Uniden SDS-100, sentinel, and palmetto 800 list

[HardrockF350]

It has been a long time since I had a working scanner. my first scanner was back in 1990, I purchased a radio shack PRO-34 100 channel scanner, and how simple it was to program it. this week I purchased a uniden sds-100 scanner, and I am using the sentinel 2.00 rev 10 programming software. when I select a conventional channel, then append to favorites all looks good, and it scans right. the problem starts when I select any of the palmetto 800 channels/groups and append (add) them to favorites, write them to the sds-100, and the favorites are listed but not channels/frequency/info are not saved in the scanner, only the palmetto 800 channels are not working/saving right.....
example: after I have updated the firmware and database. make a favorite group called SCHP TROOP 7, expand the listing USA,SC, Bamberg, statewide, palmetto 800, and the group I want to add/append is SCHP Troop 7. right click on that group just that group, select append to favorites and I select the favorite I made before hand (SCHP Troop 7). next all of the palmetto listings/groups are added to my favorite SCHP Troop 7, not just the one I selected, but all of them. what is causing this? I have saved this list to the scanner, and it doesn't see any info/data/frequencies. even if I delete or avoid all the other unwanted frequencies it doesn't work, scanner states scan mode, nothing to scan..
I have even let the scanner select the data base from zip code, and it will add all of the palmetto 800 groups to the full database. next I tried to manually go thru those freqs, find the Ch 99 disp in orangeburg (I hear HP talking) and I press E(yes) button and add to my favorite. so far looks good, it is there in the list, but when it scans all of the palmetto 800 freqs are being scanned one by one with the other freqs I have added.
I have searched online for this same problem and found noting, reset the scanner 2 times, redone/reselcted the favorites many different ways, and the same thing happens. So what am I ding wrong???
I am grateful for your help.
thank you

 

[brian]

Given that your question is more specific to one radio model, you might get more responses by posting this question in the Uniden forum. There may not be too many folks in SC with an SDS-100. If you determine that your issue is related to something specific to the SC listings in the database, come back here and let me know and we'll work it out.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Hardrock:
I have used the SDS100 extensively on the Pal800. I almost guarantee that this is a case of not being familiar with how Favorites Lists are configured in the scanner and how to use Quick Keys to turn on/off wanted systems.
When you pick a system from the Master Database and append it to either an existing Favorites List or to a new Favorites List all Palmetto800 sites statewide will be copied to the FL. You then edit that favorites list to either avoid (lock out) or delete the sites that are no where near you thereby leaving just the Pal800 sites closest to you.
Can you go into Sentinel and export the favorites lists you created and attach them to this thread?
1) Highlight one of the favorites list you created.
2) Go to File->Export to hpe file (favorites list)
3) select all systems/sites in Favorites List.
4) select somewhere on your computer to save the Favorites List.
5) zip them up and attach them to this thread or email them to KE4ZNR@radioreference.com.
6) Also please include which Palmetto800 sites are closest to you so I know the general area you are trying to monitor.
I also recommend reading over the following links (even though they are for the 436/536 they also apply to the SDS100)
Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual
and
BCDX36HP Sentinel Software Manual
Once you get used to working with Sentinel to configure systems within the scanner with Quick Keys it is very easy
to turn on & off systems and talkgroups.
Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[fxdscon]

I have searched online for this same problem and found noting, reset the scanner 2 times, redone/reselcted the favorites many different ways, and the same thing happens. So what am I ding wrong???
I am grateful for your help.
thank you

Check here under "Uniden 3-Tier DMA". The article was put in the WIKI before the release of the SDS series radios, but the same checklist applies:

https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Nothing_to_Scan

 

[HardrockF350]

thanks for yalls advise. I am sure it is something I am not doing right. yesterday I played around with ARC536, started my subscription with radio reference, and I got it to work. only problem I am having is taking extra time having to save each favorite, then starting back over. I made some temp favorites, exp: schp 7, schp 6, Charleston Co, when I saved those (temp 1) and copied them to the sds100, all of these favorites showed up as one favorite (temp 1). I didn't have a way to select the individual favorites I want to listen too. so I made one favorite and save it, then clear it out and start on the next favorite.
I would like to have my favorites listed by counties, utilities, and so on, and when I travel I can select what I want to listen too. with the arc536 software I can select the towers, and talk groups, I can't find that option in the sentinel software, lack of knowledge.
before I bought the sds100, I searched YouTube for training videos on the sentinel software, but most are not in depth, just search and add.

 

[HardrockF350]

it just hit me like a ton of bricks how to work the sentinel to get the palmetto 800 talk groups and sites to work. ding dang it, spent money last night at radio reference to upgrade my account. oh well it is all good. I can use the reports they supply.