UCAN Reception

Status
Not open for further replies.

bneilson

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
942
Location
South Jordan, Utah
Hello all,

I am curious what peoples experiences are with UCAN reception in and around the Salt Lake Valley. I run a BR330T mounted in the vehicle with an external antenna and seem to get a lot of snap crackle & pop when listening to the the system. If I tune in one of the many simulcast VHF frequencies, they are loud and clear.

I am curious:
Are others experiencing this or is it just my setup?

If you are not, what is your setup like and where in the valley are you?

Has anybody tried using an antenna that is specifically tuned for 800MHz as opposed to a wideband (traditional ) scanner antenna.
 

Rolfman

Member
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
475
Location
Tooele
I just got a Comtelco low profile mobile antenna that I use with my BC246T in my car. (Live in Tooele County drive to Utah County everyday through SL) Since it is a little more tuned for 800MHz (need to actaully figure out how to tune it) things tend to be clearer but I am not getting the range I do with the rubber duck, which seems counterintuitive. There are just so many variables that go in to reception of radio signals that I do not understand it all.

One of the things I have been trying to do is scan the control frequencies then look them up on the map. Then I plan to just program in those that are strongest along my route. Hope that it will improve reception by not locking in on a more distant site's control frequency.(Example: While traveling I-80 west of the airport I can get the site at Promontory Point real strong which gives me all the Davis and Weber County traffic.)

I know lately the UCAN Engineers have been out working on sites, I am guessing for the rebanding. I have heard cross talk from them and also had major drops in reception in some areas for a day then back to normal.
 

bneilson

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
942
Location
South Jordan, Utah
Rolfman said:
I just got a Comtelco low profile mobile antenna that I use with my BC246T in my car.

Is it the A1681-806?

Did you get it in-town or order it online?

Also curious what it ran you...
 

Rolfman

Member
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
475
Location
Tooele
Antenna

It's the one from Scanner Master. Believe it's the A11331B. Ordered it online. Was not sure those radome antennas would be the best thing for scanning. The one I got is supposed to be a tri-band covering 150-165 / 450-470 / 806-940 MHz.

Sometimes I tune over to the airport stuff and listen to the planes, ground control. A lot of that is in the 130's but thought it would be good enough.
 
Last edited:

Rolfman

Member
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
475
Location
Tooele
Antenna

After re-reading the documentation that came with the antenna there is a comment in there that has me wondering.

"This antenna works very well with the Comtelco C mount which can be mounted using a 3/8" hole and provides a good 50ohm constant impedance. . ."

So this has me wondering if the reason I don't have the "range" with this antenna is because I am using the 5" NMO magnetic base. It might just be my imagination but it does seem that the performance of the antenna drops off after I have been using it for a while. Since there is a piece of vinyl on the bottom of the magnet it is not touching the metal of the car body and somewhat electrically isolated from the body grounding provided by the car battery.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top