NEWB question, SDS100 and Starcom21

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KD9LAI

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Aug 25, 2022
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Elk Grove Village, IL
Greetings
I'm new to scanning in general, and am also the new owner of a gently used SDS100. LOVING this thing so far.
To get myself started, I began in full database mode and entered my zip code. Nice, but then on power on it loads the full db every time. So, instead I used the menu system to whittle down what I wanted and write to db, made a favorites list, and now I just load that on power up.

Here's the question.
When it comes to the Starcom21 system, even tho I began with my location and 5mile radius, it looks like it's polling the ENTIRE state. It seems to sorta tie up the scan cycle on that system for longer than needed.

I've also been playing with Sentinel and looks like I could whittle this down in there?
But also just curious if there's a way to do this within the scanner menu itself?

More details... I'm on the corner of western Cook and northern DuPage counties. I'm really only interested in stuff from that neck of the woods.

Thanks!!

Tim
 

Whiskey3JMC

Just another lowly hobbyist
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Philly burbs 🇺🇸
Here's the question.
When it comes to the Starcom21 system, even tho I began with my location and 5mile radius, it looks like it's polling the ENTIRE state. It seems to sorta tie up the scan cycle on that system for longer than needed.
I've also been playing with Sentinel and looks like I could whittle this down in there?
But also just curious if there's a way to do this within the scanner menu itself?
Don't use zip code scanning for systems you intend on monitoring regularly, as you found it'll pull objects you have no interest in regardless of how range is set. Instead use Sentinel to program a favorites list containing only what you want to hear. Turn off full database scanning (MENU > SET SCAN SELECTION > SELECT LISTS TO MONITOR) so the scanner only scans your favorites list(s) once programmed and nothing else. You'll also want to make sure your newly created favorites list is set to monitor in this menu option as well
 
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Awesomeman92

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Apr 24, 2008
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Bloomington, IL
But also just curious if there's a way to do this within the scanner menu itself?
Strictly speaking you can, but it would take you forever as you would have to go in the menus to each site you don't want to scan and either set it to avoid or delete it. It's significantly easier in either Sentinel or (if you want to spend the money for it) ProScan.

What I do is only select a handful of sites I'm within range of to even upload in the favorites list and they each get their own quick key. If I want to monitor that site, I just hit the quick key to turn it on and then do the same to turn it off later. Within SC21 my bottom quick keys are departments (0 is local to me, 1 is all state police, 2 is other local counties, 3 is statewide interop, etc.) and then my sites are on the QKs from 10 up. Not saying that's the best way or the only way to do it, that's just how I do it. Keeps things separate but easier to manage.
 
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