BCT15X and Freescan Programming question

[Blackink]

Hello there. I would like someone's opinion on how I've set up a conventional system in my new scanner using Freescan.
The reason is trying to assign quick keys to all the "Groups" in the "System" Here is some info to give you a better understanding of what I'm working with.
Scanner-BCT15X
Software -Freescan
Location-Washington County, Vermont
Washington County, Vermont (VT) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

I set up my scanner importing info from the RR database into Freescan from the above link location. I labeled this Conventional "System" as "Wash. County" with a system quick key #1. Freescan labeled all 11 of the cities and towns associated with Washington County as "Groups". There are 11 cities or towns listed in the Washington County area database that are labeled as Groups in Freescan.

So if I leave that set-up as is, which seems to be scanning properly, is that the correct way to set up my scanner for that conventional system? With that lay-out?
And if so, how do I assign "Group Quick Keys" to 11 groups when I only have the option of assigning 10 group quick keys 0-9? This scanner is capable of having 20 groups per system, you'd think I could assign quick keys to them all in Freescan but I can't.
I feel as though I may be setting this conventional system up incorrectly.


Thanks for any help,
Steve in Vermont

 

[hiegtx]

Hello there. I would like someone's opinion on how I've set up a conventional system in my new scanner using Freescan.
The reason is trying to assign quick keys to all the "Groups" in the "System" Here is some info to give you a better understanding of what I'm working with.
Scanner-BCT15X
Software -Freescan
Location-Washington County, Vermont
Washington County, Vermont (VT) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

I set up my scanner importing info from the RR database into Freescan from the above link location. I labeled this Conventional "System" as "Wash. County" with a system quick key #1. Freescan labeled all 11 of the cities and towns associated with Washington County as "Groups". There are 11 cities or towns listed in the Washington County area database that are labeled as Groups in Freescan.

So if I leave that set-up as is, which seems to be scanning properly, is that the correct way to set up my scanner for that conventional system? With that lay-out?
And if so, how do I assign "Group Quick Keys" to 11 groups when I only have the option of assigning 10 group quick keys 0-9? This scanner is capable of having 20 groups per system, you'd think I could assign quick keys to them all in Freescan but I can't.
I feel as though I may be setting this conventional system up incorrectly.


Thanks for any help,
Steve in Vermont

There is no specific "correct" or "incorrect" way to handle it. Rather, you set it up to suit yourself. While you can have up to 11 groups in a system, as you already know, you can only assign ten different Group Quick Keys.

What I generally do in a system such as this is leave the larger cities in individual groups, but combine the smaller ones. especially those with only one or two channels (frequencies) into a "Small Cities" group. Alternately, you could divide them up by quadrants of the county (Northern, Eastern, Southern, etc), or in any other manner you like. Or, leave it at 11 groups, as it is now, and assign both of the "Capitol..." groups the same quick key.

Remember that the scanner display will alternate the system's name (I'm guessing you're using 'Washington Cnty' or something similar for the system itself) with the name of the group on the top line. The second line would be the name entered for the text tag. The database here only uses 12 characters in the "display" field, as that's all some of the older scanners would show. Your scanner, and most of the newer ones, will handle 16 characters, so you can fine tune your text tags if needed when combining cities or uses (such as both of the 'Capitol' related categories) into a single group.

 

[Blackink]

Hi Steve,
I see what you're saying and I've re-arranged some channels in my groups similar to what your saying. I'm starting to get it now and I've actually entered a couple of new frequencies into the scanner without using FreeScan. Now that I've had time to "play" with this unit and seeing how FreeScan lays it out makes understanding what I need to do, a whole lot easier.
I enjoy learning about this hobby, I enjoy figuring out the lay-outs of conventional and trunked systems.
I also enjoy the support from the RadioReference Web site and from people like you in these RR Forums.
Thanks for the help Steve.

Steve in Vermont