HP-2: Home Patrol 2 receives nothing but weather station...

[NeedtoKnow2]

8 months ago in NC mountains, Home Patrol worked well with its stock antenna. It brought in dozens of frequencies in a relatively rural area. Granted, we were at 3,000 feet. But it worked fine in Florida flatlands 2 years earlier just south a few miles of where I live now.

But now in the Ocala, Florida area, flat land at 70 foot elevation, no obstructions, inside or outside, with the same antenna, fresh batteries, with or without USB plugged into the computer or a power supply, or not plugged into anything, and after programming it for stations in the Ocala region, I get nothing except the nearest weather channels. The full database for Florida and the US is installed.

What I mean by "nothing" is this:

I have squelch set at 2 bars and it scans the 100 or so regional stations in the area. It stops on nothing. When I set squelch to 0 bars (no squelch) it will stop on a frequency and just sit there, with static. Nothing but static on any station I stop on. Looking at the power meter as it scans, I do see occasional 2, 3, or 4 bar signals, but even on these, there is nothing but static. No beeps, codes, or anything but static. On a couple of stations, the signal power meter will pulsate on 5 bars (flash on and off every second). But no audible signal except uniform static.

I have fresh batteries. It scans fine. I have it set for my local frequencies, the stock antenna is on. I tried other antennae, inside and outside the house. Same nothing.

Main firmware version is 1.05
Sub firmware version is 1.02
Database version is 08/27.2017
Help version is 07/14/2014

Any suggestions?

I'm kind of thinking that I have a component failure somewhere because this thing is not that complicated.

 

[nessnet]

Good news here is that if you are getting weather, your RX/antenna is probably OK.

You don't say anything about WHAT you are scanning.
Are the system(s) trunked or conventional?
(Getting static indicates conventional)
Not getting anything on 800Mhz trunking could be re-banding (been there, done that).

First, are all if the intended service types selected properly?
In Sentinel, are all the Scan Selections both monitor and Download?

More details = better help

"Full database" - are you scanning using the zip code method?
STRONGLY suggest using Sentinel and building favorite lists for what you want to listen to.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Without knowing specifics on what you are scanning and assuming you have created and are attempting to scan favorites lists, two things come to mind based on what you describe: Maybe simulcast distortion could be a factor on the system(s) you're attempting to scan? or maybe you have some service types disabled? And you're certain encryption isn't utilized? Again, knowing specific system info would help us better understand what may be happening. If any conventional channels are giving you trouble, have you tried entering them via quick frequency entry? And if so, any luck?

(Getting static indicates conventional)

True, but some people confuse analog "static" with digital data noise when a weak P25, DMR, NXDN, etc signal passes through

 

[phask]

8 months ago in NC mountains, Home Patrol worked well with its stock antenna. It brought in dozens of frequencies in a relatively rural area. Granted, we were at 3,000 feet. But it worked fine in Florida flatlands 2 years earlier just south a few miles of where I live now.

But now in the Ocala, Florida area, flat land at 70 foot elevation, no obstructions, inside or outside, with the same antenna, fresh batteries, with or without USB plugged into the computer or a power supply, or not plugged into anything, and after programming it for stations in the Ocala region, I get nothing except the nearest weather channels. The full database for Florida and the US is installed.

What I mean by "nothing" is this:

I have squelch set at 2 bars and it scans the 100 or so regional stations in the area. It stops on nothing. When I set squelch to 0 bars (no squelch) it will stop on a frequency and just sit there, with static. Nothing but static on any station I stop on. Looking at the power meter as it scans, I do see occasional 2, 3, or 4 bar signals, but even on these, there is nothing but static. No beeps, codes, or anything but static. On a couple of stations, the signal power meter will pulsate on 5 bars (flash on and off every second). But no audible signal except uniform static.

I have fresh batteries. It scans fine. I have it set for my local frequencies, the stock antenna is on. I tried other antennae, inside and outside the house. Same nothing.

