New Scanner, Not picking up channels

[xraymo3]

I paid the high dollar for the better scanner. Had it pre programmed and I am not picking up nearly what it should. Definitely not getting any local scans as well. A lot of static. Random bits and pieces of some calls... I am better off playing broadcasting.
Any suggestions?

 

[trentbob]

I wouldn't make assumptions right away about the radio. What is your county and state? Are you in a base or mobile application and what antenna are you using? Did you program the radio with favorites lists off of Sentinel after updating firmware and the database and programming it properly or are you using the ZIP code method and if so have you made sure that all service types are enabled?

 

[tvengr]

OP says scanner is preprogrammed. That would mean using favorites lists. The first thing you should do is download and install Sentinel, free programming software provided by Uniden: BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki You will be able to read the scanner and save the programming files in case something should happen to them. You will also be able to make numerous other changes in the scanner to tailor it to your liking. Let me know when you have installed Sentinel and I will take you through the steps to save your programming. Using Sentinel, you will be able to export and attach your programming files for us to the able to look at them and check for programming errors. We need to know your city, county, and state to be able to help with the programming.

 

[trentbob]

OP says scanner is preprogrammed. That would mean using favorites lists. The first thing you should do is download and install Sentinel, free programming software provided by Uniden: BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki You will be able to read the scanner and save the programming files in case something should happen to them. You will also be able to make numerous other changes in the scanner to tailor it to your liking. Let me know when you have installed Sentinel and I will take you through the steps to save your programming. Using Sentinel, you will be able to export and attach your programming files for us to the able to look at them and check for programming errors. We need to know your city, county, and state to be able to help with the programming.

Oh yes, I see that it is pre-programmed by the vendor and that in itself could be a major problem LOL. Also does not mean that all service types are enabled.

I have seen a few cases where the radio was pre-programmed but the service types were not all enabled, as they are not by default when you unbox the radio.

Poster only made one post so there may be a delay, as he is being moderated, in getting that City, County and State.

 

[shansmi]

Oh yes, I see that it is pre-programmed by the vendor and that in itself could be a major problem LOL. Also does not mean that all service types are enabled.

I have seen a few cases where the radio was pre-programmed but the service types were not all enabled, as they are not by default when you unbox the radio.

Poster only made one post so there may be a delay, as he is being moderated, in getting that City, County and State.

From what I have seen you pay for what they do by county... I think I saw the max was like 3 counties on bearcat or scannermaster? Sentinel is easy enough to use (proscan as well) and even if pre-programmed by the vendor it must be tweaked. A few details would of course help like what scanner, state county and things of interest (law, fire, HAM...??). Pretty simple concept, the more you scan the more ya miss.

 

[PD47JD]

I paid the high dollar for the better scanner. Had it pre programmed and I am not picking up nearly what it should. Definitely not getting any local scans as well. A lot of static. Random bits and pieces of some calls... I am better off playing broadcasting.
Any suggestions?

What is the scanner that you purchased?

 

[trentbob]

Looks like SDS 200 in the header.

 

[shansmi]

Looks like SDS 200 in the header.

LOL, first thing - change ANTENNA. Second thing - tweak programming.

 

[Brales60]

My 996P2 didn't do poop inside my house. I put up an external antenna, and bam. Same goes for the SDS200 I just got Saturday. I tried with the factory antenna inside, and jack squat again. Hooked up to the Omni X and life is good. What vendor did you buy it from? I bought mine programed from Scanner Masters and it worked fine, but @tvengr helped me a ton with some new programming that I downloaded. There's a huge learning curve and hurtles with these things. Oh yeah, my first handful of posts were moderated too. Looks like he last on just a little before 8 this morning.

 

[shansmi]

My 996P2 didn't do poop inside my house. I put up an external antenna, and bam. Same goes for the SDS200 I just got Saturday. I tried with the factory antenna inside, and jack squat again. Hooked up to the Omni X and life is good. What vendor did you buy it from? I bought mine programed from Scanner Masters and it worked fine, but @tvengr helped me a ton with some new programming that I downloaded. There's a huge learning curve and hurtles with these things. Oh yeah, my first handful of posts were moderated too. Looks like he last on just a little before 8 this morning.

