Scanning Space And Satellites With Close Call ?

[darkwolf]

Has anyone had any luck using the close call feature in the bcd396xt scanner I have tried but with no luck at all what other methods using the features in the bcd396xt scanner would you recommend using

 

[Rt169Radio]

I think close call really only works horizontally,am not sure that it works going straight up.But again am not sure.

 

[darkwolf]

ok i guess it would be hard to tell thank you for the info

I think close call really only works horizontally,am not sure that it works going straight up.But again am not sure.

 

[ka3jjz]

Close call means just that - close. A satellite has far too weak a signal to even begin to capture using this.

Do some homework on how to hear satellites - it can be done with a scanner and the right antenna, but you need a few tools, particularly knowing what satellite you want to hear, and how to track it. There are such resources - and undoubtedly there are more that you can find with a well-ordered search on the net - here...

SATCOM - The RadioReference Wiki

HTH...Mike

 

[kayn1n32008]

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In order for close call to trigger, the signal strength needs to be much much higher (?20db I think?)than anything else the scanner is hearing. Close call does not care if the signal is above or horizontal to the plane the scanner is on. Sattelite signals are not going to be anywhere near strong enough to trigger close call.

 

[darkwolf]

thank you all for the info

 

[dave3825]

The close call works in all directions. Up, down, left, right. like stated, the signal needs to be close.

 

[kayn1n32008]

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The close call works in all directions. Up, down, left, right. like stated, the signal needs to be close.

Distance to the source is not overly relevant, although to be 20db above noise, a signal certainly needs to be strong to trigger close call. I have seen situations where close call triggers 2-3+km from the signal source. So close is a relative term.

 

[KB7MIB]

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I've gotten NOAA weather radio on my GRE PSR-500's Sweeper (the same as Uniden's Close Call) and the transmitter is about 22 miles away.

 

[AK4GA]

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I've gotten NOAA weather radio on my GRE PSR-500's Sweeper (the same as Uniden's Close Call) and the transmitter is about 22 miles away.

But its also transmitting with 20 Kw.

 

[KB7MIB]

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Exactly. So "Close" is relative. It's all about the signal strength that the scanner is seeing, as was stated before me

 

[gewecke]

Has anyone had any luck using the close call feature in the bcd396xt scanner I have tried but with no luck at all what other methods using the features in the bcd396xt scanner would you recommend using

....You're gonna have to get a little closer to the sat.

73,
n9zas

 

[darkwolf]

I do appreciate everyone into put on this post and all input is very helpful to me I just wanted to thank you everyone very much ………………DarkWolf

 

[bryan_herbert]

I've received Close Call hits from aircraft using just a whip. You might (and I use that term loosely) catch a satellite if you use a high gain directional antenna, a low noise - mast mounted preamp and quality coax like LMR-400 or better.

But at the same time this could also overload your receiver.