BCD436hp HELP NEEDED

[troymail]

I think I'd still recommend a single favorites list with the talkgroups you want to monitor in that singe list.

There's lots of ways to do it - some more optimal than others - and some that provide more flexibility without multiple FLs for the same system.

Once things stabilize, you might want to look at quick keys ... but don't go there yet! You can really get lost there.....

Reducing to 11 of 74 sites and only checking/scanning them once (vs. the multi you've been doing in multiple FLs) should improve things greatly.

 

[hiegtx]

I think I'd still recommend a single favorites list with the talkgroups you want to monitor in that singe list.

There's lots of ways to do it - some more optimal than others - and some that provide more flexibility without multiple FLs for the same system.

Once things stabilize, you might want to look at quick keys ... but don't go there yet! You can really get lost there.....

Reducing to 11 of 74 sites and only checking/scanning them once (vs. the multi you've been doing in multiple FLs) should improve things greatly.

Yep, I agree, would be better to scan with only one list, because your losing time as the scanner checks the same sites in more than one list.

 

[cuelc001]

Is location control enabled in that Walton FL? It's not enabled in the file you just posted (best I can tell).

Yes I have location control enabled on it from the scanner.

 

[cuelc001]

Wow - using zip code 77009 and 0.0 range, Sentinel loads 74 sites! That's just messed up.

EDIT: ok - took more effort than I think it should have but doing zip code programming via the radio directly, Zip 77009 with a range of 0 now lists these TxWARN sites:

Pasadena
Reed Road
Harris County Central Simulcast
Highlands
Houston General Government Services Simulcast
Houston Public Safety Northeast Simulcast
Houston Public Safety Northwest Simulcast
Houston Public Safety Southeast Simulcast
Houston Public Safety Southwest Simulcast
Houston Transtar
Huffman

11 of 74 - still seems like alot but better than 74!

The 11 site "rings" on a map...

**Thanks so much for the info on that***

 

[cuelc001]

Well guys I have tired everything suggested & my scanner still sits silent while scanning my FL's.

After reading what was suggested, it appears I'm not setting up my FL's correctly. Most of my FL's were using the same sites so that would result in taking too much time, thus scanner would never go off.

Before I smash this scanner with my hammer - Am I just limited to using 1 FL that uses these sites?

Now i'm really confused. Thanks

 

[troymail]

Well guys I have tired everything suggested & my scanner still sits silent while scanning my FL's.

After reading what was suggested, it appears I'm not setting up my FL's correctly. Most of my FL's were using the same sites so that would result in taking too much time, thus scanner would never go off.

Before I smash this scanner with my hammer - Am I just limited to using 1 FL that uses these sites?

Now i'm really confused. Thanks

I thought it was working better earlier... or did I misunderstand?

You can have as many favorites lists as you want (more or less).

 

[cuelc001]

I was just scanning 1 FL & it was working fine.

However when I add more than 1 FL, the scanner goes silent. If i'm monitoring multiple FL's that are using the same sites, isn't that big problem? It seems scanning multiple FL's that use the same sites is what is causing the scanner to sit silent.

 

[cuelc001]

Can you point me in the direction on how to create a single favorites list with the talkgroups I want to monitor in that singe list.
Thanks

 

[troymail]

Can you point me in the direction on how to create a single favorites list with the talkgroups I want to monitor in that singe list.
Thanks

I've attached a favorites list that contains the 11 sites we've talked about and all of the TxWARN Law and Interop talkgroups in the database.

If you want to try it, here is what I recommend.

Download and extract the attached "Patton.hpe" file from the zip archive.

Using Sentinel, import the "Patton.hpe" favorites list into your configuration.

In Sentinel, edit your Profile (Edit -> Edit Profile).

On the "Scan Selection" tab, set everything EXCEPT the Patton favorites list to OFF for both Download and Monitor.

On that same "Scan Selection" tab, make sure the Patton favorites list is set to ON for BOTH Download and Monitor.

On that same "Scan Selection" tab, make sure "Monitor Full Database" is NOT checked.

On the next tab ("Service Types"), right-click and select "Set All Service Types".

Close the Profile Editor window.

Save your changes in Sentinel.

Connect your radio to the PC via the USB or insert the SD card into the PC.

Using Sentinel, perform a "Clear User Data" under the "Scanner" menu. This gives us a clean starting point.

Push the Patton favorites list to the scanner/SD card (Scanner -> Write To Scanner).

Release the SD card/scanner from the PC, etc....

Turn the radio on -- anything?

