Something causing interference

[optize]

To make a long story short, I've bought several different scanners, antennas and cables to go along with those antennas, trying to get a signal at my house... Currently running a BCD996XT with a Yagi antenna.

I'm trying to reach a 800mhz trunked system. When I'm in my house, I get one signal "bar" if lucky. However, if I go right outside, directly next to the window I'm at inside, I get all 5 bars.

So, something in my house is preventing the signal to get out, if that makes sense.

So, with all that... I'm tired of fighting with this thing. I really don't want to drill a hole in my house to put an antenna on the top. Is there anything I can purchase that will detect interference and hopefully solve what's going on?

 

[optize]

Just did some additional tests. I sat in the same spot with an antenna, got 1 bar. I opened my window, kept the antenna in the same spot (inside the house) got 5. Closed the window, got 1 bar.

Aliens...

 

[KC8ESL]

Enjoy the breeze.

 

[ecps92]

Sounds like your Windows have a barrier preventing the RF
I've seen similar at Hospitals with a heavy UV Protective Layer

Just did some additional tests. I sat in the same spot with an antenna, got 1 bar. I opened my window, kept the antenna in the same spot (inside the house) got 5. Closed the window, got 1 bar.

Aliens...

 

[jackj]

Probably a metallic coating on your windows is blocking the signal. What about mounting an antenna in the attic and running coax down the inside of a wall?

 

[sparklehorse]

I really don't want to drill a hole in my house to put an antenna on the top.

You can just drill a hole through the bottom rail of your window frame. You'll only have a couple inches of wood to get though, and nothing else. It's how I brought coax into my house. Sounds like you don't need to put your antenna on the roof, so just mount it somewhere near the window, on the outside of the house. Make a bracket or something to mount it to.

 

[ofd8001]

I would try shutting down electronic devices in your home, such as televisions, computers or anything else that may generate some radio frequency energy. These things could be putting out just enough RF to cause de-sensitize your scanner.

Going the outside antenna route just to deal with this is like turning up your car radio just to mask a rattle.

Having said that, I use an outside antenna on my roof, but that's so I can pull in distant radio traffic. What I did was cut a piece of 3/8" plywood, the width of my window, about 2" high. I drilled a hole large enough for the coax and caulked it up. Just to make it "pretty", I painted it the color of the windows. We've seen some cold weather and rain with no adverse effects and the window can be opened.

 

[sparklehorse]

Having said that, I use an outside antenna on my roof, but that's so I can pull in distant radio traffic. What I did was cut a piece of 3/8" plywood, the width of my window, about 2" high. I drilled a hole large enough for the coax and caulked it up. Just to make it "pretty", I painted it the color of the windows. We've seen some cold weather and rain with no adverse effects and the window can be opened.

That looks like a good solution. So if I understand correctly, the window doesn't close now, right? So you've got a security issue to deal with, as well as an insulation issue. Both of which are pretty easy to fix. But no permanent hole in the window rail, which is good. I like it.

.

 

[ofd8001]

The window does close but doesn't latch but that's not a security issue. It's on the second floor above the walk-out basement. So a criminal would have to be very determined and have a 28' ladder to get inside.

If I was concerned about someone getting in, I'd cut a couple more pieces of wood to prevent the window from being raised.

Weather hasn't been a problem nor insect intrusion. We've some 0 degree days this winter and the room is still comfortable. The windows are about a year old, so the "stuff" for draft sealing is still good. If not, I'd use some foam strips.

 

[MONITORING247]

How about put the yagi on the roof with a small rotor and point it the way you want,a small tv rotor should work fine HAPPY SCANNING