Decimal Format

[kellec4]

Just got a new digital scanner (pro 197). I know zero about these new digital scanner tech and have a few questions.
1. Just curious what the decimal format means. My city is digital and when looking up frequency on this site, I see this under "DEC"---"this is the talkgroup in the decimal format. Decimal format is used for programming"---------what does this mean and how do I put those codes (ex. 25648) in? I would like to listen to specific frequencies until I get the thing programmed. I am used to an old (10 years) scanner from radio shack that you simply scan or punch-in a specific freq.


2. A more broad question. What do I need and how do I, program this scanner?
Sorry for being ignorant on this subject but I need help.

[dd364]

The best thing to do is download the progarming software.I use the arc 500 but theres others that work just as good.You can download a 30 day free trial from scannermaster.com.You also need the usb interface cable.You can get that from radio shack.The program will let you import all your frequencies directly from this site so you don't need to figure out how to do it manually.

[qlajlu]

Welcome to RR.com, kellec4. You are in for an abrupt wake-up call. Gone are the "plug n play" days of scanning. Today's scanners are mini computers with a Central Processing Unit and the whole nine yards and your scanner is at the top of the line. You can no longer just turn it on and listen. You are going to need to study so you can understand new concepts. I recommend you begin with Trunking Basics. (Anything in blue and underlined is a clickable link.)

Originally Posted by kellec4

Just got a new digital scanner (pro 197). I know zero about these new digital scanner tech and have a few questions.
1. Just curious what the decimal format means. My city is digital and when looking up frequency on this site, I see this under "DEC"---"this is the talkgroup in the decimal format. Decimal format is used for programming"---------what does this mean and how do I put those codes (ex. 25648) in? I would like to listen to specific frequencies until I get the thing programmed. I am used to an old (10 years) scanner from radio shack that you simply scan or punch-in a specific freq.

Instead of using frequencies to hear your favorite agencies, you listen to Talk Groups (TGs). These TGs are identified by a DEC notation (that means Decimal) which humans understand more readily. They can also be identified in HEX notation (Hexadecimal) which the scanner understands but is difficult for humans to identify without a calculator, so DEC format is the one used almost exclusively.

Once you understand Trunking, you will see what I'm talking about.

2. A more broad question. What do I need and how do I, program this scanner?
Sorry for being ignorant on this subject but I need help.

Do not be sorry for not knowing this stuff. It is heavy. No one will fault you for asking questions, but you must ask informed questions which means you need to do some studying. You will never be ridiculed for ANY question you ask, however. There are people here that are ready, willing, and very able to answer your questions. Read your owner's manual to get as much information as possible. There is an easier to read manual here that may help.

You can program your scanner manually, but that is very tedious. It is strongly recommended that you get a programming cable (the 20-047 cable from RS, or the 30-3290 cable from GRE).

You should also get programming software.

You will find the software recommended here:

1. WIN500 (My personal favorite)
2. PSREdit500
3. ARC Software by Butel

All the software offered have a 30-day trial free trial period so you can try each one and select the one that best suits your needs.

In order to access the RR Database through your software, you will need a Premium Subscription to RR.com.

If you should decide to use WIN500 (my recommendation), you will find an illustrated "tutorial" with step-by-step instructions here to help you program your scanner.

Again, welcome. There is a lot of information on this Web site. Explore it and find out what is available, study, and ask questions.

[kellec4]

Thanks for the responses. Any help is greatly appreciated as I am learning a new language here. I will get a cable today and look into downloading the software.
I did go thru the manual but I might as well been reading Chinese.

Once I get software, how do I find frequencies for my area? Is that only obtained from the premium subscription that qlajlu mentioned? Like I mentioned, I found SOME frequencies or I guess its called talk groups, listed in decimal notation--will the software put those in or do I manually enter?

Lastly, I mentioned that one of the cities in my area has gone digital, will that make any difference? Like I said, I have a pro 197--which SAYS its digital and according to this site--the city is a trunked digital system that is not encrypted.

[qlajlu]

Originally Posted by kellec4

Thanks for the responses. Any help is greatly appreciated as I am learning a new language here. I will get a cable today and look into downloading the software. I did go thru the manual but I might as well been reading Chinese.

Don't feel bad. GRE makes the PSR-500, PSR-600, and the Pro-106 and Pro-197 for Radio Shack. Their introduction of what we refer to as the GRE 500 family also introduced a different type of scanner programming called Object Oriented Scanning which was/is a radical change from the old Bank type scanning we have become familiar with. All of us have had the same frustrations you are facing now. That is why I linked the easier to read manual, although I personally didn't find it all that much easier. It really does take some hard studying on your part to understand this concept.

Once I get software, how do I find frequencies for my area? Is that only obtained from the premium subscription that qlajlu mentioned? Like I mentioned, I found SOME frequencies or I guess its called talk groups, listed in decimal notation--will the software put those in or do I manually enter?

The RR Database has this information. Go to the Database (link found on the top blue bar on any page) and click on your state. When that new page opens, on the left side you will see "Trunked Systems." Click on that and you will see all the Trunked Systems this Web site knows about in your state. The trick here is to know which system you want to listen to. Click on that system and scroll down. You will find a large section which has all kinds of frequencies showing and if it is Motorola, these will mostly be in the 800 MHz band. These are the frequencies used by the trunking system. Below that is a section with all the talk groups that use those frequencies.

You will notice all the frequencies are broken into Sites. Those are transmitter sites and you will need to know the site that best covers your area that your scanner can pick up. Knowing this is very important for programming a site that is way over in Timbuktu is only going to take up memory in your scanner and not give you any benefit.

Here, again, knowing how trunking works is why I recommended you read "Trunking Basics."

All the software is engineered to extract the information you will need from the Database during the import process, but you will have to make many choices to guide the software to the data you will need to import.

Lastly, I mentioned that one of the cities in my area has gone digital, will that make any difference? Like I said, I have a pro 197--which SAYS its digital and according to this site--the city is a trunked digital system that is not encrypted.

The GRE 500 family of scanners has gained a great reputation for being one of the best receivers of digital transmissions. You have not gone wrong in your selection of a Pro-197.