Alliance MARCS Tower

[rj2233]

I have a BCD996XT. I live about 15 miles away from the Alliance MARCS tower. I have downloaded programming from radio reference via freescan. I can hear the CC on 868.7250. However when I hold on a talkgroup it says "Finding Control Channel".It also can't find it when scanning "NFM" displayed. It's as if it doesn't recognize the CC. This is the only tower I seem to be having this problem with.
Any help or suggestions please.
Thanks
RJ

 

[jerk]

How are you programming it... and what CC frequencies do you have programmed. All you need is the CC ones programmed. Sounds like you are not holding on the right channel... step through manually to get to the one you hear and it should track and you should hear traffic.

I recommend using a software to program along with a paid subscription to RR

I have a BCD996XT. I live about 15 miles away from the Alliance MARCS tower. I have downloaded programming from radio reference via freescan. I can hear the CC on 868.7250. However when I hold on a talkgroup it says "Finding Control Channel".It also can't find it when scanning "NFM" displayed. It's as if it doesn't recognize the CC. This is the only tower I seem to be having this problem with.
Any help or suggestions please.
Thanks
RJ

 

[rj2233]

Alliance Tower

I have a subscription to RR. I download my frequencies from RR using FreeScan & upload to my scanner from FreeScan. The Site information is from RR.
6F10 017 (11) Alliance Columbiana 867.66250 868.16250 868.52500a 868.72500c
I hear the control channel on 868.72500.

 

[W8RMH]

Your scanner and the programming is fine.

MARCS can be very hard to receive/decode. You will need to improve your reception of the system.

You are receiving enough signal to hear the data but not enough for your scanner to process it.

I recommend an 800 MHz antenna preferably a yagi aimed at the tower.

When your area moves to the MARCSIP P25 system you will notice a major improvement.

 

[Volfirefighter]

Your scanner and the programming is fine.

MARCS can be very hard to receive/decode. You will need to improve your reception of the system.

You are receiving enough signal to hear the data but not enough for your scanner to process it.

I recommend an 800 MHz antenna preferably a yagi aimed at the tower.

When your area moves to the MARCSIP P25 system you will notice a major improvement.

I can attest to this, I cannot receive the old Canton MARCS site at my home (@ 20 miles away) with an attic-mounted scantenna but I get 5 full bars on the Canton MARCS P25 site and I believe they are even on the same tower.

 

[jerk]

I have a subscription to RR. I download my frequencies from RR using FreeScan & upload to my scanner from FreeScan. The Site information is from RR.
6F10 017 (11) Alliance Columbiana 867.66250 868.16250 868.52500a 868.72500c
I hear the control channel on 868.72500.

Ok that makes it easier to program.
Is Alliance the only site you have programmed? Try programming more (surrounding) sites into the same system.

Also, do a limit search on 800 MHz to see how many control channels you can receive. Check the CC option on search. Depending where I am, I can get 3-4 MARCS sites which are then programmed into my North MARCS system. I have no problems receiving MARCS at home or work. Search always gives me sites that don't seem obvious. (Motorola systems)

 

[rj2233]

Ok, here is the update....
I had a discone antenna & a 800mhz 9 element yagi pointed at the Alliance MARCS tower. Was really puzzled why i could not get the Alliance site as I was getting the Stark Co/Canton system (1 bar), an very weak intermittent signal from the Summit Co system with this configeration.
So....
Still have the discone antenna. but since have replaced the 9-element yagi with a 15-element pointed at the Alliance site. Now I get the Alliance site with 1 bar. Stark Co/Canton now is 3 bars. Why is the Alliance Site so weak? Very little traffic on the Alliance Site by the way.

I get the Shalersville, Levittsburg, & Salem sites strong and the E. Trumbull & Chardon Sites (1 bar) with just the discone, can't get Cambell it's in a hole. I was hoping to get a little more MARCS coverage to my South West, for reference Canton is that direction from me. That is why I have been trying to get Alliance. I can't get a sniff of the Canton MARCS site,even with the new set up, just to far away. But I get the Stark Co/Canton system , go figure....

I will try doing a search as you mentioned. Just trying to get my set up right, just got the scanner a month ago. Sure is alot different than my old Bearcat BC855xlt!!!

Thanks for all the input.

 

[jerk]

Site coverage is limited on purpose to avoid interference. And some sites are just to "fill in" an area that has poor coverage for one reason or the other.

I think the search will tell you what towers are stronger and easily covered in your area. If I get time I will do a scan with my portable in Paris and let you know what control channels I receive. I think I easily receive 3 sites last time I checked. The Knox/Alliance tower is one build to fill in a dead area.

 

[jerk]

Ok, I did some searching with 396T
At a location 1 mile from the Stark/Columbiana line
867.9250 Delloy
867.9500 Germano
868.9000 Kensington
868.0625 Salem
868.3375 Lisbon
868.9750 Stratton
868.7250 Alliance

Moved 5 miles west to work
868.9000 Kensington
868.0750 Canton

Moved the scanner on my desk
868.8000 nimisila Res
Moved to Window same

Alliance is very weak and not received 5 miles west. Location is everything.
Kensington, Salem, Lisbon may be your best bets for reception.
The closest site may not always be the best for varies reasons. At work Canton and Kensington are best. All with a stock rubber duck antenna.

So experiment with search control channels and see what happens.