distance for scanner signals

[chevycheyenne]

i was wondering what kind of distance i could expect to pick up signals with a bct8 and a 3 foot firestik antenna roof mounted. Are the better antennas? Also how about at home with the little antenna you get in the box. What kind of range could i expect?

 

[Dubbin]

That will all depend on the terrain in your area too.

 

[Voyager]

That will all depend on the terrain in your area too.

As well as the power and antenna height of the transmitting station, and even weather conditions to a point. (Not to mention the height of your antenna and sensitivity of your receiver - which will vary depending on your use or not of a preamp.)

Joe M.

 

[chevycheyenne]

well lets just say im trying to listen to a police frequency (dont know strength) terrain is flat as can be

 

[nmfire10]

Oh, of course. The police frequency. Duh.

You need to be A LOT more specific than that. It isn't simple like "this will go that far". Details details details.

 

[Dubbin]

well lets just say im trying to listen to a police frequency (dont know strength) terrain is flat as can be

Its still going to depend on a lot of things. I can receive signals from over 50 miles away on one system but on another that is the same distance I cannot receive it.

 

[scanfan03]

The rule of thumb for simplex is line of sight.

 

[chevycheyenne]

well geez im so sorry i disappointed you about detail. Im trying to gain a little knowledge, i admitted that i didnt know anything about scanning. The police freqencies for this area are 155 and so on. How am i supposed to know any more details? Im not on the police department. I was just wondering if there is a rule of thumb at all about distance.

 

[erikTromatowski]

You could always go to the FCC database online, for all the details on pretty much any system you could imagine... Also, yes, line of site is pretty much rule of thumb.

 

[Pro-95]

I was just wondering if there is a rule of thumb at all about distance.

Line of sight. That's what our manuals say.

 

[Dubbin]

well geez im so sorry i disappointed you about detail. Im trying to gain a little knowledge, i admitted that i didnt know anything about scanning. The police freqencies for this area are 155 and so on. How am i supposed to know any more details? Im not on the police department. I was just wondering if there is a rule of thumb at all about distance.

No one was trying to be rude, we are just trying to get you to understand that there is no way to answer your question. There are so many variables that makes it impossible to answer.

 

[GlacierClipper]

When I am in Monteagle, TN using my Pro 96/780XLT and using an old army 292 antenna, I can pick up signals over 60 miles away. Chattanooga is 45 miles east of Monteagle, I can hear Chattanooga/Hamilton County's Trunked. When the conditions are good, I can pick Nashville/Davidson County's Trunked with reasonable modulation. Nashville is 89 miles west Monteagle. The Tennessee HP on lowband provides excellent scanner listening from Monteagle.

Monteagle is the highest point in a direct line from Chicago, IL to Miami, FL. Elevation for Monteagle is nearly 2,000 ft.

 

[blakem445]

"Oh, of course. The police frequency. Duh.

You need to be A LOT more specific than that. It isn't simple like "this will go that far". Details details details nmfire10
chevycheyenne you are finding out what I did here there are some jerks who get upset when you ask questions they too once forgot they knew nothing about scanning and there are the others who are a great bunch of people it is a good question there are alot of people here that always will help and at times we all learn something from others questions don't let them get you down

blakem

 

[Dubbin]

"Oh, of course. The police frequency. Duh.

You need to be A LOT more specific than that. It isn't simple like "this will go that far". Details details details nmfire10
chevycheyenne you are finding out what I did here there are some jerks who get upset when you ask questions they too once forgot they knew nothing about scanning and there are the others who are a great bunch of people it is a good question there are alot of people here that always will help and at times we all learn something from others questions don't let them get you down

blakem

There is no one here being a jerk too him except for your smart remark. :roll: We are just trying to let him know how it really is when it comes to getting distant signals.

 

[Pro-95]

There is no one here being a jerk too him except for your smart remark.

Called "Panties in a Bunch" on the 4by forums I belong to.

Really I don't think anyone was talking down or implying anything other than , it depends and line of sight.

 

[scanfan03]

On that police frequency, do you hear the units transmitting all the time, or can you only hear them if you are close to them?

 

[ryland]

My experience is your reception will be as good as the transmitter. In other words: a large law enforcment agency or fire department will have a strong signal if they cover a large area. Example: from santa barbara I can hear los angeles sheriff over 100 miles away however I cannot hear some smaller agencies that are closer in distance. If an agency's area is 100 miles across then you may be able to hear that agency from over 100 miles away. Antenna's and radios I am sure matter a lot as well, that is where I am not sure about.

 

[Pro-95]

Example: from santa barbara I can hear los angeles sheriff over 100 miles away however I cannot hear some smaller agencies that are closer in distance.

Cool I can hear LAPD from Carp, when I go there for the holidays! Oh wait isn't LAPD APCO-25 digital encodeing?

 

[crayon]

While 'line-of-sight' is a correct answer, not only is it subjective, it is also an incredibly vauge term to use. The problem is that there is no easy way to explain it. Perhaps it is better to say 'line-of-sight and it depends'.

First, it depends on how high the transmitting tower is and how much power it is putting out as to how far the signal can be received.

Next, it depends also depends on 'line-of-sight'. This is best described by way of an illustration:

If your transmitting tower is 150' AGL and you have some mountains that are 1500' AGL higher than your tower, there is going to be an RF shadow behind those mountains. Effectively, blocking your 'line-of-sight' to that transmitting tower.

You can increase your ability to receive a faint signal by using an antenna that, by way of its design, is a high gain antenna. This is not the same as using a signal amplifier.

 

[ryland]

really you could hear lapd from carp? and i was wondering , did they go digital? smae freq's, jsut digital? la sheriff stillcoems through, i cant pick up la city fire, but la county fire comes in fine.