BCD396XT/BCD996XT: 996XT Woes

[JamesO]

Again, change the environment and see what happens.

2 blocks away/1 mile away should be a totally different environment and if things change/improve, you know there is a problem at or near the house, if things stay the same, then the environment is not likely the problem.

Again, I think a video is needed to understand what the issue is.

 

[Jaxco]

Location, Location, Location. After disabling CC at the 2 stores, they were flawless, I still get a minor cycling clipping but NOTHING even similar to what it was before disabling CC. At least I learned the polling method for the scanner because of this issue.

Wish list for future scanners - Some of these would be easy, a couple probably quite expensive:

* Larger Display.

* Standard USB Port.

* A remote control so I can pause scanning from across the room on an interesting call and raise volume

* A secondary tuner specifically to poll close calls, priority channels or have the option to use the second tuner to drive a separate feed to line out.

* SD or MicroSD slot to save events - I understand some models have this but it would be a big plus.

* 2 way Bluetooth connectivity - Audio AND data.

* Direct Wifi connectivity for easier program by zipcode / range and firmware checks / updates.

* Simpler direct input programming menus that are far more intuitive, that follow a natural flow for those with less experience or those who wish to add to existing systems / groups on the fly.

* Software that when installed on a PC AND you scanner is connected by Wireless, USB, Serial or Bluetooth allows you to mirror the display on your scanner and resize it for easy reading at any distance and also allows you to control the scanner as well.

* Modify scanner memory to make it an internet device as well, meaning that you aren't limited to scanning just within your range but when connected via Wi-Fi or tethered to a computer, you can add any of the available feeds to your scanning routine.

Sorry guys, I am a programmer & network administrator, I think of lots of nerdy tweaks, but I am sure all of them and then some have been thought of before and posted here.

Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[W8RMH]

You should probably do a little research and learn how to operate the radio before making claims of firmware and hardware issues. These occurrences have been discussed in these forums and in the Wiki many, many times.

 

[Jaxco]

I am a network administrator and a programmer since 1992, first computer class was in 1982 in college. Part of my job entails a lot of troubleshooting, I think in hardware software terms. I have had to deal with packet loss issues before and when it cycled on a regular interval, I thought that there could be a hardware/software issue. I admitted my error earlier in the thread, but again, I said I am still having a cycling clipping going on. Good chance that it is location.

The word "Possible" was clearly in the thread title.

 

[JamesO]

Post a video, it will clear things up quickly.

Also clearly state what systems you are monitoring.

 

[SCPD]

With that cell tower near have you tried using the attenuator ?

 

[Jaxco]

With that cell tower near have you tried using the attenuator ?

There's a thought...

 

[SCPD]

cell

Im in between two cell towers,so I doubt that .Radios are fine.
The frequencies for the alarm is up in the 300-400 MHZ area,try an outdoor antenna that has some gain on it.The 996xt is a cadillac,should work perfect!The 536HP does alot of what you are looking for.

 

[Jaxco]

May not have anything to do with it. I am looking at everything at this point, my unit is flawless away from my house, positively flawless so unit problems have been ruled out. I am now trying to find the bug in my setup at home.

I truly appreciate the help here, and yes - even the most critical help - sometimes it is a MUST!

 

[SCPD]

try

May not have anything to do with it. I am looking at everything at this point, my unit is flawless away from my house, positively flawless so unit problems have been ruled out. I am now trying to find the bug in my setup at home.

I truly appreciate the help here, and yes - even the most critical help - sometimes it is a MUST!

Turn your circuit breaker off except for the scanner,turn em on one at a time see what happens.
My friend cant use his MAC computer or TV when his home patrol is on the home patrol gets interference from them.

 

[JamesO]

Turn your circuit breaker off except for the scanner,turn em on one at a time see what happens.
My friend cant use his MAC computer or TV when his home patrol is on the home patrol gets interference from them.

Better yet, run the scanner on battery and then try it in the driveway and the house.

You may be suffering from simulcast/multipath and/or just signal attenuation in the house.

I run a very low noise pre-Amp on a scanner in the core of the house as I have not had time to cable this location to the attic antenna.

In the core of the house I loose a lot of signals as compared to the perimeter or even outside in the truck.

 

[Jaxco]

Hey, at my house I turned close call back on - at 51.0400Mhz I heard the cycling that was bleeding over to everything on my scanner. I could not find a user license for 51.0400Mhz - does anyone know what may use it, because it IS my culprit.

 

[JamesO]

Be careful, may not be 51.04 MHz, could be something mixing at IF or an offset via IF frequency.

Suggest you try the the frequency counter option menu 0+3+Hold it may help location/narrow things down a bit.

Uniden scanner test modes - The RadioReference Wiki

It is referred to as Frequency Bands Test

 

[KE4ZNR]

You should probably do a little research and learn how to operate the radio before making claims of firmware and hardware issues. These occurrences have been discussed in these forums and in the Wiki many, many times.

To be fair Jaxo is a new(er) RR member so I am willing to give him the benefit
of the doubt but to prevent any future confusion I edited the post title
to remove reference to hardware/firmware bugs.
Jaxo--Good to have you here and glad you have made headway towards getting your
situation resolved!
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[derevs]

Here's a way to locate RF interference shown to me by a Rogers Cable investigator.

If you have a portable scanner it would be better than a desktop/mobile unit.

Tune to 121.500 am, lower the squelch and walk around locating the loudest interference, then you can remove the antenna to get an even closer location.

I located a broken shield in my tv cable that was transmitting on 121.500. How did the cable company find out, well the DOC here in Canada, the equivalent of the FCC, apparently do fly overs trying to locate RF interference to aircraft communications.

 

[JamesO]

Here's a way to locate RF interference shown to me by a Rogers Cable investigator.

If you have a portable scanner it would be better than a desktop/mobile unit.

Tune to 121.500 am, lower the squelch and walk around locating the loudest interference, then you can remove the antenna to get an even closer location.

I located a broken shield in my tv cable that was transmitting on 121.500. How did the cable company find out, well the DOC here in Canada, the equivalent of the FCC, apparently do fly overs trying to locate RF interference to aircraft communications.

That may or may not work for the OP's case. Many cable companies actually put out a specific leakage carrier that is modulated with a tone and is not directly on either a specific cable channel and/or aircraft frequency. Also cable modulators many years ago after problems were not allowed to operate on standard aircraft frequencies. Many of the cable companies drive their plant with a truck that had an antenna and a receiver to look specifically for cable leakage and this is often why they have a specific leakage frequency they actually combine and modulate into their plant.

On the reverse side aircraft communications and/or pager interference can actually ingress into a cable plant that had compromised shielding and/or connectors. I had a problem many years ago where I would randomly pick up aircraft on my cable system. Turned out the buried drop in the bushes was cut up with a shovel by landscapers at some point. Aircraft comms would bleed into the badly damaged shield as it flew near where I lived.