Getting Back into the Scanner World POST First Responder

[tormedic]

I could use some help and feedback folks!

I have purchased the following things and live in Haldimand County S/W of Hamilton

1-sds-200 base scanner
2-Tram Model 1411 Scanner Base Antenna
3-SureCall 400 low loss Antenna Cable 50feet
4-5 Foot tripod to mount on my roof
5-10 Foot mast-pipe for the tripod.

Thoughts, suggestions, and feed back are welcomed I am interested in doing this right.

Surge arrestor?

Thanks

Steve Wilton
647-230-7226

 

[rk911]

most, not all, of your county seems to be on the Bell Fleetnet Ontario Provincial Govt - Zone 1 network which is a mix of digital and analog. some of the talkgroups are encrypted which means you can't monitor them. since you're situated between lakes erie and ontario you may be able to hear coast guard and other nautical traffic. strongly suggest you use Sentinel to program your radio but you'll need a paid subscription to Radio Reference in order to download RR database frequencies directly into your radio. it is well worth the $30 annual fee.

lightning protection is a good idea but so is disconnecting the antenna in a storm.

 

[marksmith]

You do not need a subscription to Radioreference to put programming into your radio .

You can use Sentinel to download everything on the radioreference site as often as once a week.

From there. You can build highly customized favorites lists in that software, and upload it directly to your radio.

You also need Sentinel to do any system upgrades to the radio. Its the only way to do it.

You absolutely Do Not need a subscription to radio reference for That radio. I have a subscription because I use it with other radios, but I have owned the SDS100, SDS200, 435 and 535 radios, as well as several HP2 radios since they first came out. I have never ever used the subscription in relation to those radios.

Sentinel does everything in terms of firmware updates and any programming.

I have only used the subscription for radios that don't already have an online and included national database, such as the 996p2 or 325p2.

 

[rk911]

that's my mistake. i also use ARC53 to pgm my 536 desktop.