Need Help with Close Call

[temode]

Hello to all and to all Happy Holidays!

Here is my problem. I have the 996 hookedup to a forty foot high hand made multi-band antenna that works great. I live in North Bend and can hear the tower at SeaTac and the ships coming in to the ports. But for the last six months I have yet to receive a Close Call alert. I know it has got to be something simple but my poor simple mind can't figure it out. Pleas help.
Thanks!

 

[Stavro35]

Probably because there is nothing in range?

 

[SkipSanders]

Close Call means just that. CLOSE. For most mobile transmitters, probably within a block. For handhelds, probably within 50-100 feet. For things like drive-thru intercom radios, maybe 20-50 feet, usually on the short end of that.

If you live in a very low RF area, overall, it may be further, the Close Call picks up signals more than just so much above the general noise floor, and if the floor is lower, it takes a weaker (from further away) signal to get picked out.

 

[kellykeeton]

test it out, grab anything that transmits and start transmitting....

FRS radio
CB
HAM
R/C Car (less likely to work)

another problem might be your "forty foot high hand made multi-band antenna " sounds like your SNR might just suck, since you happen to be picking up 0-30ghz all at once, The radio will have a real hard time picking out something with db gain over all that noise try the factory antenna.

 

[midnightcaller]

drive to a local mall and see what you can pick up

 

[AtomicTaco]

drive to a local mall and see what you can pick up

Also, please record your conversation with mall security when they ask you why you drove to the mall with a 40 foot antenna and are assembling it in the parking lot.

 

[temode]

Thanks for the advice people! Happy New Year!!!!!!

Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

[kellykeeton]

you get it figured out?

 

[msaran]

My guess, he was overloading the receiver. My close call (396) is amazing. I sold the Scout right away. The scout never picked up UHF AM. Just go with a smaller antenna and you will be in business. I usually use a all band 4" or 8" antenna and do just fine.

-m

 

[kellykeeton]

yea, my guess as well, in bellevue i can talk on 2m at 50w in the evenings and it will take the bct15 1-2 min to get me out of all the rest of the noise, then other times the second I key up it will pull it out. i just have so much noise here that the CC dont function as well.

 

[temode]

Thanks!

Thanks a lot guys / gals! Y'all are great!