I didn't know that Montgomery County had simulcast when I bought my 436. Anyone in the area know if the traffic on simulcast is significant? Thinking of upgrading to a sds100.
Montgomery County simulcast
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TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
Do it. The only scanner to reliably decode simulcast systems is the SDS-series scanners. I monitor both Greene and Montgomery counties and, before the SDS scanners were introduced, I used 3 digital scanners to try and follow the Ohio MARCS digital P24 Phase 1 simulcast system with only moderate success (BCD536HP, TRX-1, WS1065) An SDS100 or SDS200 are the only scanners for the job.
I most likely will. I live in southern Darke county but I work in Dayton quite a bit. I am just try to figure out if it is worth the $350 or so it would cost me after I sell the 436. As far as I know there is no simulcast in Darke or Preble. I still get quite a bit of traffic when I am in Montgomery County, and I can catch the Dayton Marcs tower with my base antenna at the house.
I have all the upgrades on the 436, and I am not sure I am using any of them. Do you have any on the sds? Is it necessary in our area for Police/Fire/EM listening?
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
You don't need upgrades for any public safety monitoring here in our area, just DMR and NXDN for additional agencies you might want to monitor. I have DMR and NXDN upgrades, but not the ProVoice, as there is nothing around here that I would be interested in listening to. DMR is growing quite a bit here, mostly with businesses and security agencies and amateur radio.
Right on. I just ordered it. Now I have gotta sell the 436. Thanks for the help.
Are you ever on the Monday night scanner/shortwave net on the WC8OH repeater?
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
Haven't been for the longest time, well over a year. It seemed to be fizzling out at the time. I will have to listen for it again on Mondays.
They had 13 or 14 check ins last night.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
Wow! Sounds good, I will definitely check it out again - thanks for that!
Every agency in Montgomery Co. is on the simulcast system. You will only here ODOT, OSP, etc on the state site. You will however hear OSP, and ODOT crews on the Montgomery Co. system as they roam across both.
jackcf
Member
I'm in Beavercreek and I also monitor Green & Montgomery Counties with my 436HP and it seems to do okay for me. But then again I'm not sure how to tell if I'm missing anything either. I would like to compare my 436HP with another unit sometime.
I plan on doing it next week. My sds100 will be here Monday. I am going to keep both radios with me for a week or so and compare.
jackcf
Member
I would like to hear what your results are when you get them.
HWG
Member
I am interested in your results as well. I have only ever monitored MARCS with non-SDS scanners (PRO-197, WS1080, now using PRO-668) and don't have any complaints. Thinking about sending the PRO-668 in for the legacy update to turn it into a WS1080 and add DMR. With a 10% coupon, it will be $54 plus shipping.
I did not carry both radios all week, but I did for a couple days. There is traffic on the Montgomery County MARCS site that was is not coming in on the 436 that is on the sds100. but it isn't significant. I am not sure I added Green to my scan lists this week. I will have to check.I will be downtown on Monday and Tuesday all day and will take both radios to have an all day comparison.
HWG
Member
Was the 436 picking up something else or just quiet when the SDS100 was receiving something?
Quiet. In fairness I have the Remtronix antenna on the 100 and factory on the 436. But when I am downtown I am only 6 miles from the tower. Shouldn't make a difference. 436 was scanning through the same favorite list as the 100. When I am there this week I will put the remtronix on the 436 and see if there is any change.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
The Remtronix pulls in signal much better than any factory antenna. You should see a difference when switching antennas. I use the Remtronix on my SDS100 just sitting here on the desk and it hears everything my SDS200 hears and the 200 is on an outside directional yagi. In my opinion, the Remtronix is the best portable antenna for the SDS100.
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