Use of Search Mode / Analysis Mode

[pb_lonny]

I am making really good use of these modes on my UBCD436PT, however I am not seeing much discussion on this. Are most people just happy to listen to what they always listen to and don't take the time to find new users?

I am finding that I am spending 80% of the time using either search or the analysis modes? is this uncommon?

For those that do, what tips and tricks have you found? Is searching a smaller block for less time producing better results that a large block for long?
Is searching 3 x 10MHz blocks for 1 hour each (3 hours total) going to produce better results that a single 30MHz block for 3 hours?

 

[RaleighGuy]

The Secrets are in the Searches - Scanner School

There is a whole world out there to monitor. Put your scanner in search to find it! Here are some hints to get you started.

www.scannerschool.com

 

[Ubbe]

Whenever I'm not at my desk listening to scanners I have my 536 set to search the frequency ranges that are used. I have some search ranges programmed but the scanner only allow up to 255 frequencies to be avoided of known frequencies and push out the oldest avoided when it's full so only small ranges used. I instead make scan lists with ranges that then have unlimited number of avoids, or just delete the frequency, and can also be edited in the name tags.

I take out the SD card maybe once a week and analyze in Universal Scanner Audio Player. I search all the bands. Sooner or later it will catch an active frequency, rather than searching a small block and then switch block after a while.

/Ubbe

 

[sonm10]

I never found any use for the discovery feature. I seem to search a range of frequencies and use ProScan for logging/recording.

Nor the trunking discovery, either. An SDR with DSD+ or Unitrunker seems better. But each to his own.

 

[ecps92]

I am making really good use of these modes on my UBCD436PT, however I am not seeing much discussion on this. Are most people just happy to listen to what they always listen to and don't take the time to find new users?

I am finding that I am spending 80% of the time using either search or the analysis modes? is this uncommon?

For those that do, what tips and tricks have you found? Is searching a smaller block for less time producing better results that a large block for long?
Is searching 3 x 10MHz blocks for 1 hour each (3 hours total) going to produce better results that a single 30MHz block for 3 hours?

many of us who seek out new data use SEARCH, CLOSE-CALL etc
All depends on what we are after.

This is in addition to the daily/routine monitored channels in our many radios

I've found (scanners - not SDR) that biting off too much you miss much
cut down you searches to 1-2 mhz , unless you have a specific target you are looking for

 

[Ubbe]

I've found (scanners - not SDR) that biting off too much you miss much
cut down you searches to 1-2 mhz , unless you have a specific target you are looking for

It probably depends on the location. In US there's a lot of activity in the frequency bands that you will have to cut it down to smaller pieces of search ranges, but in other countries there's not much activity and if you only search a 1MHz range of 10Mhz possible it will be impossible to catch anything in those 9MHz that are not searched. If you instead search all 10Mhz you will at least have a chance and if it is normal users they will have the frequency active for a while that makes it a higher chance to catch it.

The more you scan the higher the chances to catch something. If you don't scan a frequency there will be zero chance to catch anything from that frequency. If a frequency are active only during the morning hours in the weekend and that block happens to be scanned only during afternoon, evening and night and in the morning of weekdays, then you'll never catch it. As soon as a frequency break squelch, that isn't a fluke interference, and have been recorded you delete it from search and program it into another scanner to do more detailed monitoring.

/Ubbe

 

[ecps92]

It probably depends on the location. In US there's a lot of activity in the frequency bands that you will have to cut it down to smaller pieces of search ranges, but in other countries there's not much activity and if you only search a 1MHz range of 10Mhz possible it will be impossible to catch anything in those 9MHz that are not searched. If you instead search all 10Mhz you will at least have a chance and if it is normal users they will have the frequency active for a while that makes it a higher chance to catch it.

The more you scan the higher the chances to catch something. If you don't scan a frequency there will be zero chance to catch anything from that frequency. If a frequency are active only during the morning hours in the weekend and that block happens to be scanned only during afternoon, evening and night and in the morning of weekdays, then you'll never catch it. As soon as a frequency break squelch, that isn't a fluke interference, and have been recorded you delete it from search and program it into another scanner to do more detailed monitoring.

/Ubbe

Yes - YMMV by Regions of the US, and as you mentioned other countries, many of us do tend to forget those outside of the US at times when posting here. Also knowing your band plans help for each segment being searched

ie: (US)
162-174 generally our FEDERAL Agencies - skip or lock out the Weather channels
137-150.8 - Militrary Ops - keep in mind 144-147.999 - Amateur 2 meters

 

[Harold]

Prior to the internet, that's all we did, search, log and search some more. Now I have unitrunker running on one system or another searching for new talkgroups. But yes, I do run discovery and frequency searches from time to time also.