Starcom21 Sites RF Levels in Huntley IL
Take a peek at the DuPage Site Tower coverage area map, (ie the RF Field Strength Level map) which you can find by clicking on the Dupage County Simulcast Site (System Frequencies link) on the Starcom21 Database. Zoom in on the map, Red circle, coverage area is up to Hoffman Estates, Elgin, Arlington Heights areas, the Red circle area is the Full Strength RF Signal Coverage, anything past that is marginal RF level. This is the point where RF signal level will drop off into the mud and you may not receive enough RF control signal to be useable to trunk. I have not tried to use the Dupage site as if you zoom in on the map, full RF signal level cuts off in Elgin at Rte #31 or thereabouts, so Huntley is outside the main coverage area. I am at the Lith/Huntley border near the new Huntley Hospital.
In Huntley, I mostly use the Kane Simulcast Tower as I can rx it in my basement with full strength, on my portables with stock antennas. It seems to work "the best" for this area. The NWCD Site (141), I am a few miles past the Full Strength Coverage Area, (Ending West for me at Randall Rd) and I only get 2 bars or less and so many fades, I can't use reliably. 4 floors up in the new Huntley Hospital today, I got Full Strength on this NWCD site (for once) and perfect 100% signal levels at the windows facing both south and then also east. But on the map the hospital is just past full strength coverage area (red zone) but I was 4 floors up so up goes the signal level.
I have tried using the McHenry Tower (14E) and I didn't get any control signal lock, even today at the hospital, yet I'm in the Full Signal Coverage area. That site is whack, I've never had any luck using it. (Ssshh, I think the ISP mostly abandoned it and it is just "Left On" for licensing proofs or future use). This is listed as the McHenry ISP/Simulcast site, but there's something screwy about it, it don't work good.
Now the Other McHenry Site, (#140) is a crapshoot. I'm in Full RF Signal Strength area, I get full control signal lock (using bandscope I get max signal levels on it) but I miss a lot of D15 traffic and other TGs too, like all the IDOT TGs and such. It does have McHenry Sheriff (all Enc) but the RF signals fade like stink and I can't use it reliably. They don't seem to carry the full simulcast (ISP State) loads either as it seems just for McHenry county (local towns TGs here mostly). Whatever. Seems two out of four of their STA licenses have expired for the site also. Same signal coverage as the other McHenry site mostly too. I haven't heard Bartlett TGs, here but it probably wouldn't carry them. Best bet on Kane site and NWCD sites, as technically, they would have to show up on these as these are in the county.
Now it all depends on what TGs they decide to put on your tower and what get priority to the full power xmitters on that system. The Kane Tower site (142) seems to be carrying the full load of ISP's TG traffic with the strongest signals in Huntley. Plus all of IDOT TGs and such into Chicago. But it also has the DuComm stuff on it too. The NWCD site seems to be setup to give priority to local NW towns first over state TGs traffic and DChgo. But these TGs are still there too, which is why this site has so many frequencies running on it. A huge TG load, all the ISP TGs and all the NW towns.
As for Lith/Huntley PD TG #34103, I've heard them on the NWCD site, the Kane site, the McHenry (140) sites. Mapwise, Lith PD TG should show up on all three sites, as they're in main coverage area. I have gotten Ducomm stuff on the Kane site fine. Works there.
Just try the (Kane site (142), McHenry (140) and NWCD (141) control channel frequencies and get rid of the others. I gave up the Zip code method, it screws it all up. You will need to create/label an all new Favorites list. Plug each control channel lineup into a New System, give it a separate Quick key. Add all the TG data to each system. Label each system. I just copy/pasted all the TGs data from my Kane site to the other two sites. But keep the sites completely separate on separate Quick keys. Hope it works out.