Red Wave Radio

I am a newbie to this whole scanning thing, and have found a couple
different web sites which list the PA State Police frequencies.  In each
case they list either a base and a mobile frequency, or a TX and RX
frequency.  I assumed that this meant that I would hear the dispatch on the
base frequency, and the reply from the mobile unit on the mobile frequency.
While I do hear the dispatcher on base, I never seem to hear the responses
from the mobile units.  This is in spite of the fact that in many cases, the
mobile unit in question is quite close to my location.  I can hear both
sides of conversations from other PDs as far away as New Jersey, so I don't
think it's a signal strength issue.  What am I doing wrong?  Also, what
bearing does the PL number have on things.

Sorry if these are basic questions, but I've read a couple of newbie FAQs on
scanning on the web and here, and have found nothing that addresses these
questions.

Thanks for your help,

--
Bob Mergner

Quote:> Sorry if these are basic questions, but I've read a couple of newbie FAQs
on
> scanning on the web and here, and have found nothing that addresses these
> questions.

I used to live in PA (Pgh area), and I didn't listen to the troopers, but
the few times I tried, I wasn't very sucessful either.
Freq. band plays a part in how far away you hear it, how high your antenna
is, what scanner you are using, etc.  The difference in having a antenna in
the house, and putting a Radio Shack cheapo on the roof 10' high, are
phenomenol (sp?).

I can't answer you question, but I can tell you to try asking either the
local police (asking a city or county cop about state freq. might yield
better results than asking about their own department, or a paramedic, or
fireman), or find someone else using a scanner in your area, and asking
them.  Look for local hams, or visit ham fests in your area.  If you like
scanning, ham radio might interest you anyway :)

Maybe call the main library around you, and asking the research department
(If nothing else, call the Carnegie library in Pgh--they have an *excellent*
research department, and are used to answering simple, to odd, questions.
Many ppl don't realize the large libraries do this :)

Again, I'm sorry I couldn't answer your question directly, but hopefully
I've given you a good start on where to look

Brendan K Callahan  K?EES
Grinnell, IA

Bob K3EZS

B

Quote:>In PA, the base stations are remoted to a high mountain or tower.  That means
>they are
>transmitting and receiving their mobiles from a good location.  The reason you
>hear the
>base stations well is because of the good location.  They can hear their mobiles
>also because
>their receiver is at the same good location.  If you were on a mountain with
>your scanner you
>would hear the mobiles as well as they do.  From what I have heard, they are
>eventually going
>to a digital network (not just trunking) and you won't be able to pick them up
>at all
>anyway.

>Bob K3EZS

>B

Thanks,

Bob