Pro-95 problems in nj...

[erikTromatowski]

Hello everyone. Well I got a Pro-95 scanner a few days ago. I have a problem with trunking, and it seems to be quite unique. With my outdoor antenna (Maxrad MHB5800 with mag mount, I live in an apartment), I am able to recieve the Middlesex County EDACS system (it's an "800" system), but no other trunked system (I have the county EDACS system "800", East Brunswick Motorola type 2 "500", Piscataway Type 2 "500", State police troops B and C "800", PSE&G "900", and NJT TRS"800", plus various conventional FM and AM frequencies all programed in). Each system is in its own bank, and all conventional FM frequencies are also in thier own bank, as are all AM frequencies. With the supplied rubber duck antenna, I can recive all systems (though not very well, since it is a rubber duck. Most of the time most of the systems are unreadable). Since I am able to recive all systems, I can tell all are programed in correctly. I can recive an "800" system with my outdoor antenna (loud and clear, so I know its good for "800" scanning), but no others. Including the "500" systems (though I can recive conventional "500" frequencies loud and clear). I find this quite odd, and have been looking for an awnser and solution to this problem, but have yet to find one. I am somewhat angered, as I bought this scanner so I am also able to listen to AM (this comes in loud and clear) and Trunked systems (problem stated above). Can anyone PLEASE help? Thanks so much.

 

[Tech792]

If I'm not mistaken, the Maxrad MHB5800 is a VHF high band antenna. That would explain why the rubber duckie antenna works better. I would try removing the MHB5800 and replace it with an 800 mhz or even a 500 mhz antenna. It would probably work much better on both the UHF and 800 bands. Or, you could even try a mobile scanner antenna on that mag mount. Maxrad makes a mobile scanner antenna that covers VHF high through 800 MHZ.

 

[erikTromatowski]

Thats the thing. With my Maxrad MHB5800, I can pick up the Middlesex County EDACS system, which is on the "800" band. I can also pick up conventional "500" frequencies, but I can't pick up any trunked "500" systems, or any other trunked "800" system besides the County EDACS TRS.

 

[ka2mek]

Thats the thing. With my Maxrad MHB5800, I can pick up the Middlesex County EDACS system, which is on the "800" band. I can also pick up conventional "500" frequencies, but I can't pick up any trunked "500" systems, or any other trunked "800" system besides the County EDACS TRS.

Hello Erik
I see your a new member.
welcome to the board here. :wink:
If PRO-95 is around he can help you he works for RADIO SHACK...you will see MEGA amounts of solid info from this knowledgable member all around this site so feel free to browse and coment...BTW PRO-95 useally hangs out at the top of the board here......."The Radio Reference Forum"
go up there and post your question also I bet you get a ton of good info in a short period of time :wink: .
Good luck with your quest for knowledge about your PRO-95 we are all here to help .
73!
Robert-KA2MEK

 

[erikTromatowski]

Thanks ka2mek! Hey, didn't you used to be the mod over at the middlesex county NJ forum on fordyce.org/scanning (LISR)? Why don't you post over there anymore? I remember seeing some of your posts, and they were always informitaive. Would be cool if you were to come back. I am now a co-mod of that forum.

 

[loumaag]

Thanks ka2mek! ...

Okay, thank him again. It seems he came and chased a couple of us down to come over hear to give you a hand. :lol:

Okay, I see you are having trouble getting your Pro-95 to pick up the 500Mhz Trunking systems in your area on an outside antenna. You say you can get them on the rubber duck but that they are scratchy and unreadable. But you can get conventional 500Mhz signals on the outside antenna. ... Given these facts, lets do away with the antenna as a problem. Since it receives conventional 500MHz signals, it is also receiving Trunked signals. (The antenna doesn't know the differnece. )

Since the radio is receiving 500MHz conventional signals, but not Trunked signals, that leaves the programming. Lets conentrate on the Piscataway Township Public Safety system as the other you mentioned is mostly digital, which your Pro-95 is not capable of monitoring. Did you set the custom table for the system? The settings are specified on the above link just below the general system information. This must be placed in the radio before it can Trunk Track the system. The insructions for setting this table can be found under the section titled Motorola Trunking System (UHF-Lo). I am not providing a page number because my copy doesn't seem to match others, but the section is in the table of contents.

