Weather (NOAA) frequencies very weak!

[MacombMonitor]

I live in Macomb Township. I'm having problems with reception of the NOAA Weather frequencies on all myr scanners? The closest one to me appears to be in Southfield, but is also one of the weakest, on 162.5500 MHz. There is one in Clio, on 162.4750 MHz with more than three times the power, but it's also much farther away. I'd be interested to hear from others in my area, and how well your NOAA reception is.

I'm certain part of the problem is that I'm currently running on stock antennas (telescoping whips), indoors. But the real problem seems more like something close to that frequency is causing interference and blocks it. Directly under my home office, mounted to the basement ceiling, is a small black-box, that is wired to my water meter. This allows wireless reading of my meter from outside the house. Anyone know what frequency they operate on?

Thanks!

 

[Thunderbolt]

I can hear the Angola, Indiana NWR, pretty much all the time on 162.425 MHz. Likewise, the one in Carey, Ohio on 162.525 MHz. In fact, I can hear the Weatheradio Canada station out of Windsor, Ontario on 162.475 MHz, loud and clear.

73's

Ron

 

[SCPD]

I'm having problems with reception of the NOAA Weather frequencies on all myr scanners?
Thanks![/QUOTE]

Hey Bill. I used to have the same problem with reception of the NOAA freq's. The most important thing Ive learned over the past couple of years through experience of trying to recoieve the is that the antenna and height make all the difference. This applies to mobile, marine, portable and base units. At ground level in regards to portables and base units, rubber ducks and telescopics will barely if at all recieve any of the VHF NOAA freq's. In marine, on an 8 foot marine whip, if you dont put it up (marine whip in travel on travel is in down position) while on land you will more than likely not pick it up. Currently in my truck I monitor with the PRO-2096 / 94. At this time im just using a cheap rat shack magmount mobile dual load whip. The PRO-2096 does have a feature built in to allow you to select and attenuate all NOAA freq's that arent used in the area in which you are monitoring. This is probably one of the best features ive seen in a while. While traveling in the truck, no matter where im at (under a bridge etc.) I always pick em up without a problem.
*** What this all boils down to is use a long whip tuned for 162.550mHz. and try and get it as high as you can untuil you recieve fairly well.***

 

[philkoz]

NOAA Wx radio

I have done some very extensive research on this matter. I've tried many different antenna combinations (homemade, commercial, beam, etc) in my attic, outside, and anywhere else I've been able to test an antenna. I am in New Baltimore and have had this problem since I moved here in '00. I've been in touch with the White Lake Wx Service Coordinator since last Spring. Here's what I found out.....The Southfield transmitter is 1 of the oldest in the country, from sometime in the 70's. About 2 yrs ago, it was on the list to be replaced. 'Officially' its ERP is listed at 330 watts. Last year they checked it & the ERP was only 180 watts at best. Haven't heard any updates on the xmitter replacement date yet. I work in Sterling Hgts and have no problem w/reception in my car south of about 21 Mile Rd. By the time I get to around 26 Mile & Schoenherr, its usually barely audible. I can usually hear the Cleveland transmitter on .550 fading in & out w/Southfield. In fact, earlier this summer my alert went off for a Tornado Warning off the Wilmington, OH transmitter.
Until the power issue gets resolved, we can only hope for a nice, mild winter !!!

 

[WU8Y]

I've been able to receive the 162.55 transmisson from Southfield without much problem. I'm using a small Wx radio telescoping whip, about 20 feet AGL, into Orion Twp.

The SAME alarm woke me up the other morning...

 

[MacombMonitor]

I've been able to receive the 162.55 transmisson from Southfield without much problem. I'm using a small Wx radio telescoping whip, about 20 feet AGL, into Orion Twp.

The SAME alarm woke me up the other morning...

The transmitter for 162.5500 is located in Southfield. Lucky!

 

[FPOWLD]

Sorry to hear you are having a problem receiving NOAA, 162.550. I live in western Wayne County and have no problem receiving 162.550 on my BC278CLT, BC210XL, BC800XLT, BC3000XLT or my Pro2037. I am using the standard antenna that came with the radios. Very rarelly I lose the signal, but not often. They broadcast from White Lake Twp. Is there something else that is being missed?
I like the weather alert feature on the 268CLT. Especially at night. NOAA has activated the radio on at least two times in recent weeks.

Good Luck in finding out why you are not receiving a clear signal. Knowing you, I know you will solve the problem.


Jerry

 

[Thunderbolt]

The Southfield transmitter is 1 of the oldest in the country, from sometime in the 70's. About 2 yrs ago, it was on the list to be replaced. 'Officially' its ERP is listed at 330 watts. Last year they checked it & the ERP was only 180 watts at best. Haven't heard any updates on the xmitter replacement date yet.

