Is there a trick to setting squelch?

[RedPenguin]

I have always had the issue of never really being sure of what to set my squelch to on my scanners.

For example, I have always assumed that you try to set it to the point to where no background noise gets through and leave it there.

Yet, because of interference/bleeding over channels, I have been playing with setting it higher lately, but sometimes I am not sure if I set it too high that I will basically receive nothing.

The only way I know to test to see that I still get the actual transmissions, I just wait until something occurs or I leave it overnight with bcTool or some other recorder.

Though, even doing all that, doesn't seem to assure you that you will not screw up other channels in the process.

Am I missing something obvious as to how to properly set squelch? I mean, it seems like I'm doing a lot of work just to find the right squelch level.

Also, do the signal numbers that bcTool reports have anything to do with what to set squelch? For example, on my BCT15 and BR330T, I tend to get channels with at least a 3, but does that number correlate at all with what to set squelch on either?

 

[BaLa]

I guess the proper way to set it, should be turn it to min. and then turn it to Max till you don't hear any noise.

But you have to mess with it to see what works for you.
If you have your HH Scanner sitting next to your CRT Monitor or close to your computer you may get a lot of interference so you will have to turn it up.


What do you usually monitor? (Local?) On the weaker channs you may have to leave it a little lower then normal but if most of everything comes in really strong it should not be a real big issue.

 

[W6KRU]

No tricks needed dude, you just turn the squelch up until the stuff you don't want to hear is gone. :lol: Some bands are different though. I usually have to turn up the squelch for AM. YMMV

 

[Eng74]

Like everything it all depends. On most of my Unides it is set at 2. For some people, systems, and places that might not work. Like BaLa posted go tell it stops then I give a litttle more. YMMV

 

[RedPenguin]

Well....

I guess the proper way to set it, should be turn it to min. and then turn it to Max till you don't hear any noise.

But you have to mess with it to see what works for you.
If you have your HH Scanner sitting next to your CRT Monitor or close to your computer you may get a lot of interference so you will have to turn it up.


What do you usually monitor? (Local?) On the weaker channs you may have to leave it a little lower then normal but if most of everything comes in really strong it should not be a real big issue.

Basically, I use my BR330T for local stuff, especially during special events, yet sometimes I like the squelch low for somewhat far away signals, but they are hard to receive anyway and doing so seems to allow in bleedovers.

Though I have to set my BR330T up to 10 of 15, just to completely eliminate an annoying bleed over from a channel that has constant activity due to it being a data channel. I'm going to leave bcTool up to see if I can still receiving the channel I mainly want now.

 

[N8IAA]

Basically, I use my BR330T for local stuff, especially during special events, yet sometimes I like the squelch low for somewhat far away signals, but they are hard to receive anyway and doing so seems to allow in bleedovers.

Though I have to set my BR330T up to 10 of 15, just to completely eliminate an annoying bleed over from a channel that has constant activity due to it being a data channel. I'm going to leave bcTool up to see if I can still receiving the channel I mainly want now.

Have you tried the CTCSS/DPL feature on the radio to stop the other users on the frequencies from interfering with what you want to hear??
Larry
Hey, is Richland Mall still open?

 

[RedPenguin]

No

Have you tried the CTCSS/DPL feature on the radio to stop the other users on the frequencies from interfering with what you want to hear??
Larry
Hey, is Richland Mall still open?

No it's now Richland Town Centre with a HUGE Walmart.

Anyway, every single time I use PL for some reason, it just cuts off the beginning and at times the middle of transmissions, which sucks for recording.

 

[raisindot]

Set squelch 'halfway' for trunking

The newest trick I learned for squelch came from my Pro-162 manual. It recommended setting the squelch halfway or so if you're using trunking--somehow, this setting is an optimal balance.

I've tried this on both my PSR-500 and Pro 162 and can confirm that it increases "hits" significantly. Only problem is, if you use it you may lose out on some of the weaker conventional signals.

