Digital monitoring

[anchor1]

While I have been a scanner listener for many years, I am relatively new to monitoring a P-25 system, using a Radio Shack PRO-197 and a Uniden HP-1. Is it normal for some digital transmissions to sound garbled? Or sometimes inaudible (i.e., I'll hear a transmission on one scanner, while the other scanner in the next room is silent on the same frequency). This situation occurs sporadically. Any insight would be appreciated. -- P.S. The P-25 system I monitor is relatively new (Bedford County, PA), which went on line last October.

 

[N8IAA]

OK, for clarification, are you speaking of the conventional, P-25 frequencies that are listed here in the RR database? If so, they are not a system, but are conventional frequencies that use P-25. Or, is there a trunked system that you are speaking of? To help we need to know.
Larry

 

[N8IAA]

Is it normal for some digital transmissions to sound garbled? Or sometimes inaudible (i.e., I'll hear a transmission on one scanner, while the other scanner in the next room is silent on the same frequency). This situation occurs sporadically. Any insight would be appreciated. -- P.S. The P-25 system I monitor is relatively new (Bedford County, PA), which went on line last October.

Which scanner is silent?
Larry

 

[anchor1]

Bedford County uses conventional P-25 frequencies, as listed in the RR Database, not a trunked system. As to which scanner is active when the other is silent, it goes both ways.

 

[N8IAA]

What kind of antenna are you using for both scanners? If it is the supplied antennas, they won't work to good. If you are using a 150/450MHz gain antenna, it should help. I receive P-25 conventional quite well on my 106/197/396XT.
Larry

 

[anchor1]

I think you're correct, N81AA, in that my problem is at least partially antenna-related. I live in a small apartment in a building where outside antennas are not permitted. I use the stock antenna on the HP-1 because it is my "carry with me" radio. On the PRO-197, I use an indoor coaxial antenna I got from C. Crane, tacked up next to the front window...a slight improvement over the stock antenna. Anyway, I have since disengaged the attenuation on the digital channels, and have noticed some improvement. I also think the county's radio contractor is still working out bugs in the system, as I still hear them asking dispatchers and responders to do " five-counts" on the digital frequencies. Here's hoping the situation continues to improve. Thanks to all for your input.