WS1065: Whistler WS1065

[jhmerrill47]

I just bought a Whistler WS1065. How do I just make it scan what it is pro-programmed with. What Software should I get for it. Is there software to download from RadioReference. I'm just having a hard time setting it up. It's been 30 years or so since I have had a scanner.

Thank you

Jack Merrill

 

[tvengr]

I use Butel ARC500 programming software and it works very well. ARC500 Basic is all you need to program your scanner. The Pro version provides logging. The San Antonio/Bexar Co radio system uses EDACS ProVoice which the WS1065 cannot decode. It appears that in the future they will be changing to the Alamo Area Regional P25 system. That is a P25 Phase 2 capable system, but all of the talkgroups currently show Phase 1, which your scanner can receive. I would suggest that you click on Report and request that your thread be moved to the Texas forum. There will be a lot of members in your immediate area who can better answer questions about what is going on in your area and which scanners will work with the local systems.

 

[hiegtx]

I just bought a Whistler WS1065. How do I just make it scan what it is pro-programmed with. What Software should I get for it. Is there software to download from RadioReference. I'm just having a hard time setting it up. It's been 30 years or so since I have had a scanner.

Thank you

Jack Merrill

Unfortunately, even correctly programmed, your WS1065 may be limited as to what you can currently receive.

In the San Antonio area, most public safety communications are on this system:

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

San Antonio PD & FD, as well as the county's S.O., county fire, and many of the smaller municipalities, use ProVoice on the system. That's noted by the D in the mode column next to their talkgroups:


Where you see, instead, an M, that indicates mixed mode, some analog (normal EDACS, which your scanner can receive), the rest digital, in this case, ProVoice. Your WS1065 & none of the other Whistler scanners, can handle ProVoice. Most of the newer Uniden scanners can handle ProVoice if you purchase the optional upgrade. That's not available in the Whistler line of scanners. The talkgroups used by public works agencies (non-public safety) appear to mostly use regular analog, which your scanner can receive. Those are noted by an A in the mode column.

Eventually, the agencies in your area will move to this system instead:

Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS) Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas

Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

That is a P25 Phase II capable system, though it appears, for now, that most everything is still using P25 Phase I. There are assigned talkgroups for various city and county agencies, based on what I'm seeing in this thread down in the Texas forum:

Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS)

Does anyone know if Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS) is already active?

forums.radioreference.com

It appears that some of those talkgroups are patched back to the EDACS/ProVoice system, using P25 Phase I (noted by the D in he mode column), but are not always in use. If you were to program the new system, AARRS, you might be able to at least hear some public safety transmissions. However, if at a later date, the system converts to only P25 Phase II. If that conversion takes place, instead of a D, you would see a T in the mode column for Phase II talkgroups.

 

[jhmerrill47]

I am totally new to this. It's been many years since I had one. When I push the scan button it says nothing selected. So what scanner should I look at getting. It should like this one isn't going to work to well.

 

[hiegtx]

I am totally new to this. It's been many years since I had one. When I push the scan button it says nothing selected. So what scanner should I look at getting. It should like this one isn't going to work to well.

That only means that either you have nothing programmed, or, if you do, the scanlist(s) is not enabled. That does not mean the scanner has a serious issue.

You can find links to step-by-step programming on this site:

Easier to Read Pro-651/652/106/197 - WS1040/1065 - PSR 500/600 Digital Scanner Manual

Also on this Wiki page: Programming Shortcut PSR-500/600 RS Pro-106/197 - The RadioReference Wiki

While the EDACS/ProVoice system is beyond what your scanner can do, at least for now you would be able to monitor the new system, AARRS.
As I've already indicated, I don't think it is fully in use yet, but as I'm in Dallas, not San Antonio, I could be wrong.

There are three software packages that support your WS1065:
Win500, PSREdit500, and ARC500. All three allow you a thirty day free trial period before you either have to purchase a license for it as it will cease to function without a purchased key. Pick one & download it, then install on your PC. You should have also received a programming cable with the scanner. Install the software of your choice, If needed, you can download the driver needed for the cable to work from Whistler's site:

WS1040/WS1065 Scanner Firmware Updates and Downloads

Firmware updates and downloads for the Whistler WS1040 and WS1065 radio scanners

whistlergroup.com

(That's a screenshot from their page, to show you what you need to look for.)

Once you have the cable ready for use, & software installed, any number of members on this site, including myself, could provide you a file to program your scanner & get started.

Be sure to give us an indication of where, in the S.A. area, you are, so that the correct site is programmed. I would also caution you that several of the AARRS sites are simulcast, which can cause issues for many scanners other than Uniden's SDS100 & SDS200. Since you have the WS1065 at present, it would not hurt to at least give it a shot. If it does not work, then you know you'll need to look at something different.

 

[jhmerrill47]

Thank you very much. This will give me some to work with.

Jack

 

[jhmerrill47]

I am returning the Whistler WS1065. What would b e a good scanner for San Antonio. I was able to get the VA Police on it.

 

[hiegtx]

I am returning the Whistler WS1065. What would b e a good scanner for San Antonio. I was able to get the VA Police on it.

For agencies using the current EDACS system:

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio/Bexar County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

You would need one of the Uniden scanners with the ProVoice upgrade for any agency using ProVoice, which is the case for just about all of the Public Safety agencies. That would be one of the following scanners:

Handhelds
BCD325P2
BCD436HP
SDS100

Base/Mobile scanners (your WS1065 is a base/mobile model):
BCD996P2
BCD536HP
SDS200

Any of those six models can use the ProVoice Upgrade, which has a cost of $50.00
Cost of any of these scanners will vary depending where you are purchasing from, and whether buying new or previously owned. There are a couple of 996P2s listed in the classifieds here in RadioReference, @ $325 each. New, you're looking at something closer to $400, depending on source. You might also find one on eBay.

The unknown factor, though, may be simulcast, which might be a problem once San Antonio & Bexar County migrate to the upcoming P25 Phase II system. While one of the SDS series scanners would work for both ProVoice as well as deal with simulcast when the migration occurs, once of the other models might not. But that is so dependent on your location to the site(s) you are trying to receive.

 

[jhmerrill47]

Steve, thank you.

 

[tvengr]

I agree with Steve. The Uniden SDS100 handheld and SDS200 base/mobile are the only scanners that will reliably work with simulcast systems. Even IF the other scanners work at home, you will find that they will probably cut in and out as you move around the San Antonio area. It all depends upon your location in relation to the towers. As long as you are close to a tower, the other scanners will probably work.

 

[Sector46]

I live in Alabama. Had Digital scanners in FL for years and years in the mid 80s til they encrypted . R/S Came to Dothan and P25 was open so got a 1040 , then a TRX2 ( Which SD card just got sent off to be re programmed as I manually messed it up . ) Got a 1065 in the mean time which I thought I messed up today but reset the CPU and was able to clone correctly off one of the 1040s . Computer programming , unless you are very familiar seems like everyone has some problem or another , and I cant understand why any one would want 100s of freqs programmed when you can only listen to one at a time . The TRX2 will only have 2 sets of Talkgroups in it when SD card returns , because It can get annoying listening to too much .

 

[tvengr]

I find using software is far faster and easier that trying to program a scanner manually. Butel ARC500 software will work very well with the 1040 and 1065. ARC500 Basic is all the need to program the scanners. The Pro version provides logging. You can use the Whistler TRX-2 EZ Scan software for your TRX-2. If you have any questions about programming, I am glad to help. My father knew people who lived on Grey Hodges Road. He was from Alabama.