 

[cuelc001]

Thanks. The Patton FL worked great. I can hear all kinds of radio traffic.

I made another FL from the Patton FL & I’m testing it out right now. Sounds like the 11 sites / location control with 77009 should make a huge difference.

I will relay my findings. Thanks for your help!

 

[cuelc001]

Well I made 1 FL from the Patton info you sent me & the scanner sat silent for over 30 mins.


Even with the 11 sites / location control turned on / zip 77009


When I just use the Patton FL - I get tons of radio traffic. But when I create a FL outside of Patton, scanner goes silent for a good while before & in between radio transmissions.

So is it safe to say my scanner is garbage now?

 

[hiegtx]

Well I made 1 FL from the Patton info you sent me & the scanner sat silent for over 30 mins.


Even with the 11 sites / location control turned on / zip 77009


When I just use the Patton FL - I get tons of radio traffic. But when I create a FL outside of Patton, scanner goes silent for a good while before & in between radio transmissions.

So is it safe to say my scanner is garbage now?

No.

Since it receives a lot of traffic using the "Patton" favorites list, but very little on the list that you created, that's a programming issue, not a scanner issue. If the scanner was defective, you would not hear anything on either Favorites list.

Attach the list that you created so that we can compare it to 'Patton' and try & find where things got disconnected. Also, did you switch back to 'location control' and/'or the main database for the list that is not receiving much?

 

[cuelc001]

Thanks...Please let me know what you see that is different.

Yes i switched back to location control for these FL's that i have attached.

 

[hiegtx]

]

Thanks...Please let me know what you see that is different.

Yes i switched back to location control for these FL's that i have attached.

For your 'Walton' list, you only have one Houston PD talkgroup entered, and that is a 'mutual aid' TGID. Unless there was a major incident of some sort in progress, like the response to Harvey a couple months ago, I doubt there'd be much on that one. You need the dispatch talkgroups, not 'mutual aid'.

On your HCSO list, you only have the S.O. Dispatch ID's entered. I suspect that you are missing traffic on other talkgroups.

Did you leave all your Service Types enabled when you tried the two revised lists? Or did you turn a number of them off?

You're going to have to add more talkgroups to Walton before you hear much from Houston PD. Just the mutual aid is not going to work.

Try your two 'revised lists' with Location Control OFF. I suspect that your basic problem lies in the location. Are you hearing anything with location off?

Click on the Profile Editor. That's the icon that looks like a piece of paper with a pencil on top of it, right under the V for the View drop-down menu.

Select the Location Settings tab and look at the latitude & longitude entered. It should look like this:

If it does not, then your location in the Profile is wrong. Re-enter your zxip code and the range and reset it, then once you exit the profile editor, save the changes by hitting the Save icon (looks like a small floppy disc, right under the 'Edit' drop-down menu.

 

[cuelc001]

What i'm trying to setup in my FL for Walton is the specific Dispatch for the area that I live in, which is "Central Dispatch".

If I add more HPD talkgroups to Walton, then the Central Dispatch that I want to listen to for my area will pick up other TalkGroups that I don't want to hear.

Is that even possible?

I will try what you suggested. Thank you

 

[hiegtx]

What i'm trying to setup in my FL for Walton is the specific Dispatch for the area that I live in, which is "Central Dispatch".

If I add more HPD talkgroups to Walton, then the Central Dispatch that I want to listen to for my area will pick up other TalkGroups that I don't want to hear.

Is that even possible?

I will try what you suggested. Thank you

Yes, you can limit the Houston PD talkgroups to only Central. But, like I've said, a 'mutual aid' TGID is not the one you need.

While Dallas PD & FD are not on a trunked system, I limit Dallas PD to the Patrol District that covers my area, the Traffic channel (for freeway wrecks) and the Tactical Squad (SWAT). I have the others programmed but avoided. But if something happens in another area of the city I can always flip them back on.

 

[cuelc001]

Ok...My thinking was (if i load those talkgroups in my Walton FL & I avoid them, then I'm defeating the purpose of loading them).

I understand what you are saying...let me fix them how you suggested. Thanks again.

 

[troymail]

For stationary monitoring (i.e. at home) and even in some mobile situations, a single favorites list (FL) is probably all you need. You definitely should stick to a single FL at the start while trying to figure things out.

I see you've been trying to put as few as 1 talkgroup in a favorites list and then loading that same system into a 2nd favorites list to scan a few other talkgroups. That is bad.

