Simulcast question

[dan9125]

Is it possible with a SDS200 to know which tower in a simulcast system you are receiving, Just curious in Niagara County NY which sight I am picking up. Thanks in Advance
Dan

 

[nd5y]

No. In a simulcast system every tower sends the exact same signal at the exact same time.

 

[jtwalker]

No. In a simulcast system every tower sends the exact same signal at the exact same time.

On the exact same frequencies.

 

[wtp]

take the antenna off and park next to a tower !
then you know.

 

[W1KNE]

Unfortunately the answer is no. While @wtp 's answer may seem wiseass, it's fairly correct, too.
The unique sites all broadcast the same Site ID number, so only by using a highly directional antenna and calculating it out.

 

[prcguy]

Unfortunately the answer is no. While @wtp 's answer may seem wiseass, it's fairly correct, too.
The unique sites all broadcast the same Site ID number, so only by using a highly directional antenna and calculating it out.

Better to use a small loop where the null has a much narrower beamwidth than gain on a huge Yagi. Like +/- 30degrees for 3dB change on a Yagi vs +/- 5 degrees for maybe 10dB change on a loop. You can really narrow down a tower with a loop.

 

[k2hz]

Better to use a small loop where the null has a much narrower beamwidth than gain on a huge Yagi. Like +/- 30degrees for 3dB change on a Yagi vs +/- 5 degrees for maybe 10dB change on a loop. You can really narrow down a tower with a loop.

Except the loop has 180 degree ambiguity and you are working with a sharp null rather than a peak. You also have the situation of multiple transmiiters in simultaneous operation which would make it difficult to find a null for a specific transmitter. The only relaible method is to go to the suspected tower site. But, that would not prove what tower you are hearing at home. I see no point to this discussion.

 

[GTR8000]

If you're in Lockport as your profile suggests, there's a very good chance that you're receiving signal from at least 3 subsites in that area.

 

[buddrousa]

The subscriber radio programmed on a Simulcast System does not care what site it is it only cares about the data stream.

 

[ThePagerGeek]

To the OP, "Is it possible with a SDS200 to know which tower in a simulcast system you are receiving...?" The answer is not binary. In a simulcast system, multiple towers work together to provide signal coverage, as mentioned above.

If you are looking for the closest tower in that cell, a simple FCC search (here on RR or FCC ULS) will give you the coordinates of all towers in the system. No special antennas needed.