Get back to us on this.

 

[erikTromatowski]

Yes, it is programmed in correctly, as I can pick up piscataway somewhat with the rubber duck. Also, I can pick up the Middlesex County EDACS "800' system loud and clear with my outdoor antenna. This whole problem is confuesing.

 

[loumaag]

Yes, it is programmed in correctly, as I can pick up piscataway somewhat with the rubber duck. Also, I can pick up the Middlesex County EDACS "800' system loud and clear with my outdoor antenna. This whole problem is confuesing.

Picking up the system slightly is an indication that you are not really picking up the system at all. The Pro-95 will decode an ID based on what it hears on a voice channel. If you are receiving the system weakly, you may not be holding on the control channel and hence will pick up any programed frequency on the system which is not the CC and decode the TG Information. The 95 will not trunk track in that situation.

If in fact it is programed correctly, then find the control channel and lock out all other frequencies in that bank. Use your rubber duck. Tell me if you are really getting the system or is it silent. If it is silent, recheck your programming of the Base, Offset, and Step sizes for the system. By any chance do you have the Win95 software and a cable for PC interface to the Pro-95? If not, I suggest you obtain a cable and then download the shareware program Win95 from Don Starr's site.

The fact that you can hear something of the system weakly (on the rubber duck) indicates it is not trunktracking but since you cannot on the outside antenna it indicates it is properly locking on the CC. The problem is that if it is improperly programed when the CC tells it to go to a frequency, it doesn't know where to go. The fact that the 800MHz system works is more proof, since the default for Motorola Trunking is the 800MHz systems, you have to change the radio to pickup a 500MHz system. Trust me, the outside antenna will work if you have the radio properly programed.

 

[ka2mek]

Thanks ka2mek! Hey, didn't you used to be the mod over at the middlesex county NJ forum on fordyce.org/scanning (LISR)? Why don't you post over there anymore? I remember seeing some of your posts, and they were always informitaive. Would be cool if you were to come back. I am now a co-mod of that forum.

Thank You Mr LouMaag....sir
{{{{{redirect}}}}}}
Yupper Mr Erik :wink:
hung out for quite a spell, met some good ole folks, then bailed out when it got WIERD like usenet,Been lookin in from time to time :wink: and see its on a bitter sweet upswing now :idea: thanks to a few die hards who are hanging tuff ,I have considered very recently re-registering after my hiatus and logging in as Einstein,,,,HEY who do you think you are Einstein??Huh ,,Who me? why,,YES yes I am :lol: .It tiz fair game for some really off the cuff banter now over there and still has growing pains and the updates still roll in with good data.Ya got good folk over there now so as moderators :shock: and what knot keep the faith O'flanegen :lol: and herd them doggies inna circle YEEHAA!
Keep up the good work and YER DOIN FINE HERE
haaaaaaaayyyyy everyone say haaaaaallll0ooooo to................
"ladies and gentlemen the afore mentioned county of middlesex current co-afficiando & me-amigo!
ERIK T whatshisname! :lol:
ERIK WELCOME ABOARD ! :lol:
Ya'll come back now ya hear :!:
73!
Robert-KA2MEK

 

[erikTromatowski]

lol. 73's!

 

[ka2mek]

lol. 73's!

73
:wink:

 

[erikTromatowski]

So... back to my problem...

 

[erikTromatowski]

Ah, this is wierd. I got the control channel on with the rubber duck. I locked out all other frequencies in the system, and am still able to recive the system, rather with all channels except the CC locked out, or all open. But so, I have the control channel on right now in manuel, and it says "MOT: CNTRL" (but sometimes flashes to MOT: none) or whatever talkgroup is currently being brodcast. But then, I take the rubber duck off and put on my outdoor antenna (still on the control channel) and it then says "MOT: none" and the CC no longer comes in if I am still on that frequency that is the CC.

 

[erikTromatowski]

But I am also unable to receive ll other trunked systems besides the County 800MHz EDACS system. These include, The East Brunswick M2 500 system, Piscataway M2 500 system, NJSP Troops B and C 800 systems, the PSE&G 900 system, and the NJT M2/1 800 system. All of which are at least somewhat readable with the rubber duck.

