BCD536HP Will Not Scan - Fort Bend County

[KammiLynn]

Hi, We just purchased a new 536 that we paid for programming for the Fort Bend County area to be installed prior to shipping. Upon receipt, we plugged it in and nothing. Not a thing. I called and they said to make sure the squelch was on 2, which it was. We spoke to tech again and they resent the files that were loaded so we cleared the user data, and reinstalled the files. Still nothing. The old scanner that we were replacing never had a reception problem, it just finally went out so we wanted to replace it with what we thought was a good scanner. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. We are using Sentinel software.

 

[KammiLynn]

Thank you! Will attach the files.

 

[KevinC]

I'm guessing you want to listen to Ft Bend agencies. If so I suspect you are locking onto a Zone 3 site or one of the roamer sites, which won't carry any of that traffic. The site you want is 1-53, but keep in mind the 536 isn't the best at decoding simulcast sites (for that you'd want either a SDS100 or SDS200).

What part of the county are you in (Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond, etc..)?

 

[KevinC]

I took out all sites except 1-53 in your file, see if this helps. You'll also want to make sure you have all the appropriate Service Types enabled.

 

[KammiLynn]

I'm guessing you want to listen to Ft Bend agencies. If so I suspect you are locking onto a Zone 3 site or one of the roamer sites, which won't carry any of that traffic. The site you want is 1-53, but keep in mind the 536 isn't the best at decoding simulcast sites (for that you'd want either a SDS100 or SDS200).

What part of the county are you in (Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond, etc..)?

The Rosenberg/richmond/Needville area. Yes, on the old scanner we listening to the Sheriff's Department and local police.

 

[KammiLynn]

Thank you SO MUCH! I'll keep you posted.

 

[KammiLynn]

I don't know if this will help, but this is what is showing on the display. Still, nothing... I added the RR to your file name because I had one named Fort Bend.

 

[KevinC]

My guess would be it's due to the site being simulcast, but that's just a guess at this point. My 536 is about useless on the Ft Bend simulcast (I'm between Katy and Sugar Land).

What are you using for an antenna?

 

[KammiLynn]

The stock antenna that came with the system.

 

[KevinC]

The stock antenna that came with the system.

Try this...press "Channel, then type 772.38125, the "Channel" again and let us know what the screen displays.

 

[KammiLynn]

 

[KevinC]

View attachment 106044

Ok, so you are receiving the site. Go back to scanning and just press "Channel" and let us know what is displays.

 

[KevinC]

One more thing to try, as it's scanning press the function knob (big chrome one) and then press the "VOL" knob and let us know what the "ERR" shows in the upper left of the display.

 

[KammiLynn]

It says FIRE dispatch KATY.

2) ERROR says 7,8,9,10 AUTO
T 1.31-47 1.60-68 1. 88-98

 

[KevinC]

It says FIRE dispatch KATY.

2) ERROR says 7,8,9,10 AUTO
T 1.31-47 1.60-68 1. 88-98

Scroll over to "Patrol 3" and see if it ever shows an error rate or you ever hear anything (even garbled audio). With the auto changing so much I'm still thinking it's due to simulcast.

 

[KammiLynn]

I just heard Patrol 1 West Side Dispatch.

On another note---you feel as though the SDS100 is what I actually need for what I want it to do?

 

[KevinC]

I just heard Patrol 1 West Side Dispatch.

On another note---you feel as though the SDS100 is what I actually need for what I want it to do?

I don't like spending other people's money, but my SDS100 and 200 both perform fantastic on the Ft Bend system, my 436 and 536 not so much. The SDS-series are specifically designed for simulcast systems, no other Uniden scanners (or Whistler) are.

Here is an explanation of what I believe is your issue...

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

You may be able to help reception by installing a directional antenna and aiming it at one specific subsite, but that has no guarantees and is just a band-aid at best.

You probably still need to turn on all appropriate Service Types (Edit, Edit Profile, Service Types).

 

[riverradio68]

Scanner guys suggest trying a "paperclip"

 

[Ensnared]

I have frequently monitored Ft. Bend County, from Houston, on a 436HP, 800 mhz antenna. From my experience, the linear simulcast distortion is minimal when compared with the linear distortion in Harris County (different agencies and municipalities).