Delaware County Narrowbanding

[rgchristy]

Originally Posted by mlmummert

The NFM just means the scanner is set for narrow. The AUTO doesn't detect whether the transmission is narrow or not. It just sets the scanner for narrow for certain frequencies and standard for others depending on what they are.

Personally I've just been setting everything for FM unless I know it's NFM. It will work on FM even if the transmission is narrow.

Thanks for the clarification. I was under the impression that AUTO would detect NFM vs. FM just the way that it detects AM and DG (or Dg). I too would like to know what is currently NFM.

Thanks again,

Rich C

[soberbyker]

Originally Posted by mlmummert

The NFM just means the scanner is set for narrow. The AUTO doesn't detect whether the transmission is narrow or not. It just sets the scanner for narrow for certain frequencies and standard for others depending on what they are.

Personally I've just been setting everything for FM unless I know it's NFM. It will work on FM even if the transmission is narrow.

Is there a drawback to setting everything "Auto" wouldn't that setting work for all and pick the correct one, AM, FM, NFM, etc.?

[rgchristy]

Originally Posted by soberbyker

Is there a drawback to setting everything "Auto" wouldn't that setting work for all and pick the correct one, AM, FM, NFM, etc.?

That's what I thought, but two things happen: 1. It doesn't seem to know the difference between FM and NFM, so everything that is either FM or NFM becomes FM and 2. When I do an update on my 800, everything that I set to AUTO reverts back to the mode that it is listed as in the RR database.

[soberbyker]

Originally Posted by rgchristy

That's what I thought, but two things happen: 1. It doesn't seem to know the difference between FM and NFM, so everything that is either FM or NFM becomes FM and 2. When I do an update on my 800, everything that I set to AUTO reverts back to the mode that it is listed as in the RR database.

I have a RS Pro-197 and I use WIN500 to transfer the RR info back and forth, I save and add to an existing file in WIN500 so whatever I set it to (Auto, AM, FM, NFM) won't change.

So the real question for me, is there really a difference in reception or quality if I am listening to a NFM station in FM? If the radio assumes everything to be FM does my ability to listen a a narrow band frequency change?

How about AM, does the auto feature affect that too?

Sometimes I miss the old plug in a crystal days.

[CommJunkie]

As of right now, listening on FM or NFM won't matter if the channel is narrowbanded. Obviously, you won't want to listen to a wideband channel on NFM, because it wil clip some of the audio or sound like overall crap. If you listen on FM to a narrowband channel, you run the risk of getting interference from adjacent spinter channels within that 25khz area.

After Jan 1, I would program anything below 470mhz to NFM and leave anything above 470mhz to FM.

[soberbyker]

Thanks all for the info.

[mlmummert]

Originally Posted by CommJunkie

As of right now, listening on FM or NFM won't matter if the channel is narrowbanded. Obviously, you won't want to listen to a wideband channel on NFM, because it wil clip some of the audio or sound like overall crap. If you listen on FM to a narrowband channel, you run the risk of getting interference from adjacent spinter channels within that 25khz area.

After Jan 1, I would program anything below 470mhz to NFM and leave anything above 470mhz to FM.

Yes that's why I set things to FM when I don't know what they really are. Truthfully the scanner seems to receive NFM just fine even when set for FM.

After 1 January I might migrate to NFM as the "standard" setting for VHF high and UHF below 470MHz. There do seem to be some places with narrow banding waivers though and I suspect other users that just don't care.


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[soberbyker]

For what it's worth, I changed all of my band entries to "auto" and unchecked the AGC and ATT boxes and now I am picking up a lot more of the county.

I have a Pro-197 with a magnetic mount antenna connected that sits outside a second floor window on the window sill. This window faces east and I am in the Upper Darby area of DELCO.

Until these changes I was only picking up DELCO sectors 6 & 4 well, with bits and pieces of sector 5. Since the change I'm now picking up sectors 2, 5 & 7.

Odd thing about radio waves, all of DELCO is a lot closer to me than the NJ shore but I can pick NJSP on the AC Xway and GSP. I pick up all of Philly like they are next door and all of Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties, at least those not encrypted.

Thanks again for all the info in this and other threads.

[mlmummert]

Originally Posted by soberbyker

For what it's worth, I changed all of my band entries to "auto" and unchecked the AGC and ATT boxes and now I am picking up a lot more of the county.

I have a Pro-197 with a magnetic mount antenna connected that sits outside a second floor window on the window sill. This window faces east and I am in the Upper Darby area of DELCO.

Until these changes I was only picking up DELCO sectors 6 & 4 well, with bits and pieces of sector 5. Since the change I'm now picking up sectors 2, 5 & 7.

Odd thing about radio waves, all of DELCO is a lot closer to me than the NJ shore but I can pick NJSP on the AC Xway and GSP. I pick up all of Philly like they are next door and all of Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties, at least those not encrypted.

Thanks again for all the info in this and other threads.

Changing the ATT is what did it for you.


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[soberbyker]

Originally Posted by mlmummert

Changing the ATT is what did it for you.


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Thanks, wasn't sure which it was but I'm picking up more now, no idea why the ATT and AGC were checked but from what I read they limit the range so I got rid of them.

These days scanning takes an education, my first scanner was an 8 crystal job, so much easier then, but no where near the possibilities of how far you could hear.