Uniden BC996XT out of Range?

[aschenavar]

Question because RR wouldn't allow me to post in the "uniden" section. I have a Uniden BC996XT that I have just recently started messing with for my Fire Chief. I went through Free Scan for programming and did the automatic download through RR on it. It seems to have programmed ok, but I am new to Digital/Trunking scanners so I'm not sure if I have an issue or not. The county to my north I cannot hear anything off the site/group that I am trying to hear. I was able to hear some traffic over the highway patrol's tower to my east. I have checked the control channels and they are all programmed into the scanner for each site. The scanner shows NFM ATT on the front of the scanner and I do not see any service bars, nor do I hear any buzzing on any channel that I am concerned with.

It is on the St. Louis Area Trunked Emergency Radio network
Jefferson County sites (both)

 

[cmjonesinc]

ATT means the attuenator is on. Try turning it off and see if anything improves.

 

[wtp]

do you mean

the phase 2 towers ???

 

[aschenavar]

I assume they are phase II at this point..I believe I'm gathering that the 996xt was only phase I capable?

 

[wtp]

yes

the 996 P2 is of course phase 2 compatible.

 

[aschenavar]

the 996 P2 is of course phase 2 compatible.

ahhhhhh wonderful....so I get to tell my Chief his fancy scanner isn't gonna do well for him lol

 

[N8IAA]

ahhhhhh wonderful....so I get to tell my Chief his fancy scanner isn't gonna do well for him lol

Phase II with Phase I TGID's. The 996XT will work until the system goes full time TDMA (Phase II).

Larry

 

[western_pa_radio]

When did the 996XT come out? I think I remember seeing 2009 or 2013.

 

[mule1075]

2009

 

[marksmith]

The 996xt and 396xt are now discontinued. Still great scanners for all but phase 2, but they are replaced by the 996p2 and 325p2.

Mark
SDS100/536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[western_pa_radio]

Around Four of the seven counties around me have gone phase 2 but have literally added the dreaded encryption to that. This is partly the reason I am asking the release year. Now I have to pretty much buy the brand new handheld Uniden to even have a chance.

 

[darkness975]

Around Four of the seven counties around me have gone phase 2 but have literally added the dreaded encryption to that. This is partly the reason I am asking the release year. Now I have to pretty much buy the brand new handheld Uniden to even have a chance.

A new scanner won't help with encryption, only with un-encrypted phase II.

 

[marksmith]

No scanner will enable receiving encrypted channels. The latest Uniden will substantially improve reception of systems using simulcast, which does not necessarily involve just phase 2.

Some phase 1 P25 systems are notorious simulcast distortion problems and the SDS100's claim to fame is this specific issue. Some phase 2 systems are handled fine with a 436.

Mark
SDS100/536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others