Lansing Area MPSCS Receiving Antenna

n211cr · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 04:59 PM

I just moved into one of the dorms at Michigan State University expecting to easily receive a few of the nearby MPSCS towers, one in Lansing and one in Diamondale. I was wrong. I believe the biggest reason is interference from computers and other equipment in such a close proximity. I can move and also orient my Pro-96 to receive them fine at certain times. I still would like to be able to scan other items such as the mostly UHF East Lansing, Lansing, and MSU public safety, so I purchased one of RS's telescoping handheld antennas to really no avail. I can have the scanner in one location and hit the full 90% decoding, and without moving it watch it drop into the 50 and 60's. Being in a dorm I cannot throw up an outdoor antenna easily. Nor do I have a lot of room to work with indoors. Within 20ft from any location theres going to be other computers, routers, access points etc. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what I should do with this situation, for now I am just going to try to find the best most reliable location to place the telescoping antenna.

Chad Rust
KD8AYM
rustchad@msu.edu

rdale · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 05:57 PM

I get _horrible_ reception once I pass MSU and points east... And even the LFD rigs have a nasty time when they are in Meridian Twp for training. I'm not sure that there's much else you can do other than what you've tried.

n211cr · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 06:47 PM

I do know that I get very good reception with actually just an inexpensive mobile antenna from Radio Shack, I can pick up Shiawassee County with almost full S-meter on my Yaesu 7800. I might try to take the 96 out there and see what I get with it. As for now its not doing too bad. Thanks.

i5adam8 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 07:54 PM

Whenever I am in the E Lansing meridian Twp. area,I have a horrible time also on my pro-96.Monitering L.F.D.

n211cr · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 08:20 PM

Well I just tried it off from the antenna in the car, along with the telescoping, and the stock rubber duckie. Outside it works much much better, 88 - 98 with the rubber duckie, almost solid 98 - 99% with either the car or the telescoping. So while it may not be great all the time even outside it is much better than I am getting inside. Inside earlier today I could not even hit one of the weather channels. I do seem to get the Grand Rapids one fairly easy now. I will play around with it tomorrow and see if theres certain times it seems worse. Thanks.

radiopete · #6 (**permalink**) 08-27-2005, 12:05 AM

Sorry posted twice

radiopete · #7 (**permalink**) 08-27-2005, 12:06 AM

You should have gone to U of M - Ann Arbor GO BLUE! : )

Thunderbolt · #8 (**permalink**) 08-27-2005, 08:21 AM

If Ingham County would have built a simulcast TRS like Monroe County did and made it part of the MPSCS, I am sure it would have improved LFD's radio reception out in Meridian Twp. However, in order to do it properly, they would have had to add a few more towers over the four that is already in place for their EDACS system, which would have cost significantly more.

73's

Ron