SDR Kit

[ghoughton3929]

Hello,

I am hoping to start into getting SDR as a hobby. I would like to set Cambria County UHF, ICORRS (Somerset and Westmoreland) and also monitor blair UHF and not broadcasting over web, just something simple on local in home network. What equipment is recommended (Antenna, Software, How many dongles?) I looked at RTL-SDR but just want some tips on what to use for monitoring those counties. If I posted in the wrong thread, let me know as it is locally to PA.

 

[Enforcer52]

You will need 3 dongles to cover all the frequencies in the three counties. A good omni directional outdoor 700-800Mhz antenna like the Omni X. If too far from the other counties, maybe a 8 element or more yagi antenna in the 700-800mhz range. If more than 10 miles from the other counties towers, stay away from a Discone antenna, they do not perform well in the 700-800 mhz range.

Any UHF channels depends on the frequencies you want to monitor, but at least 1 dongle for UHF if channels are within 2.4Mhz.

SDRTrunk is what I would start with. Setup video attached below.

 

[ghoughton3929]

You will need 3 dongles to cover all the frequencies in the three counties. A good omni directional outdoor 700-800Mhz antenna like the Omni X. If too far from the other counties, maybe a 8 element or more yagi antenna in the 700-800mhz range. If more than 10 miles from the other counties towers, stay away from a Discone antenna, they do not perform well in the 700-800 mhz range.

Any UHF channels depends on the frequencies you want to monitor, but at least 1 dongle for UHF if channels are within 2.4Mhz.

SDRTrunk is what I would start with. Setup video attached below.

Thanks just looking for feedback on this. I know Cambria is P25 Phase 2 and Analog UHF 453 Range

 

[ghoughton3929]

Hello,

I do have an SDS200 plus a good computer that will work perfect. I do have a question about antennas, right now I have a discone antenna that was never put up. I do have an older Bearcat BCXT15. I’m told the discone don’t work as good to pickup Phase 2 P25. However, I want to pick up distant VHF/UHF as well. Does anyone recommend a good antenna for P25 phase 2 and also can I use a discone in conjunction of that with a diplex? Or can I use the older scanner for analog channels and use my SDS200 for the ICORRS channels? This is in Cambria county.

 

[maus92]

Hello,

I do have an SDS200 plus a good computer that will work perfect. I do have a question about antennas, right now I have a discone antenna that was never put up. I do have an older Bearcat BCXT15. I’m told the discone don’t work as good to pickup Phase 2 P25. However, I want to pick up distant VHF/UHF as well. Does anyone recommend a good antenna for P25 phase 2 and also can I use a discone in conjunction of that with a diplex? Or can I use the older scanner for analog channels and use my SDS200 for the ICORRS channels? This is in Cambria county.

Go ahead with the discone and see how it works. An antenna designed to work with the frequency range used in the P25 system would be ideal, but not necessary if you are within the system's designed service area.

 

[dave3825]

I have a discone antenna that was never put up.

I’m told the discone don’t work as good to pickup Phase 2 P25.

Antenna has no clue about P25 phase 2 or any modulation for that matter. P25 Phase (2) systems can be found in 160, 380, 406, 500 and 7/8/900 MHz ranges. Discone are known/said not to perform that well in 7/8/900 under certain conditions. I can get all with mine but it struggles with 7/8/900 systems that are distant.

 

[ghoughton3929]

Hello,

I will try it. I bought two RTL SDR receivers for this instead. I’m about 15 minutes from Johnstown and was hoping to pick up a little bit atleast of Somerset. Westmoreland and Indiana.

 

[ghoughton3929]

Hello,

As I am new to this. I need to know what kind of cables I need to get for a TRAM 1410 Discone Antenna to go to my RTL-SDRs. I read about about jumpers and also multi couplers. Do you know the best route?