Another new user needs help

[CherokeeSlim]

I would like some help here. Since I retired I have purchased a Uniden Bearcat BCT8 BearTracker Warning System with 800 MHz TrunkTracker III.

I haven’t listened to scanners for about 30 years, since back when I installed crystals to hear specific frequencies like THP and others.

I have programmed the frequencies found in the database for Chattanooga/Hamilton County but only rarely hear anything. The fire, police and other bands in the 154mhz & 400mhz areas work fine. I don’t seem to hear the volume of traffic that I would expect to hear from Chattanooga and Hamilton County in the 800mhz areas.

I have a Kenwood TS140S that I have hooked up to a long wire antenna for SWL. I’ve connected this antenna to the scanner and I get more stations, but not the ones I want.

Is there something else I need to do to hear the trunked systems? I thought I understood them but maybe not. Offsets or tones that I may need to program?

Thanks for the help,

Cherokee Slim

 

[ka3jjz]

Cherokee, it's likely part of your issue is that the Hamilton county system has been rebanded, as described here...

Chattanooga/Hamilton County Public Safety Trunking System, Chattanooga, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies

For your BCT8 to work properly, you will need to apply the firmware update and also install a custom table. The firmware updates are here;

BCT8FirmwareUpdate < UnidenMan4 < TWiki

as well as the instructions on how to enter the custom table manually.

As shown above, this system has a few - not many - digital talkgroups. These are shown by the 'D' in the mode column. The BCT8 will not decode these, otherwise once you fix the firmware and enter the table, as long as you have it programmed properly, you should be good to go.

We have a Tenn. forum - if you have specific questions about the Hamilton system, that would be the place to go.

73 (best regards) and GL..Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

The thread in the Tennessee forum about the Hamilton rebanding;

http://forums.radioreference.com/te...94-chattanooga-hamilton-county-rebanding.html

73 Mike

 

[CherokeeSlim]

OK It took several days to get a serial to USB cable, then the update doesn't work with a Mac, etc.

I've successfully completed the firmware update and now have constant traffic, pretty much what I originally expected, all the time. Now I'm busy sorting out frequencies & call #s to better understand who & what is talking. Thanks for the help. I expect to be more involved on this forum & the local club.

Cherokee Slim
KC4IHO