BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Question on scanning

[jhall8569]

i have a Uniden BCD436HP and i am very new to the scanner world....when i purchased it i also included the programming....i enjoy listening to it but i have a question....it seems like when there is a call come over and the responders advise they are responding to the call then once they call for an "ops" channel i dont hear anything else thats going on with that particular call.....could i be missing something in my radio that needs additional programming or are they by chance switching to a private channel?.......any help is much appreciated

 

[KevinC]

Check to be sure the appropriate "Service Types" are enabled.

 

[trentbob]

You never mentioned the system you are talking about. Dispatch could be in the clear but Ops channels could be encrypted.

 

[trentbob]

What is your state county and hometown poster?

 

[jhall8569]

What is your state county and hometown poster?

i am in North Carolina the Counties are Cabarrus and Mecklenburg

 

[trentbob]

Okay thanks, when someone else programs your radio you never know if they did it correctly or included everything you need but this is the system you want to be listening to

Look it up in the database, it's huge. Your counties are on the system, police fire and Sheriff. Seems like a lot is in the clear but there are encrypted Tac and Ops channels. Take a look and see in the database where your hometown falls. Also look the system up in the North Carolina State forum and see what folks say about it. When talking about it on the state forum make sure to include your hometown, exactly where you live.

 

[jhall8569]

Okay thanks, when someone else programs your radio you never know if they did it correctly or included everything you need but this is the system you want to be listening toView attachment 96798

Look it up in the database, it's huge. Your counties are on the system, police fire and Sheriff. Seems like a lot is in the clear but there are encrypted Tac and Ops channels. Take a look and see in the database where your hometown falls. Also look the system up in the North Carolina State forum and see what folks say about it. It is a huge system.

thank you for the info....i'll take a look and see

 

[n1chu]

Probably duplicating someone else’s answer but here goes anyway... Many Fire Dispatches are followed by the responding units migrating to a secondary channel in order to free up the dispatch frequency. They may be moved to a frequency you do not have programmed or most likely, a simplex frequency, usually designated as a “Fireground Frequency”. These frequencies may be programmed into your scanner but since they are not connected via a repeater, the signal strength is governed by whatever the responding units mobile or portable radio power outage is. It may only be as low as 5 watts. Compare that to the dispatch frequency which is repeaterized, and the difference may be realistically around 50-100 (or more) watts of power. You can hear the higher powered dispatch signal but not the weaker 5 watt portable signal unless you happen to be on or close to the fireground.

 

[trentbob]

I didn't see any Simplex fireground frequencies and I think the poster was referring to police dispatches. I did however seeTac and Ops channels with a large E. Then again I don't know the system. Simplex or direct channels could be listed somewhere else. I'm sure the folks on the North Carolina Forum have the inside scoop.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

If this is the system in question, there's a possibility simulcast distortion may be part of the issue. It's one of the most discussed topics on these forums...