superman2112ms
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I live within about 10 miles of a tower. Would a Yagi improve the simulcast receive quality?
BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436hp simulcast
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It may or may not. There are a lot of variables. I used a Yagi with my 436hp. It seemed to help a little, but I still missed transmissions. The real solution for me was to use an OP25 SDR setup at home, and sell the 436 and replace it with an SDS-100 that I can use at the house or on the road. I also sold the Yagi, since I didn't need it.
superman2112ms
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Everything I am reading states just that. I am aggravated. Moved to a new town. I decided to get back into the hobby only to find out they went encrypted shortly after. My last town used OpenSky which was also unmonitorable. which is what I departed from the hobby. I have a 436 and 536 hardly used. Now i need another set of radios. WTF. LoL. At this point I would trade both for an SDS radio. Or just break out the old Pro 43 and BCT 8 and listen to the airport. Yea I know Wa Wa Wa. Should of also kept the 2052 and 2035 radios. Oh well.
iMONITOR
Silent Key
Your goal is to try and receive from only one of the several sites on the simulcast system. So anything you can do to improve one while trying to null out the others should help. Sometimes a yagi can help due to it's gain and directional abilities while attenuating the other sites off the sides and back of the yagi. Also if you can shield your antenna with metallic objects in your home, IE: File cabinet, metal window blinds, vertical metal computer tower, ETC. Don't be afraid to experiment.
superman2112ms
Member
Is an OPR SDR really manageable for $50 or less minus the computer? What about software?
You said Simulcast 1st and then you said Encrypted. I assume it's Simulcast. I tried a Yagi. No good for me. I've tried all types of rubber duckies and telescopics. I use a 436 for my feed radio and use a small mag mount antenna on the floor. My 536 is in the basement with the same antenna about 4 ft away. I'd say they are about 95%. My 100 and 200 are perfect. The 436 is mounted to a small tripod. As long as they aren't moved they are good enough to use.
superman2112ms
Member
I got into a rant. I live in a suburb of Chicago. My main town is encrypted. However Starcom21 is the state interop system. So some of the local I can still receive is simulcasted. I am in the process of trying to find ways of enjoying the hobby again. I am also just starting to learn the benefits of the 435/536 radios. I have both.
Op25 is the software, and its free. What system and site are you looking to monitor?
There are a couple things you can do to try to reduce simulcast distortion and this may or may not work in every case. Really make a difference where you are in relation to the towers on the site your trying to monitor.
I have a 436 and really do not have any issues.
Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
With the computer, my setup cost around $57. I use a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, which was running about $35 when I purchased it. The other hardware is the USB digital tuner. As noted above, the OP25 software is free. It runs on the linux operating system, so the environment will be different for some.
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