Uniden BC355C 800MHz Antenna Issue

[Chris04626]

I just purchased my first scanner the Uniden BC355C 800MHz. I am using the antenna that came with it, but am getting very poor reception. I have moved it all around the downstairs of my house trying to find the best spot. Sometimes signal to a certain frequencies is pretty clear and others not s much. I Am not in a big city and all towers are not near me.

IS there anything i can do to improve reception? I would rather not have to mount anything to my roof.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[gewecke]

I just purchased my first scanner the Uniden BC355C 800MHz. I am using the antenna that came with it, but am getting very poor reception. I have moved it all around the downstairs of my house trying to find the best spot. Sometimes signal to a certain frequencies is pretty clear and others not s much. I Am not in a big city and all towers are not near me.

IS there anything i can do to improve reception? I would rather not have to mount anything to my roof.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Yes. If you're trying to hear 800mhz. signals and you have a stock telescopic antenna then push all the sections together so it's a short as possible.
Also put it close to a window, this should help!

73,
n9zas

 

[Adenosine]

It is always good to see another Mainer on the site. First off, it is not clear where you are in Maine. If the Zip in your name is an indication, then I think you’re the first to see the sun up in the US every day.

You are very remote, and info in the Washington county area is pretty limited. The database here has a couple of county frequencies. SP runs off towers downeast too. If you live in a house with an attic putting an antenna up in the attic may be an option. Just about anything higher and better than the standard base antenna will improve a lot.

If you go up you might hit Calais and Machias.

 

[Chris04626]

i am in cutler. right now i have it on top of my fridge with the antenna all the way up, i shall try closing down the antenna and see what happens.

I do not have an attic, but do plan on testing it in upstairs rooms. to see if further up helps.

 

[gewecke]

i am in cutler. right now i have it on top of my fridge with the antenna all the way up, i shall try closing down the antenna and see what happens.

I do not have an attic, but do plan on testing it in upstairs rooms. to see if further up helps.

Upstairs and shorten the antenna should work. I hope it helps!

73,
n9zas

 

[Adenosine]

What are you listening to in Cutler that's up in the 800's?

 

[Chris04626]

nothing i have tried shortening the antenna and having it high,

Ranges they use around here are mostly in the 150s

I get alot of talk where it only picks up the end of what they say

 

[Chris04626]

what is a good antenna that would work outside for this model if i decide to do that? I dont want some huge thing sticking off my roof

 

[Chris04626]

Is there an alternative indoor antenna i can try replacing the stock antenna with?

 

[Adenosine]

It sounds to me like you may be missing a few steps here.

Have you programmed the local frequencies in or are you searching for frequencies in your area?
If you have programmed them in, what are you trying to hear?

Here is the RadioReference Scanning 101 Click Here

 

[Chris04626]

I have them programmed into the private bank. I am trying to hear police, fire, ambulance

 

[gewecke]

I have them programmed into the private bank. I am trying to hear police, fire, ambulance

Ok, then if most of what you're trying to receive is on VHF then adjust your antenna for about 16-17" long.
If that doesn't help, then there are other things to try.

73,
n9zas

 

[Chris04626]

right now i have the little window antenna that came with it stuck to one of my windows. Sometimes i get clear talking and others cant make out what there saying. IS the telescoping antenna generally suposed to be better than the stock window antenna?

 

[Chris04626]

For some reason i get better reception for the state police than i do county

 

[ME343]

For some reason i get better reception for the state police than i do county

Thats because state police has more towers and more wattage on the towers then County.

 

[Chris04626]

ok that makes sense

 

[Chris04626]

Which state police frequencies should i have programmed? All the ones listed on this site? THis is the one i have programmed 154.69500 and 154.905


This is what im using for Sheriffs
155.56500

 

[Chris04626]

Shortening the antenna makes it come in worse

 

[gewecke]

Shortening the antenna makes it come in worse

Yes, for the frequencies you mentioned, your antenna should measure between 16-17" If it's UHF frequencies you want to hear then compress it down to about 6".

73,
n9zas

 

[Chris04626]

I shortened it to about 17 inches and it come in worse. Right now i have found a spot using the window mount antenna that its come in the best yet. Still not sure im getting all the frequencies such as the local pd in Machias as i have yet to pick up anything other than state, county and couple emt calls