Reception issue BC355N and SpectrumForce Wideband

[dmg1969]

I just installed a BC355N in my vehicle along with a SpectrumForce Wideband antenna yesterday afternoon. I am powering it with the cigarette lighter rather then hard wired. The areas I listen to are VHF low, VHF and UHF (39.xx - 462.xxx). After doing so, I tried it out on a 20 minute trip to my brother's house.

I did not hear much traffic, but what I did hear, there was some static as as is expected. However, it seemed that I would go through areas where the radio would lock onto a frequency (usually VHF low but once in the 151.xxx range). When it locked on the frequency, it was pure static...no discernible radio traffic. Even adjusting the squelch the entire way did nothing. Only after 1-2 minutes did it seem that the static started to "sputter out" and then disappear. This happened like 5 times on various frequencies both on the way there and on my return trip.

I don't know if they were pockets of some sort of interference or what. Granted, the drive takes me through the country with not much around, but they did not seem like valid transmissions. They were two long. I say 1-2 minutes but maybe they just seemed that long because it was annoying static.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? I know the scanner is fine because I have it beside me in the house and it is receiving perfectly just using the back of set antenna. I am going to try it on my trip to and from work tomorrow which is mostly highway and see what happens.

If it continues, I may purchase a Radio Shack 2 coil magnetic mount like I used in the past. I was always satisfied with its performance.

Dave

[Rt169Radio]

It could be three things, interference around the area, a problem with the cigarette lighter, or it is the antenna. Try scanning the NOAA weather (WX band) the next time you go out. If you can get it, the antenna is not the problem.

[dmg1969]

Rt, I should have added that. Yes, I did that and was able to pull in the NOAA Weather. I think maybe I will continue troubleshooting. I will see how it acts on my way into work. If it still acts up, I will switch from the rear cigarette lighter to the front. If it still acts up after that, it could be that the antenna just doesn't pick up VHF low that well. In addition, I still maintain that it was a bad area. I was having trouble even pulling in UHF frequencies (462.xxx).

Dave

[KevinC]

To add to what has already been said, that antenna isn't stellar on low-band. Also make sure your coax isn't getting pinched where it enters at the bottom of your door as RG-174 isn't very robust.

[dmg1969]

Ok, I will do that. And if I don't see an improvement on lowband, I may have to return the SpectrumForce in favor of te RadioShack.

Dave

[dmg1969]

OK, so I am really not happy with the SpectrumForce Wideband antenna. I had the same issue this morning on the way in to work. I only heard one or two valid transmissions (UHF...463.xxx) and they were fairly filled with static. The rest were instances where it would just lock onto a frequency of solid static.

I used the front cigarette lighter for power instead of the rear and that made no difference. I checked and the antenna wire is not pinching where it comes in the passenger door. Finally, when I was in one of those solid static areas, I was able to (when nobody was around) carefully reach down and remove the antenna from the back of the radio. When I did, the static ceased immediately. I waited a few seconds and plugged in back in to the radio and that static came back.

I know that it's not the radio because it works fine in my home.

Thoughts? I am thinking of just calling ScannerMaster and returning it. I'll try the Radio Shack mobile mount antenna. I always had good luck with that antenna when I had a mobile scanner in the past. Magnet-mount mobile scanner antenna : Mobile Scanner Antennas | RadioShack.com

Dave

[reconrider8]

you may want to throw some money around and get a spectra i ordered mine late last week and it should be here tomm. it sounds like your getting bad rf interference did you try and have it connected with the car of and see if the static changed any?

[Rt169Radio]

Do you have another antenna that you could try while mobile? You could check if its the antenna or lot's of interference in your area.

[dmg1969]

reconrider8: not really. I want to try that on the way home though. When I get into an area of static, I want to pull off the shoulder and shut the car off quick to see if it is from the car, but I don't think it is. If is was, wouldn't the interference be fairly constant? In my case, it will lock onto a freq. with nothing but static. Then, it's like the static slowly "sputters" away until the radio gets quiet again...like I have reached the edge of whatever the inference was. Then, it's clear for a while and then it happens again. If I remember, the scanner was locked on static on one of my VHF low freqs (47.xx) when I pulled into work and remained static when I turn the key to accessory.

What could I do if it turned out to be interference from the vehicle (which I honestly don't think it is)?

Rt169Radio: the only other antennas I have are the back of set or the inside window mount that came with it. That is another possibility to troubleshoot. Good idea. I wish I would have brought them. Tomorrow....

I think I will run out on lunch and try to find an area of interference and then shut the car off to see what happens.

