Sherman, TX fire frequency problems

[photojojo]

My name is Chris Jennings and I work for the newspaper in Sherman. For about six months I've been having real issues hearing the Sherman fire on my Radio Shack 20-106. I was told today by someone in the fire department that they flipped the talk to receive and receive to talk because they were interfering with Gainsville I think it was. The only frequency I've ever had for them for talk and receive has been 154.44500 plus the other tac channels.Can someone explain this to me a little better and how I can possible go about getting it fixed on my scanner. I'm pouring through the manual now to see if I can find a clue, but figured I would ask here as well.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[BenScan]

Chris,
According to RadioReference at Grayson County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
the input is 153.77. I would program that and the other frequencies for them in, and see if you start hearing more activity. I'm not close enough to monitor them myself.

With a repeater system, the repeater listens for radios transmitting(usually with less power) on the input, and then retransmitts the signal on another frequency(the output) with more power from a high antenna that can be better heard.
I hope that helps.
Ben

 

[mikebennett]

154.445 is the correct frequency you should be monitoring. As you said, some time back they switched the repeater / input frequencies around. The old repeater output was on 153.770 but now it's the input.

I monitor them every day and haven't noticed any issues.

 

[photojojo]

154.445 is the correct frequency you should be monitoring. As you said, some time back they switched the repeater / input frequencies around. The old repeater output was on 153.770 but now it's the input.

I monitor them every day and haven't noticed any issues.

Are you using an outdoor antenna? I wonder if that's the difference as I'm just using the antenna that came with the scanner. There's definitely a difference for me and I can remember the day it started.

 

[mikebennett]

I pick them up on just about everything, handheld antenna, mobile, and a base at work in McKinney.

I had the GRE version of your scanner several years ago. Check your settings and make sure it is set on FM mode . Do you have a CTSS tone programmed in? If so it should be on 186.2.

 

[RMarlow]

What Chris is saying is sometimes you can hear Sherman dispatch loud and clear and other times they sound very far off. The output control seems to be different on their three consoles. The units are fine.

 

[mikebennett]

I've noticed that as well, not much you can do about it. It sounds like the dispatcher is not close enough to the mic or they need to adjust the gain.

 

[RMarlow]

Mike, I think you hit the nail on the head. I don't think it's the dispatchers thogh. The one male they have dispatching even goes weak when he is on the fire channel. Since Grayson Fire added the repeaters, they have the same issue. Yesterday, Bells EMS was doing something with their radios, asking dispatch for test. I did take another look at Sherman's antenna map and notieced they have two transmit sites, the one on South Travis, then another on Gallagher Rd. I do think adjusting the gain equally on all three consoles would take care of the problem for Sherman. Now Grayson, that's a whole new story.