Locked on control channel but no sound.

[mtindor]

I did not show the signal in those pics here is a pic of the signal strength

And I'll say again. The signal is weak, 15 db at best. You're going to have errors. And I think that is the control channel. Some days back when you showed signals, the control channel was weak but stronger than the voice channels. I imagine that hasn't changed. So 15 db max on control channel sig, and even less on voice channels = crappy decode.

 

[AngWay]

And I'll say again. The signal is weak, 15 db at best. You're going to have errors. And I think that is the control channel. Some days back when you showed signals, the control channel was weak but stronger than the voice channels. I imagine that hasn't changed. So 15 db max on control channel sig, and even less on voice channels = crappy decode.

any ideas at all what could i use to get a better signal or just enough to hear it? i'm using a discone tram on my roof right now with a LNA attached. when i try the J pole i can't even get a signal there

 

[mtindor]

any ideas at all what could i use to get a better signal or just enough to hear it? i'm using a discone tram on my roof right now with a LNA attached. when i try the J pole i can't even get a signal there

Don't get me started on J-poles. And as much as there are a gazillion RR users who are fanboys of discones, they pick up equally poorly in all directions at most frequencies and aren't meant for picking up DX. You probably need at the very least a dedicated 450 antenna, with a 450 yagi being an even better choice. But an actual 450 omni stick in the air would likely be good enough. Dont take my word for it though. I don't know your location, elevation, terrain between you and Mountain View, etc.

 

[AngWay]

Don't get me started on J-poles. And as much as there are a gazillion RR users who are fanboys of discones, they pick up equally poorly in all directions at most frequencies and aren't meant for picking up DX. You probably need at the very least a dedicated 450 antenna, with a 450 yagi being an even better choice. But an actual 450 omni stick in the air would likely be good enough. Dont take my word for it though. I don't know your location, elevation, terrain between you and Mountain View, etc.

Alright i searched for a 450 omni stick but i'm sure if i'm finding what u are talking about, do you have a link to these antennas?

 

[mtindor]

Alright i searched for a 450 omni stick but i'm sure if i'm finding what u are talking about, do you have a link to these antennas?

None in particular. Being an amateur radio operator, I usually buy dual band 146/440 verticals. You could look for a Comet or Diamond 440 vertical and it would likely do quite well. Specific commercial ones would likely do a little better, but I don't buy commercial antennas so I can't point you to one to a commercial one to buy. Probably something like a Laird or whatever they are called now, 450-470 mhz. I'm sure there are a million people on this forum that could give you a better idea of what to get -- assuming they read your thread.

Just curious -- what type of coax do you have going to your outside antennas? And what is the length?

 

[AngWay]

None in particular. Being an amateur radio operator, I usually buy dual band 146/440 verticals. You could look for a Comet or Diamond 440 vertical and it would likely do quite well. Specific commercial ones would likely do a little better, but I don't buy commercial antennas so I can't point you to one to a commercial one to buy. Probably something like a Laird or whatever they are called now, 450-470 mhz. I'm sure there are a million people on this forum that could give you a better idea of what to get -- assuming they read your thread.

Just curious -- what type of coax do you have going to your outside antennas? And what is the length?

Yeah if anyone could chime in that would be great, Price is a issue tho, i looked at this one Link is that something that your talking about there? and if so how do i figure out which way to point it?

 

[mtindor]

Yeah if anyone could chime in that would be great, Price is a issue tho, i looked at this one Link is that something that your talking about there? and if so how do i figure out which way to point it?

I can't vouch for that antenna, but yeah a 450 yagi. You point the end with the shortest elements towards the signal you want to hear. The longest element is the reflector and is what provides the rejection from the opposite end. So keep in mind that if you were to get a yagi, it is directional and your signal off the back of it would be down considerably. That's why I also mentioned an actual vertical omnidirectional, but one with some gain made for the band. Of course, they are going to cost more than that $38 yagi you linked to. If it works, then it's worth it for the price. But you wouldn't know until you bought it, and if you bought it you might find out it sucks.

Type of coax and length of coax you are using?

 

[AngWay]

I can't vouch for that antenna, but yeah a 450 yagi. You point the end with the shortest elements towards the signal you want to hear. The longest element is the reflector and is what provides the rejection from the opposite end. So keep in mind that if you were to get a yagi, it is directional and your signal off the back of it would be down considerably. That's why I also mentioned an actual vertical omnidirectional, but one with some gain made for the band. Of course, they are going to cost more than that $38 yagi you linked to. If it works, then it's worth it for the price. But you wouldn't know until you bought it, and if you bought it you might find out it sucks.

Type of coax and length of coax you are using?

type of coax is RG6 and the length is 50 feet.

for example if i wanted to use it to listen to that wv signal how do i figure out the direction does the RRDB tell you the direction of it?

 

[mtindor]

type of coax is RG6 and the length is 50 feet.

for example if i wanted to use it to listen to that wv signal how do i figure out the direction does the RRDB tell you the direction of it?

