BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Scanning but not picking up channels...

[kingzjnky22]

Hi all, very new to scanning. I just purchased a BCD436HP. I downloaded the Sentinel Software, updated the firmware. Loaded in the zip code (it loaded about eleventeen hundred channels) and saved my results. I started scanning. It only picks up a handful of channels. They weren’t really local. I went back in, created a favorites list. Learned how to only monitor only my favorites list. I have all lists (monitor and download) set to ON, I went through and found all the systems to monitor on the scanner. They are turned to ON. It scans the frequencies that I have programmed… but yet there are only a couple of channels that it picks up. I have the range set to 30 miles and the squelch set to 2. There has to be something that I’m missing? My cell phone scanner app picks up all the local channels…
I live in Bradley County TN (37311)
Thanks for any input that is provided.

 

[shadcall]

Have you selected your service types? Go to the menu, scroll down to "Select Service Types", push down on the top knob and you will see the service types, toggle them by pushing down on the top knob to them them on.

 

[kingzjnky22]

Shadcall... Yes sir I have...

Thank you for the response...

 

[hiegtx]

Hi all, very new to scanning. I just purchased a BCD436HP. I downloaded the Sentinel Software, updated the firmware. Loaded in the zip code (it loaded about eleventeen hundred channels) and saved my results. I started scanning. It only picks up a handful of channels. They weren’t really local. I went back in, created a favorites list. Learned how to only monitor only my favorites list. I have all lists (monitor and download) set to ON, I went through and found all the systems to monitor on the scanner. They are turned to ON. It scans the frequencies that I have programmed… but yet there are only a couple of channels that it picks up. I have the range set to 30 miles and the squelch set to 2. There has to be something that I’m missing? My cell phone scanner app picks up all the local channels…
I live in Bradley County TN (37311)
Thanks for any input that is provided.

You installed Sentinel on your PC, and created some Favorites to load. But did you first update the Sentinel master database? The database in the initial download is generally out of date, so you may be scanning the wrong frequencies, systems, or talkgroups. Start Sentinel, and look in the lower left corner of the main window. What date do you see? That is the date of the database version you presently have. Current version is 7/15/2018. Next update should be available this next Monday, and should show a date of 07/22/2018.

Have you selected your service types? Go to the menu, scroll down to "Select Service Types", push down on the top knob and you will see the service types, toggle them by pushing down on the top knob to them them on.

+1
By default, only the 'Dispatch' service types are enabled for the public safety service types (Law, Fire, EMS, and Multi). Be sure to enable the related Tac and Talk types as well.

At 30 miles you probably are loading some things that you may not be able to actually hear. The actual range for systems to be enabled when using location based scanning is the combination of the range of the system or site, in the RadioReference database, as well as the range you set. See this for a more complete explanation. How it Works: Location, Location, Location

 

[kingzjnky22]

Hiegtx…

I opened up Sentinel. Looked at the lower left off the screen. The date read: 9/28/2004 (wow). I updated the master database, it updated to 6/11/2018. I updated the firmware, unplugged the scanner from computer, to let it update and re-updated both the master database & firmware again. It now reads 7/22/2018. I erased all my favorites, reloaded the master database, changing the range back to the default 20 miles. Reselected all of my favorites. I made sure to turn on all 'Dispatch' types...

Inside a building that I am currently in, my cell phone hardly has service and before the update the scanner didn't pick up anything. After the update the scanner picked up a few channels! I can't wait to hit the road tomorrow to actually see what it will pick up...

I will give you an update on how everything goes!

Thank you so much for the help.

 

[Ubbe]

I took a look in the master database and it must be difficult to use location based scanning in a proper way with the settings they have in that database.

I could see a Sheriffs Office and a Fire Distpatch on 30MHz and 150MHz set to 1.0 and 2.5 miles and 700Mhz and 800MHz frequencies set to 38.0 miles. I don't know who set those values and what they are based on but they seem very inconsistance.

I have heard Fire dispatch in US at 30Mhz here in Europe at a couple of times and that frequency generally have great propagation and coverage. You probably have to set your default range in the scanner, that adds that range to the ones in the database, to a very high value to be certain that you hear everything you are supposed to. But those 800Mhz frequencies set to 38 miles plus your default 20 miles in the scanner are very unlikly to have that coverage and would be unnessary scanned.

/Ubbe

 

[UPMan]

Range is based on the size of the geopolitical entity, not the receive range. The database is set up so that location/range defines where the channels are used. For a small town/village, 1 or 2.5 miles is not an unreasonable range setting.

See How it Works: Location, Location, Location

 

[phask]

I took a look in the master database and it must be difficult to use location based scanning in a proper way with the settings they have in that database.

I could see a Sheriffs Office and a Fire Distpatch on 30MHz and 150MHz set to 1.0 and 2.5 miles and 700Mhz and 800MHz frequencies set to 38.0 miles. I don't know who set those values and what they are based on but they seem very inconsistance.

I have heard Fire dispatch in US at 30Mhz here in Europe at a couple of times and that frequency generally have great propagation and coverage. You probably have to set your default range in the scanner, that adds that range to the ones in the database, to a very high value to be certain that you hear everything you are supposed to. But those 800Mhz frequencies set to 38 miles plus your default 20 miles in the scanner are very unlikly to have that coverage and would be unnessary scanned.

/Ubbe

I'd make a "guess" that those are no longer used, or used for some backup service.



Note states all is on the trunked system.


That said - 1 mile radious for the county is just wrong, unless it's a very small county.

 

[kingzjnky22]

Hiegtx…

Updating the Master Database did the trick! My scanner picks up things I never dreamed of. This is outstanding.

Thank you all for your help, time and responses.

They are very much appreciated!