Pro-96 Reception problems / survey

[fuzzydad1209]

Folks-

I've been noticing lately that my Pro-96 is pretty much not picking up anything that's not in the 800 mhz range (WX, local lower band FM systems, etc.) I've tried it both in regular FM mode and CT mode with no change and also initialized it and re-loaded all the info again with no change. I had a BD 250D previously that did the same thing after a while. I use the correct respective antennas and when I first bought it, these freqs came in beautifully. The only possible "abuse" has been it being in a hot car for little bits at a time.

So far, no real change in quality of reception on any APCO system or EDACS.

Has anyone else noticed this at all? Should I take my unit back to RS and use my service plan and replace it? Just checking. Thanks.

-Pat

 

[n4jri]

That's not the way my unit is behaving, and I've dropped it three times since January. While reception isn't great on low band FM, I can still get the VDOT repeaters using my 800 MHz antenna.

Sounds like you need to exercise that warranty.

 

[KT4HX]

I havent had those issues either. I agree that its not a hot receiver on the lower ranges, but I too can get my WX channel on my 800 MHz antenna, as well as my local vhf/uhf services. You may wanna check into the warranty service.

 

[kd4jxz]

I've had mine for a week now and being a wide band receiver, it actually does pretty well here in Richmond, Va.

I can hear the local ham repeaters, even simplex qso's. I hear the wx freqs fine as well.

We use Motorola SP50's at my job on 450MHz and I even heard that traffic.

I'm very pleased, you should have it checked.

 

[fuzzydad1209]

Reply from poster

Yeah, my biggest concern right now is that it USED to pick up the VHF/FM a lot better than it does now. That's what makes me think something's wrong. I haven't moved or anything. In fact, when I first got it, it was also picking up VHF with the 800 mhz antenna, and from pretty far away, too.

Let me know any more thoughts.
thanks.

 

[n4jri]

Have you frequently changed antennas? One common complaint in radios with BNC connectors has been that those females with the "fork" type contact can get bent or worn and become a faulty connection.

 

[fuzzydad1209]

I do change anteannas quite a bit. I have a separate 800 Mhz antenna as well as another I use in a car and the standard RS-issued one. I take your comments to mean that the connection inside the radio is what may get worn? Is that right? Huh, sounds like another warranty issue......

 

[dynamitedjs]

also there is a wire inside the scanner on the bnc connector that connects to the circuit board on the inside. Radio shack scanners (handheld) are famous for that breaking off of the C.B.. I change antennas a lot too and the bnc connector would get loose. If its loose chances are that wire has come un soldered to the C.B.