PCR-100 and TrunkPCR

[CODE03]

Does anyone who uses this foftware have a quick tutorial for programming?

I can get individual freqs to program via the front panel of the software, but I can't seem to find a spot to type in all freqs in a single bank, and name them at the same time.

Any help would be appreciated!

[GreatLakes]

Originally Posted by CODE03

Does anyone who uses this foftware have a quick tutorial for programming?

I can get individual freqs to program via the front panel of the software, but I can't seem to find a spot to type in all freqs in a single bank, and name them at the same time.

Any help would be appreciated!

I'm using it, and without full documentation it is confusing. Currently I'm programing it by just importing selected systems from RR's database, like you can do with Butel's, and Starr's software. It works great! Have you tried it? Would that method be satisfactory to do what you're trying to do?

[CODE03]

Originally Posted by GreatLakes

I'm using it, and without full documentation it is confusing. Currently I'm programing it by just importing selected systems from RR's database, like you can do with Butel's, and Starr's software. It works great! Have you tried it? Would that method be satisfactory to do what you're trying to do?

Not all of the frequencies I use are in the RR database, and they aren't in the correct order.

I may give it a try to see if I can manupulate things around, but I'd reaaly like to be able to program from a screen of some sort.

Thanks.

[Tweekerbob]

Try this:

1. Goto Edit and Add Bank.

2. Then (if necessary) click on the tab for the newly created bank. You can rename the tag by going into the Bank Name in the black section on top and double clicking that to type over what is already in there.

3. Your newly created bank only has one channel in it. Enter the frequency and hit "E" on they keypad then store. Make sure all of the other parameters like Mode, if filter settings, etc. are the way you want them before hitting store.

4. Now go to edit and hit Add Channel. Now the bank has two channels. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until your bank has the proper number of channels.

You can use the UP and DOWN buttons toward the center bottom, to scroll though the channels to ensure they are all programmed correctly.

[GreatLakes]

There is some limited on-line documentation for TrunkPCR here:
http://members.cox.net/fiftyone.50/T...nkPcrHelp.html

[CODE03]

Thanks for the advice.

I did manage to load via the database here at RR, but now I'm having problems with the radio missing active channels.

I see the 'busy' indicator light up, but it passes the channel on by. I also notice the squelch and volume controls seem to change by themselves when I have the software minimized. Another issue is volume. If I have it up all the way, the volume level is very poor. I'm using a Moto external speaker which works just fine on another radio.

I'm using trunk PCR, and I only have conventional programmed. Would I be better off using another software package for conventional?

I'd like to try PCR-1000 software if anyone has it for WinXP.

[GreatLakes]

Originally Posted by CODE03

Thanks for the advice.

I did manage to load via the database here at RR, but now I'm having problems with the radio missing active channels.

I see the 'busy' indicator light up, but it passes the channel on by. I also notice the squelch and volume controls seem to change by themselves when I have the software minimized. Another issue is volume. If I have it up all the way, the volume level is very poor. I'm using a Moto external speaker which works just fine on another radio.

I'm using trunk PCR, and I only have conventional programmed. Would I be better off using another software package for conventional?

I'd like to try PCR-1000 software if anyone has it for WinXP.

I'm just learning TrunkPCR myself, so I'm not going to be much help with that. Have you tried contacting the developer on the Yahoo link?

As for the volume level, make sure you have the Icom configured for "Speaker", and not "Line". I think that will solve the volume problem.

I have the original Icom software for the PCR-100 that will run on XP if you need that. I also have the Icom software for the PCR-1000, that will work with the PCR-100.

PM me your email address if you'd like me to send it.

[blueline_308]

Im sure that I will step on some toes here...but here goes. It is my opinion, based on using every piece of software that I can get my hands on for my Icoms ( 1 1500 and 4 100's), that TrunkPCR is over-rated. It is a royal pain to add channels and banks...and it is...well...just strange, the process that you have to go through to do things. Anyway, no matter what other software I use, I seem to go back to the original Icom SW. The only other SW that I like is TalkPCR, which I like much better than TrunkPCR. It has some nice logging features and is MUCH easier to add channels and banks. There is a yahoo group for it...and guess what...its free now.

It is my suggestion, that if you dont wanna use the Icom SW, then use TalkPCR, unless you need to do trunking, then you have to use TrunkPCR...unless you wanna use UniTrunker with two radios...which works well by the way...but can be bothersome to get used to due to its DOS like interface.

Jim

[GreatLakes]

Originally Posted by blueline_308

Im sure that I will step on some toes here...but here goes. It is my opinion, based on using every piece of software that I can get my hands on for my Icoms ( 1 1500 and 4 100's), that TrunkPCR is over-rated.
Jim

It is somewhat awkward at times, and not having complete documentation doesn't help. But we have to remember it's a work-in-progress. I registered the package just a few weeks ago, and have already received three updates. It keeps getting better, and it gives us something to look forward to with each new release. It's a very complex piece of software because it does so much. It doesn't appear that way on the surface, but as you learn it, you keep finding new things.

Like you however, I often rely on Icom's original software much of the time.

