wpwx694
Member
I'm having trouble getting a good signal for Galveston simulcast site and not hearing anything
Bcd436hp in Galveston
- Thread starter wpwx694
- Start date
- Status
doctordialtone
Member
Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
Could it be because the BCD436HP is not built for simulcast systems? Have you tried going to a different location on Galveston Island and seeing if it gets any better there? I haven't been to Galveston in over a decade, and come to think of it, I haven't been down there since when they first got on the TxWARN system I don't think.
You may wind up having a real issue down there since Galveston Island is probably a location where it's difficult to receive just one specific site and not receive the others. I can't say for sure and I don't know where the sites are for sure down there anyway. But I imagine they are up and down the island strip with maybe one somewhere off of I-45. And if that's the case, and they truly are using a simulcast setup, you may not be able to narrow the signal down to just one tower even with a directional beam? I don't know for sure but it may cause some issues if you're not using one of the SDS Uniden scanner models.
Hopefully somebody else with some working knowledge down there will be able to assist you.
Are you getting some signals but they are kind of messed up and very filled with digital artifacts while monitoring? Or are you getting nothing at all? You might need to put a little more detail in your description of how you are receiving things, if you're receiving anything at all or even if not, and whether or not some of the transmissions come through and then replies and other transmissions maybe don't.
Unfortunately, the 436 is not a simulcast scanner. I live where our system is listed as a simulcast system but there are only a few sites currently using it with the true simulcast setup. I can still listen to most of the traffic on my 436 unless I go over to where the sites are that actually are using the simulcast sites. At that point, I get some of the traffic but then a lot of the replies and other traffic is garbled and filled with digital artifacts. I seldom take my 436 with me and I take my SDS100 since it is capable of working on simulcast sites and It is made for the purpose of being a simulcast capable scanner.
Brian
COMMSCAN
You may wind up having a real issue down there since Galveston Island is probably a location where it's difficult to receive just one specific site and not receive the others. I can't say for sure and I don't know where the sites are for sure down there anyway. But I imagine they are up and down the island strip with maybe one somewhere off of I-45. And if that's the case, and they truly are using a simulcast setup, you may not be able to narrow the signal down to just one tower even with a directional beam? I don't know for sure but it may cause some issues if you're not using one of the SDS Uniden scanner models.
Hopefully somebody else with some working knowledge down there will be able to assist you.
Are you getting some signals but they are kind of messed up and very filled with digital artifacts while monitoring? Or are you getting nothing at all? You might need to put a little more detail in your description of how you are receiving things, if you're receiving anything at all or even if not, and whether or not some of the transmissions come through and then replies and other transmissions maybe don't.
Unfortunately, the 436 is not a simulcast scanner. I live where our system is listed as a simulcast system but there are only a few sites currently using it with the true simulcast setup. I can still listen to most of the traffic on my 436 unless I go over to where the sites are that actually are using the simulcast sites. At that point, I get some of the traffic but then a lot of the replies and other traffic is garbled and filled with digital artifacts. I seldom take my 436 with me and I take my SDS100 since it is capable of working on simulcast sites and It is made for the purpose of being a simulcast capable scanner.
Brian
COMMSCAN
wpwx694
Member
Thanks
As already noted, Simulcast sites, such as this one in Galveston County, are the bane of most scanners, with the exception of the SDS series Uniden scanners.
Read the Wiki article that Doc provided in Post 2 for a more complete explanation of the subject. The problem with Simulcast sites is that you have several transmit towers (sub-sites) all transmitting the same talkgroup on the exact same frequency. In a Simulcast site, those signals are arriving at your scanner at varying times. While the time differential (due to the varying distance to your location) is very small, it's still enough to keep the scanner from decoding the signals correctly.
Here's the Galveston Simulcast site:
Texas Wide Area Radio Network (TxWARN) Site: Galveston County Simulcast
Texas Wide Area Radio Network (TxWARN) Site: Galveston County Simulcast Details
www.radioreference.com
Each of those blue pins are sub-sites, If you are very close to one specific site, around a quarter mile, the strong signals from that single tower might override the conflicting, out of sync, signals from other towers, allowing you to monitor the system.
Other things that may work for specific systems include using a directional antenna, aimed at one specific sub-site, which may allow the scanner to 'see' only the single transmitter, with its strong signal washing out the other sites. In some cases, using "less" antenna, even down to a paperclip, may help. Of course, these suggestions would only be workable if you were monitoring from one fixed location. If you are out in your vehicle, driving around the area, these methods are not going to be useful. In those cases, you need either one of Uniden's SDS series scanners, one of the Unication pagers, or perhaps the Blue Tail receiver. Those two are not 'true' scanners, and have certain limitations compared to a true scanner, such as an SDS100 or SDS200.
I have used the 436HP on many occasions during Mardi Gras. In my opinion, the simulcast issue is minimal. Yes, the SDS 100/200 lock onto the talk groups, but this radio is a tortoise when compared to the 436HP. I have made all of the necessary adjustments to the SDS 100 I own, but it still is slow as Hell.
wpwx694
Member
On any other Galveston sites would I hear Galveston pd, so and fd
More than likely not.
Concur with KevinC. I will say one more thing. You need to have an antenna that is designed for 800 mhz, etc. The stock antenna does not work as well. There are two on Scanner Master that are exceptional:
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable SMA Antenna | ScannerMaster.com
There is a longer version of this antenna which I like better. I tend to bend the antenna. I will try to find it. This antenna will make a significant difference over stock. I have heard of people having trouble with the 436HP using the stock antenna. When they added the aforementioned antenna, it popped!
Make sure to get the SMA model. Also, a mobile antenna is very helpful. Be careful. Traffic on IH45 is nuts. Watch the rip tides! The history of this island is incredible.
Historical Marker: Jean Lafitte
Last edited:
- Status
