Home Patrol -compare/contrast

[Beaquel]

Ive had a few years of experience under my belt. I started off in college with a Pro-2039 base station if I recall correctly. It did purely analog stuff and no turnking. I then upgraded to a Pro-95 handheld. Never got the hang of trunking, but its really nice to carry it with you. I'm looking at the Home Patrol, but have been keeping a close eye on all these doubters on here. I may swing to a Pro-106 instead. Why do people seem to indicate that the HP1 can't easily scan Railroad, aircraft, CB, Marine or HAM bands? Even my Pro-95 can do that with just a few taps of the right Search keys. Is it really that hard? I'm getting nervous dropping $500 on the HP1 when I can get the Pro-106 for $300 at Radio Shack. Anyone care to explain how the two different types of scanners function when trying to accomplish my above described task? Is it really impossible to just key in a frequency to monitor on the Hp1?

 

[Beaquel]

I don't know if I've answered my own question or not, but here's what I think is true. I gather that the HP-1 cannot scan through a range of frequencies. For example, you can't pick a starting point like 42 kHz and have it scan through 49 kHz if you were trying to listen to an old analog baby monitor or something like that. From what I understand, the frequency has to be defined and in the RR database, or else you can't scan it. Is that true? Is it really not possible to just scan the 127 kHz aircraft band (or Railroad, or Marine, or CB, or HAM)? That seems like a pretty big limitation. How tough is it to make a list of those bands? I really can't believe that a scanner this expensive won't let you scan those bands. Am I missing something here? I get that the HP-1 is a real departure from previous types of scanners, but this functionality seems pretty basic. If I buy this device, I clearly understand that it's only as good as the RR database that gets downloaded into it. What about other frequencies that I want to monitor that may not be in that database? Please try to elaborate on how that would work. Does that stuff get stored under a user created Favorite list? What are the limitations of these type of lists. How do you define them, is it done through the scanner or only possible with 3rd party software. Thanks for all your help.

 

[rwier]

I don't know if I've answered my own question or not, but here's what I think is true. I gather that the HP-1 cannot scan through a range of frequencies.

Wrong, it can

For example, you can't pick a starting point like 42 kHz and have it scan through 49 kHz if you were trying to listen to an old analog baby monitor or something like that.

That is part of the method

From what I understand, the frequency has to be defined and in the RR database, or else you can't scan it. Is that true?

No

Is it really not possible to just scan the 127 kHz aircraft band (or Railroad, or Marine, or CB, or HAM)? That seems like a pretty big limitation. How tough is it to make a list of those bands? I really can't believe that a scanner this expensive won't let you scan those bands. Am I missing something here? I get that the HP-1 is a real departure from previous types of scanners, but this functionality seems pretty basic. If I buy this device, I clearly understand that it's only as good as the RR database that gets downloaded into it.

Not true

What about other frequencies that I want to monitor that may not be in that database? Please try to elaborate on how that would work. Does that stuff get stored under a user created Favorite list?

Yes, and you choose the "step" size, or you can enter each of a list of frequencies.

What are the limitations of these type of lists.

From the Home Patrol Manual:

Appendix B: Band Coverage

Frequency (MHz) Mod (Note 1) Step (kHz) (Note 2) Remark
Lower Upper
25.0000 26.9600 AM 5.0 Petroleum Products & Broadcast Pickup
26.9650 27.4050 AM 5.0 CB Class D Channel
27.4100 27.9950 AM 5 0 Business & Forest Products
28.0000 29.6950 NFM 20.0 10 Meter Amateur Band
29.7000 49.9950 NFM 10.0 VHF Low Band
50.0000 53.9950 NFM 20.0 6 Meter Amateur Band
108.0000 136.9950 AM 8.33 Aircraft Band
137.0000 143.9950 NFM 12.5 Military Land Mobile
144.0000 147.9950 NFM 5.0 2 Meter Amateur Band
148.0000 150.7950 NFM 12.5 Military Land Mobile
150.8000 161.9950 NFM 5.0 VHF High Band
162.0000 173.9950 NFM 12.5 Federal Government
174.0000 215.9950 FM 5.0 TV Broadcast 7 – 13
216.0000 224.9950 NFM 20.0 1.25 Meter Amateur Band
225.0000 379.9950 AM 25.0 UHF Aircraft Band
380.0000 399.9950 NFM 12.5 Military Band
400.0000 405.9950 NFM 12.5 Miscellaneous
406.0000 419.9950 NFM 12.5 Federal Government Land Mobile
420.0000 449.9950 NFM 12.5 70 cm Amateur Band
450.0000 469.9950 NFM 12.5 UHF Standard Band
470.0000 512.0000 NFM 12.5 UHF TV
758.0000 787.9950 NFM 6.25 Public Service Band
788.0000 805.9950 NFM 6.25 Public Service Band
806.0000 823.9875 NFM 12.5 Public Service Band
849.0125 868.9875 NFM 12.5 Public Service Band
894.0125 960.0000 NFM 12.5 Public Service Band

Note 1: Modulation Quick Frequency Entry default settings. Select from AM / FM / NFM. Preprogrammed frequency modulation cannot be changed.
Note 2: Step Quick Frequency Entry default settings. Select from AUTO, 5k,6.25k, 7.5k, 8.33k, 10k, 12.5k, 15k, 20k, or 25k. If Auto is selected for Step setting, HomePatrol uses the default step setting.

