Poor 800 mghz Reception

[scannermaniac]

Does anyone who lives in or near the pine Barrens have problems picking up the State police?{800 mghz)...someone told me the "Pine trees" inhibit reception on scanners as well as cell phones, and I have found that true with cell phones. I am using a pro-96 and am planning to get a pro-97 next week.Anyone response would be appreciated.

 

[GM]

Yes, reception is spotty at best, unless you are near the repeater or high up, such as a forest fire tower. The pine needles are dense and are close in size to the wavelength of the 800 MHz signal; thus resulting in poor coverage.

 

[Tech792]

I found that this is especially true when the pine needles are wet, after a rain.

 

[NESN]

The only towers in the area are the DOT yard Rt.37 Dover Twp, Rt.73 circle in Berlin and Rt.539 Warren Grove or atop a casino in AC, so yes it will be sparce.

There was a country Sheriff's Department in Florida 8 years ago that had to scrap their brand-new 800 mhz trunked system cause the variety of pine needle in that area was soaking up the short 800 mhz signals......even adding towers didn't help.

 

[n4voxgill]

The only towers in the area are the DOT yard Rt.37 Dover Twp, Rt.73 circle in Berlin and Rt.539 Warren Grove or atop a casino in AC, so yes it will be sparce.

There was a country Sheriff's Department in Florida 8 years ago that had to scrap their brand-new 800 mhz trunked system cause the variety of pine needle in that area was soaking up the short 800 mhz signals......even adding towers didn't help.

I would sure like to know what SO that was, I was the APCO frequency advisor then and would have been involved in processing the applicatgion and I know of no such system. About that time Dade County fire got off their 800 system but had nothing to do with pine trees, the dade county p;olice are still on the 800 edacs.

 

[scannermaniac]

I thought as much, I wonder if I buy the rat shacks 800 mghz antenna if that would boost reception....? Tommorow, i'll take a walk over to the fire tower at Brendan Byrne State forest and do some scanning to see how it is supposed to sound. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Tech792]

There is a few ways to improve your reception. I assume you're using a hand held scanner. Just by replacing the stock rubber duckie with a commercial 800 mhz duckie will improve 800 signals. (Assuming you only want to hear the NJSP 800 system). Thats what I did and it made a big difference since I'm in a fringe area. Other ways are installing an outside antenna on the roof. And using good quality coax cable. And as a last resort, you might want to try a good quality preamp. (Like GRE). I've had good results using a preamp at 800 mhz.

 

[Joseph11]

The RadioShack 800 MHz antenna is great. If you can afford it, buy it.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Joseph and readers,

I don't understand your question since you live nowhere the Pine Barrens. If you listen to the SPNJ 800MHz trunked system you'll be receiving Troop C off the DOT tower in Dover Twp. and you can't expect good reception on anything else pine needles or not. BTW, reception is lousy here for some unknown reason but since you're in the shadow of the tower they'll probably blow you right out of the water (of the Toms River).

 

[Tech792]

Last time I checked, the fire tower in Brendan Byrne State Forest is in the pine barrens. If he can walk to it from his house, that pretty much puts him in the pine barrens too.

 

[scannermaniac]

Thank-you Tech792, Yes, I live right on Rt. 70 and 72 in a development about a Mile from the entrance to brendan byrne state forest.