Just got a homepatrol

[skhobby]

Just got a scanner Homepatrol, live in Eddy Co. in ND. I can not pickup the sheriff's dept, I can get fire & amblance. I was told they changed to digital, I have updated to the latested filmware. thanks for any help. Scott S

[haroldvinson]

I purchased the Home Patrol scanner about a year ago and so far I have been very disappointed. It does not receive very well even with an external antenna and when I download the database for the Indianapolis Fire Department I get Indianapolis Police calls. No one seems to be able to tell me how to set my profile up the way I want it. If you just want to enter a zip code and listen to everything then it works great. To me it is very hard to program.

[Spitfire8520]

Let it be first known that I have no experience with any Uniden products, and that is especially true for the HomePatrol. I can only make basic observations and recommendations.

Originally Posted by skhobby

Just got a scanner Homepatrol, live in Eddy Co. in ND. I can not pickup the sheriff's dept, I can get fire & amblance. I was told they changed to digital, I have updated to the latested filmware. thanks for any help. Scott S

Well I took a peak at the RadioReference database for your county (where the HomePatrol's database comes from). It looks like it hasn't been touched since November, 2010. The database is based on volunteers contributing information, so it is hard to confirm if what you were told is true. If your county did indeed switch over to a digital and/or are using a new frequency/system, I believe you would have to wait for the database to be updated before the HomePatrol can monitor it.

I don't believe the above is the case however. it is a possibility that the frequencies are wrong in the first place. What gives me this indication is that the database and the FCC licenses don't match up with the frequencies listed. This would mean you would have to spend sometime searching for the frequency, most likely in the 150 - 160 range, yourself (which I am not sure if the HomePatrol can actually do). If there is such an option, 154.130 and 158.775 would not be a bad place to start at.

Originally Posted by haroldvinson

I purchased the Home Patrol scanner about a year ago and so far I have been very disappointed. It does not receive very well even with an external antenna and when I download the database for the Indianapolis Fire Department I get Indianapolis Police calls. No one seems to be able to tell me how to set my profile up the way I want it. If you just want to enter a zip code and listen to everything then it works great. To me it is very hard to program.

It looks like Indianapolis has a simulcast system. This may cause simulcast digital distortion and may cause apparent bad reception. If you search the forums, you will find quite a few topics in regards to this issue.

As for Police calls, you may want to look at the Avoid option. It's listed in the Easier to Read HomePatrol Scanner Manual, and sounds like it will essentially stop feeding you Police related communications.

Sorry if my response is a bit vague, but I hope this helps you both.

[skhobby]

I was told today the country went to narrow band . now i am in the dark !!