No matter how I hard I've tried, I can't receive Police and fire on my BCD436HP scanner. I'm trying to get Police and Fire for Woonsocket, RI. I get everything else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !!
BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Frustrated
- Thread starter b114341
- Start date
Are you using the trunked system or the conventional frequencies? We need some more information to help you.
You can find the trunked here:
You can find the trunked here:
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County Details
www.radioreference.com
Trunked SystemAre you using the trunked system or the conventional frequencies? We need some more information to help you.
You can find the trunked here:
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County Detailswww.radioreference.com
What sites are you using?
RISCON
TGIDs 1363, 1360, 1361, 1354, 1367
Welcome to the RR forums. Simulcast distortion may be your issue if you're within range of two or more towers of whatever simulcast you're monitoring. Have a read about what it is & ways you can try and mitigate it. Ultimately you'd be much better off with an SDS100 (or 200) to monitor simulcast sites
wiki.radioreference.com
Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
These are talkgroups, not sites. To monitor a trunked radio system requires both talkgroups and sites (a tower with one or more control frequencies).
For a new user, I suggest being sure all the Law and Fire Service Types are enabled, scan Full Database and confirm you have entered the correct zip code for your location. I'd also start out with Range being 50.0, then incrementally dial that down.
Also be sure you have updated the database via Sentinel. Using the full database eliminates any programming errors you may inadvertently make.
If you still are unsuccessful, then take the scanner to a location about 1/4-1/2 mile of a site and give it a listen. That would rule out anything creating interference near your primary listening location as well as possible simulcast distortion.
The x36s are not particularly great when it comes to decoding signal being received from multiple sites simultaneously.
Also be sure you have updated the database via Sentinel. Using the full database eliminates any programming errors you may inadvertently make.
If you still are unsuccessful, then take the scanner to a location about 1/4-1/2 mile of a site and give it a listen. That would rule out anything creating interference near your primary listening location as well as possible simulcast distortion.
The x36s are not particularly great when it comes to decoding signal being received from multiple sites simultaneously.
When you say you get everything else, please give some examples. Are these other talkgroups on the RISCON system?
Chris0516
Active Member
Providence County, only has Simulcast towers on RISCON: Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) Trunking System, Statewide, Rhode Island
The BCD436HP can't do Simulcast, so. What are you listening to?
You need to answer these questions for us to help you.
I cringe every time I see this. While yes, a 436 can struggle to get simulcast systems, "can't" is a definitive term. I listened here (at my home) for over a year on a BCD 436 to my simulcast system, it was only because it struggled when I traveled around the county that I decided to get something else. I finally sold that to fund my first Unication pager, being clear to the buyer it may have problems in other areas (we live in the same town) and he honestly said it's working well enough for him, he's not worried about upgrading.
Do I recommend a 436/536 if someone has simulcast? NO, I do not but I will not go as far as to say it can't work, as always it's about location, location, location.
Depending on his exact location I agree. Honestly he needs to answer the questions posed here to help him a little more.Welcome to the RR forums. Simulcast distortion may be your issue if you're within range of two or more towers of whatever simulcast you're monitoring. Have a read about what it is & ways you can try and mitigate it. Ultimately you'd be much better off with an SDS100 (or 200) to monitor simulcast sites
Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
Well OP said Woonsocket so umm, looks like it's within coverage of the North Simulcast. Might only be within range of one tower per the map?
@b114341 please zip up and post your Sentinel .hpe export so we can have a look at your programming
Importing and Exporting Sentinel .hpe Files - The RadioReference Wiki
That's what I saw when I looked up his OP also, the north simulcast was what covered his posted town. I just wish people would provide a little more info on occasion. 
Yes that's what I saw too. His situation is similar to what mine was when I first started listening on the 436. I was at the outer edge of coverage and it usually worked well given it was simulcast but I think only one tower was in play here. Now there's a tower in town (or so they have posted) but I don't have it any longer to actually check. A few weeks ago I messaged the fellow that bought it and he said it was still working fine and showing a little better signal so I guess maybe they did put up a site here in town. He's still claiming to be very happy with it even traveling around some with it listening to the same simulcast system. He also goes to the next county over which I put in there for him and it's simulcast and he said it worked well there too so I dunno, if he's having any kind of issues I guess he doesn't know it.
I did ZIP 02895 at 0.0 range. I also switched to a REMtronix antenna and now I can get Woonsocket talk groups. I get all the MASS State Police talkgroups all the way to the MASS State Police in Boston. I'm a bit happier now.
Well OP said Woonsocket so umm, looks like it's within coverage of the North Simulcast. Might only be within range of one tower per the map?
View attachment 192937
@b114341 please zip up and post your Sentinel .hpe export so we can have a look at your programming
Importing and Exporting Sentinel .hpe Files - The RadioReference Wiki
Are you using the trunked system or the conventional frequencies? We need some more information to help you.
You can find the trunked here:
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County
Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) TG Category: Woonsocket - Providence County Detailswww.radioreference.com
Per request for more information.
