BearTracker Warning Feature: Usefulness of..

[letarotor]

I'm curious how many folks who own either a Uniden BCT7, BCT8, BCT15 or Radio Shack PRO-2051 actually use the BearTracker or Highway Patrol Warning/Alert system on their scanners while they are traveling? Are there any states left who actually use Mobile Extenders or Vehiclular Repeaters? Is it an outdated gimick that has seen its time come and go?

The reason I ask is because recently I picked up a PRO-2051 on clearance sale and in actual use in the car I'm picking up lots of intermod and pager stuff when I set it to receive my states's Highway frequencies. The alert feature is going off way to often, beyond the point of being a mere annoyance! The BCT15 is an interesting unit in that it also includes all the input frequencies for State of Colorado DTRS (over 100 frequencies). I haven't had a chance to put it to an actual test in Colorado but it would seem to me that the BearTracker warning feature would be going off all the time while traveling around the state. Anyway, looking for any testimonials from you'all on this forum, good or bad about this feature. Thanks

Mark

[KG4LJF]

I've owned many of the scanners you listed, and in all honesty, I never used the feature. I'm like you, it was more annoyance than it helped anything.

I think it was mostly a gimmick to help market the scanners and sell them. If you want to know where the highway patrol is, buy a CB, or invest in a good radar detector. I used to have a 2051, and kept the feature turned off the whole time I had it. I couldn't stand the annoying "beep" it made when you first turned it on...

[diggerodell]

Tennessee still uses Mobile Extenders or Vehiclular Repeaters
thanks bill

[rhicks6000]

that beep makes you take notice when you turn your scanner on fresh out of the box

[letarotor]

A little more research reveals that Nevada, Wisconsin, Alabama, New Mexico also use them. When you think about it, what ever possessed state agencies to ever get away from them. Here in Texas they arn't used anymore and the trooper has to turn on the outside speaker and hope he can make it back to the car if something goes bad. Not good.

Mark

[RadioWARE]

Rural PD's on low band use them here in MA. I use mine in the house and leave it on. That way I always know when something is going on close by, actually works well out in the country away from all the RF

[GTO_04]

Originally Posted by letarotor

A little more research reveals that Nevada, Wisconsin, Alabama, New Mexico also use them. When you think about it, what ever possessed state agencies to ever get away from them. Here in Texas they arn't used anymore and the trooper has to turn on the outside speaker and hope he can make it back to the car if something goes bad. Not good.

Mark

Mobile radio extenders are not used with 800 MHz trunked radio systems, probably due to the expense, and most state agencies are migrating to 800 MHz. To get good handheld coverage, they will have to erect more towers.

Wisconsin State Patrol is still on VHF-Hi so you will see mobile radio extenders there. Indiana used to have them but they are being, or have been, phased out as the VHF Low Band system disappears.

GTO_04

[Dave_D]

In its defense, the BCT15's BearTracker feature goes deeper than merely scanning for mobile extender frequencies; it also scans for other well-known police frequencies. That said, the feature is only as useful as the frequencies preprogrammed into it and I've found those to be far from ideal, to the point of undermining the device's stated purpose.

For example, in Nevada, BearTracker scans dozens of trunked systems used by Highway Patrol, but ignores input frequencies. Does Joe Leadfoot really want to be alerted to signals repeated from 30 miles away? And does this, in the absense of any relevance to proximity, really warrant an alert tone?

Furthermore, BearTracker does not take advantage of the BCT15's location-based-scanning features. This results in a high volume of false alerts and slows scanning times.

So, I've disabled BearTracker altogether and rebuilt the functionality from scratch. You can assign the same BearTracker alert tone to any frequency you like (but you can't make the light blink, dag nabbit). Furthermore, you can assign locations to your systems; a real bonus. For me, it's better than the prefab BearTracker ever was. It's more accurate in locating police. It's more telling in its tones/descriptions (e.g., "Input Frequency," "Police/Sheriff / Douglas County / Mobile Data Terminal." It's faster and, most importantly, it's forever updateable.

And despite all my efforts, I'd still rank it 10% as effective as a radar detector, but tons more fun.

[freq_junkie]

The California Highway Patrol still uses mobile extenders and they are quite active too.

