Regretting the Uniden BC125AT

[radiokcdan]

Hi all. So my new Uniden BC125AT has only ever offered up some faint, staticky, garbled transmissions. I scan all the service channels, and have even used the software to program local ones to scan. In three weeks it's been 90% complete radio silence. Is it because I bought an analog unit which would be less than worthless when everything is all digital now? I was wanting to monitor fire/emergency because I live on an acreage in Oklahoma and we've had some bad fire days around. I didn't know this but is digital the only real way now? Thanks for any insight.

 

[sallen07]

If you tell us where you are located (county or city) we might be able to offer insight as to what (if anything) you can listen to with that scanner.

The BC125AT is a great scanner, but as you said, it's analog only.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Where exactly are you in OK? We need to know what radios systems are in your area before anyone can make any recommendations.

 

[radiokcdan]

I'm in the very southwest corner of Oklahoma county.

 

[ve1sef]

Based on what I see in the database; if that's in the state of Oklahoma, Then, it appears that most public safety operate
mostly on the city and state trunk radio systems Which unfortunately your scanner cannot receive. There are still some
conventional frequencies in use may depend on where you are in your county.

Perhaps try a frequency search with your scanner. To determine what you can hear.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Hi all. So my new Uniden BC125AT has only ever offered up some faint, staticky, garbled transmissions. I scan all the service channels, and have even used the software to program local ones to scan. In three weeks it's been 90% complete radio silence. Is it because I bought an analog unit which would be less than worthless when everything is all digital now? I was wanting to monitor fire/emergency because I live on an acreage in Oklahoma and we've had some bad fire days around. I didn't know this but is digital the only real way now? Thanks for any insight.

The main interest in the 125 isn't usually police and fire, a lot (but not all) which has gone digital, but rather in railroad and aircraft monitoring. If it doesn't work in your area, as it is sounding like it won't, there is a high resale value in the RR classifieds.

 

[radiokcdan]

Based on what I see in the database; if that's in the state of Oklahoma, Then, it appears that most public safety operate
mostly on the city and state trunk radio systems Which unfortunately your scanner cannot receive. There are still some
conventional frequencies in use may depend on where you are in your county.

Perhaps try a frequency search with your scanner. To determine what you can hear.

Thanks. That's what I thought. I kind of expected to hear a lot of CB radio traffic since I live near a state highway. I can hear SOME ham, and a little bit from nearby Will Rogers world airport. I think I'll start looking at digital scanners. I know they're more expensive, but I think I'd like to have one, especially if I can get it in a hand-held type format.

 

[radiokcdan]

The main interest in the 125 isn't usually police and fire, a lot (but not all) which has gone digital, but rather in railroad and aircraft monitoring. If it doesn't work in your area, as it is sounding like it won't, there is a high resale value in the RR classifieds.

Thank you. See, I also was expecting/wanting to hear some RR because there's a track that runs along my property line a little over a quarter mile away. I've always loved trains. I'm not near a yard or anything though.

 

[EAFrizzle]

That BC125AT is a fantastic Military Air Band scanner. Put the frequencies for Tinker in it, it'll be well worth it.

 

[ladn]

...I kind of expected to hear a lot of CB radio traffic since I live near a state highway. I can hear SOME ham, and a little bit from nearby Will Rogers world airport....

The 125 obviously won't do digital, but part of your issue with other bands may be (1) antenna related and (2) location related.

The 125's "rubber duckie" antenna is several orders of magnitude too short for CB and low band VHF, so only the strongest signals are received.

Try a 36"-48" length of wire (doesn't matter if it's insulated or not, but one end needs to be stripped) with a gauge (diameter) small enough to fit into the center contact of the radio's BNC connector. Try to hang or suspend the wire so it's as straight as possible. This should give you a more efficient antenna for CB and the lower frequencies and may improve other bands as well.

Location is also a factor, especially if you are in a building with dense construction or a lot of metal around. Try going outside or finding an area that's a little higher elevation.

