KC2MVD
Member
Are there any issues with receiving simulcast with this scanner?
BCD536HP
- Thread starter KC2MVD
- Start date
In short, yes.
In some cases, yes. But simulcast is extremely location specific. Besides the way a system is set up, simulcast might be, or not, an issue in monitoring a specific system. Your location in the coverage area can be an issue if your scanner can receive two or more individual towers at the same time. While all the sites in a simulcast are carrying the exact same radio traffic, on the same frequency, signals from the various transmitters may arrive at your scanner just enough out of synch to cause a problem. In some cases, moving the scanner a few feet in one direction or another will help. In other cases, you may need to use a directional antenna to focus your reception on one specific tower.
More extensive details are in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
While the 536HP might handle simulcast better than other models, such as the 996P2, or one of the HP scanners, only the SDS series scanners are designed specifically to deal with simulcast.
KC2MVD
Member
Please explain. I'm looking to buy a digital scanner.
The post right above your post (#3) goes into good detail, and includes links for further reading.
Short answer really is that if you don't want to have simulcast headaches, buy an SDS 100/200.
The Unication receivers are also pretty good about decoding simulcast signals. I'm not recommending them as they are not as robust as scanners, but they are alternatives.
Here is another alternative. It works very well on simulcast. Very reasonable cost. I use it in addition to the SDS series.
P25RX forum post.
P25RX website.
P25RX forum post.
P25RX website.