How to hear radio signals?

[XaDvAnT]

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.

[yorky]

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

[rustynswrail]

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.

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.

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

[XaDvAnT]

It's a Racing Electronics RE2000 Alpha.

[vk6hgr]

Here's the manual for those who are assisting. It looks like a Uniden clone (?) http://www.racingelectronics.com/re2000manual.pdf

[robbage]

Why would this scanner require tone codes to hear audio? Surely it would only need them to block signals without tone codes

[XaDvAnT]

Why would this scanner require tone codes to hear audio? Surely it would only need them to block signals without tone codes

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.

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!

[robbage]

Check the battery connections and battery condition for the power issue. Can the radio pick up other signals on nearby frequencies?

[XaDvAnT]

Check the battery connections and battery condition for the power issue. Can the radio pick up other signals on nearby frequencies?

It doesn't seem to pick up anything except a faint signal from what sounds like an ethnic radio station on the lower 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.

[robbage]

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.

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?

[yorky]

CB Channel 1 476.425 would be the easiest to listen to up this way.

[Fastlane]

CB Channel 1 476.425 would be the easiest to listen to up this way.

.. only if you can handle a bit of 'blue' language (ok, alot of it...)

[XaDvAnT]

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.

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.

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?

Yes, but not able to scan properly for signals because of the power issue. Will resolve this first and see what happens.

[yorky]

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.

[robbage]

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

Yes, but not able to scan properly for signals because of the power issue. Will resolve this first and see what happens.

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.