I recently upgraded to a pro 97 scanner, but i've been having reception issues...i don't understand how i can recieve signals from two cities away fine, but my own local PD is very scratchy and broken up....basically my question is, is how can i improve the reception i get with my pro 97?...bout two years ago i bought that 800mz antenna radioshack sells, but it was no help on this scanner...is there another antenna you guys can recommend that will fit my pro 97?
Pro 97 reception problems
- Thread starter lunercrab
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Well we know the radio that you have, but it would be very helpful to know where you are so we can try and help.
The more information you provide on your problem, the better the help you will get in finding an answer.
Though this is a good place to ask scanner related questions, you may also want to scroll down the page and check out your state forum. The question may already have been asked and answered there.
Just keep in mind that double posting just makes getting an answer more difficult and is poor etiquette.
N8IAA
Member
I'm going to guess that you are trying to receive VHF lo-band(30-50Mhz), or, VHF hi-band(150-170Mhz) with the RS 800Mhz antenna. VHF hi-band is ok, but not good, with the 800Mhz antenna. That same antenna is not made to receive the VHF lo-band signal. A good 6m/2m/440Mhz ham ht antenna will increase the reception of the VHF lo-band. As Lynn has stated, without knowing where you live and what you want to monitor limits us in helping you enjoy your scanner. 
Larry
Larry
What frequencies are involved?
There are dozens of reasons this could be happening. What frequencies are involved? What kind of antenna are you using? Is your location "in a hole"? And just for grins, make sure you don't have the attenuator ON with your local PD channels.
If you are trying to receive 800 MHz signals, the RS 800 antenna is the "best" rubber duckie for the job, but not as good as a properly installed outside antenna in most cases. However, if you're trying to receive anything other than 800 MHz, the RS 800 antenna is not as good as the stock antenna that came with the scanner.
I'm sorry guys, but i'm kinda all new to this scanning stuff...this is the second handheld scanner i've owned, and aside from just the basics, like entering freqs., i'm really a big noob when it comes to this stuff...i live in Bethlehem, pa (northampton county) and my local PD's frequencies are mostly 800s...i live in center city on the second floor of a half double...like i said i did get the rs 800 antenna, but i found it gave me no help...all i know is, is that most of my reception, especially with my local PD, is very static and unreadable...maybe i am doing something wrong...again i'm sorry if my post is somehow less then informative and or unclear, but again i'm kinda new to all this...i just thought maybe there was a better brand of antenna i could try, to get better reception
N8IAA
Member
I'm sorry guys, but i'm kinda all new to this scanning stuff...this is the second handheld scanner i've owned, and aside from just the basics, like entering freqs., i'm really a big noob when it comes to this stuff...i live in Bethlehem, pa (northampton county) and my local PD's frequencies are mostly 800s...i live in center city on the second floor of a half double...like i said i did get the rs 800 antenna, but i found it gave me no help...all i know is, is that most of my reception, especially with my local PD, is very static and unreadable...maybe i am doing something wrong...again i'm sorry if my post is somehow less then informative and or unclear, but again i'm kinda new to all this...i just thought maybe there was a better brand of antenna i could try, to get better reception
Do you have Win97? If you do, zip a file and post it here. We could take a look at it. Which of the two sites for Bethlehem have you programmed into the scanner? I noticed that the county is on 500Mhz. Are you experiencing an difficulty in receiving them? You might try putting the two tower sites in different banks and see which has the better receive. There are times when the county system where I live is overwhelmingly noisey with static. I am betting this is how Motherola talked them into a new digital encrypted system. I do have to say the the encryption sounds great! The 800Mhz antenna is an outstanding one, unfortunately, not going to be that good if there is not a lot of towers around. I can actually listen to my county without an antenna on any of my trunktrackers. Let us know.
Larry
yeah i do have the 500s in there (for different northampton county depts), but my local PDs running 800s, if you look here http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=723 the trunking system frequencies that are listed there, are the ones i'm using for the Bethlehem PD...again i'm a noob, so i'm lost on this whole trunking system stuff...i just manually entered those freqs in...i did have more 800s for bethlehem that i have on my scanner now, that i got from somewhere online...but the ones listed on that page are the main ones...i just find it strange how i also have allentown pd on here, and i pick them up with no problem what so ever, even though they are 10miles or more away...no i don't have win97, never got it since i never got around to buying the pc cable...btw sorry if im not making any sense, again i'm very new to all this...thanks for your help though so far
Highpockets
Member
yeah i do have the 500s in there (for different northampton county depts), but my local PDs running 800s, if you look here http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=723 the trunking system frequencies that are listed there, are the ones i'm using for the Bethlehem PD...again i'm a noob, so i'm lost on this whole trunking system stuff...i just manually entered those freqs in...i did have more 800s for bethlehem that i have on my scanner now, that i got from somewhere online...but the ones listed on that page are the main ones...i just find it strange how i also have allentown pd on here, and i pick them up with no problem what so ever, even though they are 10miles or more away...no i don't have win97, never got it since i never got around to buying the pc cable...btw sorry if im not making any sense, again i'm very new to all this...thanks for your help though so far
If you are using the site #1 S Mtn Side frequencies, can you hear a control channel in conventional mode? If not, maybe they rebanded.
N8IAA
Member
As crazy as this sounds, put the Bethlehem system in ATTenuation. You might be receiving the tower signal to strongly. The city just might have crappy radios too. Not unusual. Let us know.yeah i do have the 500s in there (for different northampton county depts), but my local PDs running 800s, if you look here http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=723 the trunking system frequencies that are listed there, are the ones i'm using for the Bethlehem PD...again i'm a noob, so i'm lost on this whole trunking system stuff...i just manually entered those freqs in...i did have more 800s for bethlehem that i have on my scanner now, that i got from somewhere online...but the ones listed on that page are the main ones...i just find it strange how i also have allentown pd on here, and i pick them up with no problem what so ever, even though they are 10miles or more away...no i don't have win97, never got it since i never got around to buying the pc cable...btw sorry if im not making any sense, again i'm very new to all this...thanks for your help though so far
Larry
You know, someone reccomended using a ham ht antenna. I am amazed that every time I go into RS and ask for a bnc to sma adapter, they show me something with a cord. I just want to put their little stubby antenna on my ht so I can hear better and it's more convenient. I always ask at what ever RS, "why", and they say, "well sma isn't mainstream right now", or something to the effect. What a crock.
N1BHH
Member
If you are indoors trying to hear stuff, that is the problem. A simple setup for an antenna to hear better is a mag mount on your air conditioner hanging out the window. This is simple minimal suggestion. You may notice standing in your back yard, that you will hear better than being inside. Most aftermarket antennas work, but they are all compromised. There are many you could try out, just check the various threads here and you will find a bunch of good ones. Don't expect the super duper signal sucker antenna, as it doesn't exist in your wallet. Place the scanner on the window sill and you will hear better, but better than that an antenna outside works well.
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