AARRS seriously 😡

[SA_tx_88116]

Their "setup"($39.95) updates the database to the current one. When shipped, unless it's updated, the database in the scanner is several years out of date. The Sentinel database, at the time of installation, is also likely to be well out of date. But you can install Sentinel on your PC (there is no charge for it). Then update the database in Sentinel, and also write the update to the scanner. Their "setup" would also include any firmware updates that are available for your scanner. But, again, you can update the database in both the scanner & Sentinel, and Sentinel can install any firmware updates for you (if there were any at that time).

Their setup also includes programming for one county. But, again, once you install & update Sentinel, you can do that yourself very quickly & easily. If you wanted two counties programmed, that's $59.95, three counties is $79.95. Other sellers (but not Amazon) also try to upsell programming and installation of upgrades; that's a waste of your money, no matter where you purchase.

Also, do not purchase any upgrades (DMR, NXDN, or ProVoice) from ScannerMaster or any other dealer. SM charges $75 for each upgrade. Direct from Uniden, the NXDN upgrade is $50, and DMR is $60. (ProVoice is also $50 from Uniden, but why waste your money on this? Once San Antonio and Bexar County fully transition to the new system, ProVoice would be useless to you.)

Amazon, which is much cheaper anyway, does not 'offer' setup or upgrades, and their base cost is much less as well.

You can download Sentinel and install it before ordering a scanner. That way, you can do a test drive before whatever scanner you pick is delivered.

Thanks I never knew what that option does and yes I already downloaded sentinel like 2 weeks ago to play with it

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks I never knew what that option does and yes I already downloaded sentinel like 2 weeks ago to play with it

Open the Profile Editor in Sentinel, either selecting it from the drop-down Edit menu, or by selecting the small icon on the second line (at the top in Sentinel) that resembles a pencil over a sheet of paper. It's under the V for the drop-down View menu.


Make sure that all the service types you want are active (enabled). When the scanner is first shipped (as well as when Sentinel is first installed), only the Dispatch service type for Public Safety types are enabled: Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, & Multi-Dispatch. But you also need to enable the Tac & Talk types for these; i.e. Fire Tac, Law Talk, Law Tac, etc. (Service type Custom 1 is also enabled; that is the initial default service type for any channel or talkgroup added manually.) These are under the Service Types tabs in the Profile editor.

Set your location, either using your actual latitude & longitude, or your zip code, and a range (these are under the Location Settings tab in the Profile Editor). The range setting is explained more on this page.

After you've made these settings, save them using either Save under the drop down File menu, or by clicking on the small icon that resembles a disk.


Now, open the drop-down Edit menu.
Select the line Add Channels in Range.

You'll get a pop-up menu to confirm you have selected the service types you want, as well as showing the current location you entered.
Once you click OK on the pop-up, Sentinel will ask if you want to add these to an existing Favorites list, or create a new one.
If creating a new one, Sentinel will ask you what to name it.

Once you've completed these steps, Sentinel will create a Favorites list, using the main database as the source, for the systems, sites, & channels in the range you indicated, with the selected service types. (If you had not already done so, update the database in Sentinel before doing this, to make sure you're working from the most current database.)

This gives you a sample Favorites list, which you can then review, and modify if desired via the Favorites List Editor. You can see what is included, and add to it, or delete items you don't want.

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Open the Profile Editor in Sentinel, either selecting it from the drop-down Edit menu, or by selecting the small icon on the second line (at the top in Sentinel) that resembles a pencil over a sheet of paper. It's under the V for the drop-down View menu.
View attachment 144597

Make sure that all the service types you want are active (enabled). When the scanner is first shipped (as well as when Sentinel is first installed), only the Dispatch service type for Public Safety types are enabled: Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, & Multi-Dispatch. But you also need to enable the Tac & Talk types for these; i.e. Fire Tac, Law Talk, Law Tac, etc. (Service type Custom 1 is also enabled; that is the initial default service type for any channel or talkgroup added manually.) These are under the Service Types tabs in the Profile editor.

Set your location, either using your actual latitude & longitude, or your zip code, and a range (these are under the Location Settings tab in the Profile Editor). The range setting is explained more on this page.

After you've made these settings, save them using either Save under the drop down File menu, or by clicking on the small icon that resembles a disk.
View attachment 144598

Now, open the drop-down Edit menu.
Select the line Add Channels in Range.
View attachment 144599
You'll get a pop-up menu to confirm you have selected the service types you want, as well as showing the current location you entered.
Once you click OK on the pop-up, Sentinel will ask if you want to add these to an existing Favorites list, or create a new one.
If creating a new one, Sentinel will ask you what to name it.

Once you've completed these steps, Sentinel will create a Favorites list, using the main database as the source, for the systems, sites, & channels in the range you indicated, with the selected service types. (If you had not already done so, update the database in Sentinel before doing this, to make sure you're working from the most current database.)

This gives you a sample Favorites list, which you can then review, and modify if desired via the Favorites List Editor. You can see what is included, and add to it, or delete items you don't want.

Also I’m gonna help out my uncle update his BCD436HP that hasn’t been updated since 2015 is there anyway I can clear any data that came onto my sentinel when he has his scanner plugged in?

 

[hiegtx]

Also I’m gonna help out my uncle update his BCD436HP that hasn’t been updated since 2015 is there anyway I can clear any data that came onto my sentinel when he has his scanner plugged in?

Unless you “read” his scanner into Sentinel, nothing from his scanner will be picked up by Sentinel. Updating his database would write from Sentinel on your PC to his scanner. But, if you used Sentinel to read his scanner, it would create copies of his Favorites lists in your Sentinel files. But even so, once you make any needed corrections to his lists, you can simply delete them. If he’s only using his location and range settings to scan the master database, he may not have any lists created.

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Unless you “read” his scanner into Sentinel, nothing from his scanner will be picked up by Sentinel. Updating his database would write from Sentinel on your PC to his scanner. But, if you used Sentinel to read his scanner, it would create copies of his Favorites lists in your Sentinel files. But even so, once you make any needed corrections to his lists, you can simply delete them. If he’s only using his location and range settings to scan the master database, he may not have any lists created.

What if I help him make a favorites list?

 

[RugerGirl]

Been saving up for a uniden BCD436HP only to find out SA has switched to digital simulcast and encrypted everything, like digital simulcast is something I would’ve been ok with because I heard you could do some tweaking to make a BCD436HP work with simulcast, but encryption I don’t think that was really necessary because they we’re already using ESK and no officers were ever put in danger by their own radios if you look at the SAPD fallen officers page most of those officers died by car accidents and if go farther back in the 2000s and 1990s it’s more serious but that’s just because it was a different time back then. And also why is there no dispatch tgrp’s listed I saw at the bottom That there were dispatch tgrps for school districts is that it?

At least you were lucky enough to find out before you made the investment. I'm recently out $600 between the 436 & ProVoice upgrade, for no good reason at all. I have an expensive toy radio that's of no real use in San Antonio or surrounding areas. Definitely sucks.

 

[rattlerbb01]

At least you were lucky enough to find out before you made the investment. I'm recently out $600 between the 436 & ProVoice upgrade, for no good reason at all. I have an expensive toy radio that's of no real use in San Antonio or surrounding areas. Definitely sucks.

I disagree a little, I use the 436 that has all the upgrades. It still works very well on the LCRA system that surrounds Bexar County on 3 sides. It will also pick up the BCFA repeaters, Federal VHF, Military systems and air traffic Also, if you can find a spot indoors that will pick up a nearby site on AARRS without significant interference from another site, or find a good directional antenna to point right at a subsite tower, it will still track AARRS. I would try scanning one of the simulcast sites that is further away from you first so that you are more on the fringe and don't get as much intermod from the other towers. I.E. if you live in La Cantera, try scanning Central or Southeast instead of NW, NE or Westside since they are all much closer. If it works, chances are you'll still pickup both BCSO dispatches when clear, and all SAFD/BCFA. We are out of luck on SAPD no matter what.

 

[hiegtx]

What if I help him make a favorites list?

Sure. You can create a Favorites list for him in Sentinel, than connect his scanner to your PC & download it (which will also refresh the main database in the scanner. Be sure to go into the Profile (via the Profile Editor) & set that list to be downloaded to his scanner, as well as be monitor. I would also advise setting his correct location, and specify the Target model (BCDx36HP for him).

Once you tag that list for both monitor & downloading, you'll see an indication at the top of Sentinel's window indicating that there has been a change in the profile.


Frankly, if you may want to save those settings in case your uncle needs some updates, use the 'Save As' option on the drop-down File menu. Then, if you need to add or change something on his scanner, Sentinel will know what his settings are.

Once you create some lists for yourself, open the Profile editor set which to download, and monitor the ones you want, along with your location & range settings.Your profile can have your specific list(s) set for monitor, and/or download (only), along with the target model (that's under the drop-down Tools menu) set for your SDS100.

I have separate profiles for each of my scanners, to target exactly what I want each to do. If you have more than one Profile set-up (as I do), select the icon on the second line (in between the File & Edit drop-down menus). It resembles an open folder.

 

[hiegtx]

At least you were lucky enough to find out before you made the investment. I'm recently out $600 between the 436 & ProVoice upgrade, for no good reason at all. I have an expensive toy radio that's of no real use in San Antonio or surrounding areas. Definitely sucks.

I disagree a little, I use the 436 that has all the upgrades. It still works very well on the LCRA system that surrounds Bexar County on 3 sides. It will also pick up the BCFA repeaters, Federal VHF, Military systems and air traffic Also, if you can find a spot indoors that will pick up a nearby site on AARRS without significant interference from another site, or find a good directional antenna to point right at a subsite tower, it will still track AARRS. I would try scanning one of the simulcast sites that is further away from you first so that you are more on the fringe and don't get as much intermod from the other towers. I.E. if you live in La Cantera, try scanning Central or Southeast instead of NW, NE or Westside since they are all much closer. If it works, chances are you'll still pickup both BCSO dispatches when clear, and all SAFD/BCFA. We are out of luck on SAPD no matter what.

As rattler mentioned, there are other things you can monitor, As suggested, if you carefully pick the site(s) to use, you might be able to still use your 436HP. (No guarantee, but at least worth a try.) Look at the article on Simulcasting in the Wiki. Like using 'less' antenna, not more, even to the point of trying a paperclip, sometimes works. Simulcast issues can be extremely location specific. As suggested, try moving the scanner around in the house. You may find one spot where signals from other locations are attenuated enough by something in or near your house, that it might work. That could be metal siding, or foil backed insulation in your walls. Or something the other side of the wall, such as your refrigerator, that is blocking enough of the out of sync signals that the scanner may work. In exchanging messages with someone in my area (DFW), he found that moving his 436HP a whopping six inches made all the difference in the world, between working & useless.

Dallas, Dallas County, and a number of other agencies here in Dallas County are switching to using NTIRN, with a couple of simulcast sites. By using an antenna not really suited for 700 & 800MHz signals, and laying the scanner (a 436HP) flat on my desk, I can monitor the system without a lot of problems. Of course, most of these countermeasures are useful only for monitoring in a single, likely indoor, location. All bets are off if you take the scanner with you when driving around the area.

When the ProVoice upgrade first was released, I added that to only one of my scanners (one of the two 436HPs). That gave me several years of being able to monitor DFW Airport, before they moved to a fully encrypted P25 Phase II system. The only public safety related ProVoice system in Texas (that I am aware of) is in the Corpus Christi area. But that system is in the process of moving to a P25 Phase II system, The manufacturer of the EDACS/ProVoice systems, no longer supports them, so most agencies, not just in Texas, are moving off that format.

 

[ta1kradio]

Quite often people that do this type of thing hope for a confrontation and arrest in order to win quick 'go away money' with a 1st amendment lawsuit. While filming in a public area, 'shove' a camera in the cops face yell stupid stuff and provoke until the cop falls for it and loses control

While it's true that some individuals may engage in provocative behavior with the intention of provoking confrontations, it's important to remember that not all citizen journalists have ulterior motives. Many legitimate citizen journalists are committed to providing valuable and independent coverage of events, holding authorities accountable, and shedding light on important issues. It's crucial to distinguish between those who seek confrontation and the dedicated individuals who contribute to the free flow of information in a responsible and respectful manner.

 

[RugerGirl]

I disagree a little, I use the 436 that has all the upgrades. It still works very well on the LCRA system that surrounds Bexar County on 3 sides. It will also pick up the BCFA repeaters, Federal VHF, Military systems and air traffic Also, if you can find a spot indoors that will pick up a nearby site on AARRS without significant interference from another site, or find a good directional antenna to point right at a subsite tower, it will still track AARRS. I would try scanning one of the simulcast sites that is further away from you first so that you are more on the fringe and don't get as much intermod from the other towers. I.E. if you live in La Cantera, try scanning Central or Southeast instead of NW, NE or Westside since they are all much closer. If it works, chances are you'll still pickup both BCSO dispatches when clear, and all SAFD/BCFA. We are out of luck on SAPD no matter what.

Thank you for your response! I'm being way too harsh when I say of no use....I should have said no use for why I purchased it in the first place, which was to monitor SAPD traffic. I find the discrepancy between what the media reports, versus what I hear for myself, alarming! I felt safer knowing the truth of what was truly happening here. I will continue to explore and see what I can find. This forum has been a massive help.

 

[RugerGirl]

As rattler mentioned, there are other things you can monitor, As suggested, if you carefully pick the site(s) to use, you might be able to still use your 436HP. (No guarantee, but at least worth a try.) Look at the article on Simulcasting in the Wiki. Like using 'less' antenna, not more, even to the point of trying a paperclip, sometimes works. Simulcast issues can be extremely location specific. As suggested, try moving the scanner around in the house. You may find one spot where signals from other locations are attenuated enough by something in or near your house, that it might work. That could be metal siding, or foil backed insulation in your walls. Or something the other side of the wall, such as your refrigerator, that is blocking enough of the out of sync signals that the scanner may work. In exchanging messages with someone in my area (DFW), he found that moving his 436HP a whopping six inches made all the difference in the world, between working & useless.

Dallas, Dallas County, and a number of other agencies here in Dallas County are switching to using NTIRN, with a couple of simulcast sites. By using an antenna not really suited for 700 & 800MHz signals, and laying the scanner (a 436HP) flat on my desk, I can monitor the system without a lot of problems. Of course, most of these countermeasures are useful only for monitoring in a single, likely indoor, location. All bets are off if you take the scanner with you when driving around the area.

When the ProVoice upgrade first was released, I added that to only one of my scanners (one of the two 436HPs). That gave me several years of being able to monitor DFW Airport, before they moved to a fully encrypted P25 Phase II system. The only public safety related ProVoice system in Texas (that I am aware of) is in the Corpus Christi area. But that system is in the process of moving to a P25 Phase II system, The manufacturer of the EDACS/ProVoice systems, no longer supports them, so most agencies, not just in Texas, are moving off that format.

Thank you for replying. I am going to mess with my antenna, moving locations, etc. Will definitely read the info on Simulcast to see what I can learn.

 

[hiegtx]

Thank you for replying. I am going to mess with my antenna, moving locations, etc. Will definitely read the info on Simulcast to see what I can learn.

As I said, it really is that sensitive to location. Hopefully you can find a spot where it does work, and is a good spot to listen.

Good luck

 

[SA_tx_88116]

At least you were lucky enough to find out before you made the investment. I'm recently out $600 between the 436 & ProVoice upgrade, for no good reason at all. I have an expensive toy radio that's of no real use in San Antonio or surrounding areas. Definitely sucks.

Sorry about that

 

[SA_tx_88116]

Also does the SDS100 work well on air bands with an SMA wideband antenna upgrade?

 

[hiegtx]

Also does the SDS100 work well on air bands with an SMA wideband antenna upgrade?

I've used the RH77A, or RH789 antennas on my SDS100, and it does a good job for what I'm trying to do.

 

[SA_tx_88116]

I've used the RH77A, or RH789 antennas on my SDS100, and it does a good job for what I'm trying to do.

Also when I downloaded sentinel I got it for the BCD series is there a way I can change it to the SDS series?

 

[hiegtx]

Also when I downloaded sentinel I got it for the BCD series is there a way I can change it to the SDS series?

It’s the same program for both the BCDx36HP and the SDS series scanners.

Just change the ‘target model’ (under the drop-down Tools menu) to match whichever scanner you are setting up.

The basic programming for both series of scanners is the same. Both use Favorites lists, systems, departments, and sites. When the target model is set for the SDS series of sinners, you can set Site NAC’s and filters. You would also set your target to the specific SDS model, either the SDS100 or SDS200, so that you can modify the color display layout. If Sentinel is set for the BCDx36HP scanners, you would not have access to (nor would you need access) to set or modify filters and site NACs. But other than those two categories, basic programming (lists, systems, etc) is identical for all of these scanners.

 

[SA_tx_88116]

It’s the same program for both the BCDx36HP and the SDS series scanners.

Just change the ‘target model’ (under the drop-down Tools menu) to match whichever scanner you are setting up.

The basic programming for both series of scanners is the same. Both use Favorites lists, systems, departments, and sites. When the target model is set for the SDS series of sinners, you can set Site NAC’s and filters. You would also set your target to the specific SDS model, either the SDS100 or SDS200, so that you can modify the color display layout. If Sentinel is set for the BCDx36HP scanners, you would not have access to (nor would you need access) to set or modify filters and site NACs. But other than those two categories, basic programming (lists, systems, etc) is identical for all of these scanners.

Also last night I helped my uncle update his scanner that he didn’t update since 2015 and he told me it worked great so I told him try out the new AARRS system and he said when he used a longer antenna he was able to clearly hear fire and EMS and BCSO on his BCD436HP from where he was at in windcrest😀.

 

[hiegtx]

Also last night I helped my uncle update his scanner that he didn’t update since 2015 and he told me it worked great so I told him try out the new AARRS system and he said when he used a longer antenna he was able to clearly hear fire and EMS and BCSO on his BCD436HP from where he was at in windcrest😀.

From where he is, in Windcrest, he's between sites 14 & 15, which appear to be non-simulcast, so that's good for mim, though at times, he might not hear talkgroups from other corners of Bexar County, which are not carries on either of these sites.


From your location, in Cibolo, you should be able to get the Seguin site (09), as well as 14 & 15. But if you hold off until getting an SDS100, then simulcast will not be an issue for you.