Improving Radio Scanner Reception

[The MooseTick]

Hello All,

 

I just got myself a replacement for my RS PRO-164 handheld (it fell onto a blacktop and broke...). As my replacement for it, I got another Radio Shack scanner, the PRO-649 handheld. In addition to that, I got a Diamond RH77CA antenna. Honestly, I see no difference in reception at all between the stock rubber duckie and the Diamond. I am getting fed up of living 5 miles from the railroad yard and having a hard time receiving pretty much anything. Usually the best thing I get is the MP 95.1 detector on the UP (if you know how UP detectors are, they transmit on very low power). This leads me to this question: is there any way I can improve reception my scanner. The only suggestion I got was place the scanner on something metal, but that trick backfired when I got nothing but static. If anybody can provide some help, that would be great. 

 

Thanks!

Nathan M. Kuhn

UP Altoona Sub ATCS Host 

[BaltACD]

Defect Detectors transmit with more power than most of the rest of railroad radio transmission equipment.

[MikeF90]

Unfortunately you just bought yourself some typical RS branded crap. Like most categories of consumer electronics, scanning receivers have been caught in the 'race to the bottom'.  Not sure what brands are still made and by whom.  Finding a higher elevation :-( may be your only recourse.

Amateur radio (ham) radios have noticeably better performance but usually don't have scanning capability. I program my inexpensive Baofeng UV-82 transceiver to Not transmit on non-ham frequencies that I monitor.

[Semper Vaporo]

An antenna tuned to the RR Frequencies will help some.  A larger (Higher) antenna will also help some.  An RF amplifier at RR Frequencies (in the antenna lead) will help some.  I bought a "Smiley antenna" brand (search on-line) tuned to the RR freqs, and it helped a wee bit (and I think is better built than the rubber ducky that came with my RS scanners, too!).

 

[tree68]

Unfortunately, it's a "get what you pay for" environment.  

The antenna can make a world of difference, but won't make up for any shortcomings in the receiver itself.

For listening from home, higher is better - get the antenna up as high as possible.  And a tuned antenna can make a difference.  Be sure to pay attention to caveats about putting up antennas (power lines, etc).

A mag-mount in the middle of your vehicle roof is the best solution for mobiles.  A permanent mount is better, but most folks don't want to punch a hole in their car...  A trunk lip or fender mount will work, too.

And for home, maybe consider building your own "j-pole" antenna - instructions are plentiful on line.  A ten food piece of copper pipe, a few joints and solder will build the antenna - then you just need some coax to get it to where you have your scanner.

Radios like the Baofeng may or may not scan, depending on brand/model.  Many, however, will monitor two channels at once (the UV82 does), which may be all you really need except at a busy junction.  Most of those radios can be programmed with a program called "Chirp."  It's free on-line.  You just need the programming cable for the radio in question.

Many of those ham radios have a rather "hot" receive, too.

If your local emergency services are scannable, see how they perform, too.  

A couple of other points:  Defect detectors may have directional antennas, so if you're not in line with the transmission pattern, you won't hear them as well.  Locomotives transmit at about 50 watts (as do defect detectors, I believe).  Handhelds are usually just 5 watts - so you'll hear the engineer talking to the conductor/crewmember, but you won't hear the crewmember unless you're close enough.

[petitnj]

I doubt the power of the trackside detectors exceeds 5 watts. Your scanner will hear them if you are near. There is no reason to make the power much more as the train is very close to the transmitter. On board Amtrak, the detectors are heard after the train clears the detector, but no other detector is heard in the distance. They do have directional antennae that are along the rail. 

As for a scanner, nothing beats antenna elevation. Build a j pole out of coax and 300 ohm twin lead. Put it in a 1/2" PVC pipe and mount it on the roof. Coverage will improve significantly. Also, get a ham license and use the much more sensitive ham radios. 

Here is a more durable j-pole built out of copper pipe. 

 http://www.alpharubicon.com/elect/jpolejaden.htm

[BaltACD]

petitnj

I doubt the power of the trackside detectors exceeds 5 watts. Your scanner will hear them if you are near. There is no reason to make the power much more as the train is very close to the transmitter. On board Amtrak, the detectors are heard after the train clears the detector, but no other detector is heard in the distance. They do have directional antennae that are along the rail. 

As for a scanner, nothing beats antenna elevation. Build a j pole out of coax and 300 ohm twin lead. Put it in a 1/2" PVC pipe and mount it on the roof. Coverage will improve significantly. Also, get a ham license and use the much more sensitive ham radios. 

Here is a more durable j-pole built out of copper pipe. 

 http://www.alpharubicon.com/elect/jpolejaden.htm

Trains are getting further and further from Defect Detector radio transmitter as each day goes by.  My carriers current train length limit is 14K feet - 2.65 Miles.  Radio transmissions are nominally 'line of sight'; and 2.65 miles can present a lot of challenges to successful radio transmissions.

[tree68]

petitnj

I doubt the power of the trackside detectors exceeds 5 watts.

I dunno - when I'm in Utica (MP 237) I can always hear the Whitesboro defect detector (241.4) loud and clear, and sometimes can hear the next detector east (figure 15 miles).  Even with a yagi, that's a reach at 5 watts.  But it is possible.

petitnj

Here is a more durable j-pole built out of copper pipe. 

When you put the frequency into the calculator, use 161 MHz.  That's just above the midpoint of the railroad frequency range.