South Brunswick Edacs system

[Moose]

Does anyone else have problems hearing South Brunswick. I am listening
in Newark with a Uniden bc796d and an 800 mhz yagi pointing in their general direction and cannot even hear the control channel.

 

[robbinsj2]

Others have reported difficulty monitoring this system from northern Middlesex County, let alone Newark. I've been monitoring all morning (from within SB), the CC is currently on 866.7000.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Jim is correct (as always). Living just two towns away, I often get very few hits on the Control Channel. When the CC is good, it's fun, when it isn't (most often), it ranks right up there with the coverage area from Old Bridge TRS.

 

[Moose]

Thanks for the replies. What I don't understand is: South Brunswick and Old Bridge are not small 1 square mile towns, so how come the signal drops off so much a few scant miles away? Is it the 800 mhz frequency?

 

[elk2370bruce]

It mayhave something to do with the location of their repeaters, transmitting power of repeaters, or sometimes just plain line of sight issues. Unlike Jim, I just listen to them - he understands and designs them.
Bruce

 

[robbinsj2]

Maybe the characteristics of 800 MHz; I don't have a good grasp of the physics. SB's main transmitter is located on almost the highest point in the county (it's on the same hill, maybe 0.25 mi from the HP), so as long as you're south-facing and up a bit, I would think it is line of sight.

I've received and trunked the system from a roof in Elizabeth. I've received the CC (albeit poorly) from under the NEC near Newark Penn Stn and on the Verrazano; I was told that the tracks and bridge structure like a giant antenna. These were all years ago, maybe SB has powered down or re-aimed the antenna or lost tuning since.

...Unlike Jim, I just listen to them - he understands and designs them.

For the record, no, I'm just a scanner hobbyist who's in a different design industry. I deserve neither the credit nor the blame for any radio systems.