Excuse me for asking what I'm sure is a simple thing, I have recently picked up a radio scanner and have tried to tune into PTA frequencies in my local area (Joondalup) however I am unable to hear anything on these channels.
I suspect I need to put in DSC codes or tone codes in order to receive a signal. I have read the manual for my scanner and have found a way to enter codes 1 through 154 however not sure what codes to put in to hear anything.
If anyone can help a noob who is starting out, I'd greatly appreciate it!
Thanks in advance.
How to hear radio signals?
Moderator: Always RX
Re: How to hear radio signals?
Just to start you off, you won't need any codes.
Also I have the following though not sure if the rail ones are correct:
418.775 Rail
418.300 Train
418.125 Rail Police
490.625 Definitely bus
490.925 Definitely bus
Also I have the following though not sure if the rail ones are correct:
418.775 Rail
418.300 Train
418.125 Rail Police
490.625 Definitely bus
490.925 Definitely bus
"VKI, NJ050 will you be attending the job?"
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
-
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:25 am
- Location: Right here
Re: How to hear radio signals?
It is possible that "tone codes" are necessary. Depending on the scanner you may have CTCSS enabled, which is a sub audible tone that only permits appropriate signals to be heard. All other transmissions are excluded.XaDvAnT wrote:Excuse me for asking what I'm sure is a simple thing, I have recently picked up a radio scanner and have tried to tune into PTA frequencies in my local area (Joondalup) however I am unable to hear anything on these channels. I suspect I need to put in DSC codes or tone codes in order to receive a signal. I have read the manual for my scanner and have found a way to enter codes 1 through 154 however not sure what codes to put in to hear anything. If anyone can help a noob who is starting out, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance.
What is the brand of scanner and its model number? Again depending on the model, it maybe necessary to reset it back to factory specs then re-enter the data.
After you tell me the make and model, I maybe able to help.
Railscan
Re: How to hear radio signals?
It's a Racing Electronics RE2000 Alpha.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2610
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:33 pm
- Amateur callsign: VK6HGR
- Scanners and Receivers: Various Yaesu, Kenwood, Tait, Simoco and Philips'
- Location: Perth, Western Australia
- Contact:
Re: How to hear radio signals?
Here's the manual for those who are assisting. It looks like a Uniden clone (?) http://www.racingelectronics.com/re2000manual.pdf
Gavin Rogers; VK6HGR
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
http://vk6hgr.ampr.org/
WARSUG forum administrator
Site and stream donations: https://www.paypal.me/vk6hgr
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 2993
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:06 am
- Amateur callsign: VK6UFO_VK6RN
- Scanners and Receivers:
Scanners/receivers
Diamond Welz WS1000 wideband handheld
Radioshack Pro 28 handheld
Uniden UBC72XLT handheld
Uniden UBC73XLT handheld
Uniden UBC330CRS desktop
Two-way
Yaesu VX-3R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wideband RX handheld
Yaesu FT-1802M 2m Ham TRX mobile x 2
Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-208H 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-706MKIIG all-band all-mode Ham TRX mobile
Icom IC-V85 2m VHF Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-679P VHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-713 UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld - Location: Just on the border of your waking mind
Re: How to hear radio signals?
Why would this scanner require tone codes to hear audio? Surely it would only need them to block signals without tone codes
Rob
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
Re: How to hear radio signals?
That's what I thought too, and although the radio search stops on certain frequencies and shows a few bars of reception, all I hear electronic noise.robbage wrote:Why would this scanner require tone codes to hear audio? Surely it would only need them to block signals without tone codes
I suspect the scanner may be faulty as it seems to have power issues, such as randomly turning itself off and on again. Typical of eBay items!
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 2993
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:06 am
- Amateur callsign: VK6UFO_VK6RN
- Scanners and Receivers:
Scanners/receivers
Diamond Welz WS1000 wideband handheld
Radioshack Pro 28 handheld
Uniden UBC72XLT handheld
Uniden UBC73XLT handheld
Uniden UBC330CRS desktop
Two-way
Yaesu VX-3R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wideband RX handheld
Yaesu FT-1802M 2m Ham TRX mobile x 2
Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-208H 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-706MKIIG all-band all-mode Ham TRX mobile
Icom IC-V85 2m VHF Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-679P VHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-713 UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld - Location: Just on the border of your waking mind
Re: How to hear radio signals?
Check the battery connections and battery condition for the power issue. Can the radio pick up other signals on nearby frequencies?