You can also use the NOAA radio weather broadcasts as a reference signal. They are :

• 162.400 MHz
  
  
• 162.425 MHz
  
  
• 162.450 MHz
  
  
• 162.475 MHz
  
  
• 162.500 MHz
  
  
• 162.525 MHz
  
  
• 162.550 MHZ

 

[EAFrizzle]

I think I'll start looking at digital scanners. I know they're more expensive, but I think I'd like to have one, especially if I can get it in a hand-held type format.

It looks like OKWIN might not be simulcast in your area, but the OKC P25 system is. If you want to listen to them, you'll need an SDS scanner to combat simulcast distortion. The SDS 100 does that very well, and gives you the national DB.

Don't get rid of that 125 just yet. Try out the MilAir frequencies in your area; you may enjoy it more than you expect.

 

[hill]

My is awesome scanner mainly used Mil Air and some on analog uses.

I have other radios/scanners to cover the other digital trunking.

 

[RaleighGuy]

My is awesome scanner mainly used Mil Air and some on analog uses.

I have other radios/scanners to cover the other digital trunking.

As is mine, used mostly for MilAir and sometimes NASCAR. Great scanner at great price.

 

[radiokcdan]

The 125 obviously won't do digital, but part of your issue with other bands may be (1) antenna related and (2) location related.

The 125's "rubber duckie" antenna is several orders of magnitude too short for CB and low band VHF, so only the strongest signals are received.

Try a 36"-48" length of wire (doesn't matter if it's insulated or not, but one end needs to be stripped) with a gauge (diameter) small enough to fit into the center contact of the radio's BNC connector. Try to hang or suspend the wire so it's as straight as possible. This should give you a more efficient antenna for CB and the lower frequencies and may improve other bands as well.

Location is also a factor, especially if you are in a building with dense construction or a lot of metal around. Try going outside or finding an area that's a little higher elevation.

You can also use the NOAA radio weather broadcasts as a reference signal. They are :

• 162.400 MHz
  
  
• 162.425 MHz
  
  
• 162.450 MHz
  
  
• 162.475 MHz
  
  
• 162.500 MHz
  
  
• 162.525 MHz
  
  
• 162.550 MHZ

This is good info, thank you!

 

[RaleighGuy]

Thank you. See, I also was expecting/wanting to hear some RR because there's a track that runs along my property line a little over a quarter mile away. I've always loved trains. I'm not near a yard or anything though.

In an open area, away from a yard there may not be much, depending how far you are.

 

[EAFrizzle]

On a long stretch of RR between cities, you may not hear much of the trains. It's worth it to keep monitoring for the ROW crews, though.

 

[radiokcdan]

This is good info, thank you!

I replaced the "rubber-duckie" with a 4' strand of non-insulated copper wire from my mig welder, and stepped outside of my metal shop. I'm hearing things now! Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies. I appreciate it.

 

[kc2asb]

Tthink I'll start looking at digital scanners. I know they're more expensive, .

You are probably already aware of this, but just some food for thought: it's very possible that agencies you want to monitor can switch to encrypted comms, either partially or fully. Not saying it will happen, but it did to me and uncounted other RR members. No scanner can monitor these comms. Just something to consider when laying out a decent amount of money for a radio.

 

[radiokcdan]

You are probably already aware of this, but just some food for thought: it's very possible that agencies you want to monitor can switch to encrypted comms, either partially or fully. Not saying it will happen, but it did to me and uncounted other RR members. No scanner can monitor these comms. Just something to consider when laying out a decent amount of money for a radio.

I cannot say that I was aware of that. But I can say I think I should have been. Thank you. I should have lurked here first. This is one of the coolest communities I've interacted with online. I just thought "I need a scanner to know if there are fires near me". So, I snagged one off amazon with no research. Now that I've gotten info from the right source, I feel more informed about my next scanner investment. One question: will radio tech itself ultimately become obsolete, or do I not fully understand yet?

 

[kc2asb]

. One question: will radio tech itself ultimately become obsolete, or do I not fully understand yet?

That is a tough one that perhaps others more informed than me can provide more insight on. Hard to see into the future, of course. I doubt radio will become obsolete any time soon, but the modes of communication may continue to evolve. Whether these modes can be monitored on new generations of scanners is hard to speculate on. Lastly, there have been discussions on these forums about migration from radio to VoIP comms (Voice over Internet Protocol).