BCD160DN/BCD260DN: BCD160DN Feedback Protection

[bobcraig]

Hello everyone!
I just ordered a BCD160DN along with a 9-inch Smiley antenna. I took it down to my local Amtrak station last night to try it out. I was sitting in the ticket office with the station attendant. When the train was approaching, I could hear on my scanner the conductor talking to the station attendant. I was sitting right next to her, and when she keyed up her mic to answer, the scanner didn't pick that up. Is there a feature in this radio that will prevent picking up a conversation when the railroad radio is being keyed up next to the scanner in order to prevent feedback?

Thanks for your time, everyone!

Bob in Ankney

 

[Randyk4661]

Does it pick the weather and other frequencies?
Did you have the wrong frequency programmed?

 

[bobcraig]

Yes, it does. No, I didn't. As I said, I was hearing the train conductor talking to the station attendant, but when she keyed the mic on her radio to answer him, that's the only part of the exchange that didn't come across my scanner.

 

[Ubbe]

Is there a feature in this radio that will prevent picking up a conversation when the railroad radio is being keyed up next to the scanner in order to prevent feedback?

Yes, most scanners have it and are called overload. When a transmitter are really close it will totally block all reception. A really good 2-way radio doesn't have that feature and allows you to hear all transmissions.

/Ubbe

 

[richardbritt]

Is the frequency simplex or a repeater or duplex RR channel? If it's a repeater or duplex frequency, the scanner frontend might have been overloaded which would have kept the scanner from receiving

 

[Ronaldski]

Just guesses, different frequency used than what you have programmed beyond what you heard initially, maybe encrypted? If you had close call on you would have had the frequency if it was one that the radio is capable of receiving.

 

[bobcraig]

Ubbe, what you said is what I expected to hear. Richard, the frequency is a simplex. I can't quite remember what the channel numer said. I thought it said 54, but the RR Iowa sheet for the BNSF railroad shows it being channel 66. That just proves I'm to the age where I can't remember something over a 24 - hour period. Anyway you guys have helped me understand a little more about it. Thanks to all of you!

Bob

 

[bobcraig]

Ronald. This scanner has preloaded railroad, and that's what I was listening to. As far as I know, there is no railroad encryption.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[wtp]

for a bunch of attenuation, take the antenna off next time.
it is a handy thing for finding close transmitters.

 

[N6JPA]

Hello everyone!
I just ordered a BCD160DN along with a 9-inch Smiley antenna. I took it down to my local Amtrak station last night to try it out. I was sitting in the ticket office with the station attendant. When the train was approaching, I could hear on my scanner the conductor talking to the station attendant. I was sitting right next to her, and when she keyed up her mic to answer, the scanner didn't pick that up. Is there a feature in this radio that will prevent picking up a conversation when the railroad radio is being keyed up next to the scanner in order to prevent feedback?

Thanks for your time, everyone!

Bob in Ankney

If the TX antenna was at the train station then you probably experienced front end over load. If the TX antenna was remote then you weren't in range of the antenna.

 

[Ronaldski]

I like N6JPA's comment as thats a good possibility.

Never the less those two scenarios I mention are plausible, although of the two, using a different frequency is most likely. One frequency for Amtrak dispatch and one for internal communications?
If NXDN was used, railroads far as digital tend to use more or somewhat less DMR that do have encryption capabilities. Could also have a had a radio with a switch to turn on or off encryption. I dont know if Amtrak uses encryption honestly and I dont believe they do, but just a possibility is all.

I did check, I see that radio doesnt have the closecall feature, so disregard that idea.
Another is the possibility you had the frequency or frequencies accidently locked out and didnt realize, it happens to the best of us ... even me

Another, here in Michigan Amtrak has access to the state MPSCS digital trunking radio system that the 160DN is unable to get.
Other thing is while we do our best to have all the frequencies used and in the database, we dont have it all. Its a database populated by people sending in information.
Those preloaded doesnt necessarily mean you have them all, although we hope they are all in the database.

 

[bobcraig]

Those are all good thoughts. Another thing is a hobby radio being compared to a professional radio. Thanks everyone!