CHP Oceanside

[CODE3QB]

Alright guys so I have a Uniden396XT which I use to monitor local PD's in the north county which are all on the RCS Digital 800MHZ. I use a 800mhz antenna for this. CHP Oceanside not being on the RCS makes impossible to monitor them on the same scanner with my current antenna set up.

Im looking to get a new scanner just to monitor CHP Oceanside (39.000) and am looking for the most cost effective option or the best performance option. I have heard some mention the Motorola HT1250? Could I just pick up a cheep analog scanner? or a super cheep boafang?

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Stringer619]

Just go for a Uniden BCT15X. $150-$200 on eBay. We use the BCT15X's in our news vehicles almost exclusively for CHP (but can also do Calfire wildland, airports, etc).

We have some HT1250's for when we're on the side of the freeway (much louder speaker) but honestly they don't pick up any better than a scanner. We will likely be ditching our HT1250's for BC346XT's with antennas cut to 39 MHz. The only downside is the quieter speaker.

 

[KF6DGN]

If you want something cheap but still a great radio I would recommend the BC75 XLT Uniden. It's $86 at Walmart. I bought one and had it shipped for free to my local store. Uniden BC75XLT Bearcat 300-channel Perp Handheld Scanner W/ Antenna - Walmart.com

 

[CODE3QB]

For the BC75 Would you recommend getting an antenna cut for 39mhz because It was hard to receive CHP on my 396XT with the standard rubber ducky antenna. I assume it will receive just as poorly.

 

[Stringer619]

When receiving that low of a frequency, especially on a handheld, the antenna is critical. CHP is the hardest (other than Calfire's wildland frequencies) to pick up on a handheld in my experience, and that is based on years of use throughout every corner of San Diego county and all the CHP frequencies (Orange, Tan, Brown). Finding an SMA antenna cut for 39-42 MHz is tough. I've been trying to find one for a while now and is the reason I haven't abandoned our HT1250's.

 

[KF6DGN]

From my experience the BC75 and stock antenna is pretty good compared to my other radios, however an antenna built for the 39-42 would be better. If you want to listen in the car I would especially recommend a window mount. The easiest way is to use this: Nagoya RB-CLP Antenna Window Clip Mount

 

[scottyhetzel]

Code3,

There is small antenna company in san d that will make anything you want , high quality, low price. Smiley antenna dot com

 

[CODE3QB]

Thanks for the website, I'll check it out.

For CHP they are on 39.000 for the base frequency but then the mobile is 42.000.
Would I want an antenna for 39-43mhz?
or strictly 39?
Do I want both of these, or just the base? I don't have much experience with conventional systems.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

 

[drsl2000]

Oceanside base is 39.80 . The mobile traffic is repeated on the base frequency so no need to listen to the Mobile frequency unless you are doing it to ascertain how close a mobile is to you..

 

[drsl2000]

I use a 15X to monitor CHP, with a magnet mount and an antenna from Laird Technologies CW37.

 

[Anderegg]

Stringer is right about scanners being as good as Motorolas as far as sensitivity for low band reception. I pointed out to Greg the other night, that if you unjack a low band antenna, then hold it an inch away from the antenna jack, you will basically get identical performance and reception as if it were actually plugged in.....no joke. Greg doesn't take into account the LIMITING factor for having a low band radio on your HIP is your body will block most of the signal. He wants something to stand on the side of the freeway and hear CHP........a scanners volume level will not cut it. I suggested he make a mini "extender" for his vehielce using a cheap Wouxun HAMy transmitter.

As for your low band antenna needs CODE, you can put a splitter in your system and stick an 800MHz on one end, and a low band whip on the other. You will get slightly reduced RX on 800MHz when you do this, but assuming you get full signal if you apply an ATT on the scanner, you've got more than enough signal strength to make it work without reception problems.

Might want to look into those wire antennas, the kind you string up like Christmas lights...........cut the wire for 39.8MHz length, then just zig zag in a window or something.

