Robert43055
Member
Anyone know of a good antenna for the BCD436 that works better then the Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna?
Franklin County/Columbus P25 System Discussion
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W8RMH
Feed Provider Since 2012
The RS800 is the about best out there. You may try a commercial 800 antenna. I have used a Comet CH-32 on my portable scanners for over 20 years, mainly because it's only 1.75 inches long and has good performance on VHF / UHF / and 800 MHz.
That comet antenna is on indefinite back order lol.
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W8RMH
Feed Provider Since 2012
They usually have them at Universal Radio. You can get them at any HAM store LOL. I just used that site for informational purposes.
https://www.amazon.com/Comet-Original-CH-32-Tri-Band-Handheld/dp/B00OI3PY1U
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I've also had good luck with the Maldol dual band antennas (MH-209 with BNC and MH-209SMA with SMA connector). A bit taller than the Comet Miracle Baby, but flexible, less expensive and works just as well.
Maldol MH-209 Amateur HT Antenna
ebuckeye
Member
I did try the roam feature on my pro-197, but it made things much worse, to the point where I wasn't receiving anything. I haven't tried changing the settings on the 396xt. The groves road tower is quite close and you'd think I could get good reception. Maybe I have something programmed/set wrong? I did it all manually, so it is a possibility. I will try tinkering with the settings in freescan, that a poster had mentioned. That, or I may try a new antenna.
Turn on your attenuator and use a smaller antenna. If you're that close to Groves Road, you should be able to use the attenuator and/or a smaller antenna to mostly eliminate hearing any other tower.
With P25 simulcast, more signal is not better.
Robert43055
Member
Not sure if they tweaked some things but it does sound a lot more clearer then it did .
So my Yagi and cable arrived however it would appear I need an adapter to connect the cable to a BCD325P2, can I get some advice as to what sort of adapter I should purchase to connect the cable to the scanner? The cable connects to the antennae perfectly and I linked them below.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L3ZRF9A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Z8MJ6Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L3ZRF9A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006Z8MJ6Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
W8RMH
Feed Provider Since 2012
Radio service was testing and tuning on 10 FIRE most of the night.
Just get a pigtail with a BNC instead of RP-SMA.
ebuckeye
Member
Thank you all for all the suggestions. And copper, I am missing the old Motorola system as well 
. I turned on the ATT, on the pro 197 and it helped some, still choppy audio though. When I turned on the ATT on the 396xt, I was unable to receive the control channel on the Columbus City system. I tried adjusting the threshold to 200, like suggested and I did not notice much of a change. East Main street and I-270 to the east seems to be my cut off point of poor audio. I did notice a large tower on E. Main street near Brice Road, so maybe that is causing interference? I do not know what type of tower it is, but it has been there for a long time.The county tower is still working great, so I least I have some channels to scan.
. I turned on the ATT, on the pro 197 and it helped some, still choppy audio though. When I turned on the ATT on the 396xt, I was unable to receive the control channel on the Columbus City system. I tried adjusting the threshold to 200, like suggested and I did not notice much of a change. East Main street and I-270 to the east seems to be my cut off point of poor audio. I did notice a large tower on E. Main street near Brice Road, so maybe that is causing interference? I do not know what type of tower it is, but it has been there for a long time.The county tower is still working great, so I least I have some channels to scan.
W8RMH
Feed Provider Since 2012
Picked up a BCD436HP and a BIG improvement in decode over the BCD396XT. Time to retire the 'ole 396 I guess. Plus I can now dive into DMR.
Robert43055
Member
Yes I agree it's a great scanner I'm really happy with it as well.
W8RMH
Feed Provider Since 2012
I just have to figure out the quick keys.
Robert43055
Member
There are some great YouTube videos out there on the 436 is what helped me out with the quick keys, and I also use ARC536PRO to program it, I found it a little easier to use.
I went to Universal Radio on Tussing yesterday ...They were sold out of antennas for handheld I was looking for with all the folks looking for a solution to the Cbus Marcs problems... The man I talked to thinks it will get a lot better when they completely stop the simulcast after Fire is fixed ...Apparently they have had issues with Marcs when firemen tried to activate their emergency banners.
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