Here's another impacting reason
When the STARS radio system was activated, I was for the most part receiving all 7 of the Virginia State Police Divisions. Now all that I can receive are Wytheville Channels 1-3, and Salem Channels 1-3 (Division 4 & 6). I was wanting to know if anyone knew of a way that I could receive all of the other divisions again, what the state did to prevent this from occurring, or a fix for the issue?
Thanks
anelson5004
I agree with all the other posts with an addition. My experience monitoring not only STARS but other distant trs is digital scanners are less RF sensitive than analog scanners. Previously when VSP was analog I received Divs 1,2,3,5 dependably 24/7, Div 7 infrequently and on rare occasions Div 6. I used mast mounted pre-amped antennas tower mounted.
Unfortunately, one of the adverse impacts of digital scanners is they are less RF sensitive than analog scanners. I don't know the technical reasons but I suspect it mostly is related to additional internal filtering for RFI and the converting of analog to digital and digital to analog processes.
For my reception situation I have been about to overcome that problem to a certain extent meaning I can hear a few more STARS sites not than I previously could.
I use two methods. Both methods are more sensitive than my 996XT with the same antenna system.
My first method was configuring a DMR (DSD) receive system using a modified R7000 analog tunable receiver supporting offset frequency tuning, a Win 7 desktop, external audio system and DSD Plus software. The R7000 is a sensitive analog receiver. Although I cannot receive a trs I can receive the voice repeater frequencies from the monitored STARS site. For example, using my 996XT I cannot receive the Fork Mtn. STARS trs. However, monitoring 161.8375 mhz. I hear STARS comms fine. I now hear voice comms from Hampton, Leigh Mtn., Bear Den Mtn. and Thornburg. Regionally, I can hear Hanover Co. which previously had phased it antennas and dropped its' ERP well over half power.
My second method is using a Uniden 536 scanner. It does just about as well as method 1 and it definitely is more sensitive than my 396XT and 996XT.
Although not as optimum as my analog reception I am hearing more than I previously did using my 996XT and PSR600.
John
W4UVV