Paul

 

[CODE3QB]

@Anderegg thanks for the detailed response. I picked up a Uniden BC125AT to see if I could pick up CHP. I had no such luck picking any bit of CHP up in the north county area. I really wanted to mobile option to pick up 39mhz but it sounds like this may not be viable option.



I wish they signed onto RCS would be so much easier!!!!

 

[Anderegg]

You can run an AM/FM antenna CB/scanner splitter......assuming you have an old school steel whip car stereo antenna, may work well enough.

Paul

 

[P25Radio]

I am using a Motorola x9000 mobile radio TX inhibited, it receives only and it works great.Model T71 you can find them on "E" for a decent price. Just have to get it programmed to what you want. Get the cable and antenna and your good to go. Had one for 20 yrs and no issues.
Same antenna I use and I get the Tan channel all the time. Just saying.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorola-Sy...432060?hash=item1c3b7251bc:g:MPUAAMXQlgtS2ZOJ

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LARSEN-NMO4...322315?hash=item210155d20b:g:iioAAOSwT6pV3MFb

 

[rectanglehead808]

I listen on a tk690 with a maxrad 49" whip. My 996 doesnt play well with low band and either does my 396xt.

 

[Anderegg]

Rectangle, on my Maxtracs on 39.4 I get LOTS of interference on Orange........the MON light is always blinking, and if I disable PL, I get a buzzing humming noise 50% of the time. Sensitivity is good, I can hear Baldwin Park CHP, but the interference actually makes listening to the repeaters difficult. Does your TK690 have a similar problem on 39.4? Considering switching radios for a cleaner receiver.

Paul

 

[scottyhetzel]

Stringer is right about scanners being as good as Motorolas as far as sensitivity for low band reception. I pointed out to Greg the other night, that if you unjack a low band antenna, then hold it an inch away from the antenna jack, you will basically get identical performance and reception as if it were actually plugged in.....no joke. Greg doesn't take into account the LIMITING factor for having a low band radio on your HIP is your body will block most of the signal. He wants something to stand on the side of the freeway and hear CHP........a scanners volume level will not cut it. I suggested he make a mini "extender" for his vehielce using a cheap Wouxun HAMy transmitter.

As for your low band antenna needs CODE, you can put a splitter in your system and stick an 800MHz on one end, and a low band whip on the other. You will get slightly reduced RX on 800MHz when you do this, but assuming you get full signal if you apply an ATT on the scanner, you've got more than enough signal strength to make it work without reception problems.

Might want to look into those wire antennas, the kind you string up like Christmas lights...........cut the wire for 39.8MHz length, then just zig zag in a window or something.

Paul

You never want to use a splitter, 2.5 Db loss...rather use a multiplexer from scanner master.chp low band uses a ground plane for performance... A xmass tree antenna will give you poor performance.

 

[scottyhetzel]

I listen on a tk690 with a maxrad 49" whip. My 996 doesnt play well with low band and either does my 396xt.

Make sure your modulation is set to fm. Is the Maxrad magnetic.? If so make sure that 996 has a good chassis ground. My 996 on the Austin spectra kicks a$$.

I will say my laird dedicated low band is a little better.

 

[rectanglehead808]

Rectangle, on my Maxtracs on 39.4 I get LOTS of interference on Orange........the MON light is always blinking, and if I disable PL, I get a buzzing humming noise 50% of the time. Sensitivity is good, I can hear Baldwin Park CHP, but the interference actually makes listening to the repeaters difficult. Does your TK690 have a similar problem on 39.4? Considering switching radios for a cleaner receiver.

Paul

i dont have any issues. i can pick up the SD Orange and Oceanside Tan from pretty much anywhere without interference. I can clearly hear the Tan from LA when i work up there.

 

[rectanglehead808]

Make sure your modulation is set to fm. Is the Maxrad magnetic.? If so make sure that 996 has a good chassis ground. My 996 on the Austin spectra kicks a$$.

I will say my laird dedicated low band is a little better.

i honestly never thought of changing the modulation. ill check it out... now i feel retarded.
i have a solid ground.