BCD325P2/BCD996P2: Zero squelch on WFM and FMB

[radioboy75]

My 996P2 works fine in regular FM and AM modes, but when I try to search the FM broadcast band or any other band using WFM, it acts as if the squelch is set to zero. I cannot search FM Broadcast, as even on a frequency with no signal, I hear static and the scanner thinks it's a signal, so it stops. I live in a rural area, so it's not as if every frequency has a signal. Also, my BCD396XT on the same antenna handles this correctly and I can search for active broadcast stations easily. Is there a setting I'm missing? Some sort of separate squelch for WFM? Adjusting the actual squelch dial makes no difference whether the squelch is set to 0, 19, or anything in between.

 

[dave3825]

What is your band default for FM broadcast set to?

88-107.9

100 kHz​

FMB​

FM Broadcast

 

[radioboy75]

What is your band default for FM broadcast set to?

88-107.9

100 kHz​

FMB​

FM Broadcast

It was set correctly.

 

[tvengr]

If you have a FM broadcast station. VHF TV station, or NOAH weather station nearby, you may be picking up an image or intermod from it due to the increased bandwidth. The 396XT and 996P2 may use different IF frequencies and that could account for the difference.

 

[radioboy75]

If you have a FM broadcast station. VHF TV station, or NOAH weather station nearby, you may be picking up an image or intermod from it due to the increased bandwidth. The 396XT and 996P2 may use different IF frequencies and that could account for the difference.

Nice thought. The closest broadcast station is a 50 kW FM station 10 miles away. Closest NOAA station and closest TV station are on the same tower, 20 miles away. They shouldn't be any problem. But thanks for the thought. We'll have to keep thinking.

 

[KevinC]

Just a thought. Do you have the Broadcast Screen on for FM broadcast?

 

[wtp]

squelch on 2.

 

[radioboy75]

squelch on 2.

Yep, that's normally where it stays. And that works great for everything else. But if it's WFM, it doesn't matter where the squelch is set. If it's a station, I can hear the music or whatever, but if not, it's static, not silence like it should be. And, like I say, that's the same no matter where the squelch is set.

 

[radioboy75]

Just a thought. Do you have the Broadcast Screen on for FM broadcast?

Broadcast screen? I'm not familiar with that. How would I do that? Normally I just push hold and then enter the frequency. If I want to search the band, I press function, then scan and it searches up or down.

 

[KevinC]

Broadcast screen? I'm not familiar with that. How would I do that? Normally I just push hold and then enter the frequency. If I want to search the band, I press function, then scan and it searches up or down.

Should menu under Search/Close call settings.

 

[wtp]

hit menu, turn knob to highlight srch/clocall opt, hit yes
turn knob to broadcast screen, hit yes
turn knob to set all band off, hit yes.
now try it.

it acts like a screen, if it is on, it blocks out signals.

 

[radioboy75]

Should menu under Search/Close call settings.

OK, I have turned all bands "on". Same. Then turned all bands "off." Same. Am I missing something?

 

[wtp]

hold, 106.9, hold.

 

[KevinC]

OK, I have turned all bands "on". Same. Then turned all bands "off." Same. Am I missing something?

Doesn’t sound like it. It was worth a try though.

 

[radioboy75]

hold, 106.9, hold.

I have a station on that frequency. That's the closest station to me. KIHK. And I hear their audio just fine. But if I type in a frequency like 91.1 instead, I should get silence, since there is no station on that frequency and it's not close enough to others that do have stations on them to "false" for an active frequency. But instead, I get static. On every frequency that doesn't have a station, it's the same, regardless of the squelch setting.

 

[wtp]

scanners are not really set fo FM radio.
if you only have to receive 88 to 108 it is a narrow band that the radio has to be sensitive for.
but a scanner might go 25 to 1300 and you want to hear stuff in the microvolt area.
and usually FM transmitters are pretty close to where the majority of folks live. but not in every case.
there is a website that gives the miles and some are quite far and even say they are in a big city when they are not.

Coverage Maps FAQ

Coverage Maps FAQ

radio-locator.com

my brother worked in an AM station that had an FM translator that was outside of Atlanta.
the station would identify as an Atlanta station even though they were many miles out of it even the transmitters.

WJBB (AM) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

it is 50 miles away from Atlanta, close enough.

 

[radioboy75]

scanners are not really set fo FM radio.
if you only have to receive 88 to 108 it is a narrow band that the radio has to be sensitive for.
but a scanner might go 25 to 1300 and you want to hear stuff in the microvolt area.
and usually FM transmitters are pretty close to where the majority of folks live. but not in every case.
there is a website that gives the miles and some are quite far and even say they are in a big city when they are not.

Coverage Maps FAQ

Coverage Maps FAQ

radio-locator.com

my brother worked in an AM station that had an FM translator that was outside of Atlanta.
the station would identify as an Atlanta station even though they were many miles out of it even the transmitters.

WJBB (AM) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

it is 50 miles away from Atlanta, close enough.

Yeah, I'm well aware. I work for a commercial broadcast station, and broadcast radio has been my job for 30 years... Still doesn't explain why my BCD396 squelches like it should on unused broadcast frequencies, but connected to the same antenna, my BCD996P2 does not.

 

[wtp]

how about if you take the antenna off ?
does it still go to static ?

 

[radioboy75]

how about if you take the antenna off ?
does it still go to static ?

That was a very interesting thought. And most interestingly -- NO, it does not go to static then, it squelches it! But as soon as I put the antenna back on, the static comes back. Now, what does that mean? Seems like maybe there's too much signal? Even though there's nothing understandable between the stations, I can tell there's something there, just about everywhere. Which is kinda weird, as I'm in a fairly rural area. The antenna is on the roof, so I suppose it's getting more signal than it otherwise would. But connected to the same antenna, my BCD396 works appropriately and squelches when there's not much signal. Thanks for the suggestion though! That helped me.

 

[wtp]

can you set up a custom search for 25 to 960 ?
and if you do go through it and remember that birdies will show up sounding like an open mic.
but what is then left will be very local or very powerful transmitters.
there might be one we are overlooking.