Does anyone with a 245xlt or 235xlt have the frequencies for Balto County (and your scanner does not skip out to frequencies as it SCAN Ids) ? Let me explain below,

I have tried the frequencies I find on Radio Reference and various other sources (which seem to vary widely). Seems like no matter what source I utilize for the bank of frequencies, I can see the 245 drop ever-so-briefly out of SCAN ID to showing a frequency (and the Channel # in which the frequency is loaded)--this is not related to proximity to their antennas. Sometimes it finds a carrier or conversation as it bugs out to a frequency and I hear whatever misc chatter is occurring (usually something I don't care to hear).

Funny thing is, I’ve tried some of the same bank programming on my new 898T and I don’t see it drop out to frequencies; I’m guessing that the much newer logic in the 898T knows how to handle this (although probably at the expense of missing some transmissions).

Thanx very much.

While I don't generally monitor Baltiimore county - I live in AA - I have had this situation happen trying to monitor other trunk systems - like the USAir/ARINC system at BWI - where I am not receiving the control channel all that well.

I have found that a better antenna sometimes helps - RS sells a 800 mhz duckie that is supposed to be very very good. However, if you are near a Nextel site - there are so damn many of them that I don't see how you can avoid it - you could be experiencing a little desense from overloading.

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

Bryan, the frequencies listed in the database at this site are correct. I mention that since you say they vary widely depending on where you look. So that should solve one problem. The problem of dropping out of the scan ID function is almost always a result of not having sufficient signal strength. As menitoned above, a better antenna should solve the problem. I won't get into the selection game of "which" antenna because there are as many opinions as there are scanner enthusiasts.

 

[bwhite]

Middle of NoWhere

Actually, I live on the MD/PA line in the middle of cell phone "nothing".
(Although Sprint does have service), this phenom happens in many locations.
If you happen to fire-up Balto Co on your scanner (is it a 235 or 245?) do you see this ? If not and you receive OK I'd be grateful for your list of frequencies.

The real annoyance is when the control channel shows up on one of these frequencies and all the sudden you have a room or car full of noise.

Thanx

 

[bwhite]

TinEar

TinEar,
Is it safe to assume you have the RR frequencies loaded in a 235 or 245 and are receiving OK ?

This happens everywhere (attenuation is not turned on).

I specifically ask about the 235/245 because identical loadings (whether the RR freqs or others) in the 898T seem to work great; the 898 has only a tiny antenna and is located out here in no-mans-land; the 245 I'm able to move around and experience the drop out.

Thanx

 

[TinEar]

Bryan, I have the RR frequencies loaded but not in a 245. I use 785Ds. Perhaps the reason the 898 works better for you is simply because the newer scanner has a better, more sensitive receiver than the older scanners did. That's one of the things that keeps improving as new models are introduced. Even for conventional frequencies, I can hear lots of signals with the 785D that I can't begin to hear with some of my older Radio Shack scanners.

 

[bwhite]

TinEar

TinEar,
Is it safe to assume you have the RR frequencies loaded in a 235 or 245 and are receiving OK ?

This happens everywhere (attenuation is not turned on).

I specifically ask about the 235/245 because identical loadings (whether the RR freqs or others) in the 898T seem to work great; the 898 has only a tiny antenna and is located out here in no-mans-land; the 245 I'm able to move around and experience the drop out.

Thanx

 

[mlevin]

The fact that you're in no mans land could also be an indicater. The few times that I have went up there I've noticed bad coverage. Loosing the control channel and going into scan mode is what the older Unidens do when they loose the CC. My old Pro 94 (Uniden made) does that all the time.

 

[bwhite]

TinEar

TinEar,
Is it safe to assume you have the RR frequencies loaded in a 235 or 245 and are receiving OK ?

This happens everywhere (attenuation is not turned on).

