Cannot pick up CHP Bronze in east bay?

[kg6nlw]

Weird. I am listening to the Golden Gate Wide "ruby" with no luck.

Are you sure it's the Ruby you're actually listening to? Scanners can be finicky about just being a few kHz off, especially on low band...

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[mmckenna]

Aren't all Law Enforcement agencies in CA going digital/encrypted? I am listening to the CHP Golden Gate "ruby" and I am not getting anything. I might just be in a dead zone. I'm near HWY 85 and 87.

No.
There is a requirement from CADOJ that PII needs to be protected and not broadcast in the clear.

No one has heard any plans for the CHP to go encrypted on VHF Low band.

There is no requirement that agencies go digital and/or encrypted, only that they don't handle PII in the clear. Sole are going to encryption, some are using LTE, and some we just don't know yet.

As for 85 and 87, I grew up not far from there. When they built 85, it went through my elementary school and high school fields.

 

[ea1321]

Are you sure it's the Ruby you're actually listening to? Scanners can be finicky about just being a few kHz off, especially on low band...

Regards,

-Frank C.

Yup, I am sure. I have it properly programmed into my unit. The base unit that I have is picking up "ruby 2 extender" loud and clear.

 

[ea1321]

No.
There is a requirement from CADOJ that PII needs to be protected and not broadcast in the clear.

No one has heard any plans for the CHP to go encrypted on VHF Low band.

There is no requirement that agencies go digital and/or encrypted, only that they don't handle PII in the clear. Sole are going to encryption, some are using LTE, and some we just don't know yet.

As for 85 and 87, I grew up not far from there. When they built 85, it went through my elementary school and high school fields.

Ahh okay, it makes sense now. What is PLL?

 

[mmckenna]

Ahh okay, it makes sense now. What is PLL?

PII
Personal Identifying Information.
Essentially they can't share names + address/drivers license number/SSN/birthdate, etc. in the clear. There's some temporary waivers, but eventually we'll all have to comply.

 

[edougawa]

California Highway Patrol - Oakland Live Audio Feed sounds alive to me

I used to monitor that until I found out they put delay on it. Most of the time it doesn't matter but I want to get some live info on the road so I can avoid accident scene and the slow traffic after that.

Most antennas need a ground plane under them to work correctly. The ground plane is a conductive horizontal plane under a vertical antenna. In a mobile application, the roof of the car would be the ground plane, with the antenna mounted in the center.
That ground plane would be connected through the antenna mount and thus to the outer shield of the coaxial cable. Checking for continuity, you should see a connection between the outer shield of the coaxial cable to the vehicle roof.

Thanks for the detail. My new antenna won't arrive until next week, I'm going to work on it when I find some time in the following weekend. I installed the NMO mounts months ago but didn't check the ground continuity. I think it might be one of the issues.

you are using RTL-SDR DONGLE ? https://www.amazon.com/RTL-SDR-Blog-RTL2832U-Software-Defined/dp/B0129EBDS2

if you are I would recommend trying a Scanner like Uniden or Whistler to test sensitivity to make sure the SDR Dongle is working correctly Portable Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com

also, do you have Amateur Radio License? one of my HT's is Yaesu VX-8R it covers from 500kHz to 999.990MHz, I have CHP Low Band Programmed

are you just looking to monitor CHP Low Band? not any of their 700 MHz P25?

do you plan on monitoring other agencies? or just dedicated CHP?

if it's just CHP Low Band I agree with mmckenna Larsen NMO-40C would be the best

Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes I'm using RTL-SDR dongle with a raspberry pi. I was planning to buy a uniden scanner but sounds like they are going to encrypt the whole EBRCS. So I don't want to spend couple hundred bucks just listening to CHP. I planned to become licensed HAM last year but the exam shut down due to the pandemic. I almost forgot every thing I studied for it, it will take some time for to pick them up again. But good to know HAM radio can also do the job.

Just curious is there a HAM radio that can be controlled by smartphone app? I'm going to install as much equipment in the truck as possible so it would be great if it can be controlled by my phone. It is one of the reason why I chose raspberry pi because I can SSH from my phone while leaving it in the trunk. edited: a wireless remote is also preferable.

So far I have multiple NMO mounts on the roof of my car, so I'm able use dedicated antenna for low band and P25 (I have a total of 9 NMO mounts + a SMA + MIMO for LTE network). For now I'm picking up EBRCS just fine with the pi + nesdr + LTE antenna setup (better reception than the RTL v3). So 700 mhz will not be an issue to me at all. I still have to figure out how to run multiple dongle on a pi though.

I have already ordered the Laird 42mhz antenna, and will update when I get it installed.

 

[kg6nlw]

Yup, I am sure. I have it properly programmed into my unit. The base unit that I have is picking up "ruby 2 extender" loud and clear.

Just wanted to make sure. The extender is the handheld channel only, not the BASE channel. It needs to show 42/44 Mhz, not 769Mhz.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[qc]

I used to monitor that until I found out they put delay on it. Most of the time it doesn't matter but I want to get some live info on the road so I can avoid accident scene and the slow traffic after that.



Thanks for the detail. My new antenna won't arrive until next week, I'm going to work on it when I find some time in the following weekend. I installed the NMO mounts months ago but didn't check the ground continuity. I think it might be one of the issues.



Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes I'm using RTL-SDR dongle with a raspberry pi. I was planning to buy a uniden scanner but sounds like they are going to encrypt the whole EBRCS. So I don't want to spend couple hundred bucks just listening to CHP. I planned to become licensed HAM last year but the exam shut down due to the pandemic. I almost forgot every thing I studied for it, it will take some time for to pick them up again. But good to know HAM radio can also do the job.

on the EBRCS it's law enforcement will be the ones to fully encrypt

Just curious is there a HAM radio that can be controlled by smartphone app? I'm going to install as much equipment in the truck as possible so it would be great if it can be controlled by my phone. It is one of the reason why I chose raspberry pi because I can SSH from my phone while leaving it in the trunk. edited: a wireless remote is also preferable.

a lot of the clubs are doing zoom classes Class Details - MDARC

So far I have multiple NMO mounts on the roof of my car, so I'm able use dedicated antenna for low band and P25 (I have a total of 9 NMO mounts + a SMA + MIMO for LTE network). For now I'm picking up EBRCS just fine with the pi + nesdr + LTE antenna setup (better reception than the RTL v3). So 700 mhz will not be an issue to me at all. I still have to figure out how to run multiple dongle on a pi though.

don't know much about multiple dongles on a pi but I have 2 RTL-SDR V3 setup on sdrtrunk Windows and works great on EBRCS DSheirer/sdrtrunk

I have already ordered the Laird 42mhz antenna, and will update when I get it installed.

Another option is to get used VHF Low Band Commercial Radio setup to RX only on the CHP channels, it will be far more sensitive than any Dongle or Scanner, Motorola is great but they Charge a lot for Customer Programming Software you can also look into other brands

 

[N6ML]

I used to monitor that until I found out they put delay on it. Most of the time it doesn't matter but I want to get some live info on the road so I can avoid accident scene and the slow traffic after that.

I was just pointing out that it's still alive. Some suggestions were made that they had "made the switch". If the stream is still working, and sounds "analog", they have not "made the switch"....

 

[edougawa]

I was just pointing out that it's still alive. Some suggestions were made that they had "made the switch". If the stream is still working, and sounds "analog", they have not "made the switch"....

I think CHP is not going to switch to a full P25 / encrypted system any time soon. I heard about the CIRS but seems like it will still take some time. And I doubt if any P25 system will work efficiently consider the vast area coverage CHP needed (maybe they will patch it with firstnet). However, local system like EBRCS and SVCRVS is making the move rapidly.

 

[edougawa]

Update, got my 42mhz antenna today. It is huge. Guess I have to figure out a way to mount it, otherwise I won't be able to get into any garage. Will there be any difference mounting it on the side of the hood (like many CB does) rather than the roof?

I tested it at home (setup inside the house near the window). Now I can pick up bronze, although not very good due to all the interference.

 

[mmckenna]

Update, got my 42mhz antenna today. It is huge. Guess I have to figure out a way to mount it, otherwise I won't be able to get into any garage. Will there be any difference mounting it on the side of the hood (like many CB does) rather than the roof?

I tested it at home (setup inside the house near the window). Now I can pick up bronze, although not very good due to all the interference.

Ideally it really wants to be in the center of the ground plane, and up in the clear. Center of the truck roof would be ideal, but isn't always realistic.

For RX use, mounting off the fender would be a good compromise.

 

[edougawa]

Ideally it really wants to be in the center of the ground plane, and up in the clear. Center of the truck roof would be ideal, but isn't always realistic.

For RX use, mounting off the fender would be a good compromise.

Thanks for advice. Guess what, I do have an NMO mount at the center of roof. It just a headache when entering some garage. My diamond 50mhz antenna is already scratching the ceiling of most standard height garage / drive thru, so I think this one is going to break.

I will compare off the fender vs motorize mount and see which one is more realistic.

 

[kg6nlw]

Thanks for advice. Guess what, I do have an NMO mount at the center of roof. It just a headache when entering some garage. My diamond 50mhz antenna is already scratching the ceiling of most standard height garage / drive thru, so I think this one is going to break.

I will compare off the fender vs motorize mount and see which one is more realistic.

Larson NMO's are pretty flexible for garages. I have two, one on 6m and one on 2m, that are about "equal height" and don't have many issues with non-standard garages.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, I don't think you'll have an antenna with periodic parking garages/low branches.

 

[mcjones2013]

You could do what CHP does sometimes and clip it down when you need it lower.

The CHP Capitol Protection Section clips theirs down since they mainly use 450 MHz, but they can still get Tx/Rx enough on the low band with it clipped if they need to assist the freeway units.

 

[edougawa]

You could do what CHP does sometimes and clip it down when you need it lower.

The CHP Capitol Protection Section clips theirs down since they mainly use 450 MHz, but they can still get Tx/Rx enough on the low band with it clipped if they need to assist the freeway units.

What do you mean by "clipped"?

 

[N6ML]

What do you mean by "clipped"?

I assume it means bent over, with the tip attached to the body somewhere.

 

[mmckenna]

What do you mean by "clipped"?

In the old days when they ran the long 1/4 wave whips off the rear quarter panel, they'd often flex them forward and there was a little clip that attached it to the rain gutter above the window with an insulated plastic piece.

On the new cars with the base loaded quarter wave whips, it can be done, but probably not going to help you much.

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[edougawa]

In the old days when they ran the long 1/4 wave whips off the rear quarter panel, they'd often flex them forward and there was a little clip that attached it to the rain gutter above the window with an insulated plastic piece.

On the new cars with the base loaded quarter wave whips, it can be done, but probably not going to help you much.

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Alright.

And just curious, is there any chance an upconverter will help bringing up the signal?