Does this indicate simulcast digital signals?

[Mark2000]

Hi there!

I currently have a BC125AT scanner which I hadn't used for a number of years. I finally broke it out again and I noticed I was not getting any police calls.

After a bit of Googling, I found out that the police around here (Wheaton, IL - DuPage county) are using digital P25 Phase II.

So, was thinking of upgrading to the BCD325P2. But, then I was reading on this site that there may be issues with "simulcast" interference. So, I checked out the database but I'm not sure I quite know what to look for. I noticed it says fire is simulcast on legacy VHF frequencies, but I don't think that would matter, right? I am picking up fire now on my BC125AT.

I also saw the page for STARCOM21 for Illinois (attached pic) and it indicates "simulcast" for the "DuPage County" site. Would this mean the whole county is on simulcast and I'll have interference issues?

I'd like to know before spending the money on the new scanner and finding out it still won't pick up the police near me.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[jaspence]

Only the latest Unidens (SDS100, SDS200) have good simulcast ability. Some areas work with the Whistler TRX-1 and TRX-2, but are not consistent due to being older designs than the Uniden. The 125 is strictly an analog scanner with no digital capabilities.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I also saw the page for STARCOM21 for Illinois (attached pic) and it indicates "simulcast" for the "DuPage County" site. Would this mean the whole county is on simulcast and I'll have interference issues?

Likely yes but this ultimately depends on your location relative to two or more simulcasting towers. Welcome to the forums

 

[RaleighGuy]

I also saw the page for STARCOM21 for Illinois (attached pic) and it indicates "simulcast" for the "DuPage County" site. Would this mean the whole county is on simulcast and I'll have interference issues?

Short answer yes. Simulcast distortion effects the majority of listeners, however it can vary depending on your location and proximity to the towers.

If you want to ensure you will not have issues your choices are the UNIDEN SDS series of scanners, a UNICATION G series pager, or a SDR dongle. You might have good luck at home with another scanner, however if you take it out of the house and around the corner you might not be so lucky.

 

[rk911]

you *may* encounter simulcast issues. i'm in wheaton and monitor the state-wide Starcom system on my Bearcat 536 and older Radio Shack Pro-197 and Pro-106 with no simulcast issues. i monitor local PD/FD, county sheriff and state police in addition to public works, schools, RR, etc. but a buddy in West Chicago using my radios can't hear a thing. simulcast issues or dead spot? he thinks he's in a "cone of silence". in any case you need to understand that DuPage is planning a move towards encrypting local PD and the sherriff. state PD and fire are not included...at this time. most, not all, local fire is still being linked to their legacy VHF-FM frequencies.

 

[fredva]

The term "simulcast" is used for at least two different situations. When a digital trunking system is simulcast on a separate analog frequency, that's not a problem for scanner hobbyists. The simulcast that can be a problem for many scanner models is a digital transmission that is simulcast from multiple transmitters on the same frequency. You have both situations in your area.

 

[Mark2000]

Hmmm. Thanks for all the information everyone!

I was mostly wanting to pick up local police. Which sounds like it may work but probably not for long if they are moving to encryption.

so it seems it may not worth getting a new scanner at all. Encryption seems to mean sad times for scanner enthusiasts. 🙁

 

[rk911]

Hmmm. Thanks for all the information everyone!

I was mostly wanting to pick up local police. Which sounds like it may work but probably not for long if they are moving to encryption.

so it seems it may not worth getting a new scanner at all. Encryption seems to mean sad times for scanner enthusiasts. 🙁

that's why I've held off replacing my 197. my source tells me that fire and state pd will remain in the clear. that's something.

 

[CanesFan95]

The term "simulcast" is used for at least two different situations. When a digital trunking system is simulcast on a separate analog frequency, that's not a problem for scanner hobbyists.

^ I though that was called multi-cast.

 

[fredva]

^ I though that was called multi-cast.

It might be in some cases, but in the RadioReference database, it's often (or perhap always) called simulcast. This note is taken from the OP's home county page in the database: "All police and fire dispatching is on STARCOM21, with fire simulcast on legacy VHF frequencies. "

 

[wtp]

si·mul·cast
/ˈsīməlˌkast/
https://www.google.com/search?q=how...2ahUKEwjW-eOnksb8AhVjSTABHbz0DOAQ3eEDegQICRAK
noun
a simultaneous transmission of the same program on radio and television, or on two or more channels.

/so it could be any combination of analog or digital or both.
as an example, the county next to me had 6 towers with 10 frequencies each multicast system (60 freqs) but simulcasted some broadcasts over them all.
my county had an analog system 6 towers with 10 frequencies total and simulcasted the same thing over all of them at the same time.
both have now gone to digital but the one next to me is simulcast with just 17 frequencies.
and then some 'rebroadcast' their digital stuff on an analog frequency for pagers maybe, or older radios. so it is simulcasted.

multicast : one dispatcher, many frequencies and towers, at once
simulcast system, many towers, all broadcasting the same thing on the same frequency at once.

 

[btt]

BlueTail Technologies produces receivers that have no issues with simulcast. Unlike other manufacturers, the latest model also displays an IQ plot that allows you to visualize if you are receiving FM (aka C4FM) or Simulcast (aka LSM, CQPSK).