New to scanning in Charlotte

[CybeardSec]

I've been listening for a few weeks or so to CharMeck Medic and fire dispatch, but only dispatch as I have a $30 scanner thats almost 10 years old. I am interested in listening to more and I know that I need a new scanner with trunking capabilities. I know virually nothing about the scanners, and would like some recommendations on what I should be looking for. I've seen a lot on eBay, raning from $50 - $600. I'm not looking to spend an arm and a leg, but I'm not cheap other.

Any help that anyone can provide would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Brian

 

[drew6553]

char meck scanning

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=282

well,

charlotte mcklenberg is an 800 mhz system. what i would suggest is the pro 95 or 97

the pro 95 is going out of production but is still for sale at radioshack for 149.00

the pro 97 is around 200 dollars and does morotla 800 edacs 800 and ltr systems along with regular vhf and uhf

also with the large amount of 800 mhz i would suggest the radio shack 800 mhz antenna

also for base, a 2051 will work great

 

[Grog]

There are quite a few of us in Charlotte. We can answer any additional questions you may have with monitoring the CHar/Meck system. I'm in Lincolnton, but I monitor it from my job in Gastonia, as well as when I'm in Charlotte.

I use an older Pro 93 (the Pro 95 is a 1000 ch version) and a Pro 2053 (which is the base version of the 93).

If I were going to buy a new scanner to listen to Char/Mech 800, I'd say go with the Uniden 246T. I have access to one at work, and it's great. It can track I-calls, which the RS scanners do not.

They run around $200-$240 or so.

 

[jeffmulter]

In less than a year, public safety agencies licensed on trunked systems with be negotiating with Nextel for swapping frequencies ... to help correct some interference issues.

The process is called "rebanding." Only a small number of current trunktracker scanners will likely be able to be upgraded to handle the rebanding changes.

Of the scanners mentioned so far in this thread, only the Pro 97 (Radio Shack) and the BC246T (Uniden) are expected to be upgradeable. I would not suggest purchasing a trunktracking scanner that "might" be useless for your intended listening target (the Charlotte-Mecklenberg trunked system) a year from now.

I have a BC246T and would recommend it. I have also read alot of favorable comments about the Pro 97.

Both of these scanners are not digital-capable, though, so plan ahead ... Charlotte-Mecklenberg plans to be converted to a digital trunked system within 5-10 years.

Kind of like PCs ... just when you have the "latest / greatest" scanner, one of the manufacturers will come out with a new model with even more features.


Jeff Multer
Fort Mill, S.C.

 

[jplyler]

Go w/ the BC246T, It's perfect for CharMeck and the surrounding areas. You can't beat it for the price.

Jon

 

[Soundman]

Scanner

I have 3 types of scanners I have a bc785d and a bc250d .Both of them are digital ready .I also have a 245xlt and that work great . So if you have the money to get a digital ready.But if you don't get a bc246t thy are the sec best thing .

 

[CybeardSec]

And after a good 6-7 months, I have finally bought the BC246T and should have it shortly. Any good tips or tricks I should know about once I get it? Any helpful info would definitely be appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Brian

 

[bonus1331]

The 246 will do you well for monitoring in Charlotte.
First and foremost-get software, makes programming simple.
ARC246 at www.butel.nl or the Uniden software will do well.
The Charlotte database here on RR.com is not perfect but is pretty effective.
Don't want to wait to get started when the radio arrives?
Purchase the software and start loading it up. Then when the scanner arrives it will only take you 5 minutes to load.
Feel free to ask the group lots of questions, part of the hobby!

 

[blinddog50]

Brian, glad to see you getting your equip. together.
There's never a shortage of traffic to listen to in Charlotte.

David, did you pick up the SWAT call up yesterday on S.Blvd.?

 

[CybeardSec]

OK, so now I have the scanner. I set up everything in ARC246 before I got it and just loaded it up when the scanner arrived. All I get on the scanner is "ID Scan Hold, Finding CtrlChan". I'm assuming that means I need to enter the control channel somewhere? The manual that is included with this thing is less than very helpful.

Thanks again
Brian

 

[CybeardSec]

Whoops... nevermind on that... I got it figured out, turns out the control channel I was using wasn't really a control channel

 

[CybeardSec]

OK, heres a new issue I found. When listening to one of the ops channels for city fire, I find myself missing a lot of the radio traffic. I know I'm missing traffic because I tested it with the feed from UNCC and heard things on there that I didnt hear on my scanner. I'm still trying to figure this scanner out so it's probably just something simple I'm missing.

Brian

 

[kg4pbd]

When that happens are you holding on the talkgroup or scanning multiple talkgroups, systems, etc.?

Make sure that Close Call isn't enabled as that will interrupt it. If you are scanning within one system and it happens you may want to enable/increase the delay on that talkgroup, if scanning multiple systems you may want to enable/increase the delay on that system.

 

[CybeardSec]

Nope, I am holding on that one talkgroup to monitor it so I make sure that nothing else interrupts it. I hear the traffic on the feed that UNCC provides, but not on my scanner and I know its on the group I'm currently on.

For example.... Engine 35 and others were responding to a possible working fire in their area. I heard their traffic saying they were on scene from the feed online, but not on my scanner. However, I did hear other traffic on my scanner that came through a few seconds later online, so I know it was the same channel.

 

[kg4pbd]

The only other thing I can think of as a factor is signal strength on the control ch. I know that my 396 on a good 800mhz duck will miss replies that my 6 year old RS 2067 on a yagi doesn't miss. I don't know if that's the radio or the antenna, the 2067 doesn't have a great reputation for 800mhz sensitivity.

 

[CybeardSec]

Would it be worth it to purchase a different antenna? Maybe one that says it works best on 800mhz, since thats the majority of what I'm listening to. Right now I'm just using the one that came with my BC246T

 

[kg4pbd]

If you are going to listen primarily to 800mhz then you need to get another antenna, the stock antenna is marginal at best for 800mhz.

Unfortunately Waltel has shut down so I'm not sure where to point you, perhaps others can. I have a 1/4 wave 800mhz antenna with the sma connector (short length) and the 1/2 wave 800mhz antenna (longer). They are nice b/c you don't need the bnc adapter. So cosmetically they look great but I actually get equal or better performance from the Radio Shack 800mhz antenna (RS model 20-283). It's $17 and you should be able to find one in stock. You'll be much happier with a dedicated 800mhz antenna.

 

[bonus1331]

What feed does UNCC provide?

I have a collection of about 8 handheld antennas(Antennex, Seeker 800, GRE 800, etc). The RS 800 Mhz performs as well or better than everyone one of them. In fact, just picked a second one up yesterday for the 330. The RS is the smallest in length too, which is nice in a handheld antenna.

 

[CybeardSec]

I did purchase the RS 800mhz antenna just about an hour ago actually, so I haven't really had much of a chance to tell a difference. But hopefully it produces some good results.

UNCC provides a feed from CFD main alarm as well as op chans A-H and a couple of mutual aid channels here.... http://www.et.uncc.edu/fire_safety/audiolink.htm

 

[kg4pbd]

Thanks for the link. I hadn't seen that one before.

There's another one on live 365 but it's not always up.