SDS100/SDS200: sds 200 how to download only control channels

[redroverm37]

Is there a way to download only the control channels for the ohio marcs system using sentinel? it is downloading all of the site frequencies right now. Thanks

 

[jtwalker]

No, but this is an option when programming with ProScan.

 

[Ubbe]

You don't need to exclude voice channels as it doesn't hamper the scanning procedure. When it detects the control channel it stores it to the site and at the next scan cycle it goes directly to the last used control channel and ignores any other channels programmed. Only if it looses the CC will it hunt for it among all channels programmed for that site.

/Ubbe

 

[redroverm37]

Thanks, I am used to the trx2 that could download only control channels. No big deal, but was reading the almost useless owners manual that did not have any information pertaining to this.

 

[jtwalker]

Scan for “Mark’s Easier to Read” manuals. There should be one for your scanner and one for Sentinel. Both better than those supplied by Uniden.

 

[redroverm37]

Thank you

 

[tvengr]

Are you in the city of Shelby in Richland County or are you in Shelby County? If in Richland county, you can assign a different quick key to each of the 5 sites to be able to easily select a site or any combination of sites. If you want to scan the Shelby site at all times, leave the quick key set to None for that site. The other sites can still be selected by quick keys.

 

[redroverm37]

Am in Richland co. I understand your method. I wanted to know if I could have sentinel dow!glad only the control channels.on these sites like I can with whistler trx2 program.

 

[tvengr]

To my knowledge, Sentinel downloads all frequencies and you have no choice. ARC536 and ProScan give you the option for control channels only.

 

[KevinC]

You don't need to exclude voice channels as it doesn't hamper the scanning procedure. When it detects the control channel it stores it to the site and at the next scan cycle it goes directly to the last used control channel and ignores any other channels programmed. Only if it looses the CC will it hunt for it among all channels programmed for that site.

/Ubbe

Actually it does hamper scanning. If the system has data (IV&D in Motorola speak) Uniden's can interpret the data channel as a control channel and park on it. Which means you hear no calls. No need to argue this as I've 100% confirmed it happens (at least on a Motorola P25 trunked system).

This will only happen when you first turn your scanner on, but it does happen.

 

[redroverm37]

I have seen it hang on a site that says data instead of p25

 

[wtp]

and with all the frequencies in, if the control is changes to another frequency, you will not have to wait and hope for a database change.

 

[GTR8000]

Actually it does hamper scanning. If the system has data (IV&D in Motorola speak) Uniden's can interpret the data channel as a control channel and park on it. Which means you hear no calls. No need to argue this as I've 100% confirmed it happens (at least on a Motorola P25 trunked system).

This will only happen when you first turn your scanner on, but it does happen.

100% THIS! The issue has been raised with Uniden/Joe for at least 3 years now, and still no fix for it.

 

[tvengr]

When dealing with simulcast systems in scanners not designed for them, I find that the scanners acquire the control channel again much faster after losing it if it doesn't need to search through all of the voice frequencies especially in sites with a large number of frequencies.

 

[Ubbe]

When dealing with simulcast systems in scanners not designed for them, I find that the scanners acquire the control channel again much faster after losing it if it doesn't need to search through all of the voice frequencies especially in sites with a large number of frequencies.

Yes, you'll need to do several things to help scanning simulcast systems with a non-simulcast scanner. Set a longer hold time for the system. The defaults can be increased to 5 sec and the delay for TG's can also be set longer to 5 sec and both changes will help it stay on the site and a conversation even if it intermittently looses decode due to too many bit errors from the simulcast issue.

/Ubbe

 

[Ubbe]

Actually it does hamper scanning. If the system has data (IV&D in Motorola speak) Uniden's can interpret the data channel as a control channel and park on it.

You have to spot that real easy, that the scanner doesn't scan anymore and are parked on a data channel and you hear no conversations. It isn't per se scanning, it is monitoring the system. It probably isn't considered being an issue as it is so easily detectable, just push avoid on it. It can only happen when you initially start scan and that V/D channel happens to have data and the control channel happens to be the one below that in the frequency list for the site.

/Ubbe

 

[KevinC]

You have to spot that real easy, that the scanner doesn't scan anymore and are parked on a data channel and you hear no conversations. It isn't per se scanning, it is monitoring the system. It probably isn't considered being an issue as it is so easily detectable, just push avoid on it. It can only happen when you initially start scan and that V/D channel happens to have data and the control channel happens to be the one below that in the frequency list for the site.

/Ubbe

What good will pushing avoid do? The radio thinks it's on a control channel, so pushing avoid results in an error beep.

And many times I just turn the scanner on and don't look at the display other than to see it's on. Only to realize minutes later it's silent, then I have to power cycle and hope it land on a CC before a data channel.

But I've overcome this mostly by only having the CC's in the list and the one that's used 99.999% of the time as the first in the list.

It's a real problem and Uniden needs to address in my opinion.

 

[Fubar]

It's a real problem and Uniden needs to address in my opinion.

I agree. I can't tell you how many times it suddenly occurs to me the scanner has been really quiet, only to find it's stuck on some channel and I have no idea it's stuck because the screen shuts off and the scanner is making zero noise.

 

[Ubbe]

I have no idea it's stuck because the screen shuts off and the scanner is making zero noise.

It's almost no point in turning off the screen as the power saved are very small and not worth it in relation to the nuisence it creates.

/Ubbe

 

[werinshades]

I agree. I can't tell you how many times it suddenly occurs to me the scanner has been really quiet, only to find it's stuck on some channel and I have no idea it's stuck because the screen shuts off and the scanner is making zero noise.

It's almost no point in turning off the screen as the power saved are very small and not worth it in relation to the nuisence it creates.

/Ubbe

This sounds like the Display times out more than shutting it off.

In Sentinel: Edit...Edit Profile...Display Options... Squelch Light/Open Squelch...Keypress Light/Infinite...Key Back Light/ON...Flash w/Backlight Off/OFF.

Then: File..Save..Plug in Scanner/Press E to Enter Mass Storage Mode...Write to Scanner..unplug scanner.