A couple of really import considerations:

• a system and it's sites like TxWARN should only ever be checked/scanned 1 time on each "cycle" through the totality of your active programming; if you are scanning the same system/site(s) more than once on each pass, the performance is very likely to be degraded
  
  
• your radio should only be trying to check/scan sites of a given system that are in range of your current location; this can be handled using some form of location control and/or by managing sites through advanced programming and manually changing your settings (mostly using the 3 levels of quick keys)
  
  
• talkgroups for a single system like TxWARN should be programmed into a single favorities list; the radio will check that system for all talkgroups at the same time

You can enhance that a bit using various functions:

• enabling location control in the FL coupled with either zip code filtering or GPS and setting of a small "range"
  
  
• service type settings
  
  
• assigning quick keys at various "levels" - favorites list (FLQK), system (SQK), and department/site level (DQK)

Trying to accomplish too much too quickly - particularly while you are trying to figure things out - is a path to failure.

Avoid alot of "custom" programming at the start. Load entire systems without changing anything and then use some of the filtering tools like service types and zip code/location settings. Keep in mind that when you change locations, you'll probably have to change some of these settings (location/zip code, etc. being the primary).

Understand that some talkgroups will only be heard on some and not all sites. Even if you hear something on a given site at a given location for a brief period, that doesn't mean you'll hear it there all the time. Some you will - others, you won't.

With entire systems in your active programming, use the AVOID key to temporarily (or permanently) lock out channels/talkgroups or even entire "departments" and/or "systems".

Most of us have been where you are - wanting to smash a radio against a wall. However, taking a step back and experimenting (accepting that things won't always work) and having patience is the best way to learn. Even if someone else programs your scanner, at some point, you'll end up hearing nothing after pressing various buttons (I see it all the time) -- you'll need to understand the programming to get yourself out of that state.

 

[cuelc001]

Thanks so much for your help walking through this. The idea that I can’t create a FL for my area
Is really frustrating. Scanning isn’t really supppsed to be that difficult - just turn the scanner on & listen.

But I guess the scanner wins b/c I don’t have the time to sit in front of my laptop & program the scanner
Like it needs to be.

I use to be able to listen to my FL just fine for my area - now it’s just a hassle.

I will probably be getting rid of this scanner if it’s this difficult to program in order to
Listen to a few of my favorite channels.

Thanks again & I wish I had the knowledge you do so I could listen to my scanner the way
I want.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks so much for your help walking through this. The idea that I can’t create a FL for my area
Is really frustrating. Scanning isn’t really supppsed to be that difficult - just turn the scanner on & listen.

But I guess the scanner wins b/c I don’t have the time to sit in front of my laptop & program the scanner
Like it needs to be.

I use to be able to listen to my FL just fine for my area - now it’s just a hassle.

I will probably be getting rid of this scanner if it’s this difficult to program in order to
Listen to a few of my favorite channels.

Thanks again & I wish I had the knowledge you do so I could listen to my scanner the way
I want.

You can listen to 'just your Favorites list', as long as the list is created correctly. Did you verify that your correct location was set, as I mentioned earlier? Location does work, provided that you have the correct location set in the scanner and the systems/sites/talkgroups you load have their correct locations entered. While for your Favorites lists, and for the one Troy created for you, do have location, one common error (this does not apply in your case) is to add sites, systems, and talkgroups manually, without also entering their location data. This results in the scanner treating them as location 0 degrees for both latitude & longitude. That 'location' is in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of northwest Africa. Read this for more information on how location works: How it Works: Location, Location, Location

For my purposes, I create Favorites lists with systems, sites, etc, that I know I can hear, and leave location off. The only time I use location is if I'm traveling to an area not familiar to me, in which case using location with the scanner connected to a GPS device loads the systems that should be receivable.

For Houston PD, you can listen to only your area's dispatch, if you use the correct talkgroup(s) for that area. As I've also noted earlier, a "mutual aid" talkgroup is not it. Looking at the system in the database, if you wanted Houston Central Dispatch, you should use TGID 30040, Central Dispatch, not 30184 Central Dispatch Mutual Aid (General Government Services Layer) which is what is in your "Walton" list. Harris County S.O. should work with the dispatch TGIDs in your HCSO list, IF the location is set correctly. That's why Troy & I have encouraged you to turn off location for now. Use that only if your lists have location data in them for both the talkgroups as well as the tower sites, and if you have the location set correctly in the scanner. Since Troy's suggested list worked, but when you used it to re-make your two lists, they did not work, that hints that location is incorrect.