OSHP assistance

[matthewmetzger]

Hello! I know enough about programming and the frequencies, but can someone please help me on how to program my scanner to listen to OSHP? I have a Uniden BCD325P2, which I have already upgraded to “ProVoice”, “DMR/MotoTRBO”, and “NXDN”. I live on the South/West side of Columbus, OH. I cannot figure out how to configure my scanner to receive anything on the OSHP signal/channel (I know they are on the MARCS side but I have no clue how to configure my scanner to obtain a signal from that channel, let alone from the OSHP side of the radio). Please explain it to me like I’m a beginner, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[belvdr]

I believe you're in a simulcast area, and will have a tough time getting your unit to listen well in that environment.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I have a Uniden BCD325P2, which I have already upgraded to “ProVoice”, “DMR/MotoTRBO”, and “NXDN”.

None of these will benefit you with regards to listening to OSHP. As mentioned by the poster above me, the issue at hand is most likely simulcast distortion. In simplest terms, most scanners can't cope with many different towers in close proximity to one another transmitting the same signal on the same frequency at the same time without locking up, stuttering and missing transmissions. There are a number of workarounds mentioned in the wiki I linked but they work in very few cases, rarely in a large metropolitan area like Columbus. If I were you I'd trade in the 325p2 and pick up an SDS100. The difference in performance on simulcast systems will be night and day. You can ask for more money with all 3 upgrades installed if you decide to sell it

 

[16b]

As others have mentioned, the MARCS sites that cover your area are simulcast, which means that your scanner will not be able to decode the transmissions very well, resulting in choppy or non-existent audio most of the time.

Since you are on the southwest side of town, there is a possible workaround that *might* help you. The Darby site, which is near West Jefferson, is not simulcast (it is a standalone site), and you might be able to hear it from your location. This site almost certainly isn't going to carry all of the OSP talkgroups used in Central Ohio, but you will probably at least be able to hear the West Jeff post on it.

I don't know anything about your particular scanner; you're going to have to read up on programming a trunked system. The simplest thing to do would probably be to program the Darby site as a standalone trunked system. The frequencies for the Darby site are listed on the MARCS database page, but to save you the trouble of searching for them I am pasting them below:

1 (1)	063 (3F)	Darby (West Jefferson)	Madison	769.80625	770.75625	771.38125	774.08125c	851.1375	851.3875	851.7375
				852.0875	852.9375c	853.425c

If you are more south than west, you could try the Orient site instead. It is also standalone (not simulcast) as far as I know.

1 (1)	009 (9)	Orient	Pickaway	769.30625	769.75625	771.10625c	774.83125c	851.700	852.1375	852.400
				852.6625	854.6375

 

[N9JCQ]

For what it's worth, when I visit family in Columbus proper, I have used my 325P2 with ease to listen to the MARCS system. It's all about your location to the various simulcast towers.

 

[kkoether]

Newbe here in Montgomery Co. NE of Dayton. We have the SDS200 and have no problem picking up OSP.

 

[fordcobra04]

Newbe here in Montgomery Co. NE of Dayton. We have the SDS200 and have no problem picking up OSP.

SDS scanners handle simulcast systems better than the model the original poster has, which is why you aren't having issues...