Official Bucks County 700Mhz Phase II Radio System Thread

[phillydjdan]

Yes, the repeaters are still operational and programmed in the radios. They don't get used much however.

I admit I don't bother with fire police, but I had a feeling it was still up and running, even if not used often. Thanks

 

[ScanXO]

RID have change -Yes I said as much, so while i'm not in Bucks enough time to copy the new RID's I am hoping somebody can start like it was under the 500 system

 

[phillydjdan]

Personally I'd rather the RIDs NOT be publicized. It would be way too easy for someone to Google the list and use it for nefarious reasons.

 

[radio17]

My new Homepatrol 2 is completely deaf to the new 700mhz bucks system at my home location. I have had a Hompatrol 1 for years and familiar with the programming. I have tried 3 different antennas while walking around my house and yard. If I drive about 1/2 mile away from home, I start to receive at most locations although sometimes garbled. I could accept this if it worked at home.

The signals are very strong here. I have tried squelch, attenuator and even the "secret" P25 adjustments in the audio options menu.

I can successfully decode the control channel using SDR#, Uniitunker and a $10 dollar dongle but my $400 Homepatrol 2 is silent. I reluctantly have to return it. I like the Homepatrol because of it's large screen size, easy to read while driving. I would like to determine if my particular Homepatrol 2 is defective in some way or if another Uniden scanner would be better at my location.

Is there anyone near the south end of Blooming Glen Road that can verify the reception here? Any other suggestions?

 

[K3wvm]

Blooming Glen

I live very close to there. I have a pro 668. For a week it was dead. I played with some of the ajustments and found a sweet spot in my house. Got it to work about 90%.

 

[policefreak]

Question: Do you see any cell towers from your home location? Or maybe a water tower or high rise with a cell site on top? Oddly enough, even though you are within the county limits you could be experiencing interference from a nearby cell site.

 

[radio17]

Thanks for the responses.

K3wvm, Your post encouraged me and I managed to find a location at home only a few inches wide where the Homepatrol 2 actually works. It's not where I want to listen but I'll try putting an antenna there with a length of coax.

policefreak, Yes, there is a cell tower about a mile away but when I drive toward it the HP starts working. Although it is a low lying area where cell signal may be low so it could be interference (113 and Minsi Trail).

Do all the simulcast sites use the same control frequency? I'm probably equal distance from the West Rockhill and Nockamixon State Park sites. The only control channel I see with SDR# is 772.98125.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

Do all the simulcast sites use the same control frequency? I'm probably equal distance from the West Rockhill and Nockamixon State Park sites. The only control channel I see with SDR# is 772.98125.

Yes this is a fully simulcast system. Everything on the trunked system no matter where in the county is broadcast countywide (i.e. you'll be able to hear police in Bensalem from Quakertown and vice versa). Thus everywhere tower is broadcasting control channel data on the same frequency.

 

[Rich250]

I live very close to there. I have a pro 668. For a week it was dead. I played with some of the ajustments and found a sweet spot in my house. Got it to work about 90%.

K3wvm, what adjustments were best for your pro 668?

 

[K3wvm]

Rich250, In programs go to trucking systems. Find trunk system site information. Add a dummy site. This has to be done to adjust the data decode threshold. Look at the low end, it comes set at 75. I changed it to 10. I left the high set at 95. Then lock out the dummy site. If that does not work try getting a yagi (directional) antenna and point it at one on the Towers, that should help with the simulcast issue.

 

[chrisgui130]

Bucks County

I have a Uniden BCD436HP. Is this scanner useless in Bucks County now with the new radio system? or can I get it reprogrammed to work. Don't know if I should sell it or not.

 

[K3wvm]

Wilson 800 MHz cellular antenna

Rich250, the Wilson 800 to 900 cellular antenna seems to work pretty good. It's the cheapest yagi I could find. You have to buy the proper connectors to match your scanner. Also lock out all the frequencies except the control channels in the program.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

I have a Uniden BCD436HP. Is this scanner useless in Bucks County now with the new radio system? or can I get it reprogrammed to work. Don't know if I should sell it or not.

The BCD436HP will work on the new Bucks Co system. Just be aware you will likely have to suffer from LSM.

 

[Rich250]

Rich250, the Wilson 800 to 900 cellular antenna seems to work pretty good. It's the cheapest yagi I could find. You have to buy the proper connectors to match your scanner. Also lock out all the frequencies except the control channels in the program.

K3wvm,Thanks very much for your help. The tweaking you gave me allows me to receive Bucks well enough without a yagi in the sweet spot(s) inside my home. I'm located in Southampton PA and I'm using a RS800 ant. on a PSR800 scanner aka PRO668. Your recommendation of the Wilson yagi ant. will be stored for future reference.
Thanks again,
Rich

 

[K3wvm]

Glad I could be of help Rich, good luck.

 

[scanuser1302]

Just started trying to pick up the new system with a PSR-800 with the std antenna. Rec'd the old 500MHz system just fine but now the coverage seems pretty spotty up in Bedminster Township, and other locations. Any advice about a better antenna, site locations or radio settings would be appreciated.

Thx.

 

[radio3353]

Just started trying to pick up the new system with a PSR-800 with the std antenna. Rec'd the old 500MHz system just fine but now the coverage seems pretty spotty up in Bedminster Township, and other locations. Any advice about a better antenna, site locations or radio settings would be appreciated.

Thx.

Have you read through this entire thread? Most, if not all, of your questions have been discussed already.

 

[pastormg2]

For some reason the control channels in my BCD996P2 are programmed as NFM. And then the talkgroups give me the message "finding control channel" Does this mean the control channel is not strong enough. I am getting about 3 to 4 bars on each control channel. Or does this mean that the control channels are not programmed in the scanner correctly? I uploaded these frequencies from Radio Reference. So I would hope that they were programmed with the correct designation. Mark Griffin, KB3Z

 

[n3ouc]

For some reason the control channels in my BCD996P2 are programmed as NFM. And then the talkgroups give me the message "finding control channel" Does this mean the control channel is not strong enough. I am getting about 3 to 4 bars on each control channel. Or does this mean that the control channels are not programmed in the scanner correctly? I uploaded these frequencies from Radio Reference. So I would hope that they were programmed with the correct designation. Mark Griffin, KB3Z

Im not sure what you mean by programmed NFM. All the new phase II systems are narrow band (NFM). The programming should say that the system is P25 Standard. Let me know if you still have trouble and I will send you my 996P2 program for Bucks that works just fine for me up here in Lehigh County.

Mike

I guess you would need to tell me the software you are using to program your radio if you need the file.

 

[pastormg2]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for getting back to me. When I put the scanner on hold on a particular Bucks County Control Frequency I see the frequency and also the letter NFM. The software I am using is ARC-XT Basic. If you would be kind enough to send me your file for Bucks County it would appreciate that.

I followed the directions with ARC-XT where I logged into Radioreference and checked what I wanted and maybe for the P2 networks something needs to be done different from what I did. I am at work, so I won't get to this until tonight. I will give you an update. Thanks Again! Mark Griffin, KB3Z