Help-A-Noob?

ScannerRookie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 08:54 PM

Hello gang, I picked up a lightly used Pro 96 scanner and now I'm lost!

I stumbled on this site and learned a few things, but I still need some help with programming. I picked up the programming cable from Radio Shack and downloaded the trial version of Win96 to play around with, but I'm not sure where to start. I did manage to find a list of frequencies used in my county, but there is so many of them that it made my head spin!

Here is the list for my county:

Macomb County, Michigan (MI) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

If you guys could be so kind as to give a new guy a hand I would greatly appreciate it!

bubbajms · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 10:33 PM

Hi New Guy!

Well, looking at the list you posted, there are a couple things to set up..

Michigan Public Safety Communications System is a trunking system, it looks like. You'd need to put in the frequencies for the system in your area, plus the talkgroups for who you'd want to hear (county sheriff, for example).

It also looks like the cities of Warren and Centerline have their own radio system, also trunking.

If you've just punched in the frequencies on the main page, without going into the trunking database, you probably wouldn't hear much.. my local counties still have those listed too, but I haven't heard one active in over a year..

You may ask to see if any members live in your area - maybe get someone to show you exactly what to do. There are state forums at the bottom of the forum list, and I'd try there if I were you!

rocksteady · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 10:37 PM

Download butel trial and I've posted a pro96 butel file in the forum for macomb county. Download and install my file and see if that works for you. Here ys go

ScannerRookie · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:27 AM

Thanks for the help rocksteady, I really appreciate it! Two minutes worth of downloads and uploads and I'm already picking up more chatter, definitely a good place for me to start... heck, I just might stick with it!

Bubbajms; going to the regional forum was going to be my next step, fortunately for me rocksteady beat me to the punch! Thanks for your input though, it is much appreciated!