800 reception issues
All of the talk about reception problems can be solved very easily . . . buy a Unication G4 or G5. Problem solved. I hear all kinds of talk about the systems not working correctly, be it Saratoga County, Albany County or now Rensselaer County. I recall when Saratoga County went live someone living in Waterford asserted the south towers were not active because his scanner was not receiving anything. This even though the FD and EMS were using their radios (portables) in the village just fine. I have a couple of Unications and can say first hand the systems are working as designed. Actually my Unication works better than my Motorola 800 portable. This is because the portable has to affiliate when turned on, which means it must be within transmit range. The Unication just needs to be able to hear the control channel and your in. For whatever reason the scanner makers just have not figured it out yet. Is the Unication a bit pricey ? But of course, but it is built to commercial specifications. No matter what great deal you get on your latest Home Patrol, it is worthless if you can't reliably hear the system. I must say I enjoy the creative ways guys are using to try to get their scanner to work . . " I only extend the antenna half way, and put it on my book shelf by the window facing south, and sometimes I hear stuff"
