I always hear nypd from here in eastern CT when the weather is right. But when it really gets going good, I'll be hearing nypd sod and Newton MA pd at the same time on 470.837. I have in the past but it's pretty rare to hear much from Boston.
Radio Skip today
- Thread starter MrAntiDigital
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I dispatched back when almost every VFD in Hartford County was on 33.94 csq.
Canton CT was on 33.74 and you could hear Boston tapping out boxes on that freq.
chris
Canton CT was on 33.74 and you could hear Boston tapping out boxes on that freq.
chris
ecps92
Member
Well with Narrowbanding (Yes, T-Band was exempted at the last minute, but much of Boston had budgeted and got grant $$, so Narrowbanding occured) you do loose some, and the MBHSR/UASI agencies cut back power, as the need was to cover the community, not the area code :lol:
Back in the 80's and 90's I lived in Farmington and left my scanner on 154.19 overnight. I would often hear FDNY Bronx coming in loud and clear in the overnight hours, and that was just with a stock antenna on my portable scanner. That's close to 100 miles - not bad for a 5-inch antenna.
baayers
Member
I have really enjoyed reading this thread.
I remember when I lived in Bradenton Florida back in the late 90s it seemed like each evening brought skip from a different location. One night I would be listening to Bay and Walton County is in the panhandle and the next night would be Gainesville and Jacksonville. Unfortunately as a lot of the agencies started moving to 800 MHz the evening adventures became less and less. You sometimes get lucky with high band skip but it is not as common as the lower bands are. I remember a bout a week after I purchased my 235 one of those events happened. At that time the system for Panellus shared a lot of the same frequency as the Motorola system in Tallahassee that was coming online. I remember literally in a matter of moments going from being on the French of Panellus to hearing Leon County as if it was down the street.
While back in Clearwater last year I was lucky enough to be there during a time that the Skip was rating in tents and got the privilege to join in on the fun. From Clearwater Florida I successfully held a 25 minute conversation with a repeater all the way in New Orleans using 5 W and a rubber duck. That same evening on FM radio I successfully picked up stations as far north as Toronto, And as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. Unfortunately the part of California I live in now rarely sees anything in the form of Skip so I definitely miss it.
I remember when I lived in Bradenton Florida back in the late 90s it seemed like each evening brought skip from a different location. One night I would be listening to Bay and Walton County is in the panhandle and the next night would be Gainesville and Jacksonville. Unfortunately as a lot of the agencies started moving to 800 MHz the evening adventures became less and less. You sometimes get lucky with high band skip but it is not as common as the lower bands are. I remember a bout a week after I purchased my 235 one of those events happened. At that time the system for Panellus shared a lot of the same frequency as the Motorola system in Tallahassee that was coming online. I remember literally in a matter of moments going from being on the French of Panellus to hearing Leon County as if it was down the street.
While back in Clearwater last year I was lucky enough to be there during a time that the Skip was rating in tents and got the privilege to join in on the fun. From Clearwater Florida I successfully held a 25 minute conversation with a repeater all the way in New Orleans using 5 W and a rubber duck. That same evening on FM radio I successfully picked up stations as far north as Toronto, And as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. Unfortunately the part of California I live in now rarely sees anything in the form of Skip so I definitely miss it.
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baayers
Member
I saw this video a couple of years ago but this thread made me remember it. It is by YouTube member K4DPS.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KkhqP0Fegbw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KkhqP0Fegbw
I live in old lyme and when that Duct sets up over LIS i can hear all type of things from NYC with the attic antenna.
There is an ambulance dispatcher down in New Jersey on Med 9 and Med 10 and i can hear them loud and clear down by the water in niantic withmy xpr7550 on the board walk
There is an ambulance dispatcher down in New Jersey on Med 9 and Med 10 and i can hear them loud and clear down by the water in niantic withmy xpr7550 on the board walk
PJH
Member
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On the full sunspot cycle - portable radios that would open the remote receive sites would bring in all sorts of traffic. One of our remote sites was on a nice ridge.
We played back the tapes and could year (on one transmission) about 24 different voices that were clear as day. As the voter changed towers, you'd get some new sets of voices and some from the other. I really wish I kept that.
We played back the tapes and could year (on one transmission) about 24 different voices that were clear as day. As the voter changed towers, you'd get some new sets of voices and some from the other. I really wish I kept that.
Yes I hear them about 50% of the time here in Milford. Sometimes they bomb in here! Seaside Heights area. the PL is 210.7 which is also our statewide PL so sometimes a mobile actually keys up SW Cmed on Med 9.
radioman2001
Member
During the summer it was not uncommon to receive Georgia in Westchester County New York. Our agency was on 37.10 along with most of the departments in mid county. There was the typical southern drawl radio call of an alligator on someones front porch.
