Reception on the Uniden BCD325P2

[defender2086]

I live in the Oklahoma City Metro Area in which most agencies here are on the 800mhz P25 Phase II system. I have a Uniden BCD325P2 which should be picking these agencies up. However, the majority of the time I never seem to receive anything at all or when I due they are garbled or unintelligible. I am new to the scanner world. Forgive my ignorance, but would this be a setting in my scanner? Would it be a location issue? or Would it be an antenna issue? I live right in the middle of the metro area and have loaded all frequencies correctly so I should be picking up something. Any suggestion on improving reception? If you think it is an antenna issue, can you please recommend a good 800mhz antenna that would have better reception on my scanner than the factory antenna. Thank you for your advice in advance.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I live in the Oklahoma City Metro Area in which most agencies here are on the 800mhz P25 Phase II system. I have a Uniden BCD325P2 which should be picking these agencies up.

I would suggest you ask for this to be moved to the Oklahoma Forums where people from your area might be better able to help you. Please do not start a new thread, as double posting is discouraged, just click REPORT in lower left corner and the mods will be happy to move it.

 

[defender2086]

I would suggest you ask for this to be moved to the Oklahoma Forums where people from your area might be better able to help you. Please do not start a new thread, as double posting is discouraged, just click REPORT in lower left corner and the mods will be happy to move it.

Will do. Thank you.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What you described is a textbook example of simulcast distortion, it's an issue raised daily here on the RR forums. You're likely within listening range of two or more simulcasting towers (reference map below) You can try the multipath mitigation methods in the wiki I linked below but you'd be much better off with an SDS100 or SDS200 to track systems with simulcast sites

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[rk911]

Will do. Thank you.

Good. The RR Database for OK City shows a large number of police and fire talkgroups are full time encrypted. Users in the OK forum can confirm and guide you. Before you consider dropping big $ on an SDS radio please confirm encryption status. If the talkgroups are encrypted you won't be able to listen to those talkgroups.

Good luck.

 

[defender2086]

What you described is a textbook example of simulcast distortion, it's an issue raised daily here on the RR forums. You're likely within listening range of two or more simulcasting towers (reference map below) You can try the multipath mitigation methods in the wiki I linked below but you'd be much better off with an SDS100 or SDS200 to track systems with simulcast sites

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

View attachment 156558

Thank you

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The RR Database for OK City shows a large number of police and fire talkgroups are full time encrypted.

Regarding encryption, talkgroups ID'ed as mode "TE" are fully encrypted & "Te" (lowercase "e") are partially encrypted. OKC Police & Fire dispatch is clear as is every other mode "T" talkgroup. Only the tac & special ops talkgroups are encrypted

Oklahoma City Metro Public Safety Trunking System, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Metro Public Safety Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[WXVOST]

OKCPD will be going to full encryption soon, and the rumor is that most of the eastern Oklahoma county agencies are trying to go the same route. OKCFD remains mostly in the clear. Norman PD is fully encrypted (they got tired of the public knowing their many flaws during the late 2010s/early 2020s). Norman FD dispatch is clear, but fireground communications are fully encrypted unless they're auto-aiding one of the surrounding communities. We'll see if that changes when communities like Moore switch over to either the OKC or Norman system. Unless you're specifically interested in the fire side of things, buying a new $600+ radio probably won't be worth it for you.

 

[bearcatrp]

This scanner isn't the greatest for simulcast. I do like mine and know its limitations. Hooked it up to my outdoor discone. Did fairly well but the simulcast distortion was there too. Just using the antenna that came with it in the house helped reduce the simulcast issues. You can try a better antenna but suggest you not hook it up to a outdoor antenna. Mine is for my truck so should work fairly well on the road. But if you want to catch all the calls without issues, you will have to pony up the bucks and get a SDS100/200. I have the SDS200 and stays in the house hooked up to proscan recording my selections. Good luck.

 

[wtp]

the wife and i bought a 325 and hoped it would do better on our counties 700 simulcast system than our 396T and XT.
nope.
so we bought the SDS100 and life is fine, we get every word now.
we found a sweet spot for the other radios, stuck in a corner of an aluminium window and horizontal in an old cell phone holder.