Programming scanner for trunked system

[radioboy45]

I received a Uniden BC 898T scanner for my birthday and am trying to program a trunked system in. The system is supposed to be Motorola II analog. I entered the 6 frequencies that were listed as being used for the system, but I haven't heard a thing. Is there anything else I need to enter to be able to hear this? I have set the scanner on trunk scanning mode.

Thanks

 

[INDY72]

Which system?

 

[radioboy45]

The system I am trying to hear is the Vestavia Police and Fire. They share a Motorola II trunked system. It is analog so I know the scanner is supposed to be able to hear it. I can hear some of the transmissions on a regular scanner so I know it is analog.

Thanks for the response to my message BTW.

I think what would be nice is a simple how to post on how to program the scanner for a trunked system. The operating manual that came with the radio leaves a lot to be desired.

Radioboy45

 

[INDY72]

OK here are an few simple questions that may help:
Did you program in the talkgroups you want to hear?
Did you make sure the whole set up was progged properly- bank MOT, freqs MOT etc?
And for my own mind so I have an idea exactly what system we are dealing with... what county in what state is this?

 

[fmon]

The info below is directly copied from the owners manual. Other then the A - J info in step 1 in the second part, this appears to program similiar to the Pro-2052 scanner which I have a Programming Shortcut for in Radio Reference Wiki. On the 2052 the A -J would be numbers 1 - 10 (actually 1 - 20) because it has 20 banks.

Setting the Scanner to Trunking Programming Mode
You must set the scanner to its trunking programming mode before you can program
channels and enter trunking frequencies.
If you are in conventional scan mode:
1. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.
2. Select the trunking bank you want to program.
If you are in trunking scan mode:
1. Press TRUNK to return to conventional mode if you have been monitoring a trunking bank.
2. Hold down TRUNK. The scanner beeps twice and BANK and TRUNK flash.
3. Select the trunking bank you want to program.
Note: When you set the scanner to its trunking programming mode, you cannot select
channels in other banks.

Programming Motorola Systems
Programming Channels and Entering Trunking Frequencies
1. Hold down TRUNK for about 2 seconds. The scanner beeps and BANK, TRUNK, and
the bank letters A-J blink.
2. Press a bank key to select the bank where you want to store the frequencies.
3. Select Motorola scanning by turning the rotary tuner or repeatedly pressing HOLD
or LIMIT to select one of the following Motorola scanning choices:
• E2-800 (Motorola Type II 800 MHz)

 

[INDY72]

And then enter the talkgroups you wish to follow. Cool so this scanner is like an souped up PRO-2052??

 

[radioboy45]

Hey guys thanks for the all the help. MILF, the county is Jefferson County in AL. I did what you guys said and now am able to hear the stations on the trunked system without any problems!!! One last question: can I now enter conventional frequencies in the same bank and have the scanner scan both the conventional freqs and the trunked system at the same time?

Thanks,

Lynn Simons, KJ3V

 

[fmon]

Glad you got it running.

The owners manual states you can scan both trunked and conventional at the same time, but I could not find anything about programming a mixed bank.

Take it out of trunked mode and try programming conventionals in a trunked bank after the trunked freqs, then run it in the trunked mode. If not, then use a separate bank for the conventionals and scan both banks.

 

[INDY72]

Correct, as FMON says, the manual says its ok.. If it really is like the venerable 2052's.. then yes you can! You just cant mix EDACS and Motorola in same banks..... yet! Maybe one day thier will be an truly versatile scanner that can support M/A-Com- EDACS, Motorola Types-I, II, IIi, APCO-25, and LTR in the same bank, alongside Conventional! Of course itll cost around 800 dollars at first but it'd be worth it!

 

[fmon]

The 898 will also trunk LTR systems which the 2052 cannot, and the 1st 4 years with the 2052 could not trunktrack and scan conventional freqs in any form at the same time, only those produced with date codes 04A03 and later will do both simultaneously, including in the same bank.

However, WinScanRS or Radio Commander software will trigger the older scanner out of and back into trunking so one could scan both types but in separate banks. This could be all 20 banks if one desired to do so. Radio Commander doesn't do this very well because it uses a set timer (about 8 seconds as I recall) to trigger the bank change, and if a conversation or ID hold was on, tough luck it goes to the next selected bank. WinScanRS will not let the trigger fire if a received signal is displayed including ID hold.