Rob
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
Re: How to hear radio signals?
It doesn't seem to pick up anything except a faint signal from what sounds like an ethnic radio station on the lower frequencies.robbage wrote:Check the battery connections and battery condition for the power issue. Can the radio pick up other signals on nearby frequencies?
I suspect the battery compartment is damaged as any batteries I try give the same result. I can't really tell because I am blind and not sure what they're meant to look like.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 2993
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:06 am
- Amateur callsign: VK6UFO_VK6RN
- Scanners and Receivers:
Scanners/receivers
Diamond Welz WS1000 wideband handheld
Radioshack Pro 28 handheld
Uniden UBC72XLT handheld
Uniden UBC73XLT handheld
Uniden UBC330CRS desktop
Two-way
Yaesu VX-3R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wideband RX handheld
Yaesu FT-1802M 2m Ham TRX mobile x 2
Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-208H 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-706MKIIG all-band all-mode Ham TRX mobile
Icom IC-V85 2m VHF Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-679P VHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-713 UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld - Location: Just on the border of your waking mind
Re: How to hear radio signals?
There may have been a battery leak which has caused damage. It will be fairly obvious if you can get a sighted person to check it out. There will be ugly brown stains and rust. As for reception, maybe try tuning to one of the UHF CB repeaters (channel 1 and 4 I think) as see if you can get them. I'm not sure which one is the north repeater. Are you just using the rubber ducky antenna?XaDvAnT wrote:I suspect the battery compartment is damaged as any batteries I try give the same result. I can't really tell because I am blind and not sure what they're meant to look like.
Rob
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
Re: How to hear radio signals?
CB Channel 1 476.425 would be the easiest to listen to up this way.
"VKI, NJ050 will you be attending the job?"
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
Re: How to hear radio signals?
.. only if you can handle a bit of 'blue' language (ok, alot of it...)yorky wrote:CB Channel 1 476.425 would be the easiest to listen to up this way.
Re: How to hear radio signals?
Doesn't look like it. I think my batteries are overcharged, the multimeter reads 1.3V instead of 1.2V so I'll let them run down a bit and see what happens.robbage wrote:There may have been a battery leak which has caused damage. It will be fairly obvious if you can get a sighted person to check it out. There will be ugly brown stains and rust.
Yes, but not able to scan properly for signals because of the power issue. Will resolve this first and see what happens.As for reception, maybe try tuning to one of the UHF CB repeaters (channel 1 and 4 I think) as see if you can get them. I'm not sure which one is the north repeater. Are you just using the rubber ducky antenna?
Re: How to hear radio signals?
1.2V is the minimum, not normal operating.
1.3V is almost out of juice.
When charged expect them at a normal'ish 1.5V (the same as a fresh alkaline).
EDIT: I stand corrected.
1.3V is almost out of juice.
When charged expect them at a normal'ish 1.5V (the same as a fresh alkaline).
EDIT: I stand corrected.
Last edited by yorky on Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"VKI, NJ050 will you be attending the job?"
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
"Negative VKI, my desk is bolted to the floor".
WARSUG General Scanning Moderator
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 2993
- Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:06 am
- Amateur callsign: VK6UFO_VK6RN
- Scanners and Receivers:
Scanners/receivers
Diamond Welz WS1000 wideband handheld
Radioshack Pro 28 handheld
Uniden UBC72XLT handheld
Uniden UBC73XLT handheld
Uniden UBC330CRS desktop
Two-way
Yaesu VX-3R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wideband RX handheld
Yaesu FT-1802M 2m Ham TRX mobile x 2
Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-208H 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile
Icom IC-706MKIIG all-band all-mode Ham TRX mobile
Icom IC-V85 2m VHF Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-679P VHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
Wouxun KG-713 UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld - Location: Just on the border of your waking mind
Re: How to hear radio signals?
1.3V is good for rechargeable NiCD and NiMH batteries. 1.2V is the nominal voltage. They should never charge to 1.5V. You can get them to around 1.4v but that will drop back down as soon as you start using them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-cadmium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_metal-hydride
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel-cadmium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_metal-hydride
You don't need to scan to check if a frequency works. Just enter the frequency and listen in... turn down the squelch if you can't hear anything for a while. Hopefully this will give you an idea whether it's receiving OK.XaDvAnT wrote:Yes, but not able to scan properly for signals because of the power issue. Will resolve this first and see what happens.
Rob
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two
OF78WD
Amateur moderator
.
→Arguing with a fool proves there are two