Close Call

[CLTX11]

Does this feature work on a Trunked System (MOTO TypII)?

 

[Voyager]

Does this feature work on a Trunked System (MOTO TypII)?

Yep. It also works on P25 trunked systems on both the BC246T and BCD396T. Of course, you will only decode the audio on the 396.

If you are close to the TRS site, you can pick up the control channel if there are no voice channels active. Due to the nature of a nearfield receiver, getting a hit on a voice channel is unlikely due to interference from the control channel.

I have picked up many users on a trunked system, however. They are only transmitting on one frequency, so interference issues are much less likely.

Joe M.

 

[CLTX11]

Yep. It also works on P25 trunked systems on both the BC246T and BCD396T. Of course, you will only decode the audio on the 396.

If you are close to the TRS site, you can pick up the control channel if there are no voice channels active. Due to the nature of a nearfield receiver, getting a hit on a voice channel is unlikely due to interference from the control channel.

I have picked up many users on a trunked system, however. They are only transmitting on one frequency, so interference issues are much less likely.

Joe M.

I am mostly concerned with Trunked systems.

How far is the usual distance on a close call? My city will no be using digital for awhile and I bought a BCT-8 for the HWY alert and find myelf scanning the trunked system for my city A LOT more.

 

[loumaag]

How far is the usual distance on a close call? My city will no be using digital for awhile and I bought a BCT-8 for the HWY alert and find myelf scanning the trunked system for my city A LOT more.

Think near field receiver. The answer for usual distance is in yards. Think in blocks for exceptional performance. Close Call is not designed to discover new frequencies from the hilltop several miles away, it is desinged to find out what frequency the guy in the next car is talking on. :wink:

My best performance was picking up the dispatcher for the local SO in the courthouse 6 blocks from my home using a roof top antenna in a very very quite RF enviornment. I also happen to know that the radio in the disptach office outputs over 50 watts to a gain rooftop antenna on the courthouse (I can actually see it from my rooftop.)

 

[CLTX11]

I guess my question is....can you pick up city cops using a trunked system if they are within range?
Kind of like the HWY alert on the BCT-8 but for my city cops.

 

[Voyager]

Think near field receiver. The answer for usual distance is in yards. Think in blocks for exceptional performance. Close Call is not designed to discover new frequencies from the hilltop several miles away, it is desinged to find out what frequency the guy in the next car is talking on. :wink:

My experience for very low power portables is about 100 feet. For medium/high power UHF is about 300 feet. For VHF portables is estimated at 600 feet. For mobiles is about half a mile, and for bases is up to several miles.

Trunked radios are usually very low power (3W portables and 10W mobiles) so don't expect much more than a couple hundred feet out of Close Call.

All these are in relatively sparse RF environments. Dense environments will be affected by other signals since the CC hit has to be 15 dB stronger than ANY OTHER signal. IOW, if you are near a FM transmitter, expect reduced VHF range. If near a VHF TV station, the same. If near a UHF TV station, expect reduced UHF coverage. If near a NexTel, Cellular, or trunking site, expect reduced 800 MHz CC range.

Joe M.

 

[Voyager]

I guess my question is....can you pick up city cops using a trunked system if they are within range?
Kind of like the HWY alert on the BCT-8 but for my city cops.

It all depends on what else is around (RF-wise). If nothing else is, then yes, you should (within the limits described above).

Joe M.

 

[CLTX11]

Thanks for the input Voyager, that does answer my question.

 

[loumaag]

I am a little curious. What "Close Call" capable scanner do you have that doesn't trunk track?

 

[CLTX11]

I dont own a scanner with Close Call, I was just curious if the thing would work on a trunked system and not just conventional.

 

[Voyager]

I am a little curious. What "Close Call" capable scanner do you have that doesn't trunk track?

PRO-83 has Close Call but no trunking. It's called Signal Stalker but it's made by Uniden.

Joe M.

 

[CLTX11]

PRO-83 has Close Call but no trunking. It's called Signal Stalker but it's made by Uniden.

Joe M.

You mean Radio Shack

 

[Voyager]

You mean Radio Shack

Nope. The PRO-83 is made by Uniden FOR Radio Shack.

Joe M.

 

[loumaag]

PRO-83 has Close Call but no trunking. It's called Signal Stalker but it's made by Uniden.

You know Joe, as much as this comes up maybe a Wiki page on "Close Call / Signal Stalker, what it is and what it isn't" is needed. Do you have an already prepared document that could be adapted? (PM or email me.)