Where to use Close Call?

[Omega-TI]

from the manuals
SDS100
Scroll to each band and press E to toggle Close Call checks for that band on or off.

Broadcast Screen Automatically ignores transmissions that are on common broadcasts, paging systems, and other annoyance radio sources during Custom Search, Quick Search, or Close Call Search. You can select common bands you want to ignore or program custom bands. The default setting is Pager On. You can right-click in the Preset Broadcast area to Set All or Clear All.

Preset Broadcast

Select each common band desired.

Custom Band Range

Check to enable each custom range and double-click to enter the lower and upper frequencies.

Thanks for pointing this out to me. Honestly after the first couple of weeks, once I got the scanner set for casual listening, I didn't mess much with the settings. I have so many other irons in the fire that I never really find the time to get too in depth with much. Since radio is not my primary hobby, and I mainly use it for background noise, I find there is much that radio can do that I've not yet investigated. Even now at 3:00 in the morning I'm taking a break from a project to have some coffee and check messages before I get back to it. Anyway this looks very helpful, thanks again.

 

[CcSkyEye]

Pretty any place and at any time. Always someone talking over the air about something.

Great enterainment!

 

[WX9RLT]

A lot of people who rail scan, swear by the close call feature.

Many have said it is easier to find the trains frequency,
than searching/scanning all the rail bands.

I have saw Jonathan from Scanner Guys on a recent episode, saying he loved using close call when he rail scans.

 

[gary123]

Rail CC is good. I have used it and heard of many railfans using it. The only down side is NXDN channels. Many of these can only be located by a search of the rail frequencies. The same applies to may malls, factories, larger buildings and arenas doing a search from 450-455 and 460 to 465 and 469-470 will often locate unknown DMR or other digital based users.

 

[avaloncourt]

Stopped at a highway work zone trying to figure out when the pilot car is finally going to make it by. Plus the commentary from the flaggers who think no one can hear them is usually entertaining.

I'm in Pennsylvania and the snow plow drivers are crazy. Many are hired as temporary seasonal workers. The state has gone to P25 Phase 2, so most people have no way of listening to them. Lots of profanity, crude jokes, very inappropriate comments, etc. It's great. I don't know if they even have any clue that there are people who can actually hear them or if someone convinced them now that they're digital nobody can hear their radios.

I heard a discussion several nights ago among some Department of Conservation and Natural Resources rangers trying to figure out how to shoot some animals in a park where there was camping nearby so that the "families wouldn't be aware of it."

I have ProScan and have the recording feature running.

 

[cpfinlay]

The maintenance people in my building pop up from time to time on close call. Generally boring, but occasionally hilarious!

 

[tdel1]

I have been reading about close call and watched a few youtube videos, as well.

I have a few questions, can someone explain the bands?
(sds 100)

VHF Low 1
VHF Low 2
Air Band
VHF High1
VHF High2
UHF
800MHz+

I sometimes go to a building near active rail road tracks (CSX) and I see the helper jump off the train to lock/unlock cars, pull them into a yard, etc and he is talking on the radio (Illinois, Will County) and close call doesn't seem to pick it up. I have the stock antenna. I'm about 300-400ft away. Where would railroad traffic fall under in the list above?

For aviation, lets say there is a helicopter hovering right above me, the sds100 manual shows this "UHF Aircraft Band" but the close call menu has Air Band and UHF, should I turn off all bands except Air Band and UHF?

I think I can disable the FM Broadcast based on some posts above, which is not done in the close call menu, to avoid having close call stop on those hits, but I can also toggle off the band in this menu, but I'm not sure if FM falls under VHF Low 1,2, High 1,2...

I also drive through construction zones and often sitting for a bit while a lane is closed, etc and I have yet to have close call make any hits when people are nearby talking on radios. I'm not expecting constant hits with close call, but I've only been able to pick up radio stations.

Thanks.

 

[a417]

I have a few questions, can someone explain the bands?
(sds 100)

VHF Low 1
VHF Low 2
Air Band
VHF High1
VHF High2
UHF
800MHz+

Taken right out of the SDS Gospel according to Mark - abridged version.

 

[tdel1]

View attachment 125793

Taken right out of the SDS Gospel according to Mark - abridged version.

I actually have that link bookmarked, I don't know why I checked the actual manual and not that one.

I'm still confused about Air Band and UHF. Also, do you have any idea why I can't hear the rail chatter?

 

[cpfinlay]

Just because you see someone talking on a radio doesn't mean that your scanner can listen to it. Your radio has to be able to receive (and decode if digital) the transmission type in order to be picked up. One of the most popular (DMR) requires a paid download from Uniden and even then is problematic at times to pick up with close call. If it's encrypted you won't be able to listen at all.

Your mileage may vary, but here are some guesstimates or how close a radio needs to be to you given the power output in order to trigger close call. Uniden Close Call - The RadioReference Wiki

Here are the band definitions.

 

[a417]

I'm still confused about Air Band and UHF.

Ok, what are you confused about?

Also, do you have any idea why I can't hear the rail chatter?

You may not be near enough to hear anything, location is everything

 

[tdel1]

Just because you see someone talking on a radio doesn't mean that your scanner can listen to it. Your radio has to be able to receive (and decode if digital) the transmission type in order to be picked up. One of the most popular (DMR) requires a paid download from Uniden and even then is problematic at times to pick up with close call. If it's encrypted you won't be able to listen at all.

Your mileage may vary, but here are some guesstimates or how close a radio needs to be to you given the power output in order to trigger close call. Uniden Close Call - The RadioReference Wiki

Here are the band definitions.

View attachment 125794

I know if it is encrypted that I can't hear it, but a lot of the researching I've done people brought up railroad and aviation (helicopters) being a common thing to pick up.

Thanks for posting that chart.

 

[tdel1]

Ok, what are you confused about?

Air Band is its own option but the manual shows UHF Aircraft Band. Should I enable Air Band and UHF? I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but I figured the less bands on the better, if I'm trying to catch helicopter transmissions. Assuming I'm able to, that is.

 

[a417]

Air Band is its own option but the manual shows UHF Aircraft Band. Should I enable Air Band and UHF? I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but I figured the less bands on the better, if I'm trying to catch helicopter transmissions. Assuming I'm able to, that is.

If you are looking for heli communications, I would stick with just Air Band to start...if you don't hear what you want, then branch out.