Best way to manage MPSCS

[bReed11091]

I could use some opinions on managing the MPSCS on my 996 scanner. I have tried several ways to manage the frequencies alone, however some advice on talk group managing would be helpful as well.

This was my previous setup:
All sites entered with every MPSCS frequency on RR input into the scanner.
-Approximate memory usage = 14%
-Sites = 183
-Channels + Talk Groups + System Frequencies = 1222

Between the previous setup and the setup listed below, I tried just putting all of the frequencies (no duplicates) into one system, however I found that this just causes the scan to hang onto the Battle Creek site control channel because it is the only site to scan. This was also very hard to do since the 996 UASD allows only 14 frequencies to be input at once, after that its just copy and paste single frequencies. There were several different approaches I could have taken to fix this, but I chose the one below.

I am now using this setup:
Cut out all duplicate frequencies and cut back on TGID's.
-Approximate memory usage = 2%
-Sites = 14
-Channels + Talk Groups + System Frequencies = 292

The setup above has 14 frequencies per site. That way it is easy to edit if any new frequencies are added. Although there isn't a way to have GPS enabled scanning, it basically scans fast enough that you don't need it. it also solved the hang up problem. That is a significant difference in memory usage as well, and it also takes less time to transfer to the scanner when I need to update.

That's all I have done. Please let me know your ideas.

[GreatLakes]

To begin with, unless you're driving all over the state, and especially if this is a base scanner setup, you don't need to program all the MPSCS sites. You only need to program a few sites that are within your monitoring area.

You do not need to program all the frequencies that are listed for each site. You want to program the ones in red (primary), and blue (alternate). These are the control channels. The ones in black are the voice channels, however your scanner will handle these internally based on instructions provided by the control channels.

Michigan has an overwhelming number of TG's! You really don't need to program all of those either. For starters program the ones that are truly of interest to you. When you scanner stops on a TG, it will display your related text fields. If it stops on a TG you did not program, it will display the TG number, and if need be, you can easily look it up. As time goes on, add the ones that have meaning to you, but I wouldn't try to do them all.

[bReed11091]

I do travel north a lot during the warmer months of the year, however I like to have all sites input in the event I travel to the east side or into the U.P.

So I just need the primary and secondary channels? I was afraid that if I didn't have every frequency input, then it would make screeching sounds like it doesn when you do a custom scan and set it to look for Control Channel Only. If it doesn't then that would save me even more transfer time.

I do have only the TGID's that I want to listen to input into the scanner, but I set it for ID Search since I don't want to miss important things when I'm going up north or to Kalamazoo.

I'm also looking for a way to manage the Consumers Energy EDACS system. If you have advice on this let me know.

[GreatLakes]

Originally Posted by bReed11091

I do travel north a lot during the warmer months of the year, however I like to have all sites input in the event I travel to the east side or into the U.P.

So I just need the primary and secondary channels? I was afraid that if I didn't have every frequency input, then it would make screeching sounds like it doesn when you do a custom scan and set it to look for Control Channel Only. If it doesn't then that would save me even more transfer time.

I do have only the TGID's that I want to listen to input into the scanner, but I set it for ID Search since I don't want to miss important things when I'm going up north or to Kalamazoo.

I'm also looking for a way to manage the Consumers Energy EDACS system. If you have advice on this let me know.

You can still program additional tower/site frequencies, but you don't have to keep them active during a scan while you are at home. Read up in your manual regarding System Quick Keys. They're similar in nature to Banks on any other scanner, but they are programmable as to what they contain.

I'm not certain on the CE EDACS system. I think I did import it at one time, about a year ago using Butel's software, and it just set things up for me. Someone else in the group might be more helpful on that issue.