Catawba and surrounding counties

[blp3]

I see there are a few people from my area listed on this site and was hoping you would share your wealth of knowledge.
I would like to know what antenna people in this area are using and how far can they scan?
I have a discone on a pole outside which I use when I am in one room, but I have to use a magnetic mount in the other room for my new Pro-97.
I currently scan all the surrounding counties, but I want to reach out further - to Meck, Union, Cabarrus and others, that I am not receiving now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance. I look forward to learning much more.

 

[blp3]

Does anyone know the scanner freqs used by the Charlotte TV stations?

 

[jeffmulter]

Barbara ... are you asking for two-way communications, or audio frequencies for the broadcast audio for each television channel ?

Slim pickings for the Charlotte market. Alot of the communications with news crews is via more-secure means ... cell, Nextel, wireless.

450.1125 ... WCNC (chan 36) audio cues for reporters (if you listen during morning / evening newscasts, you'll hear a continuous carrier airing the on-air programming)

450.3125 ... WCNC ENG channel (aiming antennas from remote units)

461.3000 ... WSOC (chan 9) reporters

463.5250 ... WSOC (chan 9) ENG channel (I believe they have a remote transmitter / receiver on this channel on Anderson Mountain.

( the following list is from Durham Radio ... http://www.durhamradio.com/freq.htm )

Use wide FM mode to receive TV audio

Channel MHz

2 59.75
3 65.75
4 71.75
5 81.75
6 87.75
7 179.75
8 185.75
9 191.75
10 197.75

11 203.75
12 209.75
13 215.75
14 475.75
15 481.75
16 487.75
17 493.75
18 499.75
19 505.75
20 511.75

21 517.75
22 523.75
23 529.75
24 535.75
25 541.75
26 547.75
27 553.75
28 559.75
29 565.75
30 571.75

31 577.75
32 583.75
33 589.75
34 595.75
35 601.75
36 607.75
37 613.75
38 619.75
39 625.75
40 631.75

41 637.75
42 643.75
43 649.75
44 655.75
45 661.75
46 667.75
47 673.75
48 679.75
49 685.75
50 691.75

51 697.75
52 703.75
53 709.75
54 715.75
55 721.75
56 727.75
57 733.75
58 739.75
59 745.75
60 751.75

61 757.75
62 763.75
63 769.75
64 775.75
65 781.75
66 787.75
67 793.75
68 799.75
69 805.75

Jeff Multer
Fort Mill, S.C.

 

[blp3]

I was asking about the two-way communications. I use to listen to them and couldn't locate the freqs.
Thank you very much.

 

[jeffmulter]

>> I currently scan all the surrounding counties, but I want to reach out further - to Meck, Union, Cabarrus and others, that I am not receiving now.

Mecklenberg and Cabarrus Counties are primarily 800 MHz Motorola trunking. A directional antenna - yagi - pointed toward the Cornelius area might provide reception of both systems, but alot is going to depend on your location, antenna height, coax, etc.

PBoy - on these forums - might offer some additional guidance on the positives - and pitfalls - of monitoring trunked systems in the Piedmont from your area.

The Mecklenberg and Cabarrus Co conventional simulcasts for fire and ems dispatch should be audible with an exterior antenna ...

- 156.165 / csq Mecklenberg Co Fire Dispatch
- 462.950 / csq Mecklenberg Co Medic Dispatch (you'll also hear Greenville Co, S.C. EMS)
- 154.340 / 146.2 Cabarrus Co Fire Dispatch
- 155.055 / 146.2 Cabarrus Co EMS Dispatch (county recently reinstated PL tone)

With regards to Union County, the county fire and ems dispatch channels should be no problem. The county UHF channels are fair at a distance, and the UHF channels for Monroe PD get poor signal coverage.

Personally, I have had very good success using discone antennas for monitoring, and have 4 in place at home. But, a discone designed for 30-1300 MHz is generally not a great antenna for 800 use. The choice of coax will also make a distinct difference in performance.

You might want to try a ScanAntenna, which has been sold under a few different names (such as a Monitor 2094) if you want to improve VHF / UHF performance.

http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT7.html

The link above is one dealer of the antenna. There are numerous others. Antenna Warehouse is another dealer I would recommend:

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Bscan_Index.htm


Jeff Multer

 

[blp3]

Thanks for the info.
I live in Catawba County near Conover and have an exterior antenna - discone on a pole - about 30 feet high with no trees around. It's been awhile, so I am not sure what kind it is (bought it at RS) so it may be 30-1300 MHz.
The coax is more than 1/4-inch thick. Sorry, but that's the best I can tell you.
As for the freqs you mentioned, I do pick those up sometimes with my magnetic mount antenna as well as the exterior antenna.
However, I haven't been able to pick up Union Co. at all.
Maybe I need a new additional discone antenna.
I will try to contact Pboy for more info as suggested.
Thanks for your time.