BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Not picking up any chatter

[TeddyOSylvio]

Started by ensuring I have the most up to date firmware installed. Downloaded FreeSCAN with premium membership. Located the area I'm looking for (Monroe County NYS) and imported one of the systems with the specific groups that interested me. Once I upload to the scanner it simply scrolls through with the message ID SEARCH over and over again not picking anything up. Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong?

 

[buddrousa]

As posted here in the database it says that is a SIMULCAST system the 996p2 does not handle SIMULCAST very well
Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

System Frequencies
Red (c) are primary control channels | Blue (a) are alternate control channels | Site Map(s): FCC Callsigns RR Locations

Sysid	RFSS	Site	Name	County	Freqs
227	1 (1)	001 (1)	Monroe East Simulcast	Monroe	769.08125c	769.11875c	769.30625c	769.50625c	769.53125c	769.75625c	769.83125c
					770.03125c	770.05625c	770.30625c	770.75625c	773.74375c	774.13125c	774.44375c
					774.63125c	774.91875c
227	21 (15)	001 (1)	Monroe West Simulcast	Monroe	851.1125c	851.1625c	851.350c	851.6125c	852.0375c	852.1375c	852.275c
					852.4375c	852.4875c	852.8875c	852.9125c
227	41 (29)	001 (1)	Monroe South Simulcast	Monroe	769.36875c	769.58125c	769.80625c	770.00625c	770.25625c	773.88125c	774.38125c
					774.66875c	774.88125c
228	1 (1)	001 (1)	Ontario North Simulcast	Ontario	769.28125c	769.55625c	769.85625c	770.10625c	773.70625c	773.90625c	774.15625c
					774.40625c
228	21 (15)	001 (1)	Ontario South Simulcast	Ontario	769.25625c	769.78125c	770.08125c	773.93125c
228	41 (29)	041 (29)	Canadice Corners	Ontario	854.0375c	854.2875c	854.5625c	855.2375c

 

[GROL]

Simulcast can certainly be a big issue, but I would not think all reception would get wiped out. I have not had that happen to me, usually the worst it gets is very unintelligible. Are you getting any signal strength indication at the top of the display? Is the squelch set high? The Squelch should not be more than 2 for digital. There are 5 simulcast zones. Are you using the one close to you?

 

[wtp]

move the radio around a bit and even room to room for a start.
then you can start the old rabbit ear antenna dance later.

 

[jtwalker]

Simulcast can certainly be a big issue, but I would not think all reception would get wiped out. I have not had that happen to me, usually the worst it gets is very unintelligible. Are you getting any signal strength indication at the top of the display? Is the squelch set high? The Squelch should not be more than 2 for digital. There are 5 simulcast zones. Are you using the one close to you?

I’ve had a 536 miss ~90% due to simulcast distortion.

 

[GROL]

I’ve had a 536 miss ~90% due to simulcast distortion.

I don't doubt that, but I would expect he would receive something.

 

[GROL]

move the radio around a bit and even room to room for a start.
then you can start the old rabbit ear antenna dance later.

Also, try laying the antenna down so the antenna is horizontal and not vertical. And if possible, orient the antenna broadside to the nearest site.

 

[wtp]

2421	975	T	MCSO Dispatch	Sheriff Dispatch (link to 460.475)	Law Dispatch
2422	976	T	MCSO Admin East	Sheriff East Administration (link to 460.400)	Law Talk
2423	977	T	MCSO Admin West	Sheriff West Administration (link to 460.175)	Law Talk
2424	978	T	MC Law Tac Cnty	Tac County (link to 460.325)	Law Tac
2425	979	T	MC Law Tac East	Tac East (link to 460.375)	Law Tac
2426	97a	T	MC Law Tac West	Tac West (link to 460.250)	Law Tac
2441	989	T	MC Towns North	Towns North (link to 460.075)	Law Dispatch
2442	98a	T	MC Towns West	Towns West (link to 460.350)	Law Dispatch

 

[wtp]

you could try putting in the link frequencies if they are still active.

 

[TeddyOSylvio]

2421	975	T	MCSO Dispatch	Sheriff Dispatch (link to 460.475)	Law Dispatch
2422	976	T	MCSO Admin East	Sheriff East Administration (link to 460.400)	Law Talk
2423	977	T	MCSO Admin West	Sheriff West Administration (link to 460.175)	Law Talk
2424	978	T	MC Law Tac Cnty	Tac County (link to 460.325)	Law Tac
2425	979	T	MC Law Tac East	Tac East (link to 460.375)	Law Tac
2426	97a	T	MC Law Tac West	Tac West (link to 460.250)	Law Tac
2441	989	T	MC Towns North	Towns North (link to 460.075)	Law Dispatch
2442	98a	T	MC Towns West	Towns West (link to 460.350)	Law Dispatch

This great but I'm not sure how to import talkgroups. I'm very new at this so the FreeSCAN import of trunked systems was the simplest way to set this up. Any tips on how to link in talkgroups?

 

[TeddyOSylvio]

Simulcast can certainly be a big issue, but I would not think all reception would get wiped out. I have not had that happen to me, usually the worst it gets is very unintelligible. Are you getting any signal strength indication at the top of the display? Is the squelch set high? The Squelch should not be more than 2 for digital. There are 5 simulcast zones. Are you using the one close to you?

I am using the one closest to me. I have the squelch set to two and the reception at the top appears to have 5 bars. I've also tried to move the antenna all over and even took the unit outdoors so it does not seem to be reception.

 

[GROL]

I am using the one closest to me. I have the squelch set to two and the reception at the top appears to have 5 bars. I've also tried to move the antenna all over and even took the unit outdoors so it does not seem to be reception.

Okay, sounds like you have the radio set right to receive. Did you import this system directly from RR and not make any changes? Import just the one site without deleting anything after importing. ID Search should allow stopping on any active Trunk Group regardless of programming trunk groups. Can you receive the site if you apply the attenuator setting to it? Do you get any signal strength? IF so, this may allow reception if it is due to simulcast distortion. It sounds like you could benefit from someone having experience monitoring this system. Hopefully someone else near you can help with advice.

 

[wtp]

about the linked frequencies.
can you manually set up a system and put in the linked frequencies ?
or
as the radio is scanning hit the hold button, type in 460.475 and hit hold again.
this would let you hear the sheriff's dispatch channel.
give it some time as i don't know how busy it might be.

 

[JoeBearcat]

about the linked frequencies.
can you manually set up a system and put in the linked frequencies ?

That is exactly what I was thinking.

 

[mc48]

Monroe County is a Harris system so it is very difficult for non SDS scanners at times. I'm not sure your 996P2 has the option but if it does you can try adjusting the digital levels as described here. Easier to Read BCD996P2/XT Digital Scanner Manual (marksscanners.com)

The linked frequencies are the old Monroe County MRD and should eventually go away, they are P25 but not a trunked system.

P25 Threshold (996P2 only) this is a hidden setting accessible only by turning off the radio and pressing Hold when you turn the scanner back on.

Scroll to 'P25 Threshold ' and press E/ ●. Scroll to Auto, Level 5-13 and press E/ ●.