NOAA Weather Radio Station KEC-63, went on the air in June of 1972, and I can't remember the original location of the transmitter, but they are now on the WDIV tower in Southfield, since 1977. Moreover, General Electric had the contract to supply all of the equipment back then. The consoles were GE "Spotmastr" tape decks, and mostly like the transmitter is a "Mastr-Pro," or a "Mastr-I."

The primary difference is that the former of the two is solid-state, with the exception of the transmitter that uses tube finals. Whereas, the latter of the two is completely solid-state, including the transistorized finals in the transmitter. However, this transmitter has been one of the best they have used, but it's time for a replacement.

73's

Ron

 

[MacombMonitor]

Some NOAA systems in other locations are 1,000 watts.

 

[toydriver_det]

Some NOAA systems in other locations are 1,000 watts.

NOAA comes in great guns in south Mad Heights. Of course 696 makes a GREAT wave guide!

 

[MacombMonitor]

I used to get it OK when I lived in Warren, MI. near 12 Mile Rd., and Dequendre.

 

[toydriver_det]

I used to get it OK when I lived in Warren, MI. near 12 Mile Rd., and Dequendre.

But then you moved on up to the north country where you are supposed to use a weather rock tied to a string instead of a NOAA weather radio.
If the rock is hanging steady it is calm
If it is swinging it's windy
If it is wet it's raining
If it's white it's snowing
If it's missing....
head for the shelter it's a twister!

 

[benjaminarthurt]

I can recieve NOAA from buffalo or rochester (NY) just fine, if the lights are off... something about these flouresent lights....

 

[Thunderbolt]

Some NOAA systems in other locations are 1,000 watts.

I wish that was the case here in Detroit, but under a treaty with Canada, we can only run 330 watts on 162.550 MHz. In the past there was some land mobile users on the same freq. but with Weatheradio Canada now using the same frequencies as we do, I don't see where it would be a problem anymore to just crank it up to 1,000 watts. However, with Toledo, Ohio also using 162.550 MHz., this might be the reason they refuse to turn the power up any higher.

73's

Ron

 

[philkoz]

When I lived at 14 Mile & Schoenherr, I was able to receive them on my Duracom VHF voicepager (minitor clone). Anywhere in the south end of the county has good reception. The New Baltimore area is a bit lower in elevation than most of the south end too. If I'm on the roof of my condo, I can usually get a somewhat fair signal, but not practical during a T-Storm (altho I think about it whenever I hear a rumble).

I understand the legal issues with Canada, but I can even hear them better than Southfield !!! Wouldn't be so bad if I knew French

I'll check with the WSO and see if there have been any further updates on replacement. I asked if there were any plans to add more sites after the Sandusky and Angola transmitters were put into service, but appearently they've reached their 95% coverage across the nation, not to mention funding is getting scarce.

73's
-Phil

 

[Thunderbolt]

I do know the NWS was at one time, seriously thinking about adding NWRs in the Bad Axe and Cheboygan areas, but with funding becoming harder to obtain, this station would have to be implemented with private funds, rather than through government channels.

Actuallly, our statewide coverage has really improved over the past few years:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/images/MInwrmap.jpg

73's

Ron

 

[philkoz]

Yep, I agree. I'm just in the very small area with bad reception. I can hear a good number of those stations from Gaylord south on a regular basis. Maybe I'm just supposed to move ???? lol...

_phil

 

[EC-7]

I can hear it inside with a basic rubber duck on my scanners. Its a little scratchy, but readable. I can hear it perfect with any outside antenna. I'm at Van Dyke and 19 Mile, in Sterling Heights. I was able to get it with a 1/4 wave antenna indoors in Howell too.

http://www.michiguide.com/weather/nwr/kec63.html

I belive thier the top or one of the top antennas on the tower that is just west of the west-most tunnel on I-696. http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/MRodgers/SouthfieldTower1.jpg

As for the black box for meter reading, some are a direct wire connection for a computer hookup, and if it has a round circle on it, with no connection point, its wireless, but I think they use a freq in the low Khz range, kinda like RFID tags, but very low freqs and it shouldnt transmit any power.

 

[Thunderbolt]

I can remember when the Flint and Onondaga stations were both on 162.400 MHz, because Canada would not authorize the use of 162.475 MHz, because it would have caused some interference problems in Essex County. Finally, when Weatheradio Canada was implemented, the user moved to another frequency and Windsor went on the air shortly thereafter. Nonetheless, trying to listen to any transmission on 162.400 was a real nightmare and you honestly needed a beam antenna to attempt any serious monitoring if you were east and north of Lansing. Thankfully, Flint is now on 162.475 MHz and you can hear Onondaga crystal clear in mid-Michigan.

73's

Ron