Puzzled by lack of reception

[Bushwack]

I have a Uniden BCD396XT. Located in Los Angeles, I can receive frequencies that are 30+ miles away w/ three mountain ranges and the downtown skyline between us. Yet I can't monitor PD and FD frequencies (Santa Monica or Culver City - 470.XXX and 482.XXX)) that are less then five miles away (with simple topography). Is there anything I can do (i.e. is there certain programming I can do for individual frequencies within the scanner) to increase these signals? I've gone ahead and ordered a telescopic antenna on the slim hope that will help.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Rt169Radio]

It might be multiple signals that are overpowering the scanner that are coming from various towers close by.Or it might be that those freqs are locked out on your scanner.

 

[nanZor]

Double check this with the Southern California forum, but I think Santa Monica is fully encrypted, and Culver City is part of the trunked P25 ICIS system - so if you are monitoring old conventional channels, that may be why.

Interagency Communications Interoperability System (ICIS) Trunking System, Various, California - Scanner Frequencies

If you program the ICIS system, you should hear the Culver City talkgroups unless they too are encrypted.

 

[Clark]

Santa Monica PD is Encrypted. The BCD396XT will mute an Encrypted signal so you will hear nothing.
I also am in LA on the Mar Vist /Culver City border. I monitor Culver City almost contunually with perfect
results. The trunked frequencies info. is here
Interagency Communications Interoperability System (ICIS) Trunking System, Various, California - Scanner Frequencies.

The BCD396XT requires the correct Motorola Bandplan which is here for Culver City.
Lower/Base =480.500
Upper =485.2375
Step = 12.5
Offset = 380

If this Bandplan is not programmed correctly, the scanner will not scan Culver City.

Clark