BC246T: Squelch for AM issues?

[Circa]

BC246t

I have been exploring AM frequencies and noticed something weird.

When I go from FM to AM I have to turn my Squelch all the way down (I think I mean wide open) in order to hear anything.

The AM frequencies are close, I used a nearby Air port's tower frequency and I still needed to turn my squelch all the way down (Counter Clockwise) to hear anything and when I was receiving, it was clear and loud.
The frequency was in the 120 MHz AM range.
I am using a mag mount wideband scanner antenna.

Having to turn the squelch all the way down prevents me from being able to add my AM bank to my Scan since the low squelch causing me to get stuck on static and a high squelch won't pick up any AM.

Is this normal for AM frequencies?

Any way to bring the AM squelch up to FM levels?

 

[Circa]

Hope I am allowed to bump my thread.

I've also noticed the radio thinks everything is NFM when modulation is set to Auto.

The squelch has to be turned down really low to pick up anything that's FM (WFM).

I've tried a full erase (Hold+2+9 then power) and still have the same results, so I don't think it's something I messed up; at least not software-wise.

Is my scanner defective? Would Uniden be able to help? Can I fix it?

 

[jonwienke]

Your default band settings are probably messed up. That is what the scanner uses to choose a modulation when you have Auto selected.

 

[Circa]

Your default band settings are probably messed up. That is what the scanner uses to choose a modulation when you have Auto selected.

How can I fix the Band Plan?
It is auto selecting 154.000MHz as always NFM when it is WFM and used by our fire/ems.
(I know I can set it to WFM, but that defeats the purpose of figuring out why it's doing this)

 

[howryan]

Wow, I just came here to post about this exact problem.

On my 396XT, if I have the squelch on 0-1, everything comes through and I can't scan, because it stops at each frequency. But if I increase squelch to 2, NOTHING comes through - I tested in on my local weather station, some local repeaters, and some local trunked systems - which ALL have very, very strong signals.

Does anyone have any advice for this? I've tried resetting to factory defaults, etc...

 

[Circa]

Still need info on fixing squelch.

My default band plan (according to FreeScan) says 150.8-161.995 MHz are all NFM with 5kHz step.
So that's probably why it's automatically selecting NFM.
I was under the impression that the scanner picked the modulation based of the the transmission's bandwidth then selected narrow or wide. I was wrong.

But the squelch is still the problem.
AM needs to be way low and when it's low all the FM channels stop on static.

I found a mod that is supposed to bring NFM/WFM/AM all to the same squelch level.

First post (in the quote):
http://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-thread-archives/23691-mod-bc246t.html

I tried this before but I have no idea how to actually do it correctly.
The directions are confusing and not very detailed.
It says that the mod will put AM and FM inline with NFM squelch levels; which sounds like it would help the squelch issue.

Can anyone give me an version for stupid people(me)?

 

[wtp]

i sent a pm

see above

 

[Circa]

see above

Sorry about having to ask this....but, what are we seeing above?

 

[wtp]

worth a peek

that there is a private message waiting for you.
if you look up and click on it, inside the welcome box.

 

[Circa]

Squelch Help!

Does anyone have an ideas on how to fix my squelch for AM and what seems to be FM?
NFM works fine.
Or some details on doing the squelch mod that I linked a few posts up?