396XT scanning

[leaf]

Hey all,

Just got my BCD396XT the other day and finally got it programmed @ Stuart Electronics here in Queens. It's definitely worth it to get it programmed by someone who knows the area.

I find myself wanting to scan all of the Ham bands to listen for conversations and interesting things, and they did not set me up with a System with these freq's in it.

I am looking to program an easy way to scan the popular ham bands. Ideally I would like to be able to mute all of NYC (systems 1-8 on my scanner) and have system 9 be constantly scanning for ham conversations. I understand how to setup single frequencies into a System Group to be scanned, but is there a way to set up a "chunk" of frequencies to be scanned? For example, System 9 Group 1 would scan the 70cm band (420Mhz-450Mhz), and Group 2 would scan the 33cm band (902Mhz-928Mhz).

If this is not the most efficient way to do this, then what is?

-leaf

 

[gaburbano]

Of course there is. You simply set up a system called ham with a group, example ="queens repeaters" in group 1, group 2 "SI Repeaters", etc etc.. then simply shut off all the other systems, and leave system, "ham" on, and then activate each group to what you want to listen to...

Im on SI, we get together almost every week to discuss ham radio and set up field day events. If you are interested in joining us, just drop me a note, I'll tell you when we get together, I'll bring my laptop and help you out..

Im, assuming you have butel software, thats what I use to program mine..

George
N2ZNC
Staten Island.

 

[gaburbano]

I would do it so
System #1 NYC Ham

Group 1-Manhattan Ham Repeaters
Group 2-Bronx Ham""
Group 3 Brooklyn Ham ""
Group 4-Qns Repeaters-covering all ham repeaters in queens
Group 5- SI Repeaters

This grouping corresponds with most emergency group plans for EMS, Fire PD has it in different grouping, but it would keep it simple.

Each group QK in the system would activate each corresponding group in the "Ham system"

George

 

[ka3jjz]

Searching that much territory in one block is a waste of time. By the time you return to the once-active frequency, it could have gone quiet on you

Your much better bet is to find an accurate listing of repeaters in your area, and program those. Someone in our NYC forum (maybe N2NOV?) could point you in the right direction.

Mike

 

[leaf]

repeaters

Searching that much territory in one block is a waste of time. By the time you return to the once-active frequency, it could have gone quiet on you

Your much better bet is to find an accurate listing of repeaters in your area, and program those. Someone in our NYC forum (maybe N2NOV?) could point you in the right direction.

Mike

Ok, I understand. Yes it does take a long time to scan through all of those bands (especially when I have it set to 5 Khz step).
So if there is a HAM repeater in each NYC borough, do each of them receive and re-transmit the same thing? Does each repeater only receive and re-transmit only one frequency?

Any link's on NYC ham repeater info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the help..

 

[gaburbano]

Its easier than you think..

Ok, I understand. Yes it does take a long time to scan through all of those bands (especially when I have it set to 5 Khz step).
So if there is a HAM repeater in each NYC borough, do each of them receive and re-transmit the same thing? Does each repeater only receive and re-transmit only one frequency?

Any link's on NYC ham repeater info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the help..

Not sure about the searching thing.... Look up the most common repeaters in your area and program them into groups. Keep those groups by each borough like I mentioned above.
All those groups go into one system. Each borough has only a few of popular repeaters and most are in the 2 Meter and 440 bands. There are a few on 220mhz and only 1 or two on 900mhz.

So to clarify things:

you can multiple freqs pertaining to individual repeaters in those groups. The scanner would not scan the bands, they would simply scan the repeater freqs you programed. doesnt take long at all. Put in a delay of 2 seconds upon finding activity. You wont miss anything. Especially on the more common repeaters.

Why would you search the ham bands in 5khz steps?

2 meters are primarily located between 145.600 to 148.00 and they are at 600khz with only a few at 1mhz splits.
440mhz are at 5mhz splits. They are between 440.00 thru 449.00
NYC has only about 6 or 7 really active repeaters and a few of them cover the entire city or almost.
Some are linked..
If you live in queens depending on where you may also want to put in the common LIMARC repeaters from Nassau county and even Yonkers and westchester.

