296D scans APCO25 systems ok except for OHIO MARCS?

[dizwiz]

I am having a major problem with scanning Ohios MARCS systems.

This is a 3600 baud 800 MHZ APCO25 based system that has either one or two towers in each county. Statewide users such as EMA, highway patrol, natural resources, etc. use this.

I find it really odd that my BC296D works great on other agencies apco25 digital systems but not this one.

My scanner doesnt always come off the control channel when there is a talkgroup (it says the talkgroup ID under the control channel but doesnt move to the frequency that talkgroup is using)...

Other times it moves to the frequency, but I only get PARTIAL DECODE of the audio. Heres an example:

"<buzzsaw from control channel> We have a <beep, gronk, click> 75 send <gronk, beep> immediately"

Anything surrounded in carrots represents undecoded audio.

Ive tried different squelch settings, I even bought a specific tuned 800 MHZ region only antenna from scannermaster to no avail.

Its not my location either because even when mobile and near the towers it doesnt work flawlessly (although i think it works better if I am closer to the towers).

Im annoyed because this is the main system I got the scanner to monitor.

Again, the other APCO25 (akron, ohio police, summit county, etc) work flawlessly even 15 miles away from the city.

I tried posting this in the OHio regional section also to no avail. Most responses say 'Buy a Pro 96' or something like that.

 

[N_Jay]

Could be local interference or IM on one or more frequencies,

Have you tried listening in conventional to see how each channel sounds?

 

[Vini]

Id try an outdoor antenna and as already said conventinal scanning!! Rotating freqs could be happening!! OSP do it around here!!

 

[markle]

Do you have the radio on control channel only, or do you have all the systems freqs entered? May have picked the wrong plan. My 250 works with MARCS and the PRO 96 works all over the state with only the control channels entered. Certainly easier to monitor a system such as MARCS with entering only the control channels and not having to pick a plan. Also, make sure the sound quality is set to where it is picking up transmissions.

 

[sacf]

MARC's

Setting APCO 25 Sound Quality...

I have found that in changing the setting of the sound quality will change the ability to receive signals....If fact if the sound setting is off you will not even hear anything.....I have the same problem in Lake Co. Ohio where the County system is ok the local MARCs system is distorted or not heard...I have tried to adjust the sound setting to try to match both...
Remember that by setting the sound quality on one system will also adjust the setting for any other system...I have found that the MARCs system in this area works best with the system set at least to 700 or better but is lost after 1800. The local system works best at around 600 but it also can be lost if set to high or to low..