New topics for potential wiki coverage

[ka3jjz]

Over the last week or two I've been considering what other topics the wiki could be used to cover or document. It's unique in that the wiki is not driven by the admins or me - it's driven by YOU the RR users. I think that, at times, folks might want to contribute, but they're somehow concerned about the topic not being relevant.

Let me address that right now. As long as it's legal, and does not circumvent US or international law, and it's involved between LW and satellite - it might be a valid topic for the wiki. If you have questions about whether it's appropriate, ask . I'm not hard to find, and I don't byte...er, bite (OK not very much anyway).

In any case, I've been considering a few topics. By no means are these all inclusive, and they're just MY ideas. What are yours?

• Use as a scratchpad to enable people to add frequencies/talkgroups for systems currently online and not in the database, or new systems coming on line. Once a system is documented enough, submit the article to the database team to be entered en masse. The entered data can then be displayed using the extensions, and unvalidated or new data left as is to show the progression of data posted to the data not yet entered or validated. I see several entries being posted for Alberta Canada systems; that's just one way of many to proceed. Use your imagination

• This could also apply to the discovery of previously unknown Fire Tone Outs - a topic that comes up from time to time.

• This also includes documenting frequencies and talkgroups for special events such as airshows. There's a small beginning of this already in the wiki, and it should - and could be - expanded.

• In a similar vein, use it to accumulate technical settings (such as custom tables) or other tricks to enable trunk scanning of rebanded systems. This would need to be indexed, and cataloged, by scanner and/or region (since a custom table would be applied differently from different scanners, and a custom table for one area might not work in another. It might need a different table entirely).

• Accumulate tips and other 'undocumented features' for various software packages; of particular interest would be settings and other tricks needed to support rebanded-capable scanners. This will be a critical factor once the GRE analog trunktrackers (and their RS cousins) get the fixes necessary to support rebanding - and how to enter the changes in the various software packages.

• Expand the DMA and Object Oriented FAQs to include software tricks that make data entry and manipulation easier and more productive. Cover any other topics not already covered such as special keystrokes, custom table entries, and so forth.

• Certain folks have complained about how the Easier to Read manuals for the DMA scanners have errors in them. This is also a potential topic that can be harnessed. In other words, don't just complain - DOCUMENT IT! Newcomers who come along will thank you for it

• Be a contact point for some of the smaller radio clubs (yes, you Yahoo group admins, this is pointed squarely at you) who don't have the space, or budget, to set up their own web pages. This would also need to be set up on a regional basis. You'll notice I said 'radio clubs' - that includes scanner clubs and the next item...

• Distribute links that tie scanner (maybe even ham related) websites to the wiki, and perhaps the database. With the API in place, (and someone has already tied the API to the wiki - see the Utah wiki for an example) this could be an excellent way to distribute scanner and database information to websites that didn't know about this previously. Most ham clubs have several folks that also use scanners, particularly during public service or disaster situations. Potentially one could envision exposure to governmental agencies that have EOCs that need accurate database information. We all know that not all radio shops are so free with their data. A wiki based page has already been coded as a 'standard beginning' point, but it can be adjusted to fit the needs of a region. Changing it to a HTML page isn't all that hard.

• I also wouldn't be a bit adverse to expanding the coverage of TV/FM DX. LW or MW topics. While there are worthwhile clubs for these topics with great websites, how do you wish to use the wiki to cover topics and tech discussions they won't due to space considerations in their bulletins?

I can't say this enough. If you have some more ideas as to what the wiki should be covering speak up. If we get enough of these ideas, we may need to think about redesigning the main page again - maybe

73 Mike

[tonsoffun]

Hi Mike. I think for the scanner beginner it is very intimidating sometimes to find something in the wiki that is basic and easy to read.

I think we should try to gather the info that is basic from the entire wiki and sort of put those articles on the main front page for (Beginners) to find easily.

I think I am going to write (well, I will try) a basic how-to set up an outdoor antenna with step by step instructions with the minimum requirements. I was thinking of doing this for a while, and was actually brought up in the antenna forum that there was not anything like that in the wiki.

Great job everyone in the wiki!

Ron

[ka3jjz]

You mean like a scanning 101 group of some kind, Ron? That's certainly a possibility. We actually already have something like that in the Scan New England wiki as well as the Scanner Digest website. It shouldn't be all that difficult to retrofit.

