CHP in EDH
David makes several great points about CHP. I think the most important one that most people do not clearly understand is that radio traffic on a single channel does not come from a single location. In addition to mobiles; base traffic (or repeated mobiles) comes from a network of sites.
If you really want to hear all CHP traffic on a specific channel, it can be quite an effort. Most will just monitor the base frequency and leave it at that. I always monitor the mobile frequency and often have better reception than what comes in from a repeated mobile (on the base frequency). Then there are extender channels, which when you're close enough to the source of the transmission, will sound better than what you get on VHF low, since new extenders are UHF (and the original in VHF hi).
Don't forget there are also "microwave" transmissions typically around 72 to 75 MHz (if your scanner can tune them). The deal with them is that you often have to be in or near the beam path to pick them up.
CHP listing
While GREEN is the channel for EDH (being in El Dorado county), I hear traffic on BLACK that comes in to the area. I know BLACK covers a huge area including Yolo county, but vehicle traffic doesn't just adhere to the ED SAC county line. I'd listen to black too (just like I listen to green even though I'm on the Sacramento county side). Don't forget that BLUE can also have local traffic.
When it comes to good reception, elevation is king. That's why transmitters are often placed on mountain tops. If you get your antenna up high, and keep signal loss from your downlead to a minimum, you should have good (or great) reception.
David makes several great points about CHP. I think the most important one that most people do not clearly understand is that radio traffic on a single channel does not come from a single location. In addition to mobiles; base traffic (or repeated mobiles) comes from a network of sites.
If you really want to hear all CHP traffic on a specific channel, it can be quite an effort. Most will just monitor the base frequency and leave it at that. I always monitor the mobile frequency and often have better reception than what comes in from a repeated mobile (on the base frequency). Then there are extender channels, which when you're close enough to the source of the transmission, will sound better than what you get on VHF low, since new extenders are UHF (and the original in VHF hi).
Don't forget there are also "microwave" transmissions typically around 72 to 75 MHz (if your scanner can tune them). The deal with them is that you often have to be in or near the beam path to pick them up.
CHP listing
GREEN covers the western side of the Sierras including Nevada, Placer & El Dorado counties. GRAY covers the eastern side of the sierras including Sierra county as well. Amador county is on WHITE.
While GREEN is the channel for EDH (being in El Dorado county), I hear traffic on BLACK that comes in to the area. I know BLACK covers a huge area including Yolo county, but vehicle traffic doesn't just adhere to the ED SAC county line. I'd listen to black too (just like I listen to green even though I'm on the Sacramento county side). Don't forget that BLUE can also have local traffic.
When it comes to good reception, elevation is king. That's why transmitters are often placed on mountain tops. If you get your antenna up high, and keep signal loss from your downlead to a minimum, you should have good (or great) reception.
