SDS100/SDS200: SDS200 Tone out question

[mikec10]

I use my tone out feature on my sds200 nightly. I record any call that happens while sleeping. My fixed frequency is 460.575 which has been the same for years. I am attached to an outside antenna that is approx 25 feet off the ground. For about 5 days I seem to be picking up a carrier intermittently for about one second then goes away. If i am recording a call coming in for the county each time the carrier hits it records that. I wasn't sure if there was a problem with dispatch sending an intermittent signal or if there was some other reason. I locked on the same frequency on my favorites list, and I do not get the interference. Just when I am the tone out mode. Any ideas.

 

[dave3825]

Only used FTO a handful of times and found it useless. By me our fd's mostly all have their own disp/ops channels so I created a system with just them and have @ProScan record overnights. Mixed use freqs suck.

My fixed frequency is 460.575 which has been the same for years.

I locked on the same frequency on my favorites list, and I do not get the interference. Just when I am the tone out mode. Any ideas.

Does the programmed freq in your fav list have the pl of 110.9 programed in? If so, try monitoring that freq without the tone and see if the results are the same.

FTO does not allow a tone so it may just be susceptible to any and all activity on the freq.

 

[mikec10]

I get the quick carrier or static with the tone out activated not in the favorites list. No settings have been changed. I have used the save settings since the SD series has available. I have had sd100 and this is my second sds200. I sold the first 100 and 200. This just started and I have no issues with any other frequencies. I monitor a mixture of analog and P25 in my favorites. To me if I am picking up a carrier or static in the tone out mode I would pick it up with the save frequency in the favorite list.

 

[dave3825]

To me if I am picking up a carrier or static in the tone out mode I would pick it up with the save frequency in the favorite list.

No. If the freq in your list is programmed with the tone, you will only receive traffic on that freq from any radio transmitting that tone. The tone lets different agencies use the same freq while in close proximity of each other without interfering with each other.

I wanted you to you program the freq into a fav list without the tone, for which you will receive any agency licensed on the freq. And to see if you pick up the same interference without the tone.

 

[mikec10]

I do not get the interference when in the fav list. Just in the tone out list. I just tried something. While in tone out and the squelch set at 2 which is the norm I get the interference. I moved the squelch to14 and no interference. To 13 I get interference. I again go to the fav list and no interference with squelch at 2 or higher or lower.

 

[mikec10]

It sounds like someone keying a mike and releasing quickly. To me if I get this on the tone out setting I should get it when I listen to the same frequency from a favorite list. It is all off the same antenna and same scanner.

 

[mikec10]

I also removed the 110.9 tone with no change and in the tone out setting you only plug in the frequency. There is no space for the 110.9 tone.

 

[mikec10]

OK now that I have my head screwed on tight with the 110.9 tone removed from the fav list and monitoring for a bit. I am getting the interference while scanning. I am guessing that if I put the 110.9 tone back in that it will disappear. I am now guessing the County may be kicking a small carrier. I know last week they were testing tones though out the day, so I thought something was up. Going to put the 110.9 tone back in and recheck.

 

[dave3825]

in the tone out setting you only plug in the frequency. There is no space for the 110.9 tone.

I know that, which I why I asked you to remove the tone in the fav list. Without tone you will hear everything on the freq including interference. That was to see if something was wrong with FTO. And it seems it will pick up interference on freqs.

OK now that I have my head screwed on tight with the 110.9 tone removed from the fav list and monitoring for a bit. I am getting the interference while scanning.

Set that freq with out the tone to tone search. See if you catch a tone when you get this carrier.

 

[mikec10]

I do. I am hoping who or what is throwing the carrier gets it fix or gets corrected soon

 

[engine183]

Mikec10- Sometimes a local cable or phone company crew can be doing repair/maintenance on their lines in your area, and they use equipment that causes interreference issues with radios. Does this issue change or go away at different times of the day/night?

 

[mikec10]

seems consistent 24/7 right now. as far as I can tell it is only the one frequency of 460.575 which is the frequency the county I am in dispatches there tone out alert. I do not get any other interference that I can tell.

 

[mikec10]

Well last week I rechecked the tone out for my county, 460.575, and the interference is gone. I monitored the frequency for a few days and there was no issue. Not sure what caused this, but I am glad it is not happening now. Thanks for all who responded previously.

 

[richardbritt]

What's the frequency you're getting interference on? Do you have a different radio to listen to it on made by a different manufacturer? I am trying to rule out internal birdie interference. Also how close is your scanner to another receiver? A second scanner might be generating the interference if it's close to the other one, depending on what frequencies each are listening to.

 

[mikec10]

As stated above the interference is gone. It was on 460.575. It lasted approximately 3 weeks. Could not narrow it down to anything specific. I have a sds200 and bcd536 close together which has been that way for over a year with no previous issues and using same frequencies. I believe it was an external issue. Outside antenna fairly near powerlines but like I said it is now gone. Maybe it will come back. I first thought it might me a connection on the antenna since it has been up for only a short time. But it was just on the one frequency and since it is no longer happening my guess is te antenna is fine.

 

[richardbritt]

Glad it resolved itself