After you program the system, each system can have up to 20 groups.
So you can put in 5 groups , 1 for each borough.
Then Each group can have up to 1000 channels
You will not use 1000 channels cause there arent 1000 ham repeaters in NYC.

Each group then will be programmed to common respective repeaters in each borough.

When you are in queens you can activate group 4
When in manhattan you activate group 1 and so forth..

Put in a delay for about 3 sec. upon finding activity on a channel. If you find something you want to hear , hit the "hold" button.. You can also program the scanner to stay on a channel..

Its not difficult but it does require that you know how to operate your scanner and program it preferably with software. I prefer Butel Arc xt-pro.. but thats my choice. With a RR subscription you can even look them up here and import them.

Hope this helps.

George
N2ZNC

 

[gaburbano]

Ok, I understand. Yes it does take a long time to scan through all of those bands (especially when I have it set to 5 Khz step).
So if there is a HAM repeater in each NYC borough, do each of them receive and re-transmit the same thing? Does each repeater only receive and re-transmit only one frequency?

Any link's on NYC ham repeater info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for all the help..

Dont know why you would have to look up anything.. The listings are all here on RR.
You can even program them directly from RR using software..

I think part of the problem is you dont understand how repeaters work. So I'll make it short.
Listening to repeaters means you are programming their output freq on your scanner.
The input is what radio operators use to get into the repeater.
Ex: a ham repeater on 147.300 which cover most of queens and major parts of the city, you will be listening on 147.300 but the hams using that repeater will be transmitting on 147.900 . That repeater has a +600khz split. It receives on 146.900 but transmits on 147.300

Besides radio ops transmitting on the repeater's input freq. they also need to program a CTSS tone

You can also program your scanner to only open the squelch upon receiving the CTSS tone, however not all repeaters pass the tone.

To answer your other question, no all the repeaters do not transmit the same thing. The only ones that do are the ones that are linked together. Example on Staten Island, we have 3 repeaters linked together. 146.88, 445.825 and 447.375. They all transmit the same thing when people use any one individually.

Most repeaters belong to ham clubs, the remaining belong to individuals. Most are open to all hams but some are considered closed only to members.

Scanning public service agencies the same principles applies. You are listening to the output freq.

George

 

[ka3jjz]

Well the ham listings here aren't always complete - better to find a local resource - the local repeater coordinator would be a good start - that way you aren't searching whole sections of bands that might - or might not - be active.

Remember this is a member supported database - if no one has submitted it, it won't be here, even if it is active.

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Here's the amateur database for NY

New York Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

There doesn't seem to be much in the 900 Mhz area, but then again, like I said earlier, if it hasn't been reported, it won't be here (we don't take FCC data dumps). This is where a local coordination website might be a better resource. To be sure, it's far from perfect, but probably the best you can do.

Depending on the software you use, you may be able to copy/paste the data of another website. ARC has this ability, I believe; FreeScan does via the EZ-Grab function. Both depend on the data being ins some sort of tabular listing to be able to be copied.

Mike

 

[leaf]

Not sure about the searching thing.... Look up the most common repeaters in your area and program them into groups. Keep those groups by each borough like I mentioned above.
All those groups go into one system. Each borough has only a few of popular repeaters and most are in the 2 Meter and 440 bands. There are a few on 220mhz and only 1 or two on 900mhz.

So to clarify things:

you can multiple freqs pertaining to individual repeaters in those groups. The scanner would not scan the bands, they would simply scan the repeater freqs you programed. doesnt take long at all. Put in a delay of 2 seconds upon finding activity. You wont miss anything. Especially on the more common repeaters.

Why would you search the ham bands in 5khz steps?

2 meters are primarily located between 145.600 to 148.00 and they are at 600khz with only a few at 1mhz splits.
440mhz are at 5mhz splits. They are between 440.00 thru 449.00
NYC has only about 6 or 7 really active repeaters and a few of them cover the entire city or almost.
Some are linked..
If you live in queens depending on where you may also want to put in the common LIMARC repeaters from Nassau county and even Yonkers and westchester.

