I have one that I can go up to 20' with.Sounds like you live in a Faraday Cage. You may need an external antenna.
Faraday cage - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
I would also confirm all applicable Service Types are enabled.
New Scanner, Not picking up channels
- Thread starter xraymo3
- Start date
what antenna would you suggest please
i downloaded this today... feel free to explain further
ToddWilkinson
ScanMN
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2021
- Messages
- 335
email me your file ill check it out if youd like! or i could even make ya one!
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 133
A bit of a loaded question. Mainstream view is if your unit is in a "RF Challenged" area go to an outside antenna. For me this does not work because I live in a 2 story house with no easy way to run a new connection. I could use some coax that was ran when the house was build but the antenna would then be viewable from the front of the house... that means the HOA would be unhappy. I could run coax out the window of my man cave but then it would have to cross the floor of my man cave. Not too pleasing either. I have tested several antennas that meet my over all needs. First thing I knew I wanted was the SDS200, since it is a home base unit for me, was it to outperform my SDS100 since it travels. I run a REM-824S on the SDS100 when I leaves this ~400 to 900 MHz area but when I am home I run a REM-820S on that unit (25 to 1200 MHz triband antenna). So on the SDS200 in my environment and my "antenna limitations" noted above, I have found the REM-800B best for non-powered and an Inland AN-5008 power amplified antrenna to get my SDS200 rocking. Attached is a pic of both antennas on a mast. Yes the mast is a simple unused microphone boom stand less than 10' from a window. I just change cables.
tvengr
Well Known Member
Go to the Tools tab in Sentinel and set the Target Model to SDS200. That will make the settings available which apply to your scanner. Turn on your scanner with the programming cable unplugged. When you plug in the programming cable you will see a message on the scanner display to press E to enter USB mass storage. Press E. USB Mass Storage will appear on the scanner display. Go to the Scanner tab in Sentinel and click on Read from Scanner. A popup window will appear on your computer with your scanner model and serial number. Click on OK. The preprogrammed files in the scanner will be transferred into Sentinel and appear as favorites lists. Go to the File tab in Sentinel and click on Save. The preprogrammed files will now be saved in Sentinel if you have a problem with the scanner.
email?
thank you, there are a lot in there, county and regional. Interestingly... after I made his post I am getting better reception, but definitley not what I should be getting, I feel...
thank you, bearcat is where i puchased from, and I am looking into an external, I have an antenna connection in the attic.. matter of seeing where it goes... house is old.
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- Feb 22, 2007
- Messages
- 5,926
You are on the right track. Have some great assistance here. Keep reading, anything you have a question on search for it. It'll bring you to the threads addressing your issues. Nice to see you're headed in the right direction.
I removed some of the channels in my favorites that i dont have interest in, and then I "think" i uploaded it back to the scanner.... lol!!! I did the write to scanner button...
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 133
I was doing the same thing initially then was told not to delete them but to set them to avoid instead.
this is how I did it and it seems to work just fine. These are avoided because they are either an ISD or are encrypted according to rr.com I avoided them in the main database then added them to the fav list...
tvengr
Well Known Member
If there is a favorites list that you don't think is receiving properly, do this so that we can take a look at it: Highlight the favorites list in the left pane of Sentinel. Go the File tab and Export to hpe file (Favorites List). Click on OK. You will need to right click on the exported file and Send to Compressed (zipped) folder to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and Open the zipped folder.
tvengr
Well Known Member
I have your files. The first thing I would do is set the squelch to 2. Go to the Edit tab in Sentinel and Edit Profile. Go to the Service Types tab. Let me know which service types are enabled. Press the squelch knob on your scanner to enter the menu. Scroll to Select Service Types. Press E. Scroll down through the service types and let me know which are On. Press AVOID to exit the menu.
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tvengr
Well Known Member
I see that you have most of the public safety service types enabled in your profile. Take a look in the scanner menu and see which ones are enabled in the scanner. It is possible that the dealer didn't have the necessary service types enabled when your scanner was programmed.
tvengr
Well Known Member
Almost everything in your area is conventional frequencies except the AZ Dept of Public Safety which is on the AZ Wins trunked system. I would use the Mingus Mountain site which is closest to you. As other have suggested, I believe that you may need a good outdoor antenna. Try hooking the scanner to an AC extension and take it outside of the house to see if the reception improves.
