Oregon Coast Gaurd

[fshndean]

I am having trouble programming the Tillamook and Garibaldi OR coast guard frequencies into my BCT8 scanner. Can anyone help me with this? I also just picked up a new antenna from Radio Shack, (the original one broke off) and I think this might be the wrong one. Please let me know what you think, I am able to pick up all the police and other frequencies in the area just not the coast guard.

 

[oregontreehugger]

The fact you can pick up other channels makes it unlikely that the antenna is your problem. You should be able to hear USCG traffic on Marine Ch. 16 and 22 from their Garibaldi location (Station Tillamook Bay). They are essentially line-of-sight, as there aren't going to be any repeaters. So if you are quite a distance away you may not be receiving them.

Now if you bought the Radio Shack 800 MHz handheld antenna, that could be degrading your reception. It works okay on VHF frequencies (such as what's in Tillamook County), but it isn't the best choice. Also, make sure you don't have your scanner's attenuator feature activated.

I would suggest picking up something like the Diamond RH77 with a right-angle BNC adapter so you can plug it right into the back of your Uniden BCT-8. Total cost maybe around $25-30 at most. Check out Ham Radio Outlet, Amateur Electronic Supply, Scanner Master, or Universal Radio online.

These three things are going to affect your reception:
1. Location/Distance from Transmitter
2. Elevation/Geography
3. Antenna

Good luck -- let us know how it goes!

 

[fshndean]

Thank you

Thank you for your reply. I have solved the antenna issue and I am very close to the Coast Guard station. However, I don't know ho to get into the data bank and turn off the attenuator feature. Can you please reply with an explanation?

 

[oregontreehugger]

Link to owner's manual on Uniden website:

"Uniden" BearTracker™ Warning System with 800 MHz TrunkTracker III at Uniden

I may have misspoken, there may not be an attenuator feature on the BCT8.