Static and no squelch.

[Avix]

I still have my ancient Pro-97, and it is still in working order, surprisingly. I have what may be a stupid question. When I listen to local ES channels, when they key up, there is very heavy static in the background, making it difficult to hear anything. Doesn't matter what department it is. Any ideas on how I can fix this if I can?

And number 2: There is a city about the same size as us. Pullman in Whitman, County, Washington. About 11 miles west of my home. When we go over, I don't hear anything when I turn the squelch all the way down. Nothing. I do have a car roof antenna set in the middle of the roof plain. I sometimes get calls come through, so I know it's picking something up. But I just don't understand why no squelch. I got both data files from here.

Home: Moscow. Latah County. Idaho

Latah County, Idaho (ID) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Latah County, Idaho (ID)

www.radioreference.com

Pullman, Whitman County, Washington.

Whitman County, Washington (WA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Whitman County, Washington (WA)

www.radioreference.com

I bring a request for knowledge to the accumulated wisdom of the RS Forum.
Avix.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

When I listen to local ES channels, when they key up, there is very heavy static in the background, making it difficult to hear anything. Doesn't matter what department it is. Any ideas on how I can fix this if I can?

Using the Attenuator. May or may not work depending on how close you are to said ES. If you're not that close you may lose the signal altogether. If said "static" is a DMR or NXDN emission from a nearby more powerful transmitter there may not be anything you can do to overcome it

 

[tvengr]

Looking at the licenses for the Latah County Sheriff, they are licensed for both NFM and P25. If you are hearing noise on their frequencies, they may have changed to P25 and the database has not been updated.

 

[Ubbe]

When I listen to local ES channels, when they key up, there is very heavy static in the background, making it difficult to hear anything.

It probably stopped on the wrong channel due to overload. Continue scan and see if you can get the correct channel.

When we go over, I don't hear anything when I turn the squelch all the way down. Nothing. I do have a car roof antenna set in the middle of the roof plain. I sometimes get calls come through, so I know it's picking something up.

And when you are home or if you disconnect the antenna you get noise from those channels? Then it's probably too much noise received even at the lowest squelch setting and could, again, be an overload issue. If it's anything like a Pro96 then it will very easily overload.
The suggestion about using the attenuator setting might be the only solution besides using a different antenna or external filters.

/Ubbe

 

[Avix]

Tgengr: That wouldn't surprise me at all. The city tends to be sloppy with keeping things like that updated. Even out in the car with an external roof antenna, we still get the static. Darn. I'm looking at getting an Uniden BC125AT to replace it, but I suspect now that that won't give us anything better. I know when we are across the state line in Pullman, Washington, their calls are as clear as a bell.

Ubbe: When I'm at home, I am just using the stock antenna that came with the radio, and it's the same thing. I've been thinking about an external roof antenna, but I've been holding off. I can't get the channels from Pullman, Washington, here in Moscow. The terrain here is a bit of a signal killer. I've got everything set for attenuation currently but haven't been using the scanner for a couple of days at home. I'll do that today and tomorrow and post the results. Friday Night. 2 Universities within 10 miles. It's always busy traffic.
Scotty.

 

[tvengr]

Tgengr: That wouldn't surprise me at all.

I suggest that you click on Report and request that your thread be moved to the Idaho forum. There is a far greater chance that someone in your area will be able to answer the question about a possible change to P25. I am just a little too far out of range to check it myself.

 

[Avix]

I've been running the scanner for about an hour and I still hear the static, but voice overall tends to be more clear. I'll ride this for a bit, then follow your suggestion.
Scotty.

 

[tvengr]

If you are able to make out a voice, it is not P25.

 

[Ubbe]

When we go over, I don't hear anything when I turn the squelch all the way down.

But I just don't understand why no squelch.

Ubbe: When I'm at home, I am just using the stock antenna that came with the radio, and it's the same thing.

Weird. You should hear noise when you turn the squelch fully down and without any antenna or inside home with a small antenna.
Or do you mean you hear noise but no transmissions?