[CODE03]

Great Lakes, you have a PM from me.

Thank you!

[CrazyCalifornian]

It's a very complex piece of software because it does so much. It doesn't appear that way on the surface, but as you learn it, you keep finding new things.

Like you however, I often rely on Icom's original software much of the time.

Yep, TrunkPCR is a complex program, maybe it takes a complex person to understand, operate and program it
To me, it's very easy to use... I wrote it to act like an enhanced scanner radio, not to duplicate the operation of talkpcr...

A quick way of entering frequencies (after you have created a New Bank), is to use the Frequency Selector under the Controls Menu. Dial in the new frequency with the correct mode & filter, then click the Edit->Add Channel menu (F5 Key). You can then double-click the channel description to edit it... Pretty easy, really...

Regards,
Jay

[CrazyCalifornian]

Originally Posted by blueline_308

TrunkPCR is over-rated. It is a royal pain to add channels and banks...and it is...well...just strange, the process that you have to go through to do things
.

Jim

Hey Jim,

How would you say it's over-rated? And where? I'd like to see these wonderful comments about my program...

Instead of complaining, why not suggest a way to make it easier for someone like you to operate it...

Jay

[blueline_308]

I don't have any suggestions for the author of TrunkPCR. It is payware, and I simply choose not to use it. I was giving my opinion on what SW works best for me. If the TrunkPCR author wants suggestion on how to make his payware better, then he should pay for such suggestions. I gladly help freeware authors.

[CrazyCalifornian]

Oh, ok... You don't give comments on programs that you have bought or donated to, I see... So I guess you didn't use talkpcr until it became totaly free?

And to correct your mistake, TrunkPCR isn't payware, it's freeware with the option to donate if you like it People don't have to send a donation to use it...
1 out of 4 users out of the 500+ users who use it have donated. You are the only one I've heard of that has an *issue* with it... I think 1 out of 500+ is pretty good odds

You still haven't said why you think it's over-rated.
And if you don't use it, how can you say it's over-rated or difficult to use ???
Maybe you haven't gotten past the learning curve yet...

You sound lile a movie critic who hasn't even seen the movie

I'll send you a penny for your thoughts LOL

Jay

[mtindor]

I didn't pay for it. I didn't get to use it enough yet. And I probably won't have my PCR long enough when it gets back from its loan to my friend.

IF the program allows you to store frequencies in memory banks, in the short time that I got to use it I didn't figure out how to do that. So, in that respect, if it supports putting frequencies in memory banks to scan, it's very difficult to grasp.

Does that make it a bad program? No. The author doesn't charge for it. If I were to continue to use it I'd certainly give a donation. Are there a ton of other better programs out there? No. So basically if you don't want TrunkPCR you are left with maybe one or two other options if you want to trunk with it. And i don't think any of those are superior.

To hold it against somebody because they would want some money for a program is downright selfish. If it wasn't free and if he wanted $100 dollars for it, I'd say that would be extreme for a program to operate a PCR-100... may not be extreme if it handles all goodies on all PCRs including the highest end one (and maybe it does work with it).

Bottom line is that nobody deserves a free lunch. And in the world of scanner/receiver control, you are hard pressed to find extremely full featured software for any device for free. In fact, some people actually write software for these devices specifically because they see that there are no other options out there... they may not particularly want to write the software but do for themselves... Then they realize that others may be interested in it. No reason for them to get a little compensation for it considering it was their time and effort put into writing it.

i recently got back into the amateur radio hobby - and I'm interested in digital modes. I probably installed 25 programs in the past two weeks. A few were free... many were demo (time-limited) versions. But rest assured as I find ones I like, I'll be sending out the money because somebody deserves paid to provide me with enjoyment... they write the software, I don't.... and I couldn't work the digital modes without their software. Similarly, I couldn't trunk with the PCR-100 without software like CrazyCali's or rfmobile's. If I want to do that, I'll pay them some money for the convenience and effort.

Mike

[CODE03]

Originally Posted by CrazyCalifornian

Yep, TrunkPCR is a complex program, maybe it takes a complex person to understand, operate and program it
To me, it's very easy to use... I wrote it to act like an enhanced scanner radio, not to duplicate the operation of talkpcr...

A quick way of entering frequencies (after you have created a New Bank), is to use the Frequency Selector under the Controls Menu. Dial in the new frequency with the correct mode & filter, then click the Edit->Add Channel menu (F5 Key). You can then double-click the channel description to edit it... Pretty easy, really...

Regards,
Jay

Jay;

Thanks for the heads up on entering frequencies. Perhaps I'll try your program again in the near future.

I do suggest that you put out a tutorial on getting started with your program. It would make it easier on those of us who aren't programming wizards.

[CrazyCalifornian]

Yes, a help file with tutorial is very much needed. There have been two users who were going to help create one, but as the complexity grew, they got a bit overwhelmed and stopped... There is a small bit of help on the help page to get someone started, but that's about as far as I got with it...

One of these weekends, I'll sit down and finish it...
Reminds me of creating a book report in school, something I always didn't like doing

Jay