Please help, I don't know what I am doing.

[new2scan]

I tried reading the wiki file, and some of your posts, but my lack of scanner knowledge prevents me from understanding any most of it.

I live in Henrico County, VA and wish to listen to Fire/EMS. I just bought a Radio Shack pro-528. I was told by many that only Police were digital, but I can't seem to get fire on this thing.

How do I tell if the traffic is digital, and how do I know if it is trunked?

I read one post about placing the first trunked freq in bank 4 or something, but I have no idea if the frequency is "trunked" or not.

Thanks, I know this is annoying and you probably get tired of people like me.

 

[xpawel15x]

I tried reading the wiki file, and some of your posts, but my lack of scanner knowledge prevents me from understanding any most of it.

I live in Henrico County, VA and wish to listen to Fire/EMS. I just bought a Radio Shack pro-528. I was told by many that only Police were digital, but I can't seem to get fire on this thing.

How do I tell if the traffic is digital, and how do I know if it is trunked?

I read one post about placing the first trunked freq in bank 4 or something, but I have no idea if the frequency is "trunked" or not.

Thanks, I know this is annoying and you probably get tired of people like me.

To figure out what is trunked and what is digital, look in the database for your area and see what is trunked and what is digital. The Pro-528 can't receive digital but you can receive trunked systems. Good luck.

 

[KC2GVX]

Let me take a stab here, and anyone who lives in your area can certainly chime in. Start with the databases here to look up your state/county/city. The database will explain if the frequencies you want to listen to are digital or analog. Once you can see they are analog, you can program them in. The PRO 528 will trunk anything analog, so you can program some trunked systems into the banks. The PRO 528 is Uniden made, so you do not need to program anything specific into the first channel, unless it is an EDACS system and the LCN is #1. When all else fails, program the frequencies into the channels and listen. IF you hear voice, you can hear it. If you hear an annoying noise all the time, it is digital.

 

[crashcrew]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=556

 

[loumaag]

Based on what I see in your county, almost everything is on the tunking system and almost everything is digital, including the fire departments.

 

[ka3jjz]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=556

OK let's take a stab at this. If you examine the above link closely, you will find a column marked 'mode'. 'A' means analog trunking; 'd' is digital trunking'; 'e' is encryption (which no scanner will hear). Everything on this page is describing a 4 county trunking system, of which Henrico is one. Since I see nearly everything in the Henrico listing is marked with a 'd', that means digital trunking is employed (there is some encryption which no scanner will handle in the police talkgroups). The 528 will not handle this at all. Only those scanners listed here will work on this system.

You will find that a basic knowledge of trunking will be crucial for you to understand what is going on, and the basic concepts will assist you in programming precisely what you want to hear. We have a wiki article with several links that explain trunking pretty well here Concentrate on the basics and Motorola Smartzone systems, since that's the kind of system that is in use here.

Our Virginia forum should be used to see if anyone in Henrico or surrounding counties can recommend a scanner that works well in your area. Without going into a lot of detail (for now), it's quite likely someone may even have programming file(s) for your area - but first you must select a scanner, and applicable software.

73s Mike

 

[mciupa]

Hi new2scan , welcome to RadioReference.

Your county's Trunk system is indeed digital.

Check this link : http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=556

If you scroll down a piece , you will notice that the Fire/EMS listing has a D under the Mode column.

So , if you have just purchased it within 30 days , you may consider returning it and finding
a scanner that will allow you to enjoy listening to that system.

A Pro 2096 or Pro 96 from RadioShack will do the job.

It is never annoying or tiring to help someone.

 

[new2scan]

Thanks to all of you..

I figured that might be the issue, well back to the shack with this thing... I may buy a digital in the future. Thanks again!

 

[Dubbin]

The Pro-528 can't receive digital

It will receive digital signals all day long but it won't decode them

 

[N4JNW]

If you have your recipt, you might want to look into returning the 528, and keeping the refunded money and saving it toward a digital scanner.

Since the new GRE digital scanners have came out, the price of the Pro-96 MIGHT drop..

 

[Dubbin]

Since the new GRE digital scanners have came out

I don't know where you got that bit of info but they haven't came out yet.

 

[N4JNW]

I don't know where you got that bit of info but they haven't came out yet.

Ok, well I'll re-phrase... Orders are being accepted for them.