Close Call

[robocop80]

Hello All,

I need some help with the close call feature on my bcd396t. I am not sure what I am doing incorrectly. I have a portable radio at my company and I am attempting to track the Freq in close call. I have my work radio and my scanner right next to one another and when my radio is talking I cant seem to pick up the Freq. I am not certain what range the Freq are in but I think its somewhere between 461.000 - 470.000 so I set close call to search UHF and I turned all other bands off. I also turned repeater find off, but I'm not sure what else I should do. I am trying to do the search and store and after an hour of communication on the radio the scanner still had no hits. What can I be doing wrong? Should I turn on additional bands? Does repeater find need to be on. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I know so many people talk so highly of this feature and I would love to learn how to use it. I am not scanning any other channels at the moment just trying to figure close call out.

Thanks,

James

 

[dave3825]

James

I had the same problem as you. This is a good guide explaining everything associated with close call.

Easier to Read BR330T/BCD396T/UBCD396T Manual

 

[rbm]

If you're not sure what frequency range they're using, go to the Broadcast screen and turn ALL off.

Your scanner also needs to be close to the radio that's transmitting. The weaker the signal, the closer you must be. Handheld range may be in the +/-100' or so range. I pick up vehicles at 1/8-1/4 mile or so. At home with an outside antenna that can stretch out to miles.

When you do get a hit, the frequency many not be precise, depending on the step size. Notice in the screenshot below that there are some CC hits on 158.735 MHz the frequency actually is 158.730 MHz.

Menu
-> Srch/CloCall Opt
-->Broadcast Screen
--->Set All Band Off

Any CC hits in a Broadcast Band that is turned on are IGNORED.

One other thing that could prevent a hit is if you have another very strong signal nearby. To get a CC hit, it essentially has to be stronger than other signals.

"Broadcast Screen: This setting determines whether the scanner automatically ignores transmissions that are on common broadcasts, paging systems, and other annoyance radio sources during Custom Search, Service Search, or Close Call Search."

Rich

 

[robocop80]

Thank You

Thanks to the both of you. I got it going now, I really appreciate the assistance. I was doing it backwards and that is why is was not working. I had UHF ON when in fact it should have been off. As soon as I made that switch it was up and running. THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[whacker]

Whoa, hold on a moment.

I've never really had Close Call work for me (haven't given it much of a shot yet), but let me understand you.

You intended to search UHF but you say you un-select UHF and that allowed you to get hits on that band? What - do you turn all the other bands on and UHF off? Please clarify.

 

[rbm]

Whoa, hold on a moment.

I've never really had Close Call work for me (haven't given it much of a shot yet), but let me understand you.

You intended to search UHF but you say you un-select UHF and that allowed you to get hits on that band? What - do you turn all the other bands on and UHF off? Please clarify.

The Broadcast screen predefined bands prevent unwanted Close Call hits. (Actually, it tells the radio to IGNORE signals in the band(s) you turn on.)

As a default, I would turn them all off and see if you get any problems. Then, turn on only the bands you need to reduce nuisance hits.

For example:
I have to turn on the VHF-TV band to eliminate hits from strong TV stations.
and:
I had to create a Custom Band for 116-135 MHz because I was getting CC hits in the airband almost constantly using an outside antenna.
and:
I also had to create a Custom Band for 25-30 MHz to eliminate CB hits.

Rich