SDS100/SDS200: Newbie Quick Key Question

[EricRF]

Hello all...
Just got my SDS100, and it's pretty slick. Of course, there's a learning curve, so I'm here with probably a dumb question about quick keys & scanning.
I have three favorite lists each with its own FLQK. Two of the lists are for local police departments with conventional systems. Their FLQK are 0 and 2. They scan quite nicely (though at the moment they're not, but that's probably a different problem).

The remaining favorite list is for the Mass State Police, which is a trunk system. It has FLQK 1. But I can't make it work. As in scan. Under Set Scan Selection->Select Lists to Monitor the MSP favorites list shows as "On". Under Set Quick Key Status->Favorites Quick Keys It shows 0 and 2 are on, but just dashes for 1. Under Manage Favorites->MSP->Set FL Quick Key it shows 1 is already selected. I have a bunch of services selected. If I try to select the MSP favorites from the keypad, by entering "1", it doesn't let me. It beeps. I can enter "0" and "2" with no problem. I see the same values when I look in Sentinel, where I set it up to start with.

What stupid thing am I doing (or not doing?)

Thanks!

 

[tvengr]

It's possible that the service types used in that favorites list are not enabled in the profile. If you export and attach your favorites list, I can take a look and check for errors. Go to the File tab is Sentinel and Export to hpe file (Favorites List). You will need to right click on the exported file and Send to Compressed (zipped) folder to be able to attach it. Click on Attach files and Open the zipped folder. I don't see a site for Middlesex County on the MA State Police Motorola Type II system. Troop A may have moved to the CoMIRS P25 statewide system. A local member in your area would have that info.

 

[RandyKuff]

It's a good idea when using favorite lists to have all the sevice types enabled...
Service types come into play more so (And more usefull) if your are using a GPS with your scanner and using the full database...

 

[RandyKuff]

If your display is showing a ( Dash -)... That tells me there is no favorite list assigned to number 1...

But with Monitor set to on you should be hearing it...

 

[nessnet]

Check your profile in Sentinel.
Is both download and monitor checked for the FL in question?

Also, check location control. Turn it off on the FL in question to check it. If it works when this is off, check to make sure your lat/long is set correctly in settings.

 

[EricRF]

Thanks for all the replies! I've taken screen shots from Sentinel to answer most of your suggestions, but everything seems to be set correctly:

The profile shows Monitor is on, quick key 1 is set, and Location is not being used:



All relevant services are selected:




I also tried setting a System Quick Key and a Department/Site Quick Key (all set to '1') and that didn't help, even if I tried selecting "1.1.1" on the scanner.

Also I'm sure I wrote the changes in Sentinel to the scanner. I changed display colors to be certain.

Here's the tree for the MSP I got. No screen shot, the tree is too bushy:
USA->Massachusetts->Middlesex->Statewide->Massachusetts State Police->State Police Group A - North Greater Boston

But just now I also found:
USA->Massachusetts->Middlesex->County Systems->Commonwealth of Massachusetts->MSP Troop A
which has a whole different set of talk groups. That's confusing... is one wrong? Are both right? If so, why are they in different locations? My guess is that it has something to do with poor management. 😉 They both look "trunky" to me. But if @tvengr is right, and something's moved all this might be wrong anyway. Oh, and I did remember to update the database.

I'm glad that at least I've gotten most of the bases covered. I feel a little less stoopid already! 😜

I'll post the .hpe file shortly.

Thanks again!

 

[BenScan]

I might be missing it, but do you have the frequencies programmed in the trunked system? I'm not in front of Sentinel currently, but seems like there should be at least one site programmed in there with frequencies for the trunked system.

 

[RandyKuff]

Nice catch @BenScan...

Example of one of my trunked systems... See highlighted...

 

[RandyKuff]

@EricRF

On your pict that you show the number 1 circled for the quick key. open the editor again to that and click on the "Options Tab"...
Is the number 1 selected there too for the FL number?

That could explain the Dash on your screen...