I use my 200 indoors with a UHF/VHF powered antenna (Inland AN-5008 @ $15 USD) and she works great. Just be careful watching for errors and noise.

 

[Brales60]

I use my 200 indoors with a UHF/VHF powered antenna (Inland AN-5008 @ $15 USD) and she works great. Just be careful watching for errors and noise.

My house is totally wrapped in foil/insulation, walls and trusses included. Gets a tad hot in SWFL. Only reason I get cell service inside is the wifi.

 

[shansmi]

My house is totally wrapped in foil/insulation, walls and trusses included. Gets a tad hot in SWFL. Only reason I get cell service inside is the wifi.

lol. they run out of chicken wire at the feed store?

 

[trentbob]

Often you will find heavy duty insulation in a house or apartment, including brick. Also the coating on modern day windows can interfere with certain signals.

Some VHF High signals will not be optimal in that kind of environment but if it's a phase l or Phase ll simulcast system, you will find that no matter what your conditions are you should be able to get a system that you're in the coverage area of. In this case we just have to wait and see if the op responds so we can check the database and see what's apropos for his area..

The poster certainly has the attention of the right people LOL.

 

[SurgePGH]

What City, County, State are you in?
What system do you want to listen to?
We need more info to help.

 

[Brales60]

lol. they run out of chicken wire at the feed store?

Chicken wire, lol. It's actually called a radiant barrier and helps tremendously to keep the heat out.

 

[JoeBearcat]

My house is totally wrapped in foil/insulation, walls and trusses included. Gets a tad hot in SWFL. Only reason I get cell service inside is the wifi.

Sounds like you live in a Faraday Cage. You may need an external antenna.

Faraday cage - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I would also confirm all applicable Service Types are enabled.

 

[xraymo3]

Thank you all for the responses
Camp Verde, Yavapai County, AZ. Have only one County installed.
I do not have Sentinel yet. I haven't quite had the time to sit down and figure out what that is, and all the details and what not. I had an older hand held scanner that worked well. Nothing special to it or the antenna.
I have the stock antenna that came with the scanner, ordered from bearcat warehouse.
Sorry for the late response... I have a real job

 

[xraymo3]

OP says scanner is preprogrammed. That would mean using favorites lists. The first thing you should do is download and install Sentinel, free programming software provided by Uniden: BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki You will be able to read the scanner and save the programming files in case something should happen to them. You will also be able to make numerous other changes in the scanner to tailor it to your liking. Let me know when you have installed Sentinel and I will take you through the steps to save your programming. Using Sentinel, you will be able to export and attach your programming files for us to the able to look at them and check for programming errors. We need to know your city, county, and state to be able to help with the programming.

I have read about this, but honestly haven't quite had the time to sit down and read exactly what this entails.... For example, a computer??? Ethernet...... Etc....
I apparently need to soon or I'm gonna sell thos thing 😂

 

[trentbob]

I would also confirm all applicable Service Types are enabled.

Yep, first thing that was suggested in post # 2 at the beginning of the thread to the OP.

We should also note that the OP never returned after his original post to our attempts to ascertain more information so as to try to help.

He certainly got the attention of some of the right people here though LOL.

 

[trentbob]

I have read about this, but honestly haven't quite had the time to sit down and read exactly what this entails.... For example, a computer??? Ethernet...... Etc....
I apparently need to soon or I'm gonna sell thos thing 😂

Glad to see you are back OP. There was some delay on your posts and they showed up after I made my last post even though you wrote them before.

The learning curve is pretty steep for the sds-200 and it will take some time to get familiar with it. You have to sort out what they programmed into your radio, it looks to me like most of your police and fire activity is VHF High including your town, Sheriff's Office and area Tribal Police.

You do have to set aside time to read and become familiar with programming with your computer which is the only way that you can get firmware and database updates. See the link on Post 3.

I listen to quite a bit of VHF High and it performs very well on the sds-200. If you're older radio was picking them up inside with no problem then so will the sds- 200.

Welcome to radio reference, as you can see there's plenty of people that will help you. Good luck.