Palmetto 800 reception

[Vigilant4345]

I live in NC close to the SC border.
Palmetto 800 traffic is perfecrly crystal clear 3 miles south of home but i have absolutely no reception of Palmetto 800 traffic at home.
Any explanation of how 3 miles could make such a difference?

 

[brian]

That's difficult to say for sure without additional information. There are many variables that may be factors in reception.

How far away from the Palmetto 800 tower site are you? What kind of antenna are you using at home? Is it outside your house, or a back-of-set antenna? I assuming you're travelling in your vehicle to go three miles south of your house - are you using the same radio and antenna in your vehicle as you are your in your house? Is it a simulcast site you're trying to receive? If so, what radio are you using?

Some tower sites use antennas that are designed to contour a transmitted signal to avoid over-spreading coverage into areas not intended for coverage. That may be a factor here, but I'd be a little surprised if that's the case. Other Palmetto 800 sites cover far into NC. Perhaps there is a topographic feature (a hill?) or a building in between that's affection reception.

Hope that helps.

 

[terryscan]

That's difficult to say for sure without additional information. There are many variables that may be factors in reception.

How far away from the Palmetto 800 tower site are you? What kind of antenna are you using at home? Is it outside your house, or a back-of-set antenna? I assuming you're travelling in your vehicle to go three miles south of your house - are you using the same radio and antenna in your vehicle as you are your in your house? Is it a simulcast site you're trying to receive? If so, what radio are you using?

Some tower sites use antennas that are designed to contour a transmitted signal to avoid over-spreading coverage into areas not intended for coverage. That may be a factor here, but I'd be a little surprised if that's the case. Other Palmetto 800 sites cover far into NC. Perhaps there is a topographic feature (a hill?) or a building in between that's affection reception.

Hope that helps.

I'm thinking there may be an issue with some of the towers/sites. I normally listen on the Chesterfield site and I noticed last night it was quite. I looked at Analyze option on my SDS100 and I wasn't getting any activity on that site. This morning it was back working for a little while but now it's gone quite again and I'm not seeing any activity under the Analyze option. I'm at work now and I'm picking up the Bennettsville and Darlington site, but still nothing from Chesterfield.

 

[Vigilant4345]

That's difficult to say for sure without additional information. There are many variables that may be factors in reception.

How far away from the Palmetto 800 tower site are you? What kind of antenna are you using at home? Is it outside your house, or a back-of-set antenna? I assuming you're travelling in your vehicle to go three miles south of your house - are you using the same radio and antenna in your vehicle as you are your in your house? Is it a simulcast site you're trying to receive? If so, what radio are you using?

Some tower sites use antennas that are designed to contour a transmitted signal to avoid over-spreading coverage into areas not intended for coverage. That may be a factor here, but I'd be a little surprised if that's the case. Other Palmetto 800 sites cover far into NC. Perhaps there is a topographic feature (a hill?) or a building in between that's affection reception.

Hope that helps.

Thanks.
I have a sds100.
Your theory of a contoured signal makes the most sense.
I should have added my observation that it seems as if the signal from York County SC l hits a brick wall around mile marker 52 on I-485 as I'm traveling north.
The signal strength meter for the 800 system auddenly disappears, after being 4 bars strong just moments before.

 

[terryscan]

Just FYI, the Chesterfield tower has been back online since around 1pm today.

 

[brian]

Thanks.
I have a sds100.
Your theory of a contoured signal makes the most sense.
I should have added my observation that it seems as if the signal from York County SC l hits a brick wall around mile marker 52 on I-485 as I'm traveling north.
The signal strength meter for the 800 system auddenly disappears, after being 4 bars strong just moments before.

Curious if you're monitoring the York County trunked radio system. if so, that's a system that's separate from Palmetto 800. It's very possible they are limiting signal to the north to avoid any sort of interference with NC neighbors. However, I can pick up that system fairly routinely to the east near Spartanburg.

The Palmetto 800 site in York County, 2-86 York, is not easily received at my location. Clearly it's not on as tall a tower or is running at lower ERP, or both.

 

[jbix1958]

When I travel up 521 into NC my signal strength is still great on my SDS100. There is a Palmetto 800 tower located on 521 just a hair over the SC/NC border. Have you should be able to hit that one....

 

[tvengr]

Palmetto 800 traffic is perfecrly crystal clear 3 miles south of home but i have absolutely no reception of Palmetto 800 traffic at home.
Any explanation of how 3 miles could make such a difference?

You could be having interference from a nearby transmitter such as cell phone, TV, or FM broadcast. Try using the filters on the site giving you trouble. Wide Invert often works well. You can also try using IFX on the frequencies for that site.