InterceptRadio.com Forums

ok so I recently moved to downtown Bellevue(old town area) from another part of Bellevue. I guess I was closer to the radio towers out Issaquah way, because my reception is garbage now. can someone list the freqs for the Norcomm system. I've never heard such horrible reception on this system. I DO get Seattle perfectly now though. Haha, so i guess it's a give and take sorta move. Was just hoping to get the current list of Norcomm freqs so I can re-program this system and see what happens. Any Ideas/suggestions as to why my reception is so crappy? Using 2 pro-97's with RS 800 Mhz antennas.

If you were to look at an elevation map, you're smack in the lowland area of the surrounding hills. I believe the EPSCA towers are from Cougar mountain. You should be able to monitor at least some of EPSCA (the main PD/FIre channels) from the Columbia Tower site. You may need an outdoor antenna to get EPSCA reliably. The good thing is that a full-wavelength 866Mhz is pretty small and virtually invisible. Put one up on top of a piece of 10ft PVC on your deck. (Paint it to look like the outside of the building.)

We have a page with the locations of all the transmitters and an interactive map of those locations.

Thanks guys, kinda figured I might be in a "dead" zone. Will see what i get reception wise when i get my outdoor antenna set up.

to be fair no living creature that we know of can "see" RF so its fair to say its actually invisible :mrgreen:


and as for a dead spot, likely just your programming and antenna situation. try using a 800mhz antenna to eliminate overload from other frequency's look for the thread on here for 800mhz base station antennas that if you put near a window anywhere in bellevue you will get reception. also anyone at that meetup that Taco just put up would help make sure your stuff is correct.

have a friendly officer show up at your door if he can call dispatch to say your just a crazy then you know you arnt in a dead spot :mrgreen:

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

I live in Bellevue and have no issues hearing the Seattle simulcast site on my 346T.

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flickr | mikegilbertphotography.com

I've got my outdoor antenna set-up and going. Uniden BC 780XLT connected to that. ALL 800 Mhz trunked stuff is dead on that as well. i can get Kitsap county Cencom and S.O. perfectly but no local trunked stuff. My pro-97's get the Bellevue system randomly and weakly at best. Although I do have Seattle programmed into both 97's and receive that system pretty well. Just sucks that I'm in a "bowl" so to speak. Thought being so close to downtown Bellevue I'd have almost the opposite effect, an overload so to speak. :|

@Mike Gilbert, I'm thinking it's my location. I'm kinda in a "bowl" down by Meydenbauer Bay.

Moose, what did you use for an outdoor antenna?

I haven't been to my friend's place recently - he lives on 102nd Ave SE - very close to the 'Bay there. I honestly can't remember, but I could swear that my reception from my mobile BCT-15 was fine and I only use a 1/4w antenna on top of the roof (it's barely 4" tall.)

If I get a chance I'll sneak over that way and test it out. We went down to Chism park not too long ago but I don't think I had my scanner on that time. That whole area is stuck behind a pretty good size hill.

Columbia Tower is probably line-of-sight to you so that would explain why you're getting Seattle so well.

Here's an interesting terrain view of Bellevue. You can clearly see the dip there around the 'Bay:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=bellevue+ ... CB4Q8gEwAA

nickcarr, I'm using the RS 800 mhz trunking antennas on the Pro-97's and the BC 780XLT is connected to a 1/4 wave ground plane. I've had this same antenna for close to 10 years. Never had any receive issues with it.In fact it's always been able to pull good signal. It's still in fine working order. it's outside on my deck on a 5 foot mast. the deck is at least 2nd story level. I receive great conventional freqs using it.(Kitsap co, Island co, Skagit co, Whatcom co) Like you said there is a pretty decent hill around this little "bay" area. I'm pretty sure I'm just in a crappy zone as far as getting a signal in. On my Pro-97's i can get somewhat better reception of both the Norcomm and King Co/Val-com and Seattle systems if I move around in my place and If i go outside onto the back deck. Just baffles me as to why the base antenna won't even grab a trunking signal. I'm thinking location,location,location is my nemesis.

also @nickcarr, I'm on 101st ave SE.

well, I was able to improve my trunking reception by utilizing my RS mag-mount scanner antenna outside. I have a small deck off my office/scanning room that is close to roof level. I was able to stick the mag-mount on a piece of aluminum that anchors the fireplace vent/stovepipe to the roof. It's above or equal to roof line now.A much better reception over even my 1/4 ground plane.

How sturdy is the deck railing? The antenna I have weighs about 20 lbs and is over 10 feet long... I just found it on my aluminum pile, don't know why I set it there... a genuine DB 809-Y I think... label is a bit faded, but shows 869-896 Mhz :mrgreen:

Price? I can't imagine what a "hobbyist" would want with a "professional"
antenna :bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl: :bowrofl:


Keep in mind the radome is a chunk of fiberglass that would cost a few hundred dollars if you had to buy one "new"...

Eric
KB7DQH

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That is how the people at DARPA think. they take things and use them in unconventional ways, to see what happens.