When I worked for the drunken bat (M) I do remember a rather sad conversation on Hackensac, N.J. PD on VHF, where an officer was killed. Radio silence was declared for most of the night while it all transpired over the radio.
When I worked for the drunken bat (M) I do remember a rather sad conversation on Hackensac, N.J. PD on VHF, where an officer was killed. Radio silence was declared for most of the night while it all transpired over the radio.
kayn1n32008
ØÆSØ Say it, say 'ENCRYPTION'
Seeing enhanced UHF propagation in the greater Edmonton, Alberta area this morning. One particular repeater I can not key with 6dB gain vertical and 35W, was keyed with 1W/stubby antenna inside my house.
Skip is great this morning, At 06:45 . Picking up: Springfield,Warwick,Cranston. In Sprague Ct
But still cant pick up New London 20 miles away. Also picked up Hartford on the 154.31.
But still cant pick up New London 20 miles away. Also picked up Hartford on the 154.31.
jim202
Member
Much of the long distance skip that you can hear is caused by weather fronts moving across the country. If you can figure out where the signals are from, go to a weather map and see what is about mid way between you and the distant stations.
Once you notice where the signals are from and where these weather fronts are located, it is easy to make some predictions of where you might expect to hear stations from in the future. Just remember that there needs to be active radio communications going on in order to hear them.
The low band police and fire will go the furthest. Then the VHF signals might start coming through if the MUF (maximum usable frequency) goes high enough. The sun spots have an effect on just how well and often you might experience this skip.
Another place to listen is on the HF ham bands and the HF commercial broadcast frequencies. These frequencies can become very active during the summer daytime. Depending on your interest and what language you want to listen to, there are broadcasts from many parts of the world. Take a listen in the area of 7 MHz and around the 14 MHz range to see what you might find.
Once you notice where the signals are from and where these weather fronts are located, it is easy to make some predictions of where you might expect to hear stations from in the future. Just remember that there needs to be active radio communications going on in order to hear them.
The low band police and fire will go the furthest. Then the VHF signals might start coming through if the MUF (maximum usable frequency) goes high enough. The sun spots have an effect on just how well and often you might experience this skip.
Another place to listen is on the HF ham bands and the HF commercial broadcast frequencies. These frequencies can become very active during the summer daytime. Depending on your interest and what language you want to listen to, there are broadcasts from many parts of the world. Take a listen in the area of 7 MHz and around the 14 MHz range to see what you might find.
UHF and VHF were just open last night
They sure were. I heard Halifax Coast Guard at an S7 strength on Ch. 16 (156.800) last night. Crazy.
Bob
MrAntiDigital
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Sunday morning, 6/26/16, Stamford FD coming in "loud and clear" at the ole' homestead in Norwich, Ct. Some 100 or so miles away.
"Stamford Engine 8 requesting police for MVA northbound entrance ramp to Route 15 at High Ridge Rd, no injuries". Reception from both Stamford Fire Base and Engine 8 mobile unit coming in GREAT.
Also heard Engine 1 requesting Eversource for damage to pole number #####. Don't remember the 5 digit number. Engine 1 reported this on Euculid St.
Hearing Milford Fire Dept as well.
I was also picking up some skip from a place called Washington Township.
I only had 154.13, and 154.34mhz, besides local Norwich Police on 39.90, Norwich Fire on 154.205, and Norwich Vol Fire on 33.66 mhz. on at the time.
"Stamford Engine 8 requesting police for MVA northbound entrance ramp to Route 15 at High Ridge Rd, no injuries". Reception from both Stamford Fire Base and Engine 8 mobile unit coming in GREAT.
Also heard Engine 1 requesting Eversource for damage to pole number #####. Don't remember the 5 digit number. Engine 1 reported this on Euculid St.
Hearing Milford Fire Dept as well.
I was also picking up some skip from a place called Washington Township.
I only had 154.13, and 154.34mhz, besides local Norwich Police on 39.90, Norwich Fire on 154.205, and Norwich Vol Fire on 33.66 mhz. on at the time.
ecps92
Member
See how many WX channels you get 
VHF Propagation Map
it's been wide open, up-down the coast since yesterday
VHF Propagation Map
it's been wide open, up-down the coast since yesterday
Yesterday night from my home at Stamford, I caught the following P25 systems: VA STARS
JB McGuire
New London sub base, Patuxent River NAS
Also a bunch of new hits on Ocean County NJ municipal police departments and Springfield MA PD
All were monitored on a quarter wave whip. It was a good night
JB McGuire
New London sub base, Patuxent River NAS
Also a bunch of new hits on Ocean County NJ municipal police departments and Springfield MA PD
All were monitored on a quarter wave whip. It was a good night
NC1
Member
Could have been Washington Township NJ. Looks close, yet far enough to be a skip.
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