CLMRN (Returning to Scanning)

[jb872033]

New-used scanner here. I used to listen pretty often but fell out of scanning for a while. I picked up a 436HP recently and started listening again. Am I correct in the assumption that if I do not want to listen to everything in the CLMRN system that, in Sentinel, I would just expand that system and append to a favorites list the specific department or troop I want to hear? Also, taking this one step further, could I do the same with specific talk groups if I wanted?

TIA for any info and I apologize if I missed this information in a previous thread. I just did a quick search.

 

[6079smithw]

Yes on both counts. Sentinel takes some learning but once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's pretty versatile...

 

[n1chu]

Agree with 6079smithw. Wondering what results you got trying to answer your questions before you posted? Your thought process was spot on and trying what you thought would work would have proven this… making your query unnecessary. Remember to choose both only the TG’s AND the sites on CLMRN. No sense in using every site in the state if you only want certain troops to play. I have mine set to scan only the Troop L and H sites… it helps speed up the scanning process by cutting down on the scan time, only looking at frequencies used by the two troops instead of the entire system.

 

[jb872033]

The result was no results. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I made a favorites list of some of the things I'd like to hear locally and I didn't hear any traffic. But if I know I'm doing that part right, there must be an error elsewhere.

 

[n1chu]

Remember to set “Select Service Types” for each and every system you program… if you use the easier download process through Sentinel (or aftermarket software such as Butel) it will automatically include these selections. But if you are manually programming, it won’t.

 

[cg]

Depending on when you last monitored the system, there were changes made several years ago that make the scanner you are using much less effective on P25 Phase 2 systems such as CLMRN.
I wouldn't spend a bunch of time making custom files until you are confident that you will be able to hear it properly.
Cromwell should pick up Troop H or F OK from Rocky Hill site.
Try programming 774.53125 in a new system and choose ID Search
The scanner will know the other channels as needed. Don't worry about what you hear, first you want to be sure the scanner can handle the simulcast system where you are located.
There are dozens of threads about issues with simulcast systems and the older scanners.

chris

 

[n1chu]

Chris,

You write “changes made several years ago that make the scanner you are using much less effective on P25 Phase 2 systems such as CLMRN”, wondering what you are referring to-guessing it’s simulcast related?

Would I get the same results you mention using 774.53125 control channel if I added it to my current Troop H and set it to ID Search? Just wondering why I don’t hear any activity on I-84 when the Farmington Fire Depts are called out on the highway. There have been occasions where I’ve passed the FD and SP on I-84, with the FD being the only comms that have alerted me to activity-nothing heard on SP.

 

[n1chu]

Further on my results;

I have both SDS100 & SDS200. I entered the new control channel only in the SDS200 and locked it down on that frequency. Both scanners are programmed the same, the exception being the new control channel is only in the SDS200. I do hear Troop H Dispatch 1 on both scanners so I guess I’m just missing the dispatches even though I prioritized Troop H.

 

[cg]

It is not a new control channel, it is the same one since the 700 MHz expansion. I was trying to get the person that posted the thread to first verify reception and hearing traffic before spending a bunch of time setting up a scanner that may have less than acceptable reception.

 

[n1chu]

👍