Suzie

 

[gmclam]

Setting squelch

This depends on the specific scanner you are using, and what you are monitoring.

If you are using an older scanner, with no trunk tracking nor CT/DC decoding, then some posts here work fine.... turn fully to MIN (you hear noise), turn toward MAX until noise stops. If the scanner stops on another frequency when there is no transmission, turn more toward MAX until the noise stops.

However, if you have a CT/DC value programmed; the tones control the squelch and not just the control. On my scanners (specifically PRO-97) it displays a lightning bolt when the CPU sees the squelch open, even if the audio is squelched. In other words, you really should adjust squelch on a channel set to AM or FM for best results.

However, if the only thing you monitor is a trunked system, and no convention channels, you could set the squelch to MIN. This is because the scanner is just 'parked' on the active control channel anyway, with the signal unsquelched and the audio muted. The CPU in this case controls the audio squeclh. When mixing conventional and trunked, you have to follow guidelines above.

 

[majoco]

Trouble is, you can't generalise and say that this or that setting works best. All scanners are different and have different systems for applying the squelch - some are audio derived, some are AGC derived - also the band and mode affects the operation too. For analogue AM, as most have said, reduce the squelch down to the noise level, then back up to stop the noise - but if you are scanning different modes you may find the squelch will lift annoyingly - just move it up a bit until it resumes scanning. Better to have your AM channels on one scanner, FM on a second, trunk on #3, digital #4................

 

[RedPenguin]

PL is screwy?

Alight, am I missing something when it comes to PL?

I am trying to listen to 453.350 with a 173.8PL.

I have tried the squelch at 2, 1, and 0 on my BR330T.

It's sometimes more than the beginning being cut off.

My BCT15 picked up NO PL, "504, radio and time check"

My BR330T with PL, received "time check".

I mean around half of the message is gone. I find it hard to believe the PL chip takes that long to start.

EDIT: Another transmission about a couple minutes later:

"That's received, thank you" on the BCT15, yet the BR330T just got "thank you."

 

[phatboy48]

Are you only experiencing this problem on just one channel? If so, it sounds like that particular channel is probably running their tone squelch encoder at a lower level than normal. We always tried to set our CTCSS encoders to run about 500 to 750 Hz deviation with no audio applied to the transmitter. Another thing that can interfere with CTCSS operation is noise on the signal. Are both scanners receiving a good full quieting signal on the troublesome station? There are several other things that can cause this problem. Is the affected scanner receiving the other channels clearly? If the receiver is slightly off frequency, it will show up as distorted recovered audio which will affect proper tone decoding. The tone squelch decoder typically operates "in series" with the noise / carrier operated squelch, so make sure it is properly adjusted before enabling the tone squelch. The advice given above is good for setting this adjustment properly.

 

[RedPenguin]

Well

Well, basically, I have only ever noticed it with the single channel, but I am going to try it with some others just to make sure.

Though, it seems like I've had issues with my BR330T trying to decode PLs when in search mode.

Anyway, I have never noticed any issue with the BR330T, until a GPS Signal on 453.3375 came along and seemed to cause me headaches on my BR330T.

Though, now that you mentioned it, their own radios sound like they are cutting things off and always seem to pickup noise. Though, they don't seem to lose as much of the transmission as I do, and I can't rule out people talking before they push the PTT button or talking to soon. The channel doesn't have the most disciplined radio users, though it's not a bad channel to listen to.

EDIT: The BCT15 always seems to pick up the same signal with more strength, even though, they are in the same room, and really only about 20 feet apart, but moving the BR330T seems to do nothing.

EDIT #2: So far, I'm listening on my local EMS on 453.55 PL 141.3, and so far no cut offs, yet I have to log more transmissions to give a fair ruling.

 

[RedPenguin]

Update

Just to update my previous post, I have listened to my local police frequency of 453.650 PL 118.8, and it was completely chopped up.

I wouldn't really lose the beginning, but I would receive messages like, "651, complaint" instead of "651, animal complaint".

