New to digital

[Shutter0816]

Hi, I have had a scanner before, but I am new to the world of digital trucked scanning. I am having an issue and wondering if someone can help me out. I have entered in the control frequency for my county (both red and blue)and the sub frequency for my town, however all I am hearing is dispatchs and some transmissions from towns surrounding mine. I was hoping to hear the back and forth I used to hear what am I doing wrong?

 

[K2NEC]

Need more info.
-What scanner are you using
-What info have you put in
-What are you trying to listen to (Linden?)

 

[OpenCarrier]

Digital TRUNKED Scanning? You got a Pro-106?

 

[8000XE]

Perhaps you have it set to TG SEARCH as opposed to TG SCAN ?

 

[Shutter0816]

The scanner I am using is a Uniden bcd325 p2, newly purchased. I entered in, per the this site, the NJICS frequency plus it's talk group DEC number. I'm trying to hear Linden, NJ fire, police and EMS.

 

[ka3jjz]

Linden is in Union County, so it looks like the Union County simulcast would be your best bet...

New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State

New Jersey Interoperability Communications System (NJICS) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

However this is a problem. Most all scanners - with the notable exception of Uniden's SDS100 and SDS200 - will have trouble, depending on how many towers and where the towers are in relation to where you are. Simply put, most scanners can't differentiate the signal when they receive the same data at the same time from multiple towers. This is very geo-dependent - if you are near only 1 tower, you might not notice the problem at all. You MIGHT get by with using the attenuator when monitoring that system, using a very small antenna. or using a Yagi to point at your nearest tower..

Before we go further, how did you program your radio? With software (and with what app) or by hand? Mike

 

[Shutter0816]

Programed by hand, used guide, you tube and help from phone call to Scanner Masters.

 

[tvengr]

Programed by hand, used guide, you tube and help from phone call to Scanner Masters.

It is far faster and easier to program using software. Here is a link to FreeSCAN: Downloads - Sixspot Software This software is FREE! It will work fine for P25 systems. If you should get the DMR or NXDN upgrades for your scanner, you would require ARC-XT or ProScan.

 

[OpenCarrier]

It is far faster and easier to program using software. Here is a link to FreeSCAN: Downloads - Sixspot Software This software is FREE! It will work fine for P25 systems. If you should get the DMR or NXDN upgrades for your scanner, you would require ARC-XT or ProScan.

Ain't that the truth....

 

[AvidHiker]

I used to monitor the UC simulcast with a 436HP and it was very unreliable, pretty much useless when mobile. I spent a couple weeks moving it around the house and eventually found 1 fairly good position, in a certain window, where I could get somewhat reliable reception (still prone to frequent breakups). Assuming you've got it programmed correctly, then not being able to follow conversations is the red flag - simulcast distortion will cause random garbling and missed transmissions. I've since upgraded to the SDS100 and it works very well with NJICS.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

NJICS contains numerous simulcast cells so the BCD325P2 may not be the most ideal scanner to monitor the system. Have a read here about simulcast distortion. It's one of the most discussed issues on these forums & what you're describing seems to describe the issue to a T. There are a few workarounds mentioned in the wiki but they work for very few people. Ultimately the Uniden SDS100 & 200 are the only scanners that can handle simulcast distortion without issue

 

[mshumeyk]

I will echo the comments about the need for an SDS 100 or SDS200 to effectively monitor the NJICS as well as most P25P2 systems. My SDS100 is far superior in NJICS reception compared to my Uniden 325P2 and 436. I would also add that the Unication G5 performs flawlessly on the NJICS but programming complexity and limitations to one system at a time and only VHF HIghband and 700-800 make it best for someone looking for a professional quality radio to monitor a particular system.

 

[Shutter0816]

Thanks for the information but I am stuck with the BCD325P2 for now, could be worse. I'm wondering if I use a different cell site if that might have an effect. I think I'm closer to Essex's tower that I am to Union's. Might that have an effect?

 

[mshumeyk]

Thanks for the information but I am stuck with the BCD325P2 for now, could be worse. I'm wondering if I use a different cell site if that might have an effect. I think I'm closer to Essex's tower that I am to Union's. Might that have an effect?

The Essex and Union Simulcasts each have multiple sites, which is why all but the newest scanners have trouble locking on to the control channel when they can receive it from several sites. You might do better with the West Orange Simulcast provided it carries your talkgroups of interest. The only way to know is to try. I found out about these issues the hard way when I was visiting Atlanta with my 325P2 and 436HP and stayed at the top floor of a hotel in the city. I couldn't lock on a control channel even though I could see the sites from my window. I tried again outside the city and reception was fine. Back in the hotel after I understood the problem I finally got a control channel and reception but putting the scanner in the bathroom sink upside down with the rubber ducky down the drain. As suggested by another poster, try different locations in your home along with different antennas. Incidentally, my 436HP and 325P2 actually perform reasonably well in Cape May City where we are at the edge of the NJICS, surrounded by water on three sides and have the closest site barely a mile way. Good luck!

 

[AvidHiker]

Yeah, the Union County talkgroups will always be available on their simulcast, but may or may not be found on others. Only way to find out is to survey the sites. I know nothing of the 325, but it's pretty quick and simple to load the 436 up with the full database on a Windows PC. Then you can simply lock in NJICS and use the "site hold" function to see what's available in your particular location. You can tell how well the 436 has locked onto the control channel by how steady the DAT indicator is displayed. IME, if it's blinking too much, then I typically don't hear much (if anything) and I'll just avoid that simulcast (or, if my laptop is handy, I will sometimes create a location-specific FL that only scans the reliable sites).

 

[trauma74]

Get a Unication G4. I sold my SDS200 and used the money to buy the G4 and it works much better.

 

[iMONITOR]

Get a Unication G4. I sold my SDS200 and used the money to buy the G4 and it works much better.

And you don't have to give the Unication a wedgie like the SDS200!

 

[AvidHiker]

I'd love a Unication but have found it hard to justify the purchase - if you need to carry the radio all the time, and don't require all the functions of a real scanner, then obviously that's different. Or if you need better range on these systems it seems the Unications excel there as well. But, for my needs, the SDS100 has proven perfectly capable on NJICS. When not in use, I leave my SDS parked on my town's police dispatch TG, in record mode. I've left it for months at a time like this so I can go back and listen to interesting events - not sure that's possible with a Unication.