Ocean County System Question

[fireman_dude]

Having an unusual problem with a BCT15 while monitoring the OC System. 2 talk groups (288 & 320) sometimes lock in and broadcast dead air. When this happens it only displays 1 bar on the signal meter. Any other time I get 5 bars because I am only 1 mile from the Barnegat Tower. Another thing I notice is that this dead air usually broadcasts over 508.1375 which is NOT one of the control channels, so I have ruled that out. Was wondering if this has happened to anyone else ? FYI, I am using an ST2 external antenna from AntennaCraft.

 

[W2SJW]

My friend Warren (KB2VXA here on the board), has been having similar problems - like a single specific frequency has a low-level PL hum stuck on it.

Hopefully, he'll see this today and fill you in more as to what he's encountered...

 

[DJ88]

Just a FYI, I live in Brick and am using an outside Radio Shack discone antenna and have not experienced that problem at all here on the county system.

 

[fineshot1]

Having an unusual problem with a BCT15 while monitoring the OC System. 2 talk groups (288 & 320) sometimes lock in and broadcast dead air. When this happens it only displays 1 bar on the signal meter. Any other time I get 5 bars because I am only 1 mile from the Barnegat Tower. Another thing I notice is that this dead air usually broadcasts over 508.1375 which is NOT one of the control channels, so I have ruled that out. Was wondering if this has happened to anyone else ? FYI, I am using an ST2 external antenna from AntennaCraft.

Sounds like your scanner is picking up " birdies " or local noise generated by something in your home or close by. There are all kinds of devices we take for granted that can generate birdies and noise. Start unplugging things(or turn off circuit breakers in the home) while listening to this noise on 508.1375 and see if you can get it to stop. If the noise source is external to your home you will have a devil of a time trying to locate it but it can be done.
Good luck.....

 

[fireman_dude]

Sounds like your scanner is picking up " birdies " or local noise generated by something in your home or close by. There are all kinds of devices we take for granted that can generate birdies and noise. Start unplugging things(or turn off circuit breakers in the home) while listening to this noise on 508.1375 and see if you can get it to stop. If the noise source is external to your home you will have a devil of a time trying to locate it but it can be done.
Good luck.....

Can you actually receive birdies on a trunk system with a connect tone programmed in ? How would the birdie get around the connect tone ?

 

[fineshot1]

Can you actually receive birdies on a trunk system with a connect tone programmed in ? How would the birdie get around the connect tone ?

You stated that you are using a Uniden BCT-15 Scanner. How is it that you have a connect tone programmed for that?, and even if you did it would do you no good. Connect tone is used by the base stations for receive purposes only and is transmitted by the mobiles and portables and not the base stations. The info you stated in your post makes no sense.

 

[Joseph11]

508.1375 MHz (OC TRS Ch. 8) is hanging. It's been transmitting a constant open carrier, when not being used, for over a week.

 

[fireman_dude]

508.1375 MHz (OC TRS Ch. 8) is hanging. It's been transmitting a constant open carrier, when not being used, for over a week.

The answer I was waiting for. Thanks Joe.

 

[fireman_dude]

You stated that you are using a Uniden BCT-15 Scanner. How is it that you have a connect tone programmed for that?, and even if you did it would do you no good. Connect tone is used by the base stations for receive purposes only and is transmitted by the mobiles and portables and not the base stations. The info you stated in your post makes no sense.

I did not state a connect tone was programmed into the scanner, I was simply stating how could a birdie open the repeater if a birdie is not capable of TX a connect tone. That was all.....

 

[fineshot1]

I did not state a connect tone was programmed into the scanner, I was simply stating how could a birdie open the repeater if a birdie is not capable of TX a connect tone. That was all.....

OK - sorry, but you did not reference a " repeater " in your question so it seemed you were speaking about your BCT-15. If you are going to ask a technical question you should be more specific so that those that may know the answer may answer your questions properly. It must be stuck on the air as Joe stated...

 

[fireman_dude]

OK - sorry, but you did not reference a " repeater " in your question so it seemed you were speaking about your BCT-15. If you are going to ask a technical question you should be more specific so that those that may know the answer may answer your questions properly. It must be stuck on the air as Joe stated...

Not a problem, I appreciate all the replies. I am not too up on the logistics of trunking systems.

 

[902]

Connect tones in an analog system are used on the input side, not on the output. The scanner/ two-way radio is supposed to jump back to the control channel when it receives an end-of-message codeword or the low-speed signaling stops. In some scanners there may not be an EOM detect. Try tightening the squelch or enabling an attenuator if you have one.

Sounds to me like one of the simulcast stations on that frequency is hanging up in transmit independent of the system. That's generally not a good thing, but the radios will probably not notice if an EOM signal is sent. If Barnegat is 5 bars to you, and you are only getting 1 bar, it's reasonably certain it's not Barnegat that's hanging.

Maybe their radio shop reads here and will check.

 

[elias1988]

Maybe their radio shop reads here and will check.

Maybe they do,its not doing it anymore.