Main firmware version is 1.05
Sub firmware version is 1.02
Database version is 08/27.2017
Help version is 07/14/2014

Any suggestions?

I'm kind of thinking that I have a component failure somewhere because this thing is not that complicated.

Database version is 08/27.2017

first thing I'd do is update the database.

Then let us know what and where you are trying to get. There is a lot of EDACS in FL.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

I've tried it by Name of City, by Zip Code. Service types include Emergency Ops, Federal, EMS dispatch EMS-Tac, Fire dispatch, Fire-Tac Fire-talk, Hospital, Law dispatch, Law tac, and several others. I've varied from 200+ channels selected to over 600 channels selected.

Funny, "if any conventional channels are giving you trouble..." NO channels are working. I would think out of 600, someone would be saying something to someone!

""Full database" - are you scanning using the zip code method?" Yes, and City. And tried 15 to 25 miles distance settings.
"STRONGLY suggest using Sentinel and building favorite lists for what you want to listen to." I've used this in other locations using the "easy" methods this device was marketed on and it worked fine. Now, nothing, out of hundreds of channels it scans. It scans four or five counties in my region. City, county, state and federal agencies show up while scanning. But only static on all, or the scan doesn't stop on any unless the Squelch is Off.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Again, pointing us to the specific system(s) in the RR database will give us a better picture of what you are trying to scan so we can rule out simulcast, encryption, etc. You stated the database version is 2 years old so my first step would be to update the database. Things can potentially change in 2 years

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Home Patrol Sentinel has been updated to Database version 2.03 (2/16/2020). Ocala favorites have been uploaded to the Patrol II.
Favorites (total of 591 frequencies) are comprised of the following:

I still don't hear a peep out of any of them. Frankly, I would have thought that just using the Patrol II without the computer hookup, and entering new City/Zip and range that it should work. It showed my new local agencies as it scanned all those channels. So I don't see that what I just did would make any difference.

Natl Interagency Fire Center - USA	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Itinerant Businesses - USA	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
National Interagency Fire Center - USA	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Public Safety - USA	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Alachua	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Citrus	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Hernando	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Lake	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Levy	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Marion	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Business	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Businesses	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Common/Shared	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Department of Environmental Protection	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Department of Transportation	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Division of Emergency Management	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Forest Service	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
FL Medevac	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Utilities	Off	Conventional	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Alachua County - Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRUCom Project	Off	P25 X2-TDMA	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Basic Two-Way Radio (Williston)	Off	LTR	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Citrus County Public Services	Off	Motorola	Off	Off	Ignore	NAC Search
Citrus County Public Services (P25) System	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Duke Energy (Florida)	Off	Motorola	Off	Off	Ignore	NAC Search
Gainesville / Alachua County	Off	Motorola	Off	Off	Ignore	NAC Search
Hernando County	Off	Motorola	Off	Off	Ignore	NAC Search
Marion County FL Public Safety	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Ocala Public Safety	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Public Safety Interoperable Communications Network (PSIC)	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Reidy Rhodes and Taylor Communications (Gainesville)	Off	LTR	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (P25)	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Sumter County Public Safety System	Off	P25 Standard	Off		Ignore	NAC Search
Tri-Co Communications (The Villages)	Off	LTR	Off		Ignore	NAC Search

 

[popnokick]

The OP wrote they are trying to receive agencies in the Ocala FL area in the initial post. The RR DB for that area shows a capital “E” for many agencies in the Mode column. Doesn’t that mean Encrypted? Might this question receive a better answer in the Florida Forum here on RR?

 

[tvengr]

The database shows that Marion Co and Ocala fire and law enforcement are almost totally encrypted. You will not be able to receive it on any scanner.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

The OP wrote they are trying to receive agencies in the Ocala FL area in the initial post. The RR DB for that area shows a capital “E” for many agencies in the Mode column. Doesn’t that mean Encrypted? Might this question receive a better answer in the Florida Forum here on RR?

And many agencies are NOT encrypted. I would think I would hear something. I haven't heard one word.