Then I would listen on and get, "Caller's 481" instead of perhaps "Caller's address is 481".

I think I'm going to try using one of my different antennas to see what that does.

EDIT: Further listening shows EXTREME chopping up, mainly in the middle of transmissions. I was getting 3 to 4 signal strength though.

Major parts of the transmissions are being dropped.

 

[rvictor]

Alight, am I missing something when it comes to PL?

I am trying to listen to 453.350 with a 173.8PL.

I have tried the squelch at 2, 1, and 0 on my BR330T.

It's sometimes more than the beginning being cut off.

My BCT15 picked up NO PL, "504, radio and time check"

My BR330T with PL, received "time check".

I mean around half of the message is gone. I find it hard to believe the PL chip takes that long to start.

EDIT: Another transmission about a couple minutes later:

"That's received, thank you" on the BCT15, yet the BR330T just got "thank you."

I guess it's going to be this thread all over again.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/uniden-scanners/139878-unidens-pl-decoding-slow.html

which was very similar to another thread if I recall.

We've got the slow PL which turns into parts of the transmission disappearing and the interference again from the GPS from the bus company!

Didn't like the responses in that thread?

Dick

 

[RedPenguin]

No, that's not it....

I guess it's going to be this thread all over again.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/uniden-scanners/139878-unidens-pl-decoding-slow.html

which was very similar to another thread if I recall.

We've got the slow PL which turns into parts of the transmission disappearing and the interference again from the GPS from the bus company!

Didn't like the responses in that thread?

Dick

Well, I know it's similar stuff in this post, but this time, I'm ending up with a new problem.

The other thread was just about 453.350 having the beginning cut off and that's it.

Now my BR330T seems to be chopping 453.650 up, which it didn't do at all before, so I don't know if a squelch of 2, is too low or what, even with a PL set.

I'm beginning to think my BR330T is in need of repair or something, because it doesn't seem like a scanner should behave in this manner.

Plus, this new issue has nothing to do with the GPS interference, which was on 453.350 and 453.3375. I'm talking about 453.650 chopping up. At least I don't see them as related. Because like I said, in that case, I wasn't losing the middle of transmissions. Also, I know 453.3375 is causing issues on 453.350, but I have no clue why I would have any problems on 453.650, which in my area, is one of the most interference free channels.

Also, the reason I got in to PL this time, was because one poster "N8IAA", asked me if I tried using PL instead of playing with squelch over and over, and I just simply stated why that is not an option for me.

 

[rvictor]

Well, I know it's similar stuff in this post, but this time, I'm ending up with a new problem.

The other thread was just about 453.350 having the beginning cut off and that's it.

Now my BR330T seems to be chopping 453.650 up, which it didn't do at all before, so I don't know if a squelch of 2, is too low or what, even with a PL set.

I'm beginning to think my BR330T is in need of repair or something, because it doesn't seem like a scanner should behave in this manner.

Plus, this new issue has nothing to do with the GPS interference, which was on 453.350 and 453.3375. I'm talking about 453.650 chopping up. At least I don't see them as related. Because like I said, in that case, I wasn't losing the middle of transmissions. Also, I know 453.3375 is causing issues on 453.350, but I have no clue why I would have any problems on 453.650, which in my area, is one of the most interference free channels.

Also, the reason I got in to PL this time, was because one poster asked me if I tried using PL instead of playing with squelch over and over, and I just simply stated why that is not an option for me.

You'll notice that the first response to your post in the other thread said:

"Every day you start a new thread with basically the same issue hoping the answer will change."

Another poster quoted Albert Einstein:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
Albert Einstein

You claim above that the other thread was only about the beginning being cut off and that you had no problems with the middle, but you said in that thread:

"Either way, now it's cutting off the beginnings but also sometimes the middle and ends of transmissions now."

and you said:

"I will try that again, because it seemed at first that made it cut off the beginning but FM seems like I'm cutting off not only beginning but end and sometimes middle as well."