No, just go on Google Maps. Look up your place. Look up Mountain View. Draw a line between the two. Then you know what direction you have to point it.

 

[AngWay]

No, just go on Google Maps. Look up your place. Look up Mountain View. Draw a line between the two. Then you know what direction you have to point it.

Oh ok makes sense. heres one i might try . Link

 

[mtindor]

No, just go on Google Maps. Look up your place. Look up Mountain View. Draw a line between the two. Then you know what direction you have to point it.

Keep in mind that although you might be interested in picking up Mountain View (in Mingo Co WV), there probably is not nearly the traffic on it as there are on some other SIRN sites. The poorest counties at the bottom of WV don't have their whole counties public safety on SIRN, at least not usually. But, with a decent antenna you might pull in other SIRN sites if you have a yagi and point it in the right direction.

 

[AngWay]

Keep in mind that although you might be interested in picking up Mountain View (in Mingo Co WV), there probably is not nearly the traffic on it as there are on some other SIRN sites. The poorest counties at the bottom of WV don't have their whole counties public safety on SIRN, at least not usually. But, with a decent antenna you might pull in other SIRN sites if you have a yagi and point it in the right direction.

Yea i want to give it a try because i'm getting a signal from there and i live 15 mins from the wv stateline , i'd like to have my sds100 running on the discone and the radio shack pro on the yagi that way if it doesn't work that great i can just switch back

 

[mtindor]

Oh ok makes sense. heres one i might try . Link

I can't vouch for / given an opinion on that one either. Keep in mind that generally (assuming a well built quality yagi in general), the more elements the yagi has, the more gain it has. But at the same time, the more elements it has, the tighter the beamwidth is going to be. so a 3-4 element yagi would likely work better in your scenario simply because it has a wider beamwidth and likely still hears a little better off the sides and back than, lets say, a 20 element 450 yagi would hear.

 

[AngWay]

I can't vouch for / given an opinion on that one either. Keep in mind that generally (assuming a well built quality yagi in general), the more elements the yagi has, the more gain it has. But at the same time, the more elements it has, the tighter the beamwidth is going to be. so a 3-4 element yagi would likely work better in your scenario simply because it has a wider beamwidth and likely still hears a little better off the sides and back than, lets say, a 20 element 450 yagi would hear.

What about the other channels in the 150mhz that i listen to would those not be able to be heard with a yagi like i sent u?

 

[mtindor]

A 400-470 or 450-470 yagi is intended for that band. It'll pick up strong closer signals on VHF and 800, but would likely not do as well as the discone or Jpole on VHF or 800. But should outperform both of those on 400-470 in the general direction that its pointed.

 

[AngWay]

A 400-470 or 450-470 yagi is intended for that band. It'll pick up strong closer signals on VHF and 800, but would likely not do as well as the discone or Jpole on VHF or 800. But should outperform both of those on 400-470 in the general direction that its pointed.

Alright i'm gonna get that one and give it a shot. I just got my mast poles i got to put together and in the ground so i can attach it to. is This conventonal is it just analog?

 

[mtindor]

Alright i'm gonna get that one and give it a shot. I just got my mast poles i got to put together and in the ground so i can attach it to.

Rgr that. Sounds like a plan. Do keep in mind that if your elevation is significantly lower with mountains around you (and clearly mountains between you and Mountainview most likely), even though a 450 yagi would be helpful, it might not end up giving you as much of an improvement as you may have been hoping for. Like I said, terrain has a lot to do with it.

 

[AngWay]

Rgr that. Sounds like a plan. Do keep in mind that if your elevation is significantly lower with mountains around you (and clearly mountains between you and Mountainview most likely), even though a 450 yagi would be helpful, it might not end up giving you as much of an improvement as you may have been hoping for. Like I said, terrain has a lot to do with it.

Yeah i understand it's worth a shot tho and part of the fun. I'm picking up This is that regular analog ?

 

[mtindor]

Yeah i understand it's worth a shot tho and part of the fun. I'm picking up This is that regular analog ?

That license shows both analog and digital emissions. Who knows what's on it. You'd only know if you ran DSDPlus on it.

Ok I've reached my quota of commenting on this thread for the evening. Anything else you direct towards me won't be answered til tomorrow. Breaktime

 

[AngWay]

That license shows both analog and digital emissions. Who knows what's on it. You'd only know if you ran DSDPlus on it.

Ok I've reached my quota of commenting on this thread for the evening. Anything else you direct towards me won't be answered til tomorrow. Breaktime

Well have a great night, when you do see this let me ask you about This compared to This the first one says it's good on 2 meter and 70cm and the second one only does 450mhz, Now would the first one be better if i wanted to still hear stuff in the 150mhz or would it just take away performance from the 450mhz, Meaning would the first one do both but just be poorly on the 450 than what the second one would.

Hope i described that well enough lol.