Blank spots...

gaptrick · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 10:22 AM

Man I HATE asking these simpletons, but I said I would when I had a dumb one...

No matter the system, group or channel, analog or digital, I get a dead air spot. For example, it will stop on a newly active channel and I'll hear approx 5 seconds of conversation, clear as a bell, then a 1-2 second dead spot, then the continuation of the conversation. And it makes no matter who is speaking, the mobile unit or the base. Five seconds on, one second off. Five seconds on, one second off...

" Head to the disturbance on 123 Street. There mayXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbe involved". How annoying is THAT?

No one at all ever asks for a repeat of instructions, so I'm quite sure that the parties on the 2-ways don't have this issue, only my scanner. I've asked a co-worker who I'd consider "scanner savvy" and he says my description of this issue doesn't happen on his as far as he knows. I believe he thinks I'm crazy.

I figured I'd ask here first before bothering my guy where I got this scanner from(396XT). He was very helpful in programing this thing and explaining some basics, but I'm STILL looking forward to my copy of 2-way and scanners for dummies".

Any help or suggestion would be and IS much appreciated!
Gap

Dak48 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 10:55 AM

Do you have a priority channel set? What you describe almost sounds as though it is checking a priority channel for traffic.

gaptrick · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 10:59 AM

I don't think I do. Hows that for a difinative answer?

fineshot1 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaptrick

Man I HATE asking these simpletons, but I said I would when I had a dumb one...

No matter the system, group or channel, analog or digital, I get a dead air spot. For example, it will stop on a newly active channel and I'll hear approx 5 seconds of conversation, clear as a bell, then a 1-2 second dead spot, then the continuation of the conversation. And it makes no matter who is speaking, the mobile unit or the base. Five seconds on, one second off. Five seconds on, one second off...

" Head to the disturbance on 123 Street. There mayXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbe involved". How annoying is THAT?

No one at all ever asks for a repeat of instructions, so I'm quite sure that the parties on the 2-ways don't have this issue, only my scanner. I've asked a co-worker who I'd consider "scanner savvy" and he says my description of this issue doesn't happen on his as far as he knows. I believe he thinks I'm crazy.

I figured I'd ask here first before bothering my guy where I got this scanner from(396XT). He was very helpful in programing this thing and explaining some basics, but I'm STILL looking forward to my copy of 2-way and scanners for dummies".

Any help or suggestion would be and IS much appreciated!
Gap

It almost sounds as if the offending transmitter or repeater is slightly over deviating and going out of the passband of your scanners receiver but you also mentioned that it seems to happen on a variety of other
stations you are monitoring so I am not so sure thats the problem.

Dak48 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaptrick

I don't think I do. Hows that for a difinative answer?

I don't know the type of scanner you have, but I have a RS Pro-163. When a priority channel is enabled I will see an uppercase PRI in the display. If it is disabled it switches to lower case pri. I'm sure you're scanner will likely have something similar if a priority channel is enabled.

This feature is very slick if you have the National Weather Service programmed in, as when a tonal alert is issued, the priority feature will sense the signal and enable the priority channel, displaying the type of alert on the display panel. From there the user can hit the weather button and listen to the alert, or hit the scan button and resume regular scanning programming.

It's likely other scanners do it differently, but the concept should be the same.

Hope this helps out!

rvictor · #6 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 03:29 PM

ScannerManuals < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

See the first of the Common Questions for the most likely reasons.

Dick

gmclam · #7 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaptrick

... No matter the system, group or channel, analog or digital, I get a dead air spot. For example, it will stop on a newly active channel and I'll hear approx 5 seconds of conversation, clear as a bell, then a 1-2 second dead spot, then the continuation of the conversation...

If you can give us a lot more information we can give you a list of possible causes. Because you labeled this thread "dead spots", it sounds like you are mobile. Does that mean this does not happen if you are stationary?

The suggestions that you have PRIority turned on on your scanner is highly likely. What model scanner do you have? Did you program it yourself? Some software likes to set the PRI on by default. That feature is useless except specific situations.

You indicate that this happens on all channels/etc; but we don't know what you have programmed. Do you have a trunked system programmed? If so, please confirm this happens on that. Do you have CT/DC codes programmed? If so, all it takes is a slight interruption to the signal and this will cause your squelch to close. Do you always operate your scanner in the same environment? (like in a car or specific room of your house). There could be a nearby device which emits an RF signal that interferes with the scanner. This is just a short list of the many possible answers.

gaptrick · #8 (**permalink**) 09-21-2009, 05:56 PM

Well, it turned out that, as rvictor gently pointed out by directing me to the correct path, that I had weather priority ON.

gmclam,
As mentioned in my OP I have a 396XT. Anything after that, you lost me. I'm SO new to this that I don't know the correct questions to ask. But maybe theres hope for me yet. I'm quite pleased with myself that I was able to take rvictor's lead and fix it from there. (Although I'm not exactly sure HOW I turned it off!)All is well now as there is no more breaks in transmissions I pick up.

Baby steps...baby steps...

rvictor · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2009, 02:15 AM

Glad you got it resolved. That's a very common issue.

Dick

jclarkr6 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 07:32 PM

It sounds like you either have a priority channel set and the priority feature on OR you have the WX (Weather) Priority feature on. I first started using my BCD396XT with the Wx Priority feature set to on and I had the same problem as the one you are describing. I would check both of these settings to see if either one of them could be the culprit. I don't bother to use the priority feature or the WX Priority feature anymore, it just interferes too much with my regular scanning. Good luck!