LCRA monitoring in San Antonio

[precoislen]

Anybody had any luck monitoring the LCRA system in the San Antonio area? Before I started programming in I was wondering if anybody had any luck. Some of the locations that are shown in the database for tower locations are areas that I am unfamiliar with. Help isolating the towers closet to San Antonio would be helpful.

I looked at the map for the LCRA system and still I am not real positive.

 

[n4voxgill]

I live in New Braunfels and have the LCRA site here programed in and receive New Braunfels PD and FD with no problems. I have also picked up the sites in Boerne and San Marcos. Remember that you must use the correct LCN . gill

 

[mr_hankey]

here in NW San Antonio, there is a "conduit" that allows monitoring of the Coma LCRA site - IF you are in exactly the right spot.

keep in mind that the 900Mhz EDACS system is, let's see if i can remember this correctly, narrow "compandered".

this translates to low audio output on anything other than a handheld EDACS radio.

still, interesting to listen to as EVERYONE in Central Texas is on the system, including the Texas Rangers when they do special investigations (anyone remember the millionaire kid up at Travis Lake that ran over that woman in his boat? they were up investigating that night on an LCRA talkgroup...)

 

[blantonl]

The Comal County site comes in best to most locations in northern San Antonio.

In my location (near 281 x Evans Road) - I can pick up the New Braunfels Site, the Comal Site, The Boerne site, and the Kingsbury site. I normally just park the radio on the New Braunfels site.

Most likely, for most in San Antonio, the Comal site should come in ok in North SATX.

-Lb

 

[precoislen]

Appreciate the responses and information. That helps narrow down my search on where to start.

Based on that information I ought to pick up pretty good from the Bitters/1604 area.

Thanks.

 

[precoislen]

Give an update this. Got everything programmed in to my Pro-95's late last week and spent some time listening this weekend, and picked up the Comal, Boerne, and New Braunfels system without an problem, but nothing from the Kingsbury site. Might have to set the scanner to "open" mode and start logging which TG's pull up on that site.

Pretty impressed by the audio for these systems. They came in really clear. I was listening to NB PD on one scanner and had Bexar SO on the other talking on "Open" analog channel, and I could swear the LCRA system had better audio output.

As a side note, tropo ducting must of been pretty good Saturday morning around 2AM because I was picking up what I thought was Houston Fire Dispatch on UHF. They were spotty but I'd recognize that phone ringing sound and then the computerized voice dispatching anywhere.

BTW, thanks for all the help on this guys.

 

[ericcarlson]

As a side note, tropo ducting must of been pretty good Saturday morning around 2AM because I was picking up what I thought was Houston Fire Dispatch on UHF.

Conditions are good for tropo ducting in south Texas, check out all the red and pink: http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo.html

-Eric

 

[precoislen]

Eric,

Thanks.... I was gonna ask that question at one time. Were there any tools or special conditions to look for to take advantage of the "ducting"?
Just never got around to asking.

That site is now bookmarked, and will come in handy as I have time to use it.

 

[motorolahead]

ORION GE Programming Help Needed

I have a GE ORION that I am trying to monitor LCRA with and need help.
If anyone has programmes SYSTEM, GROUPS, etc.

I could use the help.

 

[blantonl]

You are much better off using a scanner.....

 

[motorolahead]

Bearcat BCD996XT and LCRA

I took your advice and the scanner is working fine for me. Now I have a 900 Orion and LPE-200 that I use for doorstops as the LID is the issue to "keep" reception.

Thanks for the help...