Arrrghh!

[OmensEdge]

So yeah, I've been asking about all of the local Kalamazoo and State Police frequencies on here and how to program them in and all that. I had gone through and entered in all of the control channels and IDs and wasn't able to pickup anything and I figured I was obviously doing something wrong.

Anyways, I left my home today and brought my scanner with me to see if I could pick up any of the conventional frequencies I had programmed in. Immediately after I left, I started picking up all of the digital frequencies in the area including the State Police and pretty much all of the local groups that use the Kalamazoo control channel frequencies. Then, I come home and try to listen to the frequencies and I get nothing.

I went out to a local Radio Shack and picked up one of their telescoping antennas and figured it would help the reception. I still can't pick up any digital transmissions with it. So now, I have the regular antenna that comes with the Pro-96, the Radio Shack telescoping antenna and the 800 MHZ antenna and neither of them will pick up anything digital inside my home.

My first question is, could my lack of reception be brought on because of the poor quality of the digital performance in my area? I was reading an update about the MPSCS system here and it said they might have to put up another tower to improve the reception in Kalamazoo. Second, is there any way I can improve my reception by buying another antenna. Like I mentioned, I have 3 already that I've tried out and have had no luck with. Is there some sort of amplified or extened range antenna made that will work with a handheld? Keep in mind, I don't think I can use a base antenna where I'm at.

It's sad that I'm looking at having to take this scanner back since its digital capabilites serve me no purpose as was the case with the BC250D I recently bought. I really enjoy scanning and I don't really want to give up the hobby. Then again, I don't feel like moving around my city looking for a new place to live that has an optimal digital scanning listening environment.

 

[feta92]

I would just give it time. More and more cities counties and the like will be going to digital which means more coverage. Just stick with it and you will find that the money spent will be worth the investment.

 

[mikey60]

Do you have Nextel towers near you? If so the front end of the radio may be getting overloaded. Try turning on attenuation and see if it helps at all.

Mike

 

[garryd451]

Have you talked to the manager of your Radiohack store?

Have You talked to the Manager of your RadioShack Store? The Manager of the Radioshack store here in Niles is very informative when it comes to programming the pro96, the deoarments it can pick up and general information about the pro96....Yes, I know, alot of people think's this isn't true about RadioShack. But the Manger of the store here in Niles, is very helepful.

I

 

[FPO703]

He's got all the correct stuff in the scanner. It's just that he's unable to recieve inside his home which could be caused by a number of things.

 

[OmensEdge]

I would just give it time. More and more cities counties and the like will be going to digital which means more coverage. Just stick with it and you will find that the money spent will be worth the investment.

I might just do that. I was actually thinking about taking it back earlier, though. I'm trying to stay patient and see if things work out. It gets a little frustrating though especially since I've spent about 95% of my time with my scanner programming it, trying to receive signals, trying different antennas etc. and about the other 5% actually listening to it.

Do you have Nextel towers near you? If so the front end of the radio may be getting overloaded. Try turning on attenuation and see if it helps at all.

Mike

Mike, I'm not sure about the Nextel towers. It's possible. You wouldn't happen to know how to activate attenuation on all the channels on the Pro-96 would you? or anyone? I noticed that it is off on every channel.

 

[OmensEdge]

I was just reading on the Scan Michigan Yahoo group about a recent pursuit in my area the other night where several officers were having severe trouble communicating while on the scene with other units. I'm about a block away from where all the action went down after this pursuit. Someone mentioned that there might be a "dead spot" in my area.

Now, is there a difference between just hearing or receiving the digital signals and the officers who actually talk and transmit on them? Or is it the same? Could the area I'm in actually be a "dead spot" where no digital signals can be picked up on a receiver or transmitted through as what looks like was the case after the pursuit the other night?

 

[jimsokol]

Do you have 868.4125 in your programming? This freq was left out of the v-scanner configuration originally, and I don't know if it's been added to newer units.

...jim

 

[rdale]

The north half of my house (single story) is a complete deadzone... I cannot pick up a thing with my radio unless I lay it down flat on a few specific tables, using the RS 800MHz antenna. Just like the "real" radios have places they won't work in, or work very rarely, you'll have the same issue with a scanner.

 

[OmensEdge]

Actually, I found one spot tonight where I can pick up digital.

If I go in the most western edge of my upstairs bedroom near the window, I can get it. I have to hold the scanner near the window and kind of move it around to lock on to the transmission when I pick it up.

rdale, if Kalamazoo went ahead and added another tower somewhere in the city as Motorola suggested, do you think it would improve the reception?

 

[Thunderbolt]

I recommend a really good outdoor antenna, with low-loss coax and connectors. This would greatly improve your reception until a new tower is built in Kzoo to cover the dead spot(s) in your area. Likewise, you can also listen to all the action in neighboring areas with a high-quality antenna.

73's

Ron

 

[OmensEdge]

Do you have any suggestions on a good antenna?