New BCD996P2 user programming question

[WRTQ479]

consistently, but I'm not sure if that is receiving signal or how accurate that is

 

[tvengr]

A better antenna may be required. Eliminate all of the frequencies in the Cincinnati City site except the following 4:
851.1125
851.1875
851.2125
851.4625
One of those will be the control channel. The scanner will not have to search through all of the voice frequencies in an attempt to find the control channel. All of the frequency information is carried on the control channel.

 

[WRTQ479]

I now have everything locked out except those 4 frequencies. Still nothing. Would you recommend a better antenna or would I be better off upgrading to the SDS200

 

[tvengr]

If you see NFM on the 3rd line from the bottom on the scanner display, it is having problems detecting the control channel. You should see the control channel frequency at that location when not receiving a talkgroup. Try taking the scanner closer to Cincinnati. That will answer the question if it is a signal strength problem. I don't see programming errors. Depending how the system is designed, the coverage may be contained to the Cincinnati area only. You may need an outside rooftop antenna to receive it. It may even require a yagi high gain directional antenna pointed at the city. If it is a poor signal, you would have problems with the SDS200 also

 

[WRTQ479]

I do see NFM. I will take it closer to the city but can't today. Appreciate the help

 

[wtp]

squelch set at 2 ?

 

[WRTQ479]

just tried squelch set at 2, still nothing

 

[tvengr]

I do see NFM. I will take it closer to the city but can't today. Appreciate the help

Please let us know the results.

 

[WRTQ479]

Absolutely. I may get a little closer to the city tonight but not much. Maybe 5-10 miles or so. Going to try it though. If it doesn't work I'll try closer

 

[wtp]

if i have it right the signal from the city can be copied out to about 10 miles.

Ohio MARCS-IP: Multi-Agency Radio Communications Site: Cincinnati City

Ohio MARCS-IP: Multi-Agency Radio Communications Site: Cincinnati City Details

www.radioreference.com

 

[WRTQ479]

Regardless of antenna?

 

[wtp]

with a radio shack 800 antenna on a uniden 396T i have trouble with the next county 800 band that is 15 miles away.
i have received a tampa electric company signal in the 800 band and is almost 90 miles away.
i usually hear the space station 2 meter ham stuff (145.8 and .825) 250 miles up
so you never can say with authority what can or can't be received.
an antenna that is 'cut' for the band of interest and up high "might" work.
the 10 mile thing is for useable ground reception.

 

[wa8pyr]

if i have it right the signal from the city can be copied out to about 10 miles.

Ohio MARCS-IP: Multi-Agency Radio Communications Site: Cincinnati City

Ohio MARCS-IP: Multi-Agency Radio Communications Site: Cincinnati City Details

www.radioreference.com

In my experience, signal strength of the Cincinnati City site drops off considerably before you get out of Hamilton County; they engineered it to cover the City of Cincinnati and that's about it, so if the OP is 20 miles away from Cincinnati, receiving the Cinci City site probably won't happen without a substantial outdoor antenna.