You claim above that this issue has nothing to do with the GPS interference yet you stated in this thread:

"Anyway, I have never noticed any issue with the BR330T, until a GPS Signal on 453.3375 came along and seemed to cause me headaches on my BR330T."

You seem to be intent on having a continuing problem that you can complain about and when people make constructive suggestions you either ignore them or expand the problem so that you continue to have an ongoing problem. People respond in good faith because they don't realize that others have already tried to help you and you've ignored them as you will no doubt ignore the new help.

You could be just a troll, but if you aren't then you need to reread your posts and ask yourself whether it is really fair to continue to waste other people's time when you have no apparent desire or ability to accept any of the help that they are providing.

Dick

 

[KI6ABZ]

Alight, am I missing something when it comes to PL?

I am trying to listen to 453.350 with a 173.8PL.

I have tried the squelch at 2, 1, and 0 on my BR330T.

It's sometimes more than the beginning being cut off.

My BCT15 picked up NO PL, "504, radio and time check"

My BR330T with PL, received "time check".

I mean around half of the message is gone. I find it hard to believe the PL chip takes that long to start.

EDIT: Another transmission about a couple minutes later:

"That's received, thank you" on the BCT15, yet the BR330T just got "thank you."

That's not far off. When I first got a set of FRS radios with CTCSS control (the so-called "privacy codes"), I discovered very quickly that you're liable to lose the first 1-2 seconds of a call. So I always tell people to hold the button for 2 seconds before talking.

The same goes with a PL control on my amateur transceivers and slightly less so on my scanners: the radio is listening for a tone at some low frequency (80-300 Hz), and it takes time to count the frequency and determine whether to break squelch.

Personally, I've found that the PL tones don't work as well as I'd like, partly do the lag problem. So I just use encode-only on my ham radios, and I leave off the PL code on my scanners.

So yeah - if radio users start talking right away, you'll miss the first 2 or 3 words, depending on how fast they talk.

 

[RedPenguin]

yeah....

That's not far off. When I first got a set of FRS radios with CTCSS control (the so-called "privacy codes"), I discovered very quickly that you're liable to lose the first 1-2 seconds of a call. So I always tell people to hold the button for 2 seconds before talking.

The same goes with a PL control on my amateur transceivers and slightly less so on my scanners: the radio is listening for a tone at some low frequency (80-300 Hz), and it takes time to count the frequency and determine whether to break squelch.

Personally, I've found that the PL tones don't work as well as I'd like, partly do the lag problem. So I just use encode-only on my ham radios, and I leave off the PL code on my scanners.

So yeah - if radio users start talking right away, you'll miss the first 2 or 3 words, depending on how fast they talk.

That's probably exactly what I am experiencing. If I don't use PL on the various channels, I get no issues at all, except interference and I don't seem to ever miss anything.

I don't see how I can win in my case. I mean, if I use PL I lose stuff, yet if I don't, I have interference to avoid. Even squelch settings seem to do nothing for me, I set my squelch almost completely up, to 10 of 15, and still I get bleedovers. I'm like wtf. I even change AUTO to NFM, even though NFM is default, to make sure, I am never accidentally using WFM.

What does one do in a case like that?

 

[kayi4cle]

Whiteout solution!

Like everything it all depends. On most of my Unides it is set at 2. For some people, systems, and places that might not work. Like BaLa posted go tell it stops then I give a litttle more. YMMV

That's exactly what I do. I go until the sound stops, and then a little but further. My problem is that when I adjust the volume I sometimes accidently move the squelch too. And, if I'm driving and not hearing stuff, I wonder if I have messed up the squelch again, but it's not convenient to reset it while driving.

To solve this, I put a tiny dot of whiteout on the squelch knob marker, and then another tiny dot on the radio at the point where the noise stops. I keep it set just past that spot (for the little bit more). The whiteout helps me to easily see if the squelch knob has moved. Just an idea . . . . :wink: