396XT Group Quick Key on Conventional Channels??

[sjlamb]

I have programmed (7) Group Quick Keys for for one of the Systems on a BCD396XT. The first 5 Group Quick Keys are for trunked groups, while the other 2 Quick Keys are for conventional groups. I have no problem toggling the trunked groups with their assigned Quick Key but, using the same procedure (function + . or 0-9), am unable to toggle the Quick Keys assigned to conventional groups on and off. I can see that they are programmed in the scanner and that all are enabled. What am I missing? Is there some trick to toggle Group Quick Keys when the group contains only conventional channels?

When trunked groups are toggled off, the Group Quick Key number is changed to an asterik to indicate that group is "off" and will not be scanned. The conventional channel Group Quick Keys show as blank despite that fact that are definetly programmed into the radio. I've tried to find something addressing this in the "manual" but no such luck.

 

[rbm]

Put the conventional frequencies in another system. You don't want to (can't) mix Trunked and Conventional in the same system.

(They may share the same System Quick Key though.)

Rich

 

[sjlamb]

Thanks... I'll give that a try. I had the conventional channels in the same system as trunked but seperated as different sites. All worked fine that way.... except the Group Quick Key issues as previously described.

 

[jbeez]

I think I have the same problem, GRP at the bottom of the screen is just all --------------'s except I'm not sure how to set group priorities either.

-J

 

[sjlamb]

Put the conventional frequencies in another system. You don't want to (can't) mix Trunked and Conventional in the same system.

(They may share the same System Quick Key though.)

Rich

Well.... I've re-programmed as suggested but still have essentially the same problem. With a system of only conventional frequencies broken into two Group Quick Keys, I find that if you accidentally disable both Group Quick Keys, the scanner displays "Nothing to Scan" (as would be expected). The problem is that once ALL Group Quick Keys have been disabled and you get that error message, there is no way to restore them without re-loading the entire system. With trunked systems, there is no problem disbabling ALL Group Quick Keys and restoring them at will. Don't know why this can't be done if the system is comprised of conventional channels. Seems like Group Quick Key disabling/enabling should work the same regardless of whether it is a TRS or Conventional system.

 

[sjlamb]

I think I have the same problem, GRP at the bottom of the screen is just all --------------'s except I'm not sure how to set group priorities either.

-J

Those blanks represent slots for assigning Group Quick Keys and will remain blank until you set up groups within a system that you want to be able to toggle "on" and "off" at will. For example, you could assign Group Quick Key #1 to all Police within a system, #2 to all EMS/Medics, #3 To all Fire, etc. Once setup, pressing "Function" + "1" would then turn "off" all Police. Pressing "Function" + "1" again would restore all Police; so forth and so on.

 

[rbm]

The problem is that once ALL Group Quick Keys have been disabled and you get that error message, there is no way to restore them without re-loading the entire system. /QUOTE]

This is a common problem.

There's a permanent fix for that problem at this link:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/860362-post2.html

Other posts in that same thread will tell you how to get out of that condition.

Create a new Group in each conventional system
Then add a frequency that will never be active. (I use 1245.00 mHZ)
Assign NO Group Quick Key.
Then you could never disable that group so there will always be something to scan. This will allow you to enable the other groups if you disable them by accident.

Rich

 

[sjlamb]

Very slick.... Nicely done. Thanks!

 

[W6KRU]

Well.... I've re-programmed as suggested but still have essentially the same problem. With a system of only conventional frequencies broken into two Group Quick Keys, I find that if you accidentally disable both Group Quick Keys, the scanner displays "Nothing to Scan" (as would be expected). The problem is that once ALL Group Quick Keys have been disabled and you get that error message, there is no way to restore them without re-loading the entire system. With trunked systems, there is no problem disbabling ALL Group Quick Keys and restoring them at will. Don't know why this can't be done if the system is comprised of conventional channels. Seems like Group Quick Key disabling/enabling should work the same regardless of whether it is a TRS or Conventional system.

Go to Program system, select the system containing the group you want to unlock, select edit group, pick the group you want to unlock, select Set lockout, select Unlocked, then hit menu until you are back in scan mode, and then you should be able to scan that system again.

Edit: I see that this was already answered. Slow on the keyboard tonight I guess.

 

[sjlamb]

Go to Program system, select the system containing the group you want to unlock, select edit group, pick the group you want to unlock, select Set lockout, select Unlocked, then hit menu until you are back in scan mode, and then you should be able to scan that system again.

Edit: I see that this was already answered. Slow on the keyboard tonight I guess.

That's ok.... The "fix" posted above is perfect and is totally transparent.

 

[ampulman]

Well.... I've re-programmed as suggested but still have essentially the same problem. With a system of only conventional frequencies broken into two Group Quick Keys, I find that if you accidentally disable both Group Quick Keys, the scanner displays "Nothing to Scan" (as would be expected). The problem is that once ALL Group Quick Keys have been disabled and you get that error message, there is no way to restore them without re-loading the entire system. With trunked systems, there is no problem disbabling ALL Group Quick Keys and restoring them at will. Don't know why this can't be done if the system is comprised of conventional channels. Seems like Group Quick Key disabling/enabling should work the same regardless of whether it is a TRS or Conventional system.

I accidentally did that a couple of times with my 396T. Here's how I fixed that--might work with your XT.

Go into programming (that system), select edit group > new group > edit channel > new channel. Enter a 'phantom' frequency.. Start scanning that system and you should be able to re-enable your other groups. Then delete the new group.

Amp