Programming with Zip Code only

[ab5r]

Programming a TRX-02 with your Zip Code only; what area would that encompass?

I live in a rural area and would like to receive adjacent counties transmissions, and curious what distance would be covered applying locan zip code only.

Thanks,
Jerry AB5R

 

[scannerpro]

I’ve programmed with the EZ-Scan Software by Whistler.
I’ve also programmed with the ZIP Code. It normally shows the county that ZIP Code your in, with the trunking and convential systems to be programmed.

If you do program them it will be in your scan lists I believe near 150 to 200.

 

[rayvelcoro]

ZIP code programming is the least desirable way to program the TRX-1. Program by counties and choose what you want to listen to in those counties.

 

[Wackyracer]

Select "Preferred" over Zip code then you can pick and choose exactly what you want , where zip gives you EVERYTHING in the library for the zip, this give you tons of stuff that you may not want to listen to. In addition all that stuff causes you to miss transmissions on the the things you really want due to the time it takes to cycle back around. The exception would be counties with very few and very small systems.

 

[ab5r]

Thanks to ALL. I was just experimenting with Zip Code because I HAVE tried the "Preferred" method without satisfaction.

I have had help from a knowledgeable (TRX-1) person, but still does not receive a known (in the clear" agency. In fact, using the Preferred configuration I received other P25 agencies, but not the one nearest me. I have confirmed THAT agency is being received OK by another person!

I am getting totally frustrated with EZScan and what I am reading from others commenting on RR.

 

[Wackyracer]

Thanks to ALL. I was just experimenting with Zip Code because I HAVE tried the "Preferred" method without satisfaction.

I have had help from a knowledgeable (TRX-1) person, but still does not receive a known (in the clear" agency. In fact, using the Preferred configuration I received other P25 agencies, but not the one nearest me. I have confirmed THAT agency is being received OK by another person!

I am getting totally frustrated with EZScan and what I am reading from others commenting on RR.

Ezscan is just a tool to adjust settings outside of the scanner and then transfer them to it. If your system is a P25 simulcast system then you may or may not be able to pick it up with a whistler scanner as they do not have hardware in them to properly decode LSM simulcast. Only 2 scanners on the market do and that is the Uniden SDS100 and 200.

What zipcode? what system are you having problems with? and what antenna are you using?

For DSP settings I use 60, ADC is ZERO, DAC is -6 these may or may not help you as the trx-2 doesn't have the hardware for proper simulcast decoding.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks to ALL. I was just experimenting with Zip Code because I HAVE tried the "Preferred" method without satisfaction.

I have had help from a knowledgeable (TRX-1) person, but still does not receive a known (in the clear" agency. In fact, using the Preferred configuration I received other P25 agencies, but not the one nearest me. I have confirmed THAT agency is being received OK by another person!

I am getting totally frustrated with EZScan and what I am reading from others commenting on RR.

From what I've seen noted in the past, zip code programming on the Whistler scanners produces different results than on the Uniden database scanners.

For the Whistler (and GRE) scanners, inputting your zip code adds systems that are in the same county as your zip code. So you might not get agencies that are nearby, in an adjacent county, even though they should be well within range.

For the Uniden scanners, inputting your zip code and a range gives you systems where the range you set, and the range of the system, intersect. A 20 mile range in the scanner, plus a system with a 25 mile range, means that the system would be active even if it were 40 miles from your zip codes location. The location used is, apparently, the center of the zip code. How accurate the system selection will be could be influenced by how far you are from that zip's center. Also see this, for Uniden's explanation on location usage.

 

[ab5r]

Thanks Steve. Since you live in Dallas, you know the cites that I speak of: Cleburne, Midlothian, Mansfield

 

[ab5r]

Whacky Racer thanks. "What zipcode? what system are you having problems with? and what antenna are you using?" Answer is 76050 for my zipcode. Cleburne, TX in Johnson County, TX is my problem. They both are on the Fort Worth Regional Radio System and are heard (confirmed) by a sheriff deputy on a Uniden scanner.

I am connected to an outside VHF/UHF antenna (Comet GP-6).

 

[Wackyracer]

Whacky Racer thanks. "What zipcode? what system are you having problems with? and what antenna are you using?" Answer is 76050 for my zipcode. Cleburne, TX in Johnson County, TX is my problem. They both are on the Fort Worth Regional Radio System and are heard (confirmed) by a sheriff deputy on a Uniden scanner.

I am connected to an outside VHF/UHF antenna (Comet GP-6).

That's great ...but a uniden is not a whistler scanner. They use different technology in an attempt to accomplish the same thing. Whistler's have been known not to play well with simulcast systems YMMV.

I suggest you read this https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Simulcast_Distortion and try ALL the suggestions until you hit the one that works for YOUR location....it could be as simple as using a paperclip for a antenna or as complicated as a Rube Goldberg machine

If you don't want to do what it takes to attempt to dial in a whistler on a simulcast system I suggest you get a UNIDEN sds100 or sds200 BUT before you spend the cash on one or both... make sure they work well on the system you want to monitor.

Also consider signing up for this TRX facebook group myself and other give lots of help there. Whistler USA TRX-1 & TRX-2 Digital Scanner Radio

 

[ab5r]

Thanks Whacky Racer. I'll read that RR article. I'll try the antenna that came with scanner (smaller ans indoors) and see how it performs.

I am an elderly gentleman (smile) and on fixed income. Therefore, buying equipment on a whim is out of reach for me. I traded a HP-2 for this TRX2 believing that it would receive DMR & LTR. But the failure to receive the P25 with the TRX-2 and difficulty of understanding EZScan has been disappointing and disillusioning, to say the least

I've got it talking again and will do with what I've got for now. Maybe the Blue Bird of Happiness will drop some smarts on me in the future.

I'm aware of the simulcast debacle, but didn't know the liabilities of Whistler. Maybe I can change back to Uniden in the future.

Thanks again,
Jerry

 

[Wackyracer]

I own a TRX-2 and it works great in my area. clear your mind of how the Unidens function and retrain it to whistlers way which is easy once you get rid of old habits.

Another tip for any analog remove all the squelch tones, make sure under DMODE only analog frequencies are set to AUTO or analog. NEVER SET digital to auto.

 

[ab5r]

Where is your area; just curious. Tried the inside antenna and only difference was less sensitivity for analog adjacent counties.

Appreciate your help!!!

 

[Wackyracer]

Where is your area; just curious. Tried the inside antenna and only difference was less sensitivity for analog adjacent counties.

Appreciate your help!!!

I'm near Buffalo NY,

Assuming you imported the Fort Worth Regional Radio System via ezscan or the library on the scanners card and that library has been updated to the latest version that gets released every Saturday....try a paper clip for an antenna to see if it picks up Fort Worth Regional Radio System.

Play with squelch settings below 8 to min.

 

[ab5r]

Thanks again. I am receiving FWRRS agencies, EXCEPT the ones I wanted. I don't want "Just" the Cleburne & Johnson County.

BUT, l'll got with what I've got for now. Thanks sooooo much

With the age of the Whistler scanners, I'd think they would have better documentation from them and others online.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks Steve. Since you live in Dallas, you know the cites that I speak of: Cleburne, Midlothian, Mansfield

Oh yeah. Very familiar with your area, as well as others here in North Central Texas.