The HomePatrol scanners choke on the slightest hint of simulcast. I've done some head-to head testing between various models. Compared to the SDS radios which get 99%+ when there is good signal available, the x36 units receive about 60-70% of traffic on average driving around in a simulcast area, but the HomePatrols get maybe 30-40% clear and ungarbled. If the non-simulcast sites are out of reception range, than a SDS would probably be a good idea.
Home Patrol 2 issue with Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System.
- Thread starter Greg43545
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I will definitely look into the Remtronix antenna
I have not taken the HP 2 on the road to get closer to the Hamler tower site, but will definitely do so - thanks
If I can't get the HP 2 to work properly, then I will probably sell it and purchase an SDS 200.
Get the BNC version:
If it doesn't help with the HP-2, you will be able to use it on the SDS200.
If it doesn't help with the HP-2, you will be able to use it on the SDS200.
I will definitely keep that in mind - thanks!
HCSO96
Member
The remtronix antennas do make a difference...well worth the money
I did take my Home Patrol 2 mobile and drove to the tower location. At the tower location the signal strength indicated a maxed 4 out of 4.
While I was at that location, I heard Napoleon Police traffic from dispatch to car and back to dispatch at a 5 x 5 – crystal clear.
I then drove back to my home location in Napoleon (Approximately 10 miles as the crow flies.) observing the signal strength on my HP 2 and during that time period my signal strength dropped from 4 out of 4, down to 2 out of 4, to eventually zero when I pulled into my driveway. At the same time I had a signal strength of 2-3 out of 5 on my BCD325P2.
This indicates the Home Patrol 2 is NOT the problem. The problem is apparently my location is very close to being a dead zone.
In previous conversations here, and on other site threads, I have been advised that I should purchase a different antenna to correct my lack of signal strength in my home for my Home Patrol 2 to monitor the Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System frequency of 771.70625.
Someone recommended I get a Remtronics antenna to correct the problem, it was also suggested that I purchase a directional Yagi antenna, and another suggestion was I purchase an HDTV antenna.
In any case, I would like to get some suggestions here on what type of antenna I could purchase that would increase my signal strength so I can receive transmissions on my Home Patrol 2 inside my home.
While I was at that location, I heard Napoleon Police traffic from dispatch to car and back to dispatch at a 5 x 5 – crystal clear.
I then drove back to my home location in Napoleon (Approximately 10 miles as the crow flies.) observing the signal strength on my HP 2 and during that time period my signal strength dropped from 4 out of 4, down to 2 out of 4, to eventually zero when I pulled into my driveway. At the same time I had a signal strength of 2-3 out of 5 on my BCD325P2.
This indicates the Home Patrol 2 is NOT the problem. The problem is apparently my location is very close to being a dead zone.
In previous conversations here, and on other site threads, I have been advised that I should purchase a different antenna to correct my lack of signal strength in my home for my Home Patrol 2 to monitor the Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System frequency of 771.70625.
Someone recommended I get a Remtronics antenna to correct the problem, it was also suggested that I purchase a directional Yagi antenna, and another suggestion was I purchase an HDTV antenna.
In any case, I would like to get some suggestions here on what type of antenna I could purchase that would increase my signal strength so I can receive transmissions on my Home Patrol 2 inside my home.
Try the Remtronix, but I think you will find that in the end, the SDS is the answer. The RSSI indicator on the radios are not really all that accurate. That said, at 10-12 miles, you are on the fringe of the coverage area. A yagi will likely help if mounted properly, but you lose portability. HDTV antenna - who knows. Try cheap solutions first. But look at it this way, many people have reported that their SDS and Unication radios have similar RX capabilities as do the actual subscriber radios that are used on the system. There must be coverage in your town from somewhere. At least you know that your programming works.
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ctpd845
Member
Have you tried any of the other sites from home yet. Always started with the simplest solution first. If that doesn't work, then start looking at antenna setups or potentially a new scanner.
The only thing I have been able to pick up on the Home Patrol 2 on my table has been Analog. BUT, the Home Patrol 2 as a mobile in my vehicle picked up the Digital Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System 5 x 5. So I'm pretty sure it is an antenna problem.
On another site, I was recommended to get this antenna ...
or this one ... with an adapter
800 MHz 2.5db Gain Base BNC Scanner Antenna | Scanner Master
This 700/800 MHz 2.5db Gain Antenex Base-mounted Scanner Antenna can also be used on portable scanner radios. The antenna will signficantly improve reception at 700/800 MHz. This is a professional antenna that is perfect for police scanner applications.
www.scannermaster.com
or this one ... with an adapter
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antenna | Scanner Master
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antenna
www.scannermaster.com
That one is out of stock at ScannerMaster. However, it is in stock at Universal Radio and Amazon. The Amazon seller is Police Scanner Outlet, which is the name Bearcat Warehouse uses on Amazon.On another site, I was recommended to get this antenna ...