Keep the ideas coming. 73 Mike

[tonsoffun]

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

You mean like a scanning 101 group of some kind, Ron? That's certainly a possibility. We actually already have something like that in the Scan New England wiki as well as the Scanner Digest website. It shouldn't be all that difficult to retrofit.

Keep the ideas coming. 73 Mike

Yes exactly, that would be great!

[ka3jjz]

Originally Posted by tonsoffun

Yes exactly, that would be great!

OK let's see if we can get some idea of what folks would want to see in a 'scanning 101' article. I'll start with the following titles;

Deciding on a Scanner
The RadioReference Glossary
Trunking Concepts
Connecting Scanners via USB
Making the connection between the Soundcard and Scanner (important for recording apps)
Premium Subscription
Web Service support
Scanner Antennas
Filters
Programming FAQs and tips which encompasses many titles, such as:
-Scanner Programming FAQ
-Common Conventional Programming Questions
-Common Trunking Programming Questions
-GRE/RS Object Oriented Scanners FAQ
-The Uniden DMA FAQ

Add to/subtract from the list as appropriate. 73 Mike

[tonsoffun]

Can we add a link on the main page for Scanning 101 Mike?, or do you have something else in mind. Then we can gather all those great articles to that.

Ron

[ka3jjz]

I would probably call it Scanning 101, Ron, but let's not jump the gun just yet. Give folks some time to mull over the list and make/add changes. I'll probably start building the article in a couple of days, then post it, say, in a week. That should be more than enough time

73 Mike

[tonsoffun]

Okay, sounds good!

Ron

[tonsoffun]

What does everybody think about the list that Mike has posted for a Scanning 101 article?
Any commments?


Ron

[ka3jjz]

Geez, Ron, take a chill pill already! If folks want to respond, they will. If not, they won't. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet.

As my Italian Godfather (yes I had one) used to tell me 'Patienza' (patience)! 73 Mike

[mciupa]

Originally Posted by tonsoffun

What does everybody think about the list that Mike has posted for a Scanning 101 article?
Any commments?
Ron

All the bases appear to have been covered.

One thing I thought of could be an article about batteries and chargers for portable scanners, since it periodically comes up in forum discussions.

and..

Trunking novices seem to get thrown for a loop programming EDACS LCN's, so it could be mentioned in the Trunk programming area EDACS FAQ on "why doesn't my EDACS system trunktrack ?"

[ka3jjz]

Not bad suggestions there. I should have the baseline article done in a couple of days - you can add that stuff.

Thanks es 73 Mike

[tonsoffun]

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

Geez, Ron, take a chill pill already! If folks want to respond, they will. If not, they won't. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet.

As my Italian Godfather (yes I had one) used to tell me 'Patienza' (patience)! 73 Mike

Sorry Mike, I was just excited I guess, and your reply was totally uncalled for.

Thanks

[ka3jjz]

Sorry about that - my natural NJ born sarcasm gets in the way of correct advice. It still stands though -Patience is a key word. If someone wants to respond, they will. 73 Mike

[texasemt13]

I love the idea of the scratchpad. In San Antonio our local military bases use a MotoSmartZone TRS that this could be VERY useful for.

The scratchpad could also be useful in a large city that is trying to id federal frequencies. I usually just have an excel sheet that I keep track of snippets of conversations until you get enough of a feel as to what the agency does- but I never have the opportunity to share this- the scratchpad could help id these quicker.

[ka3jjz]

Feel free, Texas. I don't try to mandate formats for scratchpads, since every application could easily be different. If you need some help getting your initial page together just yell. I would start with a straight list of some kind - tables can be a royal pain in the arse to update and it's too easy to mess it up

73 Mike

[ka3jjz]

Texas, I hope you have seen that we have the San Antonio Mil system laid out in the db - unless you've got more information, which is very welcome...

Scanner Frequencies: San Antonio Military Smartzone Trunking System, San Antonio, Texas

If you want, you can pull data from the database using the extensions into a wiki article, and build around that.

73 Mike

[texasemt13]

Yes, we have some of the ided TGs listed, but so many more have been logged that we can't pin down yet- I was thinking we could add our notes from the traffic we hear on these un-ided ones in to a scratchpad to keep track of the purpose of that TG. Just a thought.

[ka3jjz]

Absolutely! Using the extensions to pull the data would save you a lot of typing, I'm sure. Good idea.

73 Mike

[ka3jjz]

The Scanning 101 article is now available linked off the main page. Have at it!

73 Mike