How do you define them, is it done through the scanner

No

or only possible with 3rd party software.

BINGO, Arc Patrol will work, other software is rumored to be eminent.

Thanks for all your help.

My responses above are those of an amateur hobbyist and need to be confirmed by an Admin specialist.

Rob

 

[DonS]

There's no way to scan a "range" of frequencies, or all of the "channels" in a particular service (e.g. Marine, CB, Railroad, etc.) from the scanner's UI. That is, there are no "search" functions that will, for example, search through the Marine channels or scan through all frequencies between 42MHz and 49MHz.

The only way to do those things is by adding every discrete frequency to a Favorites list via 3rd-party software (as suggested in the post above).

 

[Beaquel]

There's no way to scan a "range" of frequencies, or all of the "channels" in a particular service (e.g. Marine, CB, Railroad, etc.) from the scanner's UI. That is, there are no "search" functions that will, for example, search through the Marine channels or scan through all frequencies between 42MHz and 49MHz.

The only way to do those things is by adding every discrete frequency to a Favorites list via 3rd-party software (as suggested in the post above).

Wow, that's insanely cumbersome. I can't believe it's that hard. Any idea if there are limits to the number of freqs stored in a favorites list? If its that hard to scan those bands that I'm interested in, I may be barking up the wrong tree with the Home Patrol. Maybe the Pro-106 is the right thing for me.

 

[lincoln9]

I have the PRO-106 and a BCD396XT, I like the PRO-106 better. With the money you save not buying the HP purchase a programming cable and software for the 106 and you'll be happy with it, I'm sure.

My 396XT doesn't decode digital, there is something wrong with it...It's being sent back for warranty. Even if it did work correctly, I give a slight edge to the PRO-106 at least for my area. I have over 1000 talkgroups ID's, assigned to over 50 sites, all in the first 10 scan lists.

I just can't get the BCD396XT organized the way I like.

 

[rwier]

Is there an manual (pdf) for the ARC Patrol software available here at RR? Someone should make one available. A decent discussion of the software would be much more productive if pages in the manual could be cited. I have a copy on my desktop and would gladly copy it to RR if an Admin said it was ok, and someone told me how to do it.

Rob

 

[rwier]

........................... Any idea if there are limits to the number of freqs stored in a favorites list? .......................................

I don't think the number is limited but if you try to scan ~50 or more channels active and not avoided, the radio's screen text warns you that you will start to miss transmissions due to slow down in scanner speed. It suggests avoiding more channels or lowering the range distance. Those are my words, I don't remember exactly what the screen says.

This could be a legitimate deal breaker for you. I don't believe this radio will scan multiple freq's at 100 or 200 per second, especially if the hold delay can not be changed (~2 seconds built in).

Rob

 

[rwier]

UPDATE:

Just checked the spec's and I would say it's good news and bad on the scanning speed.

"Scanning Speed 100 CH/Sec (maximum)"

I would be more interested in the minimum, and when it would be likely to occur, lol.

Rob

 

[DonS]

Any idea if there are limits to the number of freqs stored in a favorites list?

IIRC, there's a limit of "1 megabyte" for a favorites list. I don't know how that size limit maps to frequency count.

 

[jdepalm1]

WoW

I am getting paranoid now I just ordered an HP-1 and now Im thinking I made a $costly$ mistake, sure I could always send it back but I really like what i see and what it is capable of doing. So does anyone think I should send it back or just play with it and see for myself?

 

[NDRADIONUT]

I made fav lists that have every freq. You'd ever want to hear it's not too hard to do...the VHF-UHF air list is 600-700 kb well under 1 mb....

 

[fullmoon]

I just got the bcd396xt..love it..Home Patrol seemed too limited...

 

[bfpdb]

ndradionut How did you enter the freqs into your fav list?? i cant find any way to enter a freq manually, they have to come from the DB and i havent been able to find anything. it goes usa,state,county,city and that is it

 

[KWs]

To those considering the HP and are up in the air about it .. it's simple..
If you want search feature for new freqs and talkgroups .. this is NOT the scanner for you.
If you just want to scan known freqs and talkgroups as listed in RRDB .. this IS the scanner for you.

And if you want to add your own freqs or talkgroups or want to rename anything in the DB .. buy a third party software like Arc Patrol and you can do almost anything your other scanners do.

Except search.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

I created a fav list added a few things to see how it was set up pasted it to excel and went to town if you want to create one called search all and air search ill send u my files then you can copy paste the info into your files...

 

[4436time]

ARC PATROL includes an Easy Fill Channels feature similar to a search on other scanners in that it allows you to enter a start/stop frequency and a step. You can add one or many to your Favorite(s) and set Avoids when not in use. Simple. You have the option of using the freq as the tag or naming it yourself.

If you want to manually enter a freq on the HP-1, tap Menu, Advanced Menu, Quick Freq Entry, enter the freq and tap Accept. I don't believe there's an option to save it to a scan list. Edit: If you want to add a freq to a Fav, 3rd party software such as ARC Patrol is required.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

"If you want to add a freq to a Fav, 3rd party software such as ARC Patrol is required"

ONLY A TEXT EDITOR IS REQUIRED......

 

[4436time]

ONLY A TEXT EDITOR IS REQUIRED......

Yes, as long as you know what you're doing and are comfortable editing .hpd files.