HP-2: How to import Radioreference.com database

[lowga]

I'm new to scanners, and just purchased the Uniden Home Patrol 2. Everything working well after programming with the Sentinel software...but I'm missing our local Sheriff's department which uses a P25 Phase 2 system (the whole reason I bought this scanner)

I suspect that the settings on the database downloaded from Homepatrol.com may not have the correct settings. How do I go about loading the database from radioreference.com into the scanner? Can someone post some simple steps to follow?

Any help appreciated!

 

[UPMan]

Connect the scanner to your PC and run Sentinel. In the top menus UPDATE --> UPDATE MASTER HPDB.

 

[phask]

Post a link to the system, if it's in RR odds re 99.99% it's correct in Sentinel.

I'm new to scanners, and just purchased the Uniden Home Patrol 2. Everything working well after programming with the Sentinel software...but I'm missing our local Sheriff's department which uses a P25 Phase 2 system (the whole reason I bought this scanner)

I suspect that the settings on the database downloaded from Homepatrol.com may not have the correct settings. How do I go about loading the database from radioreference.com into the scanner? Can someone post some simple steps to follow?

Any help appreciated!

 

[lowga]

The system I'm trying to listen to is the "Shelby County First Responders Network". On RR it's listed as:
Shelby County First Responder Emergency Radio Network Trunking System, Columbiana, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies

 

[fxdscon]

The system I'm trying to listen to is the "Shelby County First Responders Network". On RR it's listed as:
Shelby County First Responder Emergency Radio Network Trunking System, Columbiana, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies

That system should already be in your Home Patrol if you have correctly updated your scanner's database.

From the Home Patrol main menu, tap on

MENU --> ADVANCED MENU --> scroll down arrow --> VERSION INFORMATION

What does it say there for the database date?

 

[lowga]

Grateful for all the assistance. I did as fxdscon asked;

The database version is dated 7/12/2015.

 

[fxdscon]

Grateful for all the assistance. I did as fxdscon asked;

The database version is dated 7/12/2015.

OK since you are updated you should see it listed in your Sentinel software the same as it is listed in the Radio Reference database.

In the left pane of Sentinel, click on.... USA --> Alabama --> Shelby --> County Systems --> Shelby County First Responder Emergency County Network.

When you click on the listings below that, you will see the talk groups, and the sites with their control channel frequencies listed, the same as in the Radio Reference database.
.

 

[lowga]

The problem may not be the database after all, but outdated information. The database lists the system has being P25 Phase 1, but it is in fact, P25 Phase 2 TDMA.

Could that be the issue? Is there a way to manually set the scanner to receive Phase 2? Getting way over my head, but I've confirmed that the system is Phase 2. In fact, the county even has a web site about it:

https://www.shelbyal.com/scp25

 

[Schumi1978]

Likely the DB being out of date.

Enable "ID Search" on the system.

Since there is only one talkgroup listed in the DB (not including the radio tech talkgroups), see if the scanner stops on the unlisted talkgroups.

The Dispatch talkgroup may have changed from what is listed in the DB also and could be the info out of date.

 

[lowga]

Schumi1978

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. Newbie question, what's the best way to enable "ID Search" on the scanner?

 

[phask]

You can't, unless you create a favorite list.

Highly suggest it though, since there is only a few TG's in the system.

Whether it's PH1 or Ph2 - no difference in the system, it will decode it either way.

Schumi1978

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. Newbie question, what's the best way to enable "ID Search" on the scanner?

 

[lowga]

I have a favorite list that includes only this system. How do I enable "ID Search" after that?

 

[Schumi1978]

I have a BCD436HP scanner but I assume the setting will be similar since the user guide for your scanner shows the same option is available.

In Sentinel for my scanner, at the Favorite level, turn the "ID:Search" option for the System to "On". Your's probably looks similar. You should also be able to do it on the scanner as well in the System settings.

 

[hiegtx]

I have a favorite list that includes only this system. How do I enable "ID Search" after that?

I have a BCD436HP scanner but I assume the setting will be similar since the user guide for your scanner shows the same option is available.

In Sentinel for my scanner, at the Favorite level, turn the "ID:Search" option for the System to "On". Your's probably looks similar. You should also be able to do it on the scanner as well in the System settings.

Schumi's screen shot appears to be from the Favorites List Editor.

However, the Sentinel version for the HP-1 & HP-2 looks almost identical. In the edit screen, you can click on the column for ID Search and toggle that on or off. At the system level (in the editor), that selection is on the "Options" tab for the system.

ID Scan only scans the talkgroup ID's that you have entered and that are not "avoided" (locked out), either at the ID level, or in a Department in the system (example: you may have individual departments for Fire, Police, Public Works, etc; if you "Avoid" the Public Works department, you would not hear those ID's, even if, individual ones are not avoided).

ID Search would allow reception on any talkgroup active on the system, except those locked out (avoided) at the ID level, or in a Department that has been avoided.

 

[lowga]

Thanks for that explanation. The procedure on the HomePatrol 2 was similar. Turned on "ID Search" for the past hour or so. No transmissions detected.

I know that the system is operational and using P25 Phase 2 TDMA. So I should be detecting something. It seems clear that the database is not current.

Is there a way to search or "discover" P25 Phase 2 systems in my area?

 

[phask]

Seeing anything on the S meter?

There are several sites, do you have them all entered and/or can you receive any/all?

It's also a common issue that someone will delete the sites when creating a favorite list .

Also - make sure that whatever service type in the Fav or on - but with ID search and that few TG should not really be an issue.

Thanks for that explanation. The procedure on the HomePatrol 2 was similar. Turned on "ID Search" for the past hour or so. No transmissions detected.

I know that the system is operational and using P25 Phase 2 TDMA. So I should be detecting something. It seems clear that the database is not current.

Is there a way to search or "discover" P25 Phase 2 systems in my area?

 

[lowga]

I have all the sites entered, and I'm very close to the Alabaster site. Less than 6 miles. Should be easy copy here.

Checked my avoid list, and nothing is selected to be avoided.

Did notice that "Public Services" was an option for this system that I had not selected, so I added that. Monitoring again now for about ten minutes.

Nothing so far.

 

[fxdscon]

Is there a way to search or "discover" P25 Phase 2 systems in my area?

Try this as a starting point to see if those control channels are indeed active, and that you can receive them with enough strength to decode them from your location:

From the Home Patrol screen...

Menu --> Advanced Options --> Quick Frequency Entry

Manually enter the primary control channels one at a time to see if you are receiving the control channel noise with decent signal strength. The primary control channels are in red here:

Shelby County First Responder Emergency Radio Network Trunking System, Columbiana, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies

And if nothing heard on the primaries, try the alternates as well.

.
.

 

[lowga]

Again, forgive me. Total newbie here. I'm assuming that a control frequency would have continuous modulation present, is that correct?

If so, nothing on the listed control frequencies, but I did find a strong signal on one of the alternates listed.

How does that help me? What is my next step?

Again, grateful your all the assistance.

 

[lowga]

Tap dancing here. Reading through the manual for the Extreme Edition, I'm guessing this is a Single Frequency P25 Trunked System. So I created a new system, and entered the single frequency that I have a strong signal on as a control frequency.

Now when I enter that "Favorite List", it loads a single channel. When transmissions are made, I see "UNKNOWN" under department and Talk Group ID number of 500. But no audio is received.

Not sure if I should program in the other frequencies listed for the system, or what steps to take. I see a strong signal, and it's decoding the Talk Group ID.

What is the next step to take?