After you program the system, each system can have up to 20 groups.
So you can put in 5 groups , 1 for each borough.
Then Each group can have up to 1000 channels
You will not use 1000 channels cause there arent 1000 ham repeaters in NYC.

Each group then will be programmed to common respective repeaters in each borough.

When you are in queens you can activate group 4
When in manhattan you activate group 1 and so forth..

Put in a delay for about 3 sec. upon finding activity on a channel. If you find something you want to hear , hit the "hold" button.. You can also program the scanner to stay on a channel..

Its not difficult but it does require that you know how to operate your scanner and program it preferably with software. I prefer Butel Arc xt-pro.. but thats my choice. With a RR subscription you can even look them up here and import them.

Hope this helps.

George
N2ZNC

Hey George, I understand the programming part, but I guess I am a little shaky on the concepts of the repeater and also finding out which frequencies matter. I will program the System as soon as I can find the actual repeater freq's I need.

The reason I was scanning @ 5 Khz is because I am assuming that putting it @ 5 gives the scan a better resolution, less of a chance to miss something. By your response it appears I am misunderstanding.

I think I understand much better now about the repeaters after your last post. The only thing I am still scratching my head about is if there are many more potential frequency's in the 2m band than there are repeaters in the area, wont we only hear a very small portion of that band by just scanning those repeater frequencies?

I think that question made sense??

Thanks man!

 

[leaf]

Here's the amateur database for NY

New York Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

There doesn't seem to be much in the 900 Mhz area, but then again, like I said earlier, if it hasn't been reported, it won't be here (we don't take FCC data dumps). This is where a local coordination website might be a better resource. To be sure, it's far from perfect, but probably the best you can do.

Depending on the software you use, you may be able to copy/paste the data of another website. ARC has this ability, I believe; FreeScan does via the EZ-Grab function. Both depend on the data being ins some sort of tabular listing to be able to be copied.

Mike

THanks for the link Mike. Ok, I guess I assumed that there were not many repeaters out there, but I have found a few other links too:
New York Amateur Radio Repeaters

New York Repeater Directory

I will definitely need to get my software going before I attempt to input all of this into groups because doing it all by hand would be too much...

 

[leaf]

I just found this website, and I am going to punch in a couple frequencies to see if I can hear anything from these repeaters.

I notice that there is a + or - near each of the frequencies. If it say 447.325 - does that mean I need to subtract 600 kHz or is that already figured in? Thanks for the help!

-leaf

EDIT heres the site
http://www.levinecentral.com/repeat...e=NY&BP6=1&BP2=1&BP125=1&BP70=1&BP33=1&BP23=1

 

[ka3jjz]

The plus or minus is what we refer to as the offset. That's what direction you would subtract from (or add to) the output freq to find the input. Forget about hearing the inputs as you would need to be fairly close - concentrate on just the outputs

Mike

 

[gaburbano]

To add or substract...

I just found this website, and I am going to punch in a couple frequencies to see if I can hear anything from these repeaters.

I notice that there is a + or - near each of the frequencies. If it say 447.325 - does that mean I need to subtract 600 kHz or is that already figured in? Thanks for the help!

-leaf

Leaf, my brother, I wrote it out for you and anyone else with similar questions in the previous post.

If you are simply scanning you dont have to worry about the plus or minus (aka "the offset") thats for programming radios that are going to transmit on the repeater.

If it says 447.325 just program that in. But for your info, like I wrote above, most 2 meter repeaters, on the 146mhz band, use a 600kz offset. Either minus 600kz or plus 600kz . A few do use a 1mhz split, either minus 1mhz or plus 1mhz.

440 repeaters or 70cm machines use a 5mhz split. So those will be either plus 5mhz or minus 5mhz.

"AGAIN THIS MATTERS ONLY IF YOU WILL BE TRANSMITTING" If you are not ham then you are not authorized to be transmitting on these freqs.

That repeater is in whitestone, never been on it since Im rarely in the queens area.
Other machines you might want to program if you want to listen is 441.100 in brooklyn but has a wide area coverage. and perhaps 146.850 located in long island.

George