bcd996p2 newbie

[Kjl2005]

HI all!

I have a bcd996p2 that I have uploaded programming to from freescan. I am in a p25 phase 1 area and I have the talkgroups programmed. The problem I am having is the scanner works great at my home but if I bring it to another location 5 miles away I only receive a NFM on the scanner and it will not pick up anything. Is there something simple that I am doing wrong or what could it be?

Thank you!

 

[fredva]

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of using a scanner that isn't fully compatible with simulcast. The Muskegon County site on the state's P25 network is a simulcast site. When using a scanner not built for simulcast, the effects are location-specific. The scanner might work well in one location, and poorly in another. The SDS series of scanners, certain Unication receivers, and some Software Defined Radio programs handle simulcast well. Simulcast is something that needs to be considered when buying a new scanner, in addition to whether a system is Phase 1 or Phase 2.

Having said that, there is another user in Michigan who says his older generation scanner works well on simulcast. But complaints about reception on simulcast systems seem to outnumber those who are satisfied.

 

[Kjl2005]

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of using a scanner that isn't fully compatible with simulcast. The Muskegon County site on the state's P25 network is a simulcast site. When using a scanner not built for simulcast, the effects are location-specific. The scanner might work well in one location, and poorly in another. The SDS series of scanners, certain Unication receivers, and some Software Defined Radio programs handle simulcast well. Simulcast is something that needs to be considered when buying a new scanner, in addition to whether a system is Phase 1 or Phase 2.

Having said that, there is another user in Michigan who says his older generation scanner works well on simulcast. But complaints about reception on simulcast systems seem to outnumber those who are satisfied.

Do you happen to know if I need an Apco band plan in place ?

 

[Kjl2005]

Does the NFM essentially mean no signal for the scanner to receive or that there is too many signals coming into it that it is unable to decipher which signal to broadcast?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Does the NFM essentially mean no signal for the scanner to receive or that there is too many signals coming into it that it is unable to decipher which signal to broadcast?

NFM = Narrow FM. See explanation of the simulcast distortion phenominon mentioned by poster above here. There are a number of workarounds mentioned in the linked wiki but they work in very few cases. It all boils down to your location relative to two or more simulcasting towers. The Uniden SDS series scanners are the only scanners built to mitigate simulcast distortion and track these systems properly

 

[buddrousa]

What you are seeing is what was said before.
1. Your scanner is showing the signs of simulcast something your scanner is not designed to work with.
2. Your scanner scanner hears great where it is but does not have enough signal at the other location.
Long story short can you hear and understand 2 or more people talking at the same time.

 

[Kjl2005]

thank you!

 

[hiegtx]

Do you happen to know if I need an Apco band plan in place ?

For a P25 trunked system, such as MPSCS, no band plan is needed. The information on the band plan is in the control channel data stream, which the scanner receives & uses without needing to be manually entered.

Here's a map of the simulcast site for your county. Each of the balloon markers is a transmit tower that is part of the Simulcast site.

More details about Simulcast & how it affects your scanner is in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[scanmanmi]

Scanner manufacturers were making and selling scanners they knew would not work in some areas. Granted there were not as many simulcast areas back then but it's hard to sell a scanner with a sticker on it that says "this scanner may not work in your area".

 

[buddrousa]

Your car may not work at NASCAR but you bought it.

 

[stwings]

This video can explain it better than I could. The 996P2 is a very capable scanner. I programmed one for a friend who was in a simulcast coverage area. I told him about the limitations but he seems to have decent results with it. The biggest limiting factor is: location, location, location.