If you are getting something, that shows the scanner is properly programmed. That's the good news.
Seeing the signal strength meter "jump around" is normal. It is "internal housekeeping" for the scanner as it processes the received system.
I'm still of the mind that this is a problem of audio decoding on the simulcast system. Have you attempted those things I mentioned earlier, and what kind of results did you get?
I have a 396XT on the Louisville trunked radio system. There are places where I have problems decoding the system as in getting clear audio or getting no audio even though I knew the was a transmission going on. (I was a fire chief and had a system radio sitting right by the scanner). This "syndrome" is very location specific. I can be getting no audio or garbled audio, move 100 yards and then I'll get clear reception.
You might try taking your scanner in the vicinity of a transmitter, such as 1/4 mile away and see what happens. If you see great improvement, that all but confirms the simulcast distortion.
One other thing you can try. Create a new conventional system. Program all of the channels listed in the database as conventional channels. Then start scanning. Your scanner will stop on one channel and you'll hear a motorboating sound. That's the control channel and you should lock it out. Then continue scanning.
With this method you are listening to the channels, but not following the trunked groups. It is a diagnostic tool to see if you get reception.
When you hear the control channel, that confirms you are in reception range. But if you do not receive any voice transmissions, or they are garbled, that's another confirmation of simulcast distortion.
Since this is a specific location matter, you may want to start a new thread in the Ohio forum, asking for assistance with Cincinnati/Hamilton County. You might get some responses from the local folks with greater knowledge. They might be not be frequent visitors to this particular forum.