 

[loumaag]

But I am also unable to receive ll other trunked systems besides the County 800MHz EDACS system. These include, The East Brunswick M2 500 system, Piscataway M2 500 system, NJSP Troops B and C 800 systems, the PSE&G 900 system, and the NJT M2/1 800 system. All of which are at least somewhat readable with the rubber duck.

I want to verify something. You did say that you could receive conventional channels with the outside antenna, didn't you? I guess I should have asked; how far away? I made a poor assumption that when you said you could receive conventional frequencies that they were at equal distances to the trunking systems you were attempting to hear. In that regard, try to consider the following:

1. How close is the 800 system that you can hear on the outside antenna. Is it close enough that if the antenna or feed line was faulty it would still receive it?

2. If when connected to the outside antenna you can hear conventional frequencies, are they also close by?

3. If when considering 1 & 2 you feel that the antenna (or feedline) is not faulty, let us concentrate on picking up some more of the trunking systems which do not require any resetting of the defaults of the Pro-95; that is lets stick with the 800MHz systems until we get the antenna problem resolved.

Keep in touch.

 

[erikTromatowski]

I can recieve some conventional systems from about 15 miles away with the outdoor antenna, I can hear railroad operations (this is through a system of repeaters, kind of complicated to explain) from as far away as Newark NJ (25 miles away) and am sometimes able to pick up NYC police. The closest Middlesex County repeater tower is in New Brunswick (about 2 miles away). But the Piscataway repeater is about 5 miles away, and the East Brunswick Repater is about 7 miles away. New Jersey Transit has repeaters all over the state, PSE&G has a repeater about 4 miles away, and the State Police also have repeaters all over the state. I also know for a fact that the Antenna and feed line are not faulty.

 

[loumaag]

I also know for a fact that the Antenna and feed line are not faulty.

How?

 

[erikTromatowski]

Because I can hear conventionals all fine, and a trunked system. I have had the antenna for 2 years and have had no problems. Have look at every inch of the feed cable throughly and nothing seems wrong. Everythign seems A O.K. with the antenna and feed. Unless something could still be wrong, but i doubt it.

 

[loumaag]

I can recieve some conventional systems from about 15 miles away with the outdoor antenna, I can hear railroad operations (this is through a system of repeaters, kind of complicated to explain) from as far away as Newark NJ (25 miles away) and am sometimes able to pick up NYC police. The closest Middlesex County repeater tower is in New Brunswick (about 2 miles away). But the Piscataway repeater is about 5 miles away, and the East Brunswick Repater is about 7 miles away. New Jersey Transit has repeaters all over the state, PSE&G has a repeater about 4 miles away, and the State Police also have repeaters all over the state.

Okay, based on your assertion that the outside antenna system is fine (which I find doubtful) consider this:

The system you are hearing on the outside antenna is 2 miles away with an ERP of over 300 watts. (You should be able to hear it with NO antenna.) The next closest one (PSE&G) is 4 miles away (I am guessing S. Brunswick) with an ERP of 100 watts. 1/3 the power and twice the distance. You should still hear it, but you will need an antenna. RR operations don't count, I can have a friend come over and sit in the front yard (BNSF Employee) and he can call Houston from here and I will hear it on the scanner. The conventionals you say you are hearing are 15 miles away, you also hear NYC PD, well Staten Island is only 11 miles from where you are. I still think you have antenna system problems. There is nothing majical about trunking frequencies. They are just RF like any other RF. If you can hear conventional, you can hear trunking, if the antenna is working.

 

[loumaag]

Erik, here are some additional thoughts.

I regularly monitor an 800MHz system which is 23.5 miles away which uses an ERP of just over 100 watts on a rubber duck all day long. (I just tried doing it with no antenna, but well... what do you expect? :lol: )

When I hook up an outside antenna I can hear a multi-site Moto UHF sytem with relatively weak sites out to about 90 miles.

I think you have a broke antenna system. You say you have had it for two years. Has it been installed for 2 years? If so, has the coax been exposed to your weather for 2 years? You should be hearing a lot more on that antenna then you are.