BCD436HP vs. SDS100 Missing Transmissions

[hiegtx]

After playing with filters for a day now, it seems that Wide Invert and Wide Normal both have reduced the missing calls. Now my BCD436 is missing some calls - Not sure if the BCD436 has any settings for this.

It does not. Filters are specific to the SDS series scanners.

 

[trentbob]

If the problem of missed transmissions which are usually secondary to simulcast problems You can apply that 2 second system hold time on the X36.

If your simulcast issues are very serious with the x36 as in my county there was the other gimmicks that we used like the minimalizing the antenna so as to only reach one tower using a paper clip, A comet miracle baby CH - 32 or some people drilled a hole in a paint can and stuck the rubber duck in the empty can lol.

 

[ILjim]

I'm in the Chicago area, and I also have a 436HP and an SDS100. For the SDS series, I would definitely apply the 'Wide Invert' filter for each SC21 site as I found it to work best. As a bonus, 'Wide Invert' also works great on Railroad VHF to significantly decrease, if not eliminate images from NOAA weather radio.

 

[werinshades]

If you're in Evanston, try Cook County Site 1-02, 1-049 (NW Central) might be a little too far from you.

 

[N3BQX]

I don't seem to have any problem with the NWC site in my area. I do wonder what filters would work best on the Indiana Toll Road and Ohio Turnpike. Anyone know?

 

[werinshades]

I don't seem to have any problem with the NWC site in my area. I do wonder what filters would work best on the Indiana Toll Road and Ohio Turnpike. Anyone know?

I though you mentioned you were having problems receiving? Site 1-02 is specific to Cook County, 1-049 is specific to the northwest burbs. Program in both sites and check reception.

 

[N3BQX]

K, will do.

 

[nessnet]

I don't seem to have any problem with the NWC site in my area. I do wonder what filters would work best on the Indiana Toll Road and Ohio Turnpike. Anyone know?

To jump in.....

The filters are to mitigate something in YOUR SPECIFIC RF environment.

IE: what works in one location, isn't necessarily the best in another location. Each physical location has - or doesn't have it's own unique RF issues. The filters are to address these. You have to experiment yourself to find out what works best for YOU - at YOUR location.

 

[N3BQX]

I understand. On a IL to NY road trip on I 80/90 there are a number of sites. I have them programmed. I’m assuming that Lake Co Indiana, Toledo and Cleveland are the areas with the most competing sites and filters are required. I’m also assuming that more rural areas have less of a problems with receiving simulcast transmissions. Am I right?

 

[trentbob]

To jump in.....

The filters are to mitigate something in YOUR SPECIFIC RF environment.

IE: what works in one location, isn't necessarily the best in another location. Each physical location has - or doesn't have it's own unique RF issues. The filters are to address these. You have to experiment yourself to find out what works best for YOU - at YOUR location.

As has been said... Twice. Always good to read the whole thread

 

[pro106import]

For the heck of it, try setting the squelch to 0 on the SDS. The 2 setting is pretty tight and if your signal is not very strong, the 2 setting might cause what you are experiencing. I have put this complaint into Uniden @JoeBearcat a while back, as many users find this a big flaw if you are on the fringe.

 

[N3BQX]

Everybody has their own opinion about this but this is the system I use. You do it on the radio so you get real time results. After the proper filter is applied to just your system you then go to sentinel making the target the SDS 100 and transfer the card data to the computer and this will save the changes that you made.

You go to Global filters, Global filters affect every object in the radio and should only be used to sample filters. You don't want to try auto filter as that will slow scanning way down and you already know what normal does. You are going to try the global filter of invert, wide invert and wide normal while you are observing RSSI level, noise level and error rate. Some claim RSSI is not a good indicator but I use it anyway. Just listen for a while and see what helps the skipped transmission. When you find out of those 3, the best filter then return global filter to Normal as that will apply to every object that you haven't gone into Site options or in the case of conventional frequencies Department options and changed. You want global to stay normal because you don't want to compromise any objects that work well on normal.

Drill down on the menu to site options of the system you want to change, apply the filter to your site that you found works best out of the 3 you sampled.

Back out of menu and now you will have that filter just applied to the site that you listen to on your one system you're having a problem with. If you're going to experiment with filters on different objects you might want to add the filter indicator to your display to help keep track. Don't forget to go right to sentinel and transfer the card information To your Profile after you target the SDS 100.

You are right, the filters made the difference! Thanks.

 

[werinshades]

For the heck of it, try setting the squelch to 0 on the SDS. The 2 setting is pretty tight and if your signal is not very strong, the 2 setting might cause what you are experiencing. I have put this complaint into Uniden @JoeBearcat a while back, as many users find this a big flaw if you are on the fringe.

The site that's problematic isn't the closest to OP's location (per his profile location). While it's possible to monitor 2 sites (I monitor Starcom and do just that) to increase your range, the optimum solution is to monitor the site that you can hear first.

This is where programming it yourself instead of relying on database imports comes in handy. You can quickly put in a couple local sites (I base it on the county listing), talkgroups of interest, text tag the talkgroups to your liking and within a few minutes you're all set.

 

[trentbob]

The site that's problematic isn't the closest to OP's location (per his profile location). While it's possible to monitor 2 sites (I monitor Starcom and do just that) to increase your range, the optimum solution is to monitor the site that you can hear first.

This is where programming it yourself instead of relying on database imports comes in handy. You can quickly put in a couple local sites (I base it on the county listing), talkgroups of interest, text tag the talkgroups to your liking and within a few minutes you're all set.

This is sage advice original poster. Don't forget to add the filter that worked best for you to each new site you add or the one you end up with.