/Ubbe

 

[Avix]

Tvengr: I can make out voices, and a lot of the time I can understand what they are saying quite clearly. (Thank The Royal Canadian Armour Corp and their crappy antique radio sets for that skill). Today I seem to be having a pretty good reception day and can hear traffic clearly but still with the hiss and static in the background but just not as overwhelming. I did set all the channels to attenuation and so far, I can't tell a difference.

Ubbe. When I am in Pullman, WA, I can hear traffic clearly but never static or hiss or anything. Just silence until traffic starts. I just don't understand how that would work. I live about 11 miles away From Pullman, and I have a short scanner antenna I use on the car when I'm there. I have the stock "Rubber duck" stock one, and I use that at home. I never hear Pullman traffic here at home.
Scotty.

 

[wtp]

Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual

attenuation amount was now mentioned.
but the usual is 20db which translates to the signal being cut down to 1/100th of the original.
it is meant to be used in cities/high RF areas to help you hear less powerful stations.
a high power signal can cause desensitivity in the front end of the radio.

 

[dave3825]

What antenna are you using and where are you when the static is present?

 

[Avix]

WTP: I have that manual as a page on my desktop. If it hadn't been for that page, I would have given up on scanners decades ago.

Dave3825: The antenna I use at home is the stock 6 inch "Rubber Duck". I've been thinking about getting an external scanner antenna, but I'm waiting on a few things first. I'm in my living room at home and when I'm in the car I have an external antenna for that, and I get the same kinds of noise and static in any traffic.
Scotty.

 

[tvengr]

You may want to remove the cover of the scanner and take a look at the connection from the antenna to the circuit board.

 

[dave3825]

I second what @tvengr said. Was the scanner ever dropped that you know of?

 

[Avix]

Hmm. I do know a guy who loves challenged like that. He fixed the power connection in my hand held CB and almost fixed a couple of pan and tilt security cameras (they were such crap they just broke down again). I'll talk to him about it. He does tend to take a couple of weeks on things, which is fine since he refuses payment. I do get a decent signal sometimes. Lots of traffic. Plenty of days decent signal and range. Other days, not so much. Once from a county car almost 13 miles away. Once from a hilltop in Pullman with the rooftop antenna. I got a Latah County Sheriff's deputy, 17 miles away. I'm trying to get Windows 11 to accept input from the audio output of the scanner to the audio input on the computer, but it's refusing to see it. Trying some other methods, so I can post a recording of what it sounds like.

Scotty.

 

[Avix]

Dave3825: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Oh yes. It's been dropped many times. The rechargeable battery case caught fire and melted the cover. I had forgotten I had AA alkaline batteries in it and plugged it into external power and blew the batteries. It's ancient (1997). It's scratched. It's battered. It's been beaten. There is Gorilla Duct tape on it. There is Velcro adhesive still on it. I was astounded completely that it still (seemed) to work, find after the battery issues. If I got lousy reception everywhere I go, I would say it's dead, Jim. But over in Pullman, the traffic is almost completely without static or hiss on any of their traffic. 35 miles away in the LC valley, clear traffic is all over the place using the car roof antenna. Maybe I should just drop the hammer and buy the Uniden BC125AT and retire the RS Pro-97.

Scotty.

 

[tvengr]

Dropping a scanner can shatter crystals and crack the printed circuit board. If it hit the antenna when dropped, that could very well break the antenna connection. Take it apart and look for a broken antenna connection or cracked circuit board.

 

[Avix]

To heck with it. I'm going to just buy that Uniden BC125AT and replace it. If I get the same issue, I'll know it's them.

Scotty.

 

[tvengr]

You don't have anything to lose by taking it apart. I had to replace a number of crystals and crystal filters in radio microphone transmitters which were dropped by reporters and receivers dropped by photographers at the TV station where I worked. A crystal is extremely fragile and it will shatter when subjected to a sudden shock. The broken antenna connection is a common problem in scanners which have been dropped. Take a look at it!