SD card problem?

[mr10pt]

Have a BCD536 with hearing loss on 1 specific system (starcom21) that used to work. I also have an sds100 and 200. All have identical programming. I can hear the system on the portable with a Remtronix rubber ducky, the base on a discone with Lmr400. Tried the 536 on the discone and still deaf on that system. If it matters, trying to monitor Kankakee Co, Illinois. As stated above, all others work. Appreciate any thoughts and assistance while I pull out the remaining hair on my head. I know replacing the card is the cheapest route but is it possible that's the issue?

 

[JoeBearcat]

It is possible. Three other possibilities come to mind: 1. That the control channel has a birdie that is interfering. 2. That the antenna connection has failed slightly and only affects one band (do other same-signal-strength systems in the same band still work?) or 3. That this is a simulcast issue.

4. Perhaps the two units are not programmed the same?
5. Could you have AVOIDed the control channel/FL/System/Site/Dept?

 

[mr10pt]

It is possible. Three other possibilities come to mind: 1. That the control channel has a birdie that is interfering. 2. That the antenna connection has failed slightly and only affects one band (do other same-signal-strength systems in the same band still work?) or 3. That this is a simulcast issue.

4. Perhaps the two units are not programmed the same?
5. Could you have AVOIDed the control channel/FL/System/Site/Dept?

I have some excess sites avoided but don't see anything with the control channel. Again, identical programming. Even going through the 536 profile in Sentinel checking for differences. Only receiving 2 bars "data" on the 536 which also is connected to a discone with short run of RG6 on a separate discone. The 100 works on this particular antenna.

 

[Ubbe]

A discone at 700-900MHz could have a 20dB (100 times) loss at that frequency band compared to VHF. And that are probably worse than a rubber ducky on the scanner. If you do not need full signal strength at VHF you can cut all elements, both the horizontal ones and the bottom ones, to half size and it will improve reception a lot in the 700-900Mhz band. Two bars of signal strength are almost a nonexistent signal.

First thing to always check are to listen to the data signal by programming the control channel to quick save memory and set to analog only. If you do not hear a clear datasignal but hear some interference like a warbling or sweeping sound then that frequency are probably interfered. Try setting IFX to that frequency and it will be used for all instances of that frequency in the scanner. Push Function and the the volume control to have the display show the received data errors. It has to be 2 or 3 to really be able to decode properly. Try to avoid setting the digital threshold to Auto and set it to Manual and perhaps 8 or up to 10.

/Ubbe

 

[hiegtx]

Have a BCD536 with hearing loss on 1 specific system (starcom21) that used to work. I also have an sds100 and 200. All have identical programming. I can hear the system on the portable with a Remtronix rubber ducky, the base on a discone with Lmr400. Tried the 536 on the discone and still deaf on that system. If it matters, trying to monitor Kankakee Co, Illinois. As stated above, all others work. Appreciate any thoughts and assistance while I pull out the remaining hair on my head. I know replacing the card is the cheapest route but is it possible that's the issue?

You are in the southwestern quadrant of Lake County in Indiana. Kankakee, in Illinois, is just to your west. The Kankakee site on STARCOM21 is simulcast.


If your 536HP previously was receiving the Kankakee site, but it is no longer decoding it, perhaps some adjustment was made to one or more of the sub-site locations (the transmit towers) that changed the antennas and the coverage pattern for the signal. The fact that your two SDS series scanners can still hear that county could mean that either you are now getting more out of sync signals from the simulcast site. The SDS scanners can handle the simulcast much better than the x36HP scanners. Since you are seeing "two bars" on the 536HP, but it's not decoding that site leads to the possibility that your issue is simulcast. There are a few things you can try, such as using a directional antenna, aimed at a single tower, but that has the downside of pretty much restricting the ability of the 536 to hear anything other than the specific site you are aiming at. If you have not already, take a look at the Wiki page on Simulcast.

Changing the memory card is one of the cheapest and easiest things you can do. The cards can cause strange issues that, in theory, can't be due to a defective card, yet are resolved when the card is exchanged. If you don't have a spare card to try, then at least do a full (overwrite) format of your current card. Then use the 'Clear User Data to initialize it, then write your Favorites lists back to the reformatted card.

 

[ofd8001]

Will the scanner "land" on the site and receive a control channel signal as evidenced by the signal strength bars.

If possible, can you do a road trip and bring the scanner to about 1/4 mile of the site? That could confirm simulcast issues.

 

[mr10pt]

Will the scanner "land" on the site and receive a control channel signal as evidenced by the signal strength bars.

If possible, can you do a road trip and bring the scanner to about 1/4 mile of the site? That could confirm simulcast issues.

DATA does show on the screen. Heard a couple of weak transmissions yesterday. Will try the road trip today and pick up another card just in case. I did notice the site closest to me had their license re-issued last month. Unsure if any changes were made but I'll follow heigtx instructions as well. Have not used this QK channel for a couple of months because my antenna was down for construction.

 

[mr10pt]

UPDATE - the 536 does work fine when I took it on the road. Thank you Ubbe, JoeBearcat, hiegtx and ofd8001. I tend to believe hiegtx has the correct assessment regarding the "tuning" of the site tower. The site is located approx 15 miles from my location in open country and I'm on higher ground elevation. It has a 200' tower, 60' antenna with 100 watt output. The reason I posted that info is because my 200 on a discone, 25' up with lmr400, receives a maximum 3 bars signal but can be heard clearly. If I come across another discone someone is parting with I would love to try Ubbe's recommendation by cutting the elements. For the record, the sds100 with the remtronix rubber ducky receives at full strength. Thanks again for all your suggestions. At the very least, the sd card is "cleaned" and re-formatted.

 

[hiegtx]

UPDATE - the 536 does work fine when I took it on the road. Thank you Ubbe, JoeBearcat, hiegtx and ofd8001. I tend to believe hiegtx has the correct assessment regarding the "tuning" of the site tower. The site is located approx 15 miles from my location in open country and I'm on higher ground elevation. It has a 200' tower, 60' antenna with 100 watt output. The reason I posted that info is because my 200 on a discone, 25' up with lmr400, receives a maximum 3 bars signal but can be heard clearly. If I come across another discone someone is parting with I would love to try Ubbe's recommendation by cutting the elements. For the record, the sds100 with the remtronix rubber ducky receives at full strength. Thanks again for all your suggestions. At the very least, the sd card is "cleaned" and re-formatted.

The 'antenna tuning' can create issues. I ran into that several years ago.

Previously, one of the area suburbs, Grand Prairie, was on a Motorola Type II system (mixed mode, analog & P25 voice). I could receive that system at home, without a problem. In preparation for their change to P25 Phase II, and also joining the FWRRS system, they applied for modifications on their license. Obviously, they added the emission types for Phase II. But, buried in the comments for the modification, they also committed to the FCC to make other changes. First, they would lower the antennas on the towers, and refocus the pattern to their jurisdiction area. They also committed to using less power, since one of their frequencies was adjacent to a channel on a different trunked system in the area (Garland).

Once they moved to the Phase II system, I lost them entirely, even though their closest tower is only about ten miles away. Later on, I went to a business in that city, and while within their city limits, had no problems hearing GP. But on the way home, I lost reception about 4 miles east of their city limits.