 

[EricRF]

Ah, so the plot thickens!

@RandyKuff I checked under the "Options" tab, and it says:

@BenScan & @RandyKuff This may expose how little I understand about Trunked systems 😜. Getting specific:
Statewide->Massachusetts State Police is a Motorola system. Under Massachusetts State Police is a bunch of Departments and Sites. I'm interested in Massachusetts State Police->State Police Troop A - Greater Boston. At least I think that's what I want. It's listed as a Department. Under State Police Troop A are a list of Channels (Talk Groups?) That list is in one of my earlier screen shots.

Looking at @RandyKuff's screen shots, I'm trying to map what he did with what I'm seeing in my tree. I'm not having much luck. If I click on one of the sites under Massachusetts State Police, I do get a list of frequencies. But if I try to add one of the Sites to my favorites list, the option to do that is greyed out.

What am I missing here?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[RandyKuff]

Is that fav list number checked in yor profile to enable it...



You can do it on the scanner too...

 

[RandyKuff]

Did you program this manually or use the database in Sentinel...

What exactly are you trying to monitor...
As in State, County, City ...

You only posted part of it...
I need county and city...

Ok I see your in Alington... So thats Middlesex county...

 

[ofd8001]

When you programmed your Mass SP system, did you include Sites and Departments? You need to have both and be in Range of at least one site for it to work. If you do not have a site programmed, the scanner ignores the system and you get that dashed business in the FLQK area.

My suggestion is to program the whole System from the database. Then, turn Location Control to On for the Favorites List containing this system and confirm you have the zipcode set correctly.

 

[RandyKuff]

Thats a great idea... There's alot going on in that area...

 

[RandyKuff]

If you do not have a site programmed, the scanner ignores the system and you get that dashed business in the FLQK area.

Never ran into that... My lists have all the info needed... Probably why I never seen it act like that...
Good to know... Thanks

 

[EricRF]

Is that fav list number checked in yor profile to enable it...

It is! I didn't even know why I did it. Wasn't sure what it would do.

 

[ofd8001]

When the FL Quick Key status is set in the Profile, that is the default/initial status. Once you manually turn on/off a FLQK, that overrides the default status.

So in the above screen shot, FLs 1 and 4 are on, 0, 2, 3 are off.

There are other considerations too. If the FL is avoided some way (location, Monitor Off, all systems avoided) then the FL won't be scanned even if the FLQK status is on.

Lots of little nuances to learn. . .

 

[RandyKuff]

If you look at the pict... You will see the way I label my favorite lists...
The number preceding the name is the FLQK number...
Just something I do for my own reference...



Actually, In my case, I do not use the Quick Key status in the profile... I only use four fav lists for what I listen to...
Only takes a couple of clicks (Press the FLQK number then the E key) to turn them on or off on the scanner itself...
So I really don't care what the default setting is in the profile...

Also, just my preference, I don't use 0... I start with 1...

 

[EricRF]

@RandyKuff I get the naming/numbering scheme, I'm just not clear as to what should be in the FL.
@ofd8001 Lots of nuances. It just screams for better documentation.

So... making progress, think I'm on the right track (but wrong train)

My current attempt:


Massachusetts State Police lists a bunch of sites and departments. So I added the one department I'm interested in. Since I now know to add a site as well, I picked one at random, Boston. If I open it, I just see a list of frequencies, which I believe is normal. But my scanner still seems to have issues. What I see on the screen is: The trunk screen flashing "Massachusetts State Police" "ID Scanning" along with the conventional departments flashing. Is this normal? I know there's a different kind of screen for trunks and coventional, so is this how it looks until it locks on to something in the trunk system? It otherwise seems to work for the conventional systems.

So... what say ye?

Ongoing thanks...

 

[RandyKuff]

If your seeing ID Scanning, your gaining on it...
Going to sift thru your area in RR's database...

I see the site/tower you picked is in Suffolk County...

Do you fall in the coverage area of this... That is a Simulcast system, hence the five sites/towers...