BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Display current control channel

[LEH]

Is there anyway to display the current control channel on the BCD436HP? One of my systems has suddenly decided to stop receiving and I'd like to ensure it is receiving the control channel.

When the 436 is scanning, it will slow down on the other systems I am trying to scan. An indication it is locked on a control channel and looking for activity. The problem system is just zipping right past, no hesitation at all. I know the system is working, we just had a major storm blow through and a lot of streets are flooded as well as fire alarms from power losses. My Unication G5 won't shut up, my 436 is mute.

The system was working while it was in the car driving home through the deluge. It stopped when I came into the house and attached another antenna. All the other systems are receiving, so it is not an antenna issue.

 

[ofd8001]

I once connected a scanner to an outside antenna and drew a static electricity arc. The scanner was a little "hard of hearing" after that. (Noting that you said you hear other systems, so that's less likely).

There is no way to display the frequency of the active control channel that I'm aware of. Logging software, such as ProScan, Arc536Pro can do that. If the scanner is moving through a system and you don't see a signal strength indication, that suggests an issue with receiving a control channel.

You could do a channel Hold, then scroll to a talkgroup on the system. If you see a constant "Finding Control Channel" that means the scanner is looking for, but does not see, a control channel.

If you are handy with Sentinel, you can create a Conventional System and input all of the frequencies associated with the site as conventional frequencies. After writing to the scanner, scan this newly created system. If you land on a control channel, you'll hear a motorboat noise. You may also hear voice traffic. If you do, the news is good - the scanner is receiving though you may have to re-program the scanner because something is out of whack.

Hopefully all you did was bump a weird key sequence and inadvertently locked something out.

 

[buddrousa]

Just for fun the site you are not hearing add all channels listed for that site they may have added new control channels to the site of changed control channels for that site.

 

[LEH]

Hopefully all you did was bump a weird key sequence and inadvertently locked something out.

I thought I might have done something like that and I reloaded the scanner from Sentinel. Still not receiving.

I'll connect to my ProScan and see what appears. Forgot that ProScan would show the CC. Thanks.

 

[LEH]

I connected the 436 through ProScan and selected only that system for monitoring. Placed it next to my G5, numerous dispatches came across on my G5, nothing on my 436.

I selected another system and it and my G5 were right on for both.

I also created a conventional system with just the system frequencies. While I did not get a constant 'motor boat' on the CC, I was picking it up. Manually going through other frequencies, I received the occasional 'talk' from a dispatch.

 

[ofd8001]

Any attenuation on for the site(s)?


Are you getting a good signal strength?



Only other thing that comes to mind is additional frequencies added which haven't made it to the database.


The only wild card on some of these suggestions is that your G5 works. You might confirm the scanner has the same frequencies programmed as the G5.

 

[LEH]

Any attenuation on for the site(s)?


Are you getting a good signal strength?



Only other thing that comes to mind is additional frequencies added which haven't made it to the database.


The only wild card on some of these suggestions is that your G5 works. You might confirm the scanner has the same frequencies programmed as the G5.

No attenuation set, about 3 bars signal strength, and the G5 control channel is in the list I have in the 436.

I was out at a fest most of the day but it appears to be working now. Need to double check. I wonder if there might have been some interference from the electronics near my computer station.

Just down right weird. I've seen some strange things in my 40+ years of scanning, so nothing totally surprises me.

Thanks for the feed back.

 

[ofd8001]

I wonder if there might have been some interference from the electronics near my computer station.

Yes, it will. I can put my handheld next to a computer monitor and it goes crazy.