800 MHz 2.5db Gain Base BNC Scanner Antenna | Scanner Master
This 700/800 MHz 2.5db Gain Antenex Base-mounted Scanner Antenna can also be used on portable scanner radios. The antenna will signficantly improve reception at 700/800 MHz. This is a professional antenna that is perfect for police scanner applications.www.scannermaster.com
Actually, you would need to use the SMA to BNC adapter with either of these antenbnas. Your HP-2 has an SMA connecror to the antenna, whereas both of these antennas need a BNC connector. To use the second antenna on your HP-2, you'd have to use the SMA to BNC adapter that came with the scanner, plus a 90 degree elbow (BNC on both ends) so that you could position the antenna vertically. However, there s combination adapter that has an SMA male to connect to your HP-2, and the other end of the elbow has the BNC female adapter to connect to the antenna.or this one ... with an adapter
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antenna | Scanner Master
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antennawww.scannermaster.com
Since the HP-2 does not hear the system in your house, but does work in your vehicle, then something in the house may be affecting the signal strength. If your house has aluminum siding, and/or foil backed insulation in the walls, either of those would reduce the signal you can hear inside the house.
Great info, thanks Steve.
Not sure about the type of insulation, but the sides are brick.
It's odd that my HP 2 is having a problem with reduced signal yet my BCD325P2 gets a 4 to 5 out of 5 on the signal strength and receives the transmissions with no problem.
I'm going to make an attempt to correct the antenna issue first and if that does not correct the situation I will then entertain the idea of selling my HP 2 and purchasing an SDS200 which, I am led to believe, will solve my issue of signal strength and allow me to monitor the Digital Northwest Ohio Regional Public Safety System in my home.
In your opinion, which of the above antennas would be better to solve an issue such as mine?
Don't put a lot of stock into the difference between the signal strength indicators on the two scanners. There's no real way, outside of test equipment that the average person does not have, to actually verify whether the settings on the two scanners are the same, or more likely, different. The 325P2 seems to have a more sensitive receiver than the HP-2, and also note that the 325P2 is newer, so it probably has a more effective receiver than the HP-2 or other, older, designs of scanners. That's not to imply the HP-2 is deaf; it isn't. Quite a while back, one member did a receiver test to gauge sensitivity on a number of scanners. The HP series came in about the middle range. Not as sensitive as the best, but above the worst. In other words, average. Which antenna do you have on your 325P2?
Of the two antennas you linked, they are essentially the same antenna. Both are also BNC mounts. The difference is that the first one, the REM-830B, has the swivel that allows you to adjust the antenna so that it sits vertically. The second antenna, REM-800B, is straight, no swivel. So, you'd need the 90 degree elbow to position the antenna correctly on your HP-2 (vertically) if you did not utilize an elbow adapter.
Looking at the site for your county (Henry County, right?), it appears to be a single site, not simulcast, so that should not be your problem. The Lucas site is simulcast, and if you were in that county, then your best course of action would be to consider the SDS200. I will say that my SDS200 seems more sensitive than the other scanners, in that I can hear some systems with it, that are hit & miss on the other units when using comparable antennas.
Are there other transmit sites near you, whether cell towers or other transmitters? Anything that might be washing out the HP-2 unless you get it out of the house and into your vehicle?
#1) I used the stock issue ' rubber ducky ' with the 325P2 and it worked fine.
I actually experimented by placing the HP-2 ' Rubber Ducky ' antenna on the 325P2 and it is working BETTER now with that one than it did with the issued one! ( go figure )
#2) There are cell towers in the area, but nothing close to me. No other transmitters to my knowledge either.
ctpd845
Member
I know I have asked this a few times but you have never really given a straight answer. Have you tried to monitor the Wauseon site from home with your HP-2. You are right on the edge of the coverage area for both the Hamler site and Wauseon site. And if that does't work I would still at least try the Lucas County Simulcast site. Sometimes being on the outside of the simulcast footprint can yield the best results from the older scanners. I monitor the Lucas County Simulcast site from western Ottawa County with good results on a Radio Shack Pro-106.
The first thing scanner users around here do is replace their stock multiband antennas with a Remtronics 800 antenna. The Remtronix make a big difference when monitoring 700/800 signaling - which all local jurisdictions in Maryland use in their TRSs, as well as the new state system. The Remtronics perform adequately for the other bands as well.
I am also unclear if you have isolated sites individually to test which one works best at your home. For example, on the state's system in my area, I can receive 3 sites, one simulcast, and two multicast. The simulcast site works the best since I live within its intended service area (and I live about 1000 meters from the closest tower site.) Therefore I only enable the simulcast site - all other sites are locked out. The programming in my vehicle has all 175 sites of the same system enabled, and they are selected by the location control function of the SDS radio and an attached gps.
Keep in mind the HP-2 is not a "premium" receiver; it was designed for ease of use, and not high performance.
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