New To Digital Scanners

[CopyThat]

Hello, I have several questions, but I am not sure how to even ask. Let me try:

First, I am really, really new to the Scanner World so please be patient, as I try to explain what I am trying to do. I do not completly understand Systems, Groups, Channels/TGID within groups etc... yet.

I am trying to set up a SYSTEM just for my drive from Meridian to Boise. My daily commute.

I want to set up a SYSTEM with a SQK that just scans that system. My problem is this: I do not know which agency is using what?? I know you cannot have conventional and trunked in the same SYSTEM.

I just need help setting this up. I can hear Ada County Dispatch, I can hear Boise Police Dispatch.

I cannot hear Idaho State Police, car-to-car for any agency, conversations other than Dispatch from officer to Dispatch.

I can see the frequencies of Ada County Dispatch, Boise Police Dispatch etc.. so for my first SYSTEM would I just choose Conventional and enter their frequencies (what is confusing me is Ada County Dispatch and Boise Police I think are P25)

Also I cannot find any "frequencies for Idaho State Police" for the Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Mtn. Home area. So without the frequencies how can I hear them?

In a nutshell I just want to create TWO SYSTEMS to listen to on the way into work.

From Meridian I want to hear Ada County Dispatch, Meridian Police, and Ada County Sheriff. When I get on the Freeway I want to be able to hear Boise Police and Idaho State Police.

I would assign both these SYSTEM the same SQK and turn them both ON. I would then turn all other systems off.

Can someone show me how to do this??? Which of the two SYSTEMS would contain the conventional frequencies. For the P25 system how do I enter TGID's? or do you have to have the frequency as well.

Does this make sense? "I just want TWO sytems set up that contain Ada County Sheriff, Meridian Police, Boise Police, and Idaho State Police" I just do not know how to set this up. If anyone could show me or send me PM step-by-step that would be much appreciated. Namely the frequencies for Idaho State Police for this area, or show me how to set up their TGID's in one of my systems.

Many Many Thanks!!!!

[thewenk]

Digital scanners have quite a learning curve to understand and program. I would suggest that you download the software program FreeScan (which is free) to program the 396XT. ScanNow.org - The Home of FreeSCAN! and use it to program your scanner.

There may be a learning curve with the software too, but nothing is simple with these new scanners. I suggest you download the program an become familiar with it. See here for help with FreeScan. FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

I have made a FreeScan zipped file for Ada County/Boise which is attached. Download it to your PC and unzip (decompress) it. It must be unzipped before it can be loaded into the scanner. Windows Vista or Xp has built-in software to unzip the file. With the software you can edit the file I made. All of the data in this file was downloaded from the RR database.

The file I made has Ada County conventional frequencies under SQK 1; IIMARS Digital P25 system under SQK 2; State Police SQK 3; and Canyon County SQK 3.

Here is the location of the State Police frequencies. They are not P25 digital. State Police Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

I hope this helps somewhat.



Dave

[CopyThat]

Originally Posted by thewenk

Digital scanners have quite a learning curve to understand and program. I would suggest that you download the software program FreeScan (which is free) to program the 396XT. ScanNow.org - The Home of FreeSCAN! and use it to program your scanner.

There may be a learning curve with the software too, but nothing is simple with these new scanners. I suggest you download the program an become familiar with it. See here for help with FreeScan. FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki

I have made a FreeScan zipped file for Ada County/Boise which is attached. Download it to your PC and unzip (decompress) it. It must be unzipped before it can be loaded into the scanner. Windows Vista or Xp has built-in software to unzip the file. With the software you can edit the file I made. All of the data in this file was downloaded from the RR database.

The file I made has Ada County conventional frequencies under SQK 1; IIMARS Digital P25 system under SQK 2; State Police SQK 3; and Canyon County SQK 3.

Here is the location of the State Police frequencies. They are not P25 digital. State Police Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

I hope this helps somewhat.



Dave

THANK YOU!!!!!!!! a million times!!!!!!!!