Service Types and Favorite Lists

[rrobinso84]

Just curious: Does my selection of "Service Types" impact what gets scanned from within a Favorites List, or are they only active when doing location-based scanning of the Full Database? In other words, if I only have "Law Tac" selected in the scanner, if I have a Favorite List that includes "Fire Dispatch" channels, will I hear them, or will the scanner skip over them because it is not one of the Service Types selected?

 

[JethrowJohnson]

Yes, the Service Types affect Favorites Lists. I have a BCD436HP and I was wondering why I wasn't hearing the MARIETTA SVC channel and one day it just donned on me to check the Service Type settings and sure enough, everything was on except for Public Works. I turned Public Works on and now that channel comes in like all the others. And I was kind of tired of hearing the ambulances when they were on their way to the hospital so I turned Hospital off and now I don't hear patient reports anymore. 👍

 

[rrobinso84]

Yes, the Service Types affect Favorites Lists. I have a BCD436HP and I was wondering why I wasn't hearing the MARIETTA SVC channel and one day it just donned on me to check the Service Type settings and sure enough, everything was on except for Public Works. I turned Public Works on and now that channel comes in like all the others. And I was kind of tired of hearing the ambulances when they were on their way to the hospital so I turned Hospital off and now I don't hear patient reports anymore. 👍

Thanks, Jethrow! So, both Location (when ON) AND Service Types are active even in FLs. Good to know.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks, Jethrow! So, both Location (when ON) AND Service Types are active even in FLs. Good to know.

Just to clarify, a correct location & desired range are the key to scanning using the main database.

However, on Favorites lists, you have the choice as to whether location is used, or not. Setting the list to use location, or setting so that location is not in place, is set in the Options for the list, Generally, I do not use location control for the Favorites lists I use. I know what is in, or out, of range and create a Favorites list with that in mind.

 

[rrobinso84]

Generally, I do not use location control for the Favorites lists I use. I know what is in, or out, of range and create a Favorites list with that in mind.

Sounds like you have location OFF for your favorite lists. Do you also enable all service types?

 

[ofd8001]

If a given Service Type is turned off, it is off for both Favorites List scanning and Full Database scanning.

Using your example, if Law Tac is the only Service Type selected, you'd only hear Law Tac when doing Favorites List Scanning, or Full Database scanning, and no other Service Type.

Whether to use Location Control on Favorites Lists is something to be decided when thinking through your programming. And you might change it a couple of times along the way. Some of my FL's have Location Control On and some have it Off. For example, my "Home" Favorites List has many things including the local airport. But I only want to listen to the airport when I am close by, such as 2 miles. So my GPS will turn it on/off depending if I'm close to the airport.

 

[hiegtx]

Sounds like you have location OFF for your favorite lists. Do you also enable all service types?

I have location off on the lists that I use the most. I have a couple set up to use location for areas that I only visit rarely. For one trip that was planned, but cancelled when the pandemic hit, I created a list with all the agencies I felt would be in range. I intended to use two scanners, one using location and the main database, the other using my 'best guess' list (without location) just for comparison.

I do have most service types enabled, but that's no problem, since I am using lists that I created based on what I want to hear. Were I using only the main database, I would trim down some of the types other than public safety so that I did not get unwanted agencies.