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Baofeng 888s Frequency Question

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ant888

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I am pretty new to programming radios, so bear with me.
I recently got my BF888s working, and was curious if I can listen to my local police frequency on it. So, I input the frequency on the Programming software, uploaded it to the radio, and listened.

But, the only thing I could hear was a steady and ongoing "beep" sound.
The frequency is 154.755, and I am guessing that this frequency does not work on this radio.

If anyone could put some insight on this, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.
 

KK4JUG

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That radio is UHF only and it will not pick up trunked systems. You need to do a little research to learn the frequencies you want to monitor then buy a scanner. The 888 is a transceiver and while it may be able to monitor some public safety frequencies, that's not what it's designed for..
 

ant888

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Oh, okay, I have a scanner already, so it was out of curiosity. Thanks for the answer, though.

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ant888

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One more question: does trunked mean Digital?

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ant888

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Trunking can be done with both analog and digital transmissions.
So, that means only certain public safety frequencies can be picked up by the 888, correct?
Excluding the one I was talking about.

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jwt873

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Yes, if the system is using analog voice you can, but it's difficult.

Trunking takes a pool of frequencies and uses them in the most efficient manner. The system is computer controlled and Talk Groups are used rather than frequencies.

So when someone talks on a trunked system, the computer will grab the first free frequency and use that. This happens every time someone talks. All this frequency hopping is coordinated on a frequency designated as the control channel. Because the system juggles frequencies all you will hear is bits of conversations if you try to listen to any single frequency.

A scanner that supports trunking will use data from a control channel to follow whoever you are listening to from channel to channel.

Note that trunking requires a pool of frequencies. Any system that uses a single channel isn't trunked.
 

ant888

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Yes, if the system is using analog voice you can, but it's difficult.

Trunking takes a pool of frequencies and uses them in the most efficient manner. The system is computer controlled and Talk Groups are used rather than frequencies.

So when someone talks on a trunked system, the computer will grab the first free frequency and use that. This happens every time someone talks. All this frequency hopping is coordinated on a frequency designated as the control channel. Because the system juggles frequencies all you will hear is bits of conversations if you try to listen to any single frequency.

A scanner that supports trunking will use data from a control channel to follow whoever you are listening to from channel to channel.

Note that trunking requires a pool of frequencies. Any system that uses a single channel isn't trunked.
Ah, okay. I also noticed this radio is 400-470mhz, and the frequency is in the 150.755. I'm guessing that means that that this radio only picks up frequencies in the range of 400-470?
 

jwt873

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Yes.. From 30 to 300 Mhz is VHF -- From 300 Mhz to 3 Ghz is UHF

The 400 to 470 Mhz range makes the 888 a UHF radio only.
 

ant888

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Thanks, this answers my questions. I'll stick to my scanner for these frequencies :)
 

ant888

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Does anyone know if the 888 comes with a roger Beep? I haven't noticed one...

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KK4JUG

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No, it doesn't. Fred Beep bought one last year but he doesn't use it anymore.
 

ant888

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Sorry for the thread bump, but I was reading this thread over again, and realized that my local police frequency is analog, not digital.

Regardless of the frequency, does analog mean the 888 can pick this frequency up?

Thanks.
 

ant888

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Only if the frequency is in the UHF range between 400-470 MHz that the BF-888 covers.
Ok, thanks. Basically I can't listen to 154.755 on the 888? Is there a way it can possibly be achieved?

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KK4JUG

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Ok, thanks. Basically I can't listen to 154.755 on the 888? Is there a way it can possibly be achieved?

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No! For the same reason you don't hear aircraft on your TV or the Coast Guard on your cordless phone. They're all different.
 

k9wkj

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No! For the same reason you don't hear aircraft on your TV or the Coast Guard on your cordless phone. They're all different.

hehe I remember when i was a MUCH younger man
it was often a plane could be heard bleeding thru the tuner of a cheap tv
remember when you had to turn a dial and it went clunk clunk?

also we are getting a bunch of low and mid band tv channels back over the next few years
so maybe we can enjoy similar effects
thanks to our lovely TV repack https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/fcc-initiatives/incentive-auctions/post-auction-transition
 

KK4JUG

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ant888, you might want to get a primer on radios so you can understand the difference. Those differences are very important. Or, find a amateur radio operator who can help you along. Even if they're not into the stuff you want to listen to, they can let you know whether you're barking up the right tree.
 

tj20

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hehe I remember when i was a MUCH younger man
it was often a plane could be heard bleeding thru the tuner of a cheap tv
remember when you had to turn a dial and it went clunk clunk?

also we are getting a bunch of low and mid band tv channels back over the next few years
so maybe we can enjoy similar effects
thanks to our lovely TV repack https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/fcc-initiatives/incentive-auctions/post-auction-transition

Yes speaking of cheap tv's I had one late 80's early 90's that would scan the full tv band. I could listen to analog cell phones....not that I would
 
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