Antenna for Atlanta system

[thedogfood]

Anyone suggest a good base antenna for listening to the Atlanta P25 system?

I'm on the southern side of the city, Hapeville area using a PSR-800 and cannot keep the T trunk indicator solid. For that matter, the signal strength bars are all over the place and I am often missing one side of transmissions or both. It takes somebody talking fairly long for the signal to lock.

And this is with one talkgroup programmed so it's not wandering off checking other channels.

The result is the same if using the stock antenna, the RS 800MHz duck antenna, the Laird NMO 150/450/800MHz mobile antenna, or an old 800/900/1900 Wilson data antenna. Two different PSR-800s as well.

If things are just right and I hold the radio pointing east or west, sometimes that T will stay solid and lo and behold the signals comes in just fine. Perfect.

TIA

 

[N8IAA]

Anyone suggest a good base antenna for listening to the Atlanta P25 system?

I'm on the southern side of the city, Hapeville area using a PSR-800 and cannot keep the T trunk indicator solid. For that matter, the signal strength bars are all over the place and I am often missing one side of transmissions or both. It takes somebody talking fairly long for the signal to lock.

And this is with one talkgroup programmed so it's not wandering off checking other channels.

The result is the same if using the stock antenna, the RS 800MHz duck antenna, the Laird NMO 150/450/800MHz mobile antenna, or an old 800/900/1900 Wilson data antenna. Two different PSR-800s as well.

If things are just right and I hold the radio pointing east or west, sometimes that T will stay solid and lo and behold the signals comes in just fine. Perfect.

TIA

First, the 'T' will always blink while scanning. Does it on my 800, Pro-196/197 too. It sounds like you have the squelch too tight, or too loose. Look at the top of the radio and see where the line on the squelch knob lines up with the painted area on the scanner. Mine works the best near the top of the blackened area. Make sure you have all the towers near you programmed in. Make sure that you use just control channels. It will allow the scanner to lock onto the strongest CC.
HTH,
Larry

 

[b7spectra]

With the Atlanta DTRS, you could use a paperclip in the antenna jack from where you are at and pick it up just fine!

 

[thedogfood]

Oddly a coiled paperclip was working better. Now trying a Diamond RH77CA. All else fails, I can use it to transmit.