NFM vs. FM

[bonus1331]

Is there any steadfast rule as to what is to be programmed NFM versus FM? I.e. trunked versus conventional. What would be the result by programming incorrectly?
I monitor:
Union County-conventional
Charlotte-Meck-trunked
Duke Power-trunked
Cabarrus County-trunked
I have them all programmed as NFM

 

[johnnyreb1121]

:wink:

As far as I know NFM and FM are the same, they are on my scanner. Mine also has a WFM. The only thing I have ever used WFM for is to listen to radio stations, though I am sure there are other things out there. Use your NFM for all your regular communication frequencies.

 

[jeffmulter]

The use of the term "NFM" can be misleading. At one time, it was used on scanners to differentiate it from WFM mode (FM radio, television audio, multiplexing, weather satellites, etc).

Now, the NFM mode setting is available on some newer scanners, such as the Uniden BC250 and BC246, for programming splinter frequencies or agencies that have gone to narrowbanding.

With these scanners, a separate FM mode is also available for programming those agencies licensed under the old channel plans, and still using the wide modulation bandwidth than their narrowband counterparts.

In some cases, you may note an increase or decrease in the volume and clarity of the audio, if you program the frequency in the wrong mode.

I tend to program NFM for UHF and 800 MHz channels, and FM for VHF, but that is not a hard 'n fast rule for me, and I didn't progam the 246 that way.

A couple of occasions that I think warrant the use of NFM:

- when you have two agencies you're trying to monitor that are using frequencies 7.5 kHz (vhf) or 12.5 kHz (uhf) apart

- when you are getting interference from an adjacent frequency on your target frequency

- if you know the agency is operating in a narrowband mode


Jeff Multer

 

[bonus1331]

Jeff, I am using the profile you uploaded and had noticed you programmed most of the non-trunked systems as FM. I had everything programmed as NFM. I have noticed a significant improvement in reception. One example being the Pineville PD freqs, which I had not been able to receive until using your profile. Seems there is better clarity using FM for the VHF and UHF frequencies.
BTW-thanks again for your profile. Kept 80% of the systems and your arrangement. Added a couple of systems I already had (Cabarrus County, Duke Power). Nice work on the CMPD and CMFD groupings. I had everything in as one.
Travel to ATL alot, will be nice to just upload a profile when traveling with the ARC software.

 

[jeffmulter]

>> Travel to ATL alot, will be nice to just upload a profile when traveling with the ARC software.

I believe Forsyth County is transitioning to digital.
... and new frequencies.

There are a couple of Uniden files for use with the 246 in the Atlanta area floating around.

Glad the FM setting helped. I noted that you and Gommert were able to fix the file problem last night or today. The guy never seems to sleep !


Jeff

 

[CCHLLM]

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is now all digital (since before Christmas). The Winston-Salem PD traffic is being multicast using all five of the old UHF freqs corresponding to the respective dispatch and info talkgroups, and the city and county fire departments are using their old dispatch freqs for paging and responder monitoring, so you can still monitor all those freqs nearly as you could before. The EMS side is NOT being multicast, so digital only is the way for that service.

 

[jeffmulter]

Sorry for the confusing post.

I was referring to Forsyth County, Ga ... David had mentioned about traveling to Atlanta (ATL).

But a question ... are Forsyth Co, N.C. fire dept members who had their own high band radios still able to transmit on the VHF channels, and how does the patch sound after passing through the digital trunked repeaters ?


Jeff