FM or FM Narrow when monitoring

[TowerPower]

I want to put in a local freq to monitor. Seems my ICV8000 2-way picks up better than the scanner. A local radio head said to program it as narrow when monitoring only. So a question to the 2-way specialists, should i program as FM or FM Narrow? I'm monitoring a VFD where my brother is a volunteer. Any help is appreciated

 

[zz0468]

...should i program as FM or FM Narrow?

It depends on what's being transmitted, and you haven't given us enough information to determine that. Lacking any better information, try both and see what works best. It won't break anything if you program wrong. Just change it and see if it gets better.

 

[jackj]

Almost all 2-way commercial/public safety communication in the USA is narrow band (5 Khz) deviation. Some, like remote broadcast licenses for radio stations, are 15 Khz. Commercial broadcast FM stations are 75 Khz. So your brother's volunteer fire department will almost certainly be narrow band.

 

[zz0468]

Almost all 2-way commercial/public safety communication in the USA is narrow band (5 Khz) deviation. Some, like remote broadcast licenses for radio stations, are 15 Khz. Commercial broadcast FM stations are 75 Khz. So your brother's volunteer fire department will almost certainly be narrow band.

With the narrowbanding mandate occurring on VHF and UHF, the term "narrow band FM" is loosing it's old meaning. Some radios are now referring to 5 KHz deviation as "FM" and 2.5 KHz deviation as NBFM.

And as to "Almost all 2-way commercial/public safety communication in the USA", this is far less true now than it would have been a decade or two ago. All 900 MHz trunked traffic is, and has always been 2.5 KHz deviation. 800 MHz NPSPAC deviation is, and has always been, 4 KHz.

 

[jackj]

What percentage of public service stations are analog at less than 5 Khz deviation? Would it be less than or more than 50%? I stand by my statement "Almost all".

 

[WayneH]

Moved to the Amateur Equipment forum. The Icom Receivers forum is for Icom receivers that receive only. Please make note of the forum's description before creating threads. Thanks!

 

[zz0468]

What percentage of public service stations are analog at less than 5 Khz deviation?

All operating on 800 MHz NPSPAC frequencies.

All operating at 900 MHz.

All new licenses at VHF high band or UHF.

All licensees getting renewals on previous VHF high band or UHF 5 KHz deviation channels.

 

[jackj]

Well, you have the last word zz0468. You didn't answer my question but I'm done with this now so don't bother with an answer.