Dave

[dmg1969]

OK, I have to eat crow. It DOES appear to be ignition noise. I ran around and for a while until I got the static, pulled over and shut off the ignition to accessory and it stopped. I just find it odd that, if it is ignition noise, that it wouldn't do it constantly. Now, how do I fix that? Keep in mind that I am powering the scanner with the rear cigarette lighter. Do I have to hard wire it? Do I need a noise filter? Never been one for working on automotive electronics.

Dave

[reconrider8]

see my scanner and fire pager does the same thing but it is constant up till a certain point then they work like they should. its almost like when the car warms up it stops

[dmg1969]

I have more tinkering to do tonight to find the true cause. On one hand, the static stopped when I unplugged the antenna which would indicate noise from the antenna. On the other hand, the static stopped when I pulled over and stopped the engine by putting the ignition to accessory. I am going to do some troubleshooting tonight and post back tomorrow. It still could be either or. Ugh.

[Bob3655]

Dave--Go with the Hustler MRM-BNC. The Radio Shack Mag. Mount Antenna has been known to fly off your car as the magnet is not that great and this antenna is now $32.95.I used to use this on calls! The other one you can get under $29.95 so just pm me if you want. Hustler is "night and day" from Radio Shack's quality!
Hope this helps you out.

Bob

[awattam]

Originally Posted by dmg1969

OK, I have to eat crow. It DOES appear to be ignition noise. I ran around and for a while until I got the static, pulled over and shut off the ignition to accessory and it stopped. I just find it odd that, if it is ignition noise, that it wouldn't do it constantly. Now, how do I fix that? Keep in mind that I am powering the scanner with the rear cigarette lighter. Do I have to hard wire it? Do I need a noise filter? Never been one for working on automotive electronics.

Dave

I am glad it wasn't the antenna to blame. I have been recommending this antenna to newbies for a while now. I have one and although its not amazing, its low profile and doesn't upset the wife when I slap it on her new Nissan.

[rfradioconsult]

Try turning off various devices in your car, especially your good times radio. I had a vehicle about 10 years ago that the radio generated trash in the VHF band that would vary in frequency and would slowly drift onto the frequency I was monitoring and then show up on another frequency. I didn't devote any time to try and resolve the problem but I could shut off the factory radio and it went away.

[dmg1969]

Well, I am really at a loss. If I unplug the antenna from the back of the radio, there is absolutely no noise. I took some videos and put them up on YouTube showing the various things I am talking about. The best video would not download due to the size I guess. But there are 3 different videos which show what I am talking about.

Static interference on Bearcat BC355N with SpectrumForce Wideband antenna - YouTube

Unknown interference on Bearcat BC355N - YouTube

I have one more that I will add once it finishes uploading.

[dmg1969]

Well, I did some testing. I unhooked the roof antenna and did not hear a peep out of the scanner the whole way home from work. This morning, I just plugged in the back of the set antenna and used that on the way into work. I did pick up some low band static interference, but not as bad as with the external antenna. Some of the shorter bursts of static I chalked up to radio transmissions that could not be pulled in by the back of the set antenna.

Tonight, I want to run an extension cord out to my vehicle and use the AC adapter to run the scanner with the external antenna to test if it is the vehicle power causing the interference.

I think my next move is to hard wire the scanner to the battery this weekend. If that does not work, I will return the SpectrumForce and try a different external antenna.

DS,: yes, the coax on that antenna is very thin. You are correct. I tried installing the antenna back near my hatch, but the 12 feet of cable would not reach the front where the scanner is. So, I opted to put it where I did for ease of getting the cable into the passenger compartment.

P.S. Here is the other video of what the scanner is doing. This was the best example I got yesterday, but it took a while to download.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgZpVzyEWo8
__________________

[dmg1969]

Update:

OK, so I threw the Radio Shack antenna on my roof and used that on the way home instead of the SpectrumForce. There was noticeably less interference, although there were still 4 instances where it locked onto a VHF low frequency and had nothing but static. The reception was much better in low band and I was hearing some VHF frequencies in the 155.xxx range from several counties away.

I pulled the SpectrumForce antenna off and am putting that in the mail today to return. I also pulled the Radio Shack antenna off until I can permanently mount it rather than run the coax through the window. I am also going to hard wire the scanner. I kind of have to at this point because, in my haste to clip the zip tie (tie wrap) holding the cigarette lighter adapter wire, I put a nick in it with my diagonals. I'm thinking that doing that, hopefully any remaining interference will be gone. If not, my last idea is an in-line noise filter for either the power or antenna.

Dave

[Rt169Radio]

You could also try another scanner too and see what happens.

[dmg1969]

I am just going to hard wire it to battery this weekend. Just have to find the easiest way to bring the wire from the engine compartment into the passenger compartment.

Dave