178 miles...???

[LIScanner101]

Is it possible?

Is it feasible for me to scan Cape Cod FD (an 800MHz trunked system) from Hicksville NY - a distance of over 175 miles?

I did a mapping of the distance as the crow flies and it looks like most of it is over water.

I assume that if this is at ALL possible I would need a super-high gain Yagi way up and some mega-thick coax - or would it just be impossible under all considerations?

I used to listen to Cape Cod from my camper in Montauk - it's a pretty busy system!

 

[KB1VLA]

If there is a band opening, it is most certainly possible.

 

[LIScanner101]

Sorry, what's a "band opening"? Is that the same thing as low band skip? My apologies, I'm not being deliberately obtuse, I just don't understand...

 

[rosecitytransit]

I think it may mean that there's no other users in the line of sight (or otherwise receivable) that would interfere. In other words, a clear path in the spectrum.

 

[KB1VLA]

Sorry, what's a "band opening"? Is that the same thing as low band skip? My apologies, I'm not being deliberately obtuse, I just don't understand...

Yep, the same principle, except it doesn't happen as regularly as on low band, due to the high frequency. I have monitored the MSP system with a Pro-106 with stock antenna from York County, Maine before.

 

[ka3jjz]

The best place to get a description of how band openings can occur can be found on the site below...

Tropospheric DX Modes

Nice and simple, without a lot of technical jargon that can more often than not confuse rather than inform.

However it should be noted that on 800 Mhz, it doesn't happen very often, and when it does, it's usually in the dead of summer with a stalled weather front. You are more likely to be able to hear them using any of the numerous online scanners that can be found all over (as well as on our sister site, Broadcastify.com - the Mass. entry is below...

Broadcastify - Massachusetts Live Audio Feeds

and I'd also ask on the Scan New England website about other online feeds...

Massachusetts Statewide

as well as on our own Mass. forum...

HTH...Mike

 

[LIScanner101]

Thanks Mike. Yeah, I know I can always listen in on live feed but half the fun is "hunting down" the signal and having 100% control over what I listen to as opposed to having to be restricted by what the feed allows.

 

[VE3CRO]

It is entirely possible to reliably monitor Cape Cod from your location. All that is required (given no rising terrain between you and them) is an antenna mounted on a tower at least 116 feet high. The curvature of the earth is about 8" per mile (7.98" to be more accurate). Direct line of sight would be achieved at very close to 116 feet. No band opening required.

 

[LIScanner101]

It is entirely possible to reliably monitor Cape Cod from your location. All that is required (given no rising terrain between you and them) is an antenna mounted on a tower at least 116 feet high. The curvature of the earth is about 8" per mile (7.98" to be more accurate). Direct line of sight would be achieved at very close to 116 feet. No band opening required.

That was sarcasm, right? I can't put up a 116' tower.

 

[VE3CRO]

No it wasn't sarcasm. You asked if it was at all possible and I answered. I know more than one ham with a 100' tower. Didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers. I did want to illustrate how you could figure it out. Cheers.

 

[W8RMH]

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I don't think you'll receive that system that far away just due to the curvature of the earth alone

 

[danham]

You probably already know this, but just in case ... there is no such thing as "Cape Cod FD." We have 15 towns, each of which has one FD and one of which has several "fire district" FDs. They are all on the MA State Police trunk and of course there are interop talk groups as well.

As for working this from 178 miles away -- an interesting challenge. Over the water can help but can be very fickle. There are places here on the Cape itself where portables find themselves in black holes of no signal.

-dan

 

[rfradioconsult]

With one antenna at 20 feet and the second at 200 feet your line-of-sight is 26 miles.

 

[LIScanner101]

No it wasn't sarcasm. You asked if it was at all possible and I answered. I know more than one ham with a 100' tower. Didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers. I did want to illustrate how you could figure it out. Cheers.

No worries, I was being a little too sensitive about it...! Thanks and I appreciate your input.

 

[LIScanner101]

You probably already know this, but just in case ... there is no such thing as "Cape Cod FD." We have 15 towns, each of which has one FD and one of which has several "fire district" FDs. They are all on the MA State Police trunk and of course there are interop talk groups as well.

Yes, I do know, I was just referring to the ones on the Cape colloquially. I used to listen to Barnstable, Mashpee, Cotuit, Hyannis, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Orleans, East Harwich etc etc. It was a great group of FD's because they were always so active (I guess that depends what end of the call you're on!).

As for working this from 178 miles away -- an interesting challenge. Over the water can help but can be very fickle. There are places here on the Cape itself where portables find themselves in black holes of no signal.

-dan

Yeah, I'm almost ready to just admit that it's probably not going to be worth the expense of finding a super-high gain Yagi and pointing it towards MA, and since I can't put up a huge tower then most likely it's not gonna work.

 

[LIScanner101]

With one antenna at 20 feet and the second at 200 feet your line-of-sight is 26 miles.

Wow, THAT'S not good!

 

[kayn1n32008]

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Reliably listening to a Vhf signal at 178miles is next to impossible, never mind 800MHz.

 

[gunmasternd]

850 MHz Grid paraboilc dish Antenna high gain series | 806-896 MHz , 17- 23dBi

and a preamp? maybe plus you have to mount it about the tree line! that dish would have to be within a couple of degrees of the antenna you want to listen to also.

You would be able to pick it up maybe with alot of noise and other Signals.

 

[LIScanner101]

I give up - WAAAY too much involved! Thanks for all the great input though.

 

[ridgescan]

Just to add to the buzzkill here-I have a d130j discone at 50' and the furthest I can get is about 40-50 miles, and that is vhf and uhf. Granted, an omni antenna and more than a few hills in between.
On 800, I can't even get Oakland stuff just across the bay at 10-12 miles.. funny though, I can get San Francisco on 800 in the truck off the Larsen Tribander when I'm in Oakland lol, which shows that hills can kill signals.
I wonder if a tuned yagi pointed dead on toward the desired agency might at least get you in the ballpark?