I specifically ask about the 235/245 because identical loadings (whether the RR freqs or others) in the 898T seem to work great; the 898 has only a tiny antenna and is located out here in no-mans-land; the 245 I'm able to move around and experience the drop out.

Thanx

 

[fourwd1]

I listen to Bal Cnty with a BC235, in the Search mode usually, and sometimes have that problem. It's a signal strength issue,the radio is loosing the control channel. A better antenna solves the problem.

One other possibility - the solder joint to the antenna BNC connector may be going bad. At one point my 235 started going deaf, gradually. When it finally "died" I opened it up and the wire from PC bd to BNC conn had broken of the BNC terminal due to a bad solder joint and years of vibrations, ant removals, etc.

 

[bwhite]

Brave

Thanx for the info on the solder joint, I don't know if I'm brave enough to try to get to the innards of this complicated little thing.

Listening to Balto Co in search mode must be overwhelming since there are usually 1/2 dozen or more simultaneous conversations spread over 1500 sq miles.

 

[doctordave]

Bryan,

I'll echo the comments on signal strength problems up there. I spent several years travelling through that stretch, using a 780...then 796.....and had similar difficulties. There sure is variability in receiver sens on 800 MHZ......and intermod shouldn't be a problem up there. Even the County PD has a tough time up there w/ reception. I used to switch my NMO mobile antenna to an 800 model w/ higher gain than a standard scanner antenna....and this was helpful up in that neck of the woods.

Dave

 

[bwhite]

I certainly appreciate the input.
I can somewhat understand the sensitivity thing and such when I'm at the home 10-20, however, it does this elsewhere too. e.g., Lutherville, Timonium, Cockeysville.
I'll try the experiment again where I load the straight Redio Ref frequencies and then jack it into the roof ground plane that works (too well on the 898 which is why it isn't on it); it should not loose ANY signal there.
Stay Tuned....I guess.

 

[doctordave]

There are some spots w/ horrible reception in Timonium/Cockeysville....particularly at Padonia / York.....Padonia & Deerco is another spot (if you look at the nearby rooftop, you'll see clusters of cell/pager antennas - the likely culprit). In these locations, it is a problem of intermod. You certainly are not alone w/ these particular reception difficulties.

 

[bwhite]

Looks Like Success

Well, I'm not sure exactly what the fix is, but, I made absolutely sure that ONLY the Radio Ref Balto Co frequencies were in the appropriate bank AND that it was in TRUNK mode. Doesn't seem to be a loss of control channel, soon as I did this I never saw the drop out to channel/freq in the display. Yeah, I know that in the heavily congested areas it is not unusual to hear a cell phone conversation whether I want to or not. Whew! glad that's done and equally glad I don't have to crack the case.
I guess the next adventure comes when Balto Co goes digital....I have no idea when.

Thanx to all for your input.

Now, if only they will FINALLY build the much-needed Lineboro tower for Carroll emergency communications. The road to the site is in, but, the work cannot proceed because of ambiguities as-to how much power to run back to the site (the cable will be paved over so it has to go in first).

 

[mlevin]

Bryan, I highly doubt you'd get any cell phone conversations bleed through your scanner. They're all digital so it aint gonna happen.

Also, Baltimore Co. won't be going digital until the 9-1-1 Center moves to it's new location at the radio shop in Hunt Valley.

 

[bwhite]

Sorry but all the cell phone aren't yet digital, I was walking around with an analog not too long ago and you can see in the display on your cell phone that it will drop out to analog at times when it is having trouble acquiring a digital signal.

Do you work for Balto Co ?
My sister does too.

An update to my previous post about the RR frequencies being correct,
I had to pull 858.2125 out of the list and it looks like now the 245 doesn't drop out of Scan-Id. No sooner had I hit enter on the previous post when I began hearing a conversation that I shouldn't have and saw a frequency in the window. If further adjustments are noted I'll post.

 

[mlevin]

No I don't work for Balto. County, just in the know for certain things.