New PSR-500

[tglendye]

I just got a PSR-500 today. I'm pretty impressed so far. I've downloaded the firmware updates and the file I had prepared for it. I had never listened to a digital capable scanner until now. I'm real surprised at how clear STARS comes in. I'm listening to the Fork Mountain site and I am located in southwestern Rockingham County. I've been picking up lots of DOC and 1st Div. State Police. Region 5 VDGIF is also very active.

I'm still playing around with it and I'm actually wishing I had more digital around here to listen to.

 

[RagnarD]

Are you close enough to program the Charlottesville/Albermale system and listen to it?

When I mobile through the area I can copy that system from just west of Richmond way down 81 near Lexington.

That rig is a real sweet piece, you will enjoy it.

73
de
chris
kq4z

 

[tglendye]

That's one I want to fool with, but I haven't done so yet. I do have it in my scanner (plus it's included in the v-folder). To be honest, I'm trying to park it on the control channel but haven't figured how with the object oriented scanning. I'm seeing the talk groups as I scroll through, but not the frequencies. I know on my Pro-97, I could "hear" the control channel, but it was so weak I don't know if the scanner could decode it.

I'm up on a hill in the western part of the county. I think the distance may hurt, but it gets me away from the Blue Ridge which I would assume would shield the signal to the west of Charlottesville.

-Todd

 

[Samuel]

If you have it on the TG then it is "parked on the control channel" and is mointoring the system. If you see the "T" at the top of the display then it is within range of the system. If you want to look at the control channel to get a percentage the press the TYS button and hit analyze.

 

[n4jri]

TG searching is done with a "Wildcard" talkgroup

That's one I want to fool with, but I haven't done so yet. I do have it in my scanner (plus it's included in the v-folder). To be honest, I'm trying to park it on the control channel but haven't figured how with the object oriented scanning. I'm seeing the talk groups as I scroll through, but not the frequencies. I know on my Pro-97, I could "hear" the control channel, but it was so weak I don't know if the scanner could decode it.

I'm up on a hill in the western part of the county. I think the distance may hurt, but it gets me away from the Blue Ridge which I would assume would shield the signal to the west of Charlottesville.

-Todd

Easily done, Todd. Hit PGM, and the soft key for NEW, then TGRP.

While when scrolling through the menu for the TGRP, select the the "System" item and use your arrow keys to select C'ville-Albemarle. The TG ID will be "Wildcard" unless you change it to a specific ID.

Wildcard talkgroups will receive all non-private traffic on a system. That's the 500's equivalent of 'open' or 'ID search' mode. Once the TG is entered and saved, you want to park on it in "manual" mode. (nothing will be received in 'program' mode)

Another thing to watch out for when creating your Wildcard is that it will be put in your 'default' scanlist if another scanlist is not specified. (default is SL#1, unless you change it) Fortunately your V-scanner #4 has the Charlottesville-Albermarle system in SL#1, so this should be pretty easy.

If you create a second Wildcard TGRP and make the type "Private" instead of "Group" you get private calls, if any, that occur on the system.

Have fun, and I hope this helps.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

All this should be in the early part of the manual. Unfortunately, I don't have my 500 here to walk through and double-check the sequence I gave you. Hopefully, another use will double-check it.

 

[tglendye]

Thanks for the information guys. I had skimmed the manual a couple of times and then concentrated on creating a Win500 file. I've got the manual printed & 3 hole punched for a binder now and will be studying that the next few days.

On the Charlottesville/ Albemarle subject I have not had good luck, but I've only used the stock antenna. At my home (west side of Rockingham), I have only had a couple of hits. The talk groups that came up, were too "digital" and I was unable to understand them. I'm on the east side of the County today (next to the Blue Ridge) and have not been able to track anything on the system. I'll play around with the antennas in the next couple of days.

I am really fascinated listening to STARS. I'm sure it would probably be frustrating at times being a user through the initial process, but hopefully the kinks will be ironed out quickly. One thing that I've noticed from monitoring the Fork Mt. site is that I have a strong signal on my 500, but it fades rapidly in basements and vehicles. I've been driving the wife's car and I don't have an external antenna on it. I'll try my external antenna that's on my vehicle when I drive that. I also have an 800mhz antenna and a telescoping antenna I'll play around with.

 

[tglendye]

I worked yesterday, so I didn't get much playing done with the 500. I did hook it up to my external vehicle antenna and my radio shack 800mhz antenna. Big difference. I'm picking up Charlottesville/ Albemarle TRS on both. The CC % is low on the 800 antenna, but it is definitely monitorable (at least at times). I have been setting the scanner by the window for better reception. I didn't analyze the CC on the vehicle antenna.

STARS performed a whole lot better in the vehicle as well with the external antenna.

 

[fmon]

Have fun with it...

Looks like you're gonna enjoy the new scanner Todd.

 

[gcgrotz]

Albemarle has a transmitter site at Buck's Elbow which is north of Afton on the Blue Ridge. It has a decent shot up into Harrisonburg. The FAA has a big site there (try 132.850) and there is a Ham repeater on 146.895 there.

Have fun with your new toy!

 

[ACU1000]

Todd - Anything digital to hear on the HR system ;-)

 

[tglendye]

Todd - Anything digital to hear on the HR system ;-)

Well, I'm kind of ashamed to say that I haven't messed with it much. I have the bank turned on now (for the last few hours) and changed some settings on it. I took a look at my hit counter a little while ago and saw that I had only one hit- and I missed it. I'll keep track and let you know if anything happens. There's definitely control channel activity... that's been happening for a while, though.