Getting to a talkgroup on Pro 93

[mcooke]

I have a Pro 93 and can't figure out how to go directly to a talkgroup. I like to monitor Portland Oregon fire but I have to wait until someone transmits before I can lock on to the talkgroup for their fire dispatch. Is there a way to go directly to that talkgroup without having to wait for a transmission to lock on to? Thanks.

 

[gmclam]

The PRO-93 is the same as the PRO-95 but with less memory/channel capacity. As far as I know there is no way to wait for a trunked channel. As you stated, you must wait for a transmission, then press and hold TRUNK until the scanner beeps. I've also found that the "hold" above is only good until the control channel is switched to a different frequency (the scanner will not search for a new control channel in that mode).

However, on the PRO-97 there is a way to do what you want. Navigate to the correct bank. Press FUNC TRUNK. Navigate to the correct TalkGroup ID. Then press FUNC TRUNK again. But here again I've found bugs in this and apparently you must first scan long enough for the scanner to have found the control channel in the bank BEFORE performing the above.

 

[mcooke]

Thanks for the reply.... I was getting tired of repeatedly searching the manual to figure out how to do it. I can always lock out all the other talkgroup ID's but it's probably easier to just keep doing what I'm doing.

 

[wayatsi05]

You mean pause on a talkgroup without waiting for it to become active?

While you're scanning the trunked system you want:
Press "MAN"
Press "PGM" then ""T" (trunk)
Use the up and down arrows to scroll to the talkgroup you want to hold on.
Press "F" (function) then "T" (trunk); you will be holding on the talkgroup.

 

[gmclam]

We want to do this on a PRO-93!

You mean pause on a talkgroup without waiting for it to become active?
While you're scanning the trunked system you want:
Press "MAN"
Press "PGM" then ""T" (trunk)
Use the up and down arrows to scroll to the talkgroup you want to hold on.
Press "F" (function) then "T" (trunk); you will be holding on the talkgroup.

The above does NOT work on a PRO-93 or PRO-95. And for it to work on a PRO-97 you must press FUNC TRUNK NOT PGM TRUNK in step 2.

 

[gmclam]

PRO-93/PRO-95 trunked systems

Thanks for the reply.... I was getting tired of repeatedly searching the manual to figure out how to do it. I can always lock out all the other talkgroup ID's but it's probably easier to just keep doing what I'm doing.

It really depends on exactly what you're trying to do. If there is a specifc TG you're always trying to lock onto, you can perhaps put it into its own sub-group and then turn off the other sub groups. That would be easier than locking out all the other channels. Another idea would be to duplicate the talkgroup in another bank but only program in the one TG you want. Then just switch banks when you want this one specific TG.

 

[DickH]

I have a Pro 93 and can't figure out how to go directly to a talkgroup. I like to monitor Portland Oregon fire but I have to wait until someone transmits before I can lock on to the talkgroup for their fire dispatch. Is there a way to go directly to that talkgroup without having to wait for a transmission to lock on to? Thanks.

The best way to do it is to put the fire talk groups in a bank by themselves, then just push that bank number to turn them on and off.
Since the PRO-93 will do control channel only trunking, just put in the 4 control channels in a separate bank; 858.7125, 858.7375, 859.2625 & 859.4625.

 

[mcooke]

That's a good idea... then I can store only the fire talkgroup ID, set it to closed, and it will only hit on the fire tap out talkgroup. By the way, I had no idea until a couple of days ago that I only needed to enter the control channels... I had entered all of them. I guess it pays to read the manual.

 

[mcooke]

DickH.... I checked in the database section and noticed that there are bunch more control and alternate control frequencies than the four you listed. How sure are you that I only need to enter those four and not the rest? Thanks... Mike

 

[DickH]

DickH.... I checked in the database section and noticed that there are bunch more control and alternate control frequencies than the four you listed. How sure are you that I only need to enter those four and not the rest? Thanks... Mike

The 4 simulcast sites all use the same 4 control channel freqs. They transmit everything on the system. You only need to monitor them.
The others you see are Intellirepeater sites for filling in difficult areas. You'll also note that there are just a few freqs. on each of those 9 sites. Only units affiliated with those sites activate them.

 

[gmclam]

The best way to do it is to put the fire talk groups in a bank by themselves, then just push that bank number to turn them on and off..

I guess "best" depends on your point of view. Yes, the method you describe is the EASIEST to operate, but IMO that is not the "best". What you are suggesting is that the user dedicate 2 banks to the same trunked system; one with fire and one without. This will cause a delay in receiving transmissions.

An example; program PD in bank 0 and fire in bank 1. The control channel frequencies are programmed into both banks. While scanning bank 0, a fire TG has a conversation. The scanner checks bank 0 and ignores the TG. Eventually the scanner moves on to bank 1. Hopefully the conversation is still taking place and the scanner will find it. If not, it will scan banks 2-9 before starting over. This is why there are sub groups within each bank.

 

[mcooke]

I did what DickH suggested and programmed Portland's 800 system into bank 3 and entered only the talkgroups for Portland Firetap and 4 of the ops channels. I used only the four control frequencies he gave me. It works great. When I just want to listen to Portland fire all I do is scan bank 3. If I want Portland police in the mix I scan bank 2 where I have both PF and PPD talkgroups entered. If I want Clark County, WA I scan bank 1. It would have been much easier however If I could have just manually entered the talkgroup ID for which I want to hold on and have the scanner go there manually.