New Radio Shack Scanner

[PKF58]

The store programmed the scanner for me - that's not my issue (I dont think). I have no clue what brand this is aside from "Triple Trunk Radio Scanner" Technology plus with Radioshack trademark. I can't find anything else depicting a number of the model. 1,000 channel desktop scanner.
I live in Daytona Beach Fl area, probably not important.

My issue is that I have it on scan but it keeps stopping I think at the beginning of the run..when it goes thru the banks/channels and restarts from the first bank/channel again it gets to Ormond BCH or New Smyrna BCH and stops scanning. There is nothing there. It just stops and has white noise. It doesn't scan again and I have to hit the scan button over and over every 5 or so mins. and it's making me crazy.
This happened on "Red Cross" which I then locked out. It just wants to stop. I also have tried to squelch, does nothing. I have tried 'zeromatic" whatever that is and it never shows up in the display.
I will call on Monday if I can't resolve it on here today. Thanks for any help coming this way.
Lonnie

 

[RickS31]

I too just bought one of these. This is one great scanner however it has so much functionality that it also comes with a learning curve. You are in the right forum for this but first you gotta learn as much about your product as you can. The radio will stop scanning on a strong signal but if the system type isn't programmed correctly it won't do anything as far as audio goes. Don't rely on old programming data to insure you're getting what you want. My V-Scanner data included in the scanner for my County was really out of date and didn't work at all. They had switched to a P25 system several months ago and until I reprogrammed it it didn't receive any audio at all. Just showed a nice strong signal.

Lesson? Understand and learn as much as you can, then ask questions. Look at the RadioReference Database for your area to see the most current systems and such for your area. Also, the Wikis for your scanner and area help a bunch.

 

[gmclam]

Hello and welcome to RadioReference.com. You've found the right place.....

I have no clue what brand this is aside from "Triple Trunk Radio Scanner" Technology plus with Radioshack trademark. I can't find anything else depicting a number of the model. 1,000 channel desktop scanner.

Let's start out by trying to figure out which scanner you have. You said desktop, so I take that to mean it is NOT a hand-held. Is it this model? If not check out our wiki section and see if you can locate which model you bought.

The store programmed the scanner for me - that's not my issue (I dont think).

It is more likely to be the problem than most other issues. My gut feeling is that either a) they sold you a scanner that does not entirely work for your area or b) it is not programmed correctly.

I live in Daytona Beach Fl area, probably not important.

Well, I guess it does not matter where you live, but it does matter WHAT you are trying to listen to. Specifically, what agency? State, county, agency. Is it here?

My issue is that I have it on scan but it keeps stopping I think at the beginning of the run.. it gets to Ormond BCH or New Smyrna BCH and stops scanning. There is nothing there. It just stops and has white noise.

There is a difference between "nothing" and "white noise". Some channels which are digital sound like white noise in analog mode. Can you tell us the frequencies programmed for these channels that don't work?

It doesn't scan again and I have to hit the scan button over and over every 5 or so mins. and it's making me crazy.

I'd just say lock those channels out until we figure out what is happening and how to resolve.

I also have tried to squelch, does nothing.

If you have the scanner I think you do, it has an S Meter on the top line of the display. I imagine that the meter is showing at least a couple of bars. In that case the squelch won't adjust it out (which is not what you want anyway).

I have tried 'zeromatic" whatever that is and it never shows up in the display.

Zeromatic does NOT work in SCAN or MAN modes. It is used in SEARCH and TUNE modes. What it does is basically an automatic fine tuning when you are tuned close to a frequency, but not directly on it.

 

[PKF58]

1-yay I found the right place!
2-That is the scanner Pro-163 and nothing I have pertaining to paperwork says that. Not on the box or in the book or on the receipt or the scanner itself.
3-the Volusia county is what I"m listening to. One of the channel that stops is not on there, the rest on that page are programmed in with many many more. One that stops: Ormond BCH PD 155.65500 white noise. Other info on the channel: lo+ ED: none S is a full signal. The other New Smyrna must be off right now.
4-I locked out the Red Cross which also did that and I really want to hear Ormond Beach PD if I can so I'm reluctant to lock it out!
5-I thought it couldn't hurt to dial the squelch around and thanx for telling me about the ZM I thought maybe I needed to fine tune that channel. That's what I thought anyway.

Thanks for your help, if I can figure out how to get the Ormond Beach PD to work without me having to hit scan every 5 mins I'll be a happy camper.

 

[gmclam]

RS PRO-163 scanner .....

2-That is the scanner Pro-163 and nothing I have pertaining to paperwork says that. Not on the box or in the book or on the receipt or the scanner itself.

You should at least find the catalog number: 20-163

3-the Volusia county is what I"m listening to. One of the channel that stops is not on there, the rest on that page are programmed in with many many more.

When you say Volusia county, I suspect you really mean this EDACS trunked radio system (TRS). In our DB, this TRS has 3 sites. Do you know which site was programmed? Typically, the one you want is the one closest to you or the one with the best signal. If you travel around the area, you might need 2 or 3 of the sites programmed.

Programming an EDACS site is not trivial. ALL of the frequencies for each site must be programmed, and they must be programmed into specific scanner channels. In the PRO-163, each site would need to be in a separate bank. But the good news is that all TGs on this TRS are analog. From your original description I thought you might be picking up a digital TG.

One that stops: Ormond BCH PD 155.65500 white noise.

When I search the frequency, I don't see that one listed in our DB. When I search for "Ormond", it comes back in Volusia county, but I don't see a listing. I must be blind. Perhaps someone in your area (try the Florida forum) can help on that one.

Other info on the channel: lo+ ED: none S is a full signal.

That "+" after lo tells me they set your bank to OPEN. If they programmed in the TGs, then running the bank CLOSED may help with some of your woes. With the bank open the scanner stops on "everything", not often ideal.

The other New Smyrna must be off right now.
4-I locked out the Red Cross which also did that and I really want to hear Ormond Beach PD if I can so I'm reluctant to lock it out!

I see the Red Cross there is listed as 47.420 MHz. I suspect you are getting a lot of atmoshperic noise on that channel. The squelch setting might help you there, but be careful as it could make other channels miss stuff. I usually program a CT value for those frequencies, but the tone is listed as blank in the DB. Again, perhaps someone in the Florida forum can help you on that one.

Thanks for your help, if I can figure out how to get the Ormond Beach PD to work without me having to hit scan every 5 mins I'll be a happy camper.

Try posting that specific question (and the Red Cross) in the Florida forum and see what others have to say.

Good luck

 

[PKF58]

That "+" after lo tells me they set your bank to OPEN. If they programmed in the TGs, then running the bank CLOSED may help with some of your woes. With the bank open the scanner stops on "everything", not often ideal.

My understanding then is that I will need to get on each channel and - it? Or just the one containing the Ormond Beach PD? Actually it started off lo- and I changed it hoping that would fix the stopping. Guess not.


I see the Red Cross there is listed as 47.420 MHz. I suspect you are getting a lot of atmoshperic noise on that channel. The squelch setting might help you there, but be careful as it could make other channels miss stuff. I usually program a CT value for those frequencies, but the tone is listed as blank in the DB. Again, perhaps someone in the Florida forum can help you on that one.

Thanx for the help I wander over there.