[astickman]

Originally Posted by Dave_D

So, I've disabled BearTracker altogether and rebuilt the functionality from scratch. You can assign the same BearTracker alert tone to any frequency you like (but you can't make the light blink, dag nabbit). Furthermore, you can assign locations to your systems; a real bonus. For me, it's better than the prefab BearTracker ever was. It's more accurate in locating police. It's more telling in its tones/descriptions (e.g., "Input Frequency," "Police/Sheriff / Douglas County / Mobile Data Terminal." It's faster and, most importantly, it's forever updateable.

I'm new at this, so please pardon me if this has been answered, but can you please expand on this? What frequencies are you looking for and which ones are leaving out? (for the customized bear tracking system that is.)

[mdulrich]

Originally Posted by GTO_04

Mobile radio extenders are not used with 800 MHz trunked radio systems, probably due to the expense, and most state agencies are migrating to 800 MHz.

MREs are being used on the Ohio MARCS system.

Mike

[captclint]

Originally Posted by astickman

I'm new at this, so please pardon me if this has been answered, but can you please expand on this? What frequencies are you looking for and which ones are leaving out? (for the customized bear tracking system that is.)

All he is saying is that he is putting in frequencies and descriptions (that he will recognize) for the area(s) that he frequents. If you provide some information about the your scanner model, state & county or counties you plan to travel, maybe someone can point you to more useful frequencies to add. However, this kind of information would have a better chance of being answered if you post the question and the information about your area in the appropriate state forum.

You could also get an idea of what sorts of agencies and frequencies that are in your area by clicking on the state and then county map in our Database. More than likely, you will be more interested in the state police or agency that patrols the interstates, as that is where most of the traffic stops occur(the usual use for beartracker). They can be found when you click on the state map. You didn't say what scanner you have, but if you have the BCT15, you can also use the GPS location features to automatically shift area frequencies as you travel, which the Beartracker feature does not do.

[astickman]

Originally Posted by capt_clint

However, this kind of information would have a better chance of being answered if you post the question and the information about your area in the appropriate state forum.

I travel in Az, Ca, Nv, Tx, Ut, Wy, Id, Mt, Co, Nm, etc mostly. Once in awhile getting back to the east coast.

You could also get an idea of what sorts of agencies and frequencies that are in your area by clicking on the state and then county map in our Database. More than likely, you will be more interested in the state police or agency that patrols the interstates, as that is where most of the traffic stops occur(the usual use for beartracker). They can be found when you click on the state map.

Yes, I was just wondering if there were certain ones that you'd delete to eliminate false alerts.

You didn't say what scanner you have, but if you have the BCT15, you can also use the GPS location features to automatically shift area frequencies as you travel, which the Beartracker feature does not do.

Yes, I have the BCT15. What GPS devices have the output that the BCT15 will accept? I have a Garmin eTrax Legend Cx, and it does have a small Usb port on that back. Normally I use it in the car with the cable that plugs into the cigerette lighter to power it, but I know it has a USB cable that I can plug it into the computer. The cable that came with the BCT15 has what looks like a small USB on one end and a 9 pin serial cable on the other. Perhaps I could plug that into the back of the BCT15 and the small USB into the Garmin?

[Twister_2]

PA...they still use the repeaters (lower paxton Twp) because I punched in the input frequency which is 465.075 and the output is 460.075. They either have VHF's or UHF's that either go to their vehicle repeater or the towers...however, there are not many repeater towers. I get a 2 mile range without their repeaters and the towers are more that 2 miles apart...so they have vehicle repeaters. The car's are simplex... in-465.075 out-465.075 that go to the towers that are duplex...in-465.075 out-460.075

[captclint]

I travel in Az, Ca, Nv, Tx, Ut, Wy, Id, Mt, Co, Nm,

That's quite a list. I can give you a few tips, but this is really too big an area to generalize much. The only reason I am going to answer this is because I asked you to elaborate, and I may be able to get you thinking more about this. While you would probably benefit from customizing as shown below, the large area you are covering might be a lot easier to just use the Beartracker until you see where there are problems and/or you are missing traffic. You can also go to each state forum and ask for better advice than what I have...considering I am in PA

AZ Program the Highway Patrol input freq for only the regions where you travel. I would not program the PL's, just in case the mobiles use different ones than base.

