So, Manny, I'm guessing the 197 was a heckuva price and that's what made you get it? Knowing that you're a Uniden fan makes that the only possible explanation, IMHO. The difference in how each brand of scanner sets up (banks and channels vs. system, groups) makes the Uniden the winner here. Hope you can return it and get your money back.
Russell
P.S. I see a new 996XT on fleabay $404.99 w/free shipping - now that's a deal, no?
Yes Russell! It was the price that drew me in! I have always taken pride in that I am fair with my choices in scanners. I have owned both GRE and Uniden in the past 30 plus years I have been scanning. Heck, I still have my ridiculously modified Pro-2006 which as everyone knows is made by GRE. I love my 396XT portable and was looking for a base model for the home strictly to monitor the CSP. I never imagined the differences in programing between Uniden and GRE for trunking were so different. I was able to return it. 996XT coming soon! and yes, $404.09 is a heck of deal.
Uhh, give it one more chance after reading the manual
You only need to enter the control channels. CSP has 15 per the RRDB, not more than 32.
I Tried that and while theoretically it makes sense, it does not work well in reality.
I DID read the manual. In fact, I downloaded the "easier to read" version found on line as well.
I wonder if someone else in your area is using a PRO-197, PRO-106, PSR-500 or PSR-600 and can share their programming file with you. Certainly if you don't program these things correctly, they don't work well. But I'd rather have the flexibility to set things up as needed.
I agree about the silly limitations like 32 cc freqs though. And the fact some Unidens have 100 lists where the typical GRE only has 10 or 20. GRE could easily have 100 if they just forget the whole single key list selection approach (it takes 2 keys anyway for lists about 10).
I worked with a friend of mine who has one and listens to the same CSP system until after midnight trying to get this worked out,nothing! I never had this problem with Uniden trunking scanners.
Manny is plenty familiar with GRE/RS scanners, he doesn't need to "read the manual". :roll:
We don't need no stinkin manuals! :roll:
Unless my color recognition has left me, there are 15 red lettered frequencies. And maybe I'm assuming too much, but I can't imagine that he is receiving all of them at once in his location, even if you count alternates.
Besides the 16 red primary channels there are the 18 blue secondary channels that are just as important to this system. One thing we discovered was that some of the frequencies here on RR database for the CSP are not up to date. I found updated frequencies on Scanning New England. I'm not criticizing or anything, just pointing out what we discovered during this ordeal.
In some systems, the alternates are just as important as the primaries, as they tend to rotate regularly. In some cases the flagging of primary/alternate is totally misleading, as they will rotate often enough that it's unfair to characterize any one frequency as
the primary control channel. So unless you expect him to potentially miss out on tracking a site half of the time, then yeah I guess let's just ignore the alts. :roll:
As far as receiving them all from his location...is he not allowed to travel around the state with his handheld scanner?
That is exactly what was happening! I was missing out on half the stuff that the Uniden 396XT was picking up. I am 450FT. above sea level. I also live withing a nautical mile of a major tower, so reception with back of the set 800 mhz. antennas is NEVER a problem. As I pointed out in my OP, both units have the same antenna and were right next to each other.
The best way to set up a pro197 is by software such as Arc500 or Win500. With this software it is very sinple to program. If you are using a P25 system you only need the control channels and they must be put in the order that they are showing. You do not need anything else. You can also set up the priority channel through the software. Another thing I like about this scanner you can put the S.A.M.E on priority and still scann. The Alert tone will go off then go right back to scanning. Now if I had to program this by hand I would be pulling my hair out. What I suggest is buy the RR program and buy the Win500 software then upload the frequencies into your scanner from RR , Very simple to do and it only takes a few mins to do.
I already own win500 software and it is up to date. Believe me, I would not try this manually!
Try entering the NAC code for the CSP car to car frequencies. Voila the LI analog freqs disappear.
Excellent suggestion, I never thought about the NAC. Well, it's gone now, to be replaced by a brand new 996XT soon. The funny thing is that after all this trouble, I won't have to do anything but clone it with my 396XT and that's that! LOL..
Thanks for all your responses guys!
Manny