How far away can you pick up a Trunking signal on a handheld scanner?

[Hooterville]

I'm hoping for a Uniden BCD 396T for Christmas and was wonder how far away it would pick up a trunking signal?

My local Sheriff's office is about 40-50 miles away and I use to pick up their signal when they were on VHF/UHF and was wondering if I would have any problems now that they have went to a Digital Trunking system receiving their signal?

Thanks.

 

[ka3jjz]

Almost certainly not on a duckie. Without knowing some more about elevation (between you and the transmitter) how high the transmitter antenna is, terrain and some other factors it's very hard to judge. It's likely though you would need a yagi or similar nice and high, fed with LMR400 or similar, to have a chance at it. The frequency of the system also plays a big role.

73s Mike

 

[Hooterville]

So the old VHF/UHF system puts out a more powerful signal the the digital trunking system?

I'm in Florida in the middle of the woods.

 

[bwhite]

It seems almost a sureity that there will be multiple transmitter sites/towers servicing your jurisdiction. I would think that a site would be within 10-12 miles of your home at most. This would still leave you with a marginal signal or worse if you are in a wooded area, but, I know in my area which has a few mild hills/valleys that the above is true. If the nearest tower is 40-50 miles away the cars, let alone portables wouldn't be able to communicate with dispatch. Now, I could believe you are that far from the nearest tower in a neighboring municipallity, if so the previously mentioned suggestions are in order. VHF signals travel much farther than 800 Mhz.

 

[DJ88]

In my opinion, rubber duck antennas are useless for reception. The reception distance with them is minimal, at best. With that said, your 396 should come with a BNC connector. Mine did. It will be in a small plastic bag in one corner of the box. I would suggest purchasing a telescopic antenna (the kind that come with base model scanners) that will attach to the connector. Just make sure the antenna has the proper connection on the end of it. All you have to do is unscrew the rubber duck, screw on the connector and attach the telescopic antenna to it. I don't know if this will help with receiving the trunk system, but it will help your overall reception greatly.

 

[a29zuk]

I own a 396 myself. Judgeing from what I've read here on the forums the GRE models(PSR-500,PSR-600,PRO-96,etc.) are more sensitive scanners and may suit your needs for your location. I believe the Uniden models are better suited for an urban area as they are less prone to intermod. Good Luck!

 

[bwhite]

Telescopic will work better, but, if you are moving it around with any regularity you'll wind up snapping/bending them. There are many discussions in the antenna thread about which antennas are better for 800 reception. A RS model at about $18 fairs well.

 

[DJ88]

Telescopic will work better, but, if you are moving it around with any regularity you'll wind up snapping/bending them.

I'm not denying what you say can happen, however, if you exercise caution and at all times make yourself aware that it's there, you shouldn't have a problem. I've been using the original one I purchased when I got the scanner when it first came out and I've not had any problems with it at all. It's as good as the day I purchased it.

 

[SkipSanders]

Range is dependent on the height of your antenna, and the height of the transmitting antenna. If the transmit antenna is highly directional, that may affect things significantly.
Power levels are a very distant third in this determination.

If the ability to receive a system changed when they went trunked, it was probably because they changed the antenna locations, height, or power/directionality. Some trunk systems are very deliberately designed NOT to be receivable outside the 'intended' coverage area, using multiple low power, low height transmitters, instead of a few, high altitude antenna sites.

To receive a system 40 miles away with any reliability, you need their transmitting antenna to be at least 500 feet above mean ground level, and preferably at least 800 feet.

If they shifted to 'top of building' sites when they went trunked, for instance, the max range from the nearest site might be only 20 miles. Not that I'd know what your local system did, but just saying, you can't just ask 'they changed to trunk, will I still receive them?', because a lot of things can have changed besides just 'went trunking'.

 

[hoser147]

Im sure if it is the SO in your county you would be in the coverage area..............Hoser

 

[bwhite]

Im sure if it is the SO in your county you would be in the coverage area..............Hoser

Exactly what I'm saying, there will be towers closer to the poster than 40 miles or the cars/portables wouldn't be able to make contact.

 

[Viper43]

With my 396 I can recieve MECA 60 miles from Indy I was in the Spiceland area but the next road east of In 3 and still picked up MECA and on occasion at home I pick up stuff from Ohio, Elkhart In and so on. I use a RS 800Mhz duckie on it. So I'd say it picks up things pretty well so I doubt you will have any problems, I just wouldn't use the stock duck that comes with the scanner.

V

 

[bwhite]

If you are receiving an 800 mhzsignal from 60 miles away that is amazing.
Are you sure that their hq/transmitter isn't 60 miles away with towers scheduled far and wide (probably closer to your house). Mine is crappy 9 miles away and that is tower to my hilltop (big hilltop).

 

[REDave]

For 800 MHz. with a typical system design for a tower site depending on the RF power, antenna height, and tilt, over flat terrain the range could be 6 to 25 miles with about 85% coverage. I kind of doubt the 60 mile range. I think they must be using multiple tower sites for their coverage.

 

[bwhite]

Amen Dave

 

[Viper43]

If you are receiving an 800 mhzsignal from 60 miles away that is amazing.
Are you sure that their hq/transmitter isn't 60 miles away with towers scheduled far and wide (probably closer to your house). Mine is crappy 9 miles away and that is tower to my hilltop (big hilltop).

The closest tower was the one at ISP Post 52 in Indy just West of Post road, 55 to 60 miles from the football field I was at just East of Spiceland In. and I was picking up both MECA Police and Fire TG's. It is pretty flat, and the field was on a small hill, but even driving there and home I had only a couple valleys where I lost the signal. I also picked them up at the New Castle High School in the parking lot.

V

 

[jerk]

For 800 MHz. with a typical system design for a tower site depending on the RF power, antenna height, and tilt, over flat terrain the range could be 6 to 25 miles with about 85% coverage. I kind of doubt the 60 mile range. I think they must be using multiple tower sites for their coverage.

I can get regular reception 40-50 miles out from a mobile listening location. The reception is good. It all depends on location and antenna height. And on days with good propagation will easily add another 25 miles to that, but that is Motorola and LTR trunking. EDACS trunking requires excellent reception to trunk. That is on a stock rubber duck with a BCD396t. I'm sure it would do better with external mag mount or 800 MHz radio shack antenna.

The key for me is location and antenna height.

AL

 

[ryangassxx]

Try a Diamond RH77CA, supposed to be about the best handheld scanner antenna you can get....

 

[n2mdk]

Try a Diamond RH77CA, supposed to be about the best handheld scanner antenna you can get....

The S/RH77CA is a great antenna just not above 450MHz really, I use them on my dual band HTs but they don't work well on 800MHz systems.

 

[hoser147]

The towers I hit off of are about 25 miles away at best. I hit off 3 of them getting traffic as far away as 50 miles with a RS 800 antenna. Way better than any antenna Ive tried for it......................Hoser