Where is the Florida Forum?

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

The database shows that Marion Co and Ocala fire and law enforcement are almost totally encrypted. You will not be able to receive it on any scanner.

There are many that are NOT Marion Co and Ocala fire and law.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

A bit frustrating when an "easy to use" purpose-built scanner is more difficult to scan agencies than was my Kenwood F6A portable.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

And many agencies are NOT encrypted. I would think I would hear something. I haven't heard one word.

Where is the Florida Forum?

I found the Florida Forum and posted there. Thanks!

 

[WoodburyMan]

I've tried it by Name of City, by Zip Code. Service types include Emergency Ops, Federal, EMS dispatch EMS-Tac, Fire dispatch, Fire-Tac Fire-talk, Hospital, Law dispatch, Law tac, and several others. I've varied from 200+ channels selected to over 600 channels selected.

Funny, "if any conventional channels are giving you trouble..." NO channels are working. I would think out of 600, someone would be saying something to someone!

""Full database" - are you scanning using the zip code method?" Yes, and City. And tried 15 to 25 miles distance settings.
"STRONGLY suggest using Sentinel and building favorite lists for what you want to listen to." I've used this in other locations using the "easy" methods this device was marketed on and it worked fine. Now, nothing, out of hundreds of channels it scans. It scans four or five counties in my region. City, county, state and federal agencies show up while scanning. But only static on all, or the scan doesn't stop on any unless the Squelch is Off.

Your problem may be... too many channels. If you're scanning 600 channels, given most police, fire, etc tx's are only a few short seconds, you may end up missing a good deal of them while it loops through frequencies. This also makes sense that sometimes you get "bars" but it skips over them... if that's a Digital (p25 or otherwise) Trunked-System control channel or something it scans, there may be a signal, but currently no active talk groups are broadcasting so it skips over it after seeing no active.

Try cutting your range down maybe in the database to something smaller, or program a custom favorite list with just one or two nearby cities or counties that you think you should pick up and try that.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Your problem may be... too many channels. If you're scanning 600 channels, given most police, fire, etc tx's are only a few short seconds, you may end up missing a good deal of them while it loops through frequencies. This also makes sense that sometimes you get "bars" but it skips over them... if that's a Digital (p25 or otherwise) Trunked-System control channel or something it scans, there may be a signal, but currently no active talk groups are broadcasting so it skips over it after seeing no active.

Try cutting your range down maybe in the database to something smaller, or program a custom favorite list with just one or two nearby cities or counties that you think you should pick up and try that.

Thanks. That makes sense. I'll reduce range from 15 to 10 miles, and smaller than that if that didn't work.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Thanks. That makes sense. I'll reduce range from 15 to 10 miles, and smaller than that if that didn't work.

And I cut my channels down so that the entire scan is 5 to 7 seconds. I eliminated the counties around Marion where I wouldn't get s good signal anyway.

 

[jonwienke]

Range can be set to zero in the scanner menu. That setting is added to the service range listed for each site and department in the database.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Range can be set to zero in the scanner menu. That setting is added to the service range listed for each site and department in the database.

I'm coming around to the belief that there are just not many accessible channels (not encrypted) in my area. I'm also guessing I need to do a bit more radio tweaking to optimize duration of broadcasting channel "reads."

 

[ratboy]

I don't know if this will be any help...

My HP-1 worked great, at first, then it became basically silent. I had to do a hard reset to get it to work, sometimes several times to get anything except the WX and one very strong business transmitter that normally would be full quieting, and when the HP-1 was acting deaf, it was barely audible. Reset, check, reset, check, and on and on. I sent the HP-1 to Uniden and of course, they found nothing wrong with it. After a while, the antenna connection inside broke and after it went back to TX for a repair, it worked fine, for a while. I finally had enough and sold it off to someone who seems happy with it.

 

[NeedtoKnow2]

Yup. It seems its life is shorter than dog years. 5 years is like 70 years when it goes partially deaf.