CA CHP Same, except be sure to get ALL the Statewide freq, and I would use PL's due to low band skip

NV Nevada Highway Patrol (Conventional) Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq I would not program the PL's, just in case the mobiles use different ones than base. Now Dave mentioned "Nevada, BearTracker scans dozens of trunked systems used by Highway Patrol, but ignores input frequencies." Not sure what they would be, unless it is Nevada Shared Radio System. I would ask him for more specifics on NV

TX - Looks to be digital, so out of luck.

Utah Highway Patrol I would program just the statewide, but you could also try the inputs to areas you might travel.

Wyoming Highway Patrol I would do both input and base(labeled Frequency) of statewide, plus inputs to areas you might travel.

Idaho State Police - Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq

Montana Highway Patrol - Program both base(labeled Frequency) & input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq

CO - Looks to be mostly digital, so out of luck.

New Mexico State Police - Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq

What GPS devices have the output that the BCT15 will accept? I have a Garmin eTrax Legend Cx

I think you need this: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=654 You can't use USB into BCT15, and RS232 cable that came with scanner will not input to GPS. I would get some verification from other members, as I do not have a GPS capable scanner. I would also double check with Garmin, as I did not see your exact model listed.

[Twister_2]

[QUOTE=capt_clint]That's quite a list. I can give you a few tips, but this is really too big an area to generalize much. While you would probably benefit from customizing as shown below, the large area you are covering might be a lot easier to just use the Beartracker until you see where there are problems and/or you are missing traffic.

AZ Program the Highway Patrol input freq for only the regions where you travel. I would not program the PL's, just in case the mobiles use different ones than base.

CA CHP Same, except be sure to get ALL the Statewide freq, and I would use PL's due to low band skip
NV Nevada Highway Patrol (Conventional) Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq I would not program the PL's, just in case the mobiles use different ones than base.

TX - Looks to be digital, so out of luck.

Utah Highway Patrol I would program just the statewide, but you could also try the inputs to areas you might travel.

Wyoming Highway Patrol I would do both input and output of statewide, plus inputs to areas you might travel.

Idaho State Police - Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq

Montana Highway Patrol - Program both base(labeled Frequency) & input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq

CO - Looks to be mostly digital, so out of luck.

New Mexico State Police - Program the input freq for only the regions where you travel plus get ALL the Statewide freq





And you think He had quite a list...

[AZScanner]

Curious, why wouldn't you still want to program the TRS input channels for the digital states? Sure you wouldn't hear what was going on, but you'd know when someone was close!

As for Clint's comment on the AZ side, he's right - each district uses it's own PL tone so that mulitple districts can share common frequencies, like 460.325 for example. Unfortunately though, once they radio in, it's usually YOU they're talking about as they run your plate while catching up to you for the stop. Better to just listen to the frequency itself where you will hear them running the plates up ahead of you. They also like to chit-chat on the dispatch frequencies in simplex mode, that's also a good source of intel as to where they are hiding and who they are looking at.

-AZ

[UPMan]

BearTracker (BT) does indeed check for activity on the input frequencies. The other preprogrammed modes (DOT, HP, POL) scan output frequencies.

[CLTX11]

I only used it a few times when I took road trips years ago. I have had it go off a few times and I am sure they were legit. The only time I KNOW it was legit was:

The signal alerted me then the transmission came in saying their location, they were NB as I was SB and have not passed them yet. A mile ahead where he said he was he has someone pulled over. This was in Texas, obviously before the digital switch.

BTW, this was with a BCT8

[astickman]

Thank you for the information. That's really quit a list.

PL meaning, local police right?

When you say "input" what does that mean exactly?

Perhaps just using the "close call" feature might provide more relevent information?

I've been getting used to the scanner and one thing I notice, just using it to listen, is sometimes when it scans it'll stop on a frequency that just has static, or repeating static. (not tones, not talking, just static that sounds like it might be something.) Sometimes it'll stay stuck on that frequency for a long time, some until I lock it out. Would you have an opinion as to what they are?

Thank you again. I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, but the notification doesn't seem to work or my spam filters are eating them.