I have a Uniden Bearcat SDS100 handheld scanner which I have had since February. I have been able to listen to JFRD with no issue until today. I have noticed throughout today the radio communications have been less active. After monitoring more closely I noticed that the chatter was broken. I was only hearing dispatch or the units but not the conversation back and forth. Everything seems very truncated. On numerous occasions, I would hear the dispatch tone but no voice after to dispatch the call. I understand the units have MDT's and radio chatter is reduced but there is definitely something that does not seem right. If anyone has any insight into this, I would greatly appreciate an explanation. Thank you.
JFRD broken transmission
- Thread starter 240Robert
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I just dialed them up on my SDS200 and everything sounds normal. Maybe you were hearing some actual comm problems on their end. I wasn't listening yesterday so I can't confirm any comm problems.
It's possible that, for whatever unknown reason, your scanner is not hearing the control channel cleanly so it's missing some channel grant messages, thus missing those transmissions. It's also possible that a new transmitter recently fired up nearby that is overloading the front end of the scanner, although this seems less likely.
Try moving the antenna to see what happens. With digital systems it's no longer simply signal strength on the meter, it matters that the bit-error rate is kept low, but the scanners don't report that, so good luck there.
Try moving the antenna to see what happens. With digital systems it's no longer simply signal strength on the meter, it matters that the bit-error rate is kept low, but the scanners don't report that, so good luck there.
If the suggestions above don't improve matters I'd recommend experimenting with different filter settings.
Press Menu > Manage Favorites > [select favorite] > Review / Edit System > [choose system] > Edit Site > [choose site] > Set Filter
Experiment with different filter settings here. Individual results vary since not all RF environments are created equal. I can bring in most sites fine using the Normal filter but found in some cases switching to "Invert" brings in signals a bit better depending on where I am. Worth a shot
Press Menu > Manage Favorites > [select favorite] > Review / Edit System > [choose system] > Edit Site > [choose site] > Set Filter
Experiment with different filter settings here. Individual results vary since not all RF environments are created equal. I can bring in most sites fine using the Normal filter but found in some cases switching to "Invert" brings in signals a bit better depending on where I am. Worth a shot
Bolt21
Spark Chariot Driver
I'll second Whiskey's advice reference the filters. I usually have good results with Invert.
Listen more carefully.
What does that mean? I have been listening very carefully. There is something wrong with my scanner. The transmissions are all broken up. I hear tone outs with no speaking. I hear units go enroute with no acknowledgment. Jacksonville is a large city with a lot of stations with a lot of apparatus. I think they are busier than the inconsistent chatter I am listening too. I have had the scanner on for the past thirty minutes on scan mode and I have heard 3 tone outs and very little communication between the units and dispatch and when they do communicate I only hear one side of the conversation. It's very frustrating with a scanner of this price not to work correctly. I should be able to hear everything It's programmed to do.
Is it any better today? You may have been in the area that maybe the site went into site trunking. This is probably rare though because the sites from another area should be picked up unless you are in a fringe area. Also turn the squelch up on the unit and see if that helps. If you live near a strong transmission tower it can desensitize the scanner.
It still seems not to be receiving everything. I have been in different locations all with the same result. I have even restored the scanner back to factory settings. And as a test I put on the JFRD live feed app through broadcastfy and I could hear transmissions on that but not on my actual scanner yet my scanner shows it's scanning all the channels and talk groups appropriately.
My sds 100 has started having the nut down in the Antenna well loosen.see if you wiggle the scanner if the antenna shakes.if it does take the antenna off and look down the well and you will see a nut with notches on each side. Tighten that with a little screw driver or paper clip.
Bolt21
Spark Chariot Driver
In post #5.
zlandmedia
not that florida man
Have you double-checked your programming to make sure all frequencies are accounted for?
zlandmedia
not that florida man
Have you done an update in Sentinel to the database to make sure that's updated as well?
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