Deer in the headlights

[Texvet]

Well - I have my new Pro96, subscribed to Radio Reference, downloaded Win96 have a data cable.

And I am sitting here looking at the screen like a Deer stairing at a set of headlights!!!! I don't have any idea what to do next. I am overwhelmed!!!!!!

I need some live help - please -

Brad

 

[KE5BCP]

In Win96:
File > Web Import > RadioReference.com > (choose type of system)

 

[mike_webb59]

I usually do a little of planning. In Texas, I find that I can expect to monitor one county + every county that it borders.

I also know that there are usually County Sheriffs, City Police, TX DPS Regions; maybe I want to break Fire/Rescue from Police.

I go to the RR Database and figger out how many TRS (Trunked Systems) I can plan to monitor. TRS's don't seem to travel as far as Conventional Frequencies, I think about 10 miles for TRS and up to 25 miles for a repeater system.

Hint: you can break up a large TRS with many talkgroups by creating identical banks and splitting out TGIDs.

Hint: for MOT II (800Mhz) you need only program the control channels, usually colored in red and blue.

Hint: come up with a standard for contractions: "PD" for Police, "FD" for Fire, "EMS" for rescue, "CO" for County, "CIT" for City, "SO" for Sheriff's Office, etc. Instead of TAC-1 save a space and go with TAC1.

Hint if you have a multi-line display, use it. Label the group or bank and then sublabel the frequency.

Hint go ahead and label the TRS voice channels with something to remind you which TRS it is.

Hint: you can "mix and match" conventional and TRS channels. Just program the TRS as directed and then use remaining channels in the bank for the FM frequencies.

The best thing is to load up on frequencies and start refining. Start scanning and "read back" locked or attenuated channels and fiddle with it until it works. I have many, many files with ...v2; ...v3; etc as I found a better way to organize it. to my liking. I start with a spreadsheet and then massage into ScanCat.

HTH, Mike

 

[VintageJon]

Me, maybe I stupid, just type all the freqs I want with all the IDs I want into the WIN96 and save then "down-load to scanner".

This lets me title it whatever I want, like "Austin PD" or "Travis TRS", or " LCRA", or "Air",
or "S.A. MilAir", or "Austin Open", or "APD NARC", or whatever I have in that file. Have Houston, San Antone, Galveston, Williamson County, Camp Mabry, and all kinds of suff.

I think this is the most "custom" way to do it.
All data from the RR Data Base, except "Owls and Martins" that is from a post in the RR Forum. (Hey I'm one of the few Owl and Martin Birdwatchers....)

73's,
Jon

 

[mike_webb59]

If you look at this page http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=16 you would program data from the "Frequency," "tone," and "CH" Columns. These are all 'conventional' frequencies.

For a primer on CTSS Tones: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/CTCSS

In the first part is a table (sorta) titled "Simplex Frequencies" that you could program as conventional channels as well -- these are cross-patches or "links" into the TRS.

the Wiki reference for trunking basics: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking_Basics#Trunking

If you look at this page http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2 -- this is Trunked Radio System using APCO-25. I think the 96 can decode digital. On this page, you scroll down to "System Frequencies," select one of the systems that is in your range and program the frequencies in as channels. You may only need to red/blue frequencies (control channels). Then following your documentation or software, program the Talkgroup ID and an alpha tag for the talkgroups you would want displayed in alpha format. Here DEC or HEX and DISPLAY values are what you use.

And the Wiki for your scanner: http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-96

Also check the RR Database for nearby Texas cities and counties, you should be able to get some of the LCRA systems, Texas DPS and others.

Good luck, Mike