Poor Reception?

[drumz0rz]

Hey all. I'm in Bethlehem and I'm trying to listen to the Public Safety Mot Type II trunked system. I previously borrowed my father's RS Pro-95 and was able to hear all chatter, I could follow PD conversations between dispatch and TAC, I could hear every EMS dispatch, etc. I've since acquired my own scanner, the RS Pro-162. I programmed in the frequencies, set up the talk group, and trunked the bank, but I'm having trouble hearing. I've only been able to pick up PD Dispatch, and once Fire Dispatch and NCIC. They come in and out, and I can't follow a single conversation. The only difference I can think of is that my father's unit has the $20 RS 800MHz antenna while mine has the stock antenna. I don't see this as being the issue however, as in NY I can hear the entire Suffolk County trunked system perfectly and I'm a dozen miles from the nearest repeater there (whereas here, I'm in town).

Anyone have any guesses why this isn't working for me?

 

[policefreak]

Are you near a cellphone antenna? That will definitely zap your signal. On the comms you do copy is the reception sounding weak and scratchy, or is it that random talkgroups pop up? If you do have scratchy reception you definitely want to pick up a 800 antenna. Also of importance are you inside a metal building? Are you down in a basement? Are you located in a valley? Do you monitor near the computer with the computer on? Are you receiving the control channel at all? If so then how strong? Are you sure it's not a programming error?

 

[drumz0rz]

PD Dispatch comes in scratchy, however I just heard EMS and Fire Dispatch and they were both clear. I'm in the exact same spot as when I had the Pro-95, an Steel / Cement building on the first floor. Closest Cell tower is probably at the top of the mountain somewhere, I'm on the side, not too far up it.

I just disabled the trunk mode for the control channels, and I can hear that digial noise they output loud and clear. Does that cheap 800MHz really change things that much? Why could I hear perfectly fine the Suffolk trunk system but not this one?

 

[policefreak]

So based on your last response it DOES sound like a reception issue rather than something with the programming. The RS 800 duck does make a rather noticeable difference. You may have a crappy stock antenna. It may even be defective. The good news is that the most important frequency, the control channel is booming in. Try an 800 duck, it couldn't hurt and see what happens.

 

[drumz0rz]

I'll try one as soon as I can get my hands on one, but it still seems weird to me. Like, I'm listening to the county police / fire / ems channels right now, and I can get the Easton VHF police which is 8 miles away, but I can't hear the police talking as the cruiser sits outside my window?

I programmed it using the BUTTEL ARC-160 software, which worked perfectly for the Suffolk, NY system, but I'm going to try and re-enter it all manually, like I did the Pro-95 and see if that helps. I'll let you know when I try the 800MHz antenna.

 

[fineshot1]

Like, I'm listening to the county police / fire / ems channels right now, and I can get the Easton VHF police which is 8 miles away, but I can't hear the police talking as the cruiser sits outside my window?

Your most likely listening to a repeater output of which the repeater may be many miles away from you.
The mobile (or portable) will be transmitting to a repeater on the input frequency(which you are not listening to) and this is why it seems strange to you but its perfectly normal.

 

[hoser147]

As far as the cruiser setting outside your window, they may be just too close and basically blowing by your scanner.

". Does that cheap 800MHz really change things that much? yes it does give it a try, it wont preform as well on 150mhz on distant signals but from 400 up it does great.