BearTracker 885
- Thread starter UPMan
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I'll take that bet as well - and bet that Jon, UPMAN, Myself and a big handfull of others have a pretty good understanding of how ANY statewide, multi-site system works.
jonwienke
More Info Coming Soon!
You've made it clear in your posts that you don't understand how scanning trunked systems works. You're under the mistaken impression that talkgroups are scanned, when they are not, and have jumped to the erroneous confusion that having a lot of programmed talkgroups slows down scanning. It does not. The only thing factor has any effect whatsoever on the speed at which a trunked system is scanned is the number of system sites the scanner attempts to scan. Period. If you use Location Control properly, the scanner will only scan nearby sites, and will not be "cycling thru every know agency in MN" as you incorrectly stated.
You don't even own one; by your own admission, your "experience" consists of a few failed attempts to help someone else program theirs, which gives you pretty much zero basis to have an opinion. In contrast, UPMan is a Uniden project manager involved in the development and support of Uniden's scanner products, and knows more about Uniden scanners and how to use them that pretty much anyone else. And I and several others own x36 scanners and have years of experience programming them successfully with large statewide and multistate trunked systems similar to ARMER in every respect--most particularly, lots of sites, lots of departments, and lots of talkgroups.
LOL
Some people apparently just cannot be helped.
Mark
536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others
GRC4777
Newbie
Hey folks
I have had a Uniden BearTracker 885 for 2 months. It is great!!! I am a Firefighter/EMT in Northern Idaho and I have to say, this radio seems to be a great buy. I can get local Public Safety channels as well as the area. I was listening to a agency that is over 50 miles away from my location and in the mountains and still got good reception. Very pleased with radio.
I have had a Uniden BearTracker 885 for 2 months. It is great!!! I am a Firefighter/EMT in Northern Idaho and I have to say, this radio seems to be a great buy. I can get local Public Safety channels as well as the area. I was listening to a agency that is over 50 miles away from my location and in the mountains and still got good reception. Very pleased with radio.
Welcome from FAR North Idaho, Also a FF/EMT.
Mike445
Member
What happens when an encrypted channel is encountered? I spent a lot of time in Toronto. All the city police are encrypted but the Ontario provincial police are not. If I have the police active on the 885 will it stop on every encrypted transmission or are encrypted talkgroups locked out? Thank you!
Trucker700
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It will stay for a bit, then move on. You can use Function/Avoid to block the channel. But, once you power the radio off, then on again, the avoids are gone.
Trucker
Trucker
Mike445
Member
Mike445
Member
One more question. If a frequency or talkgroup is marked as encrypted in the RR database does that frequency or talkgroup get placed on the database in the scanner or are they omitted?
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Mike445
Member
Has anyone thought about opening the files in Butel ARC536? I briefly played with it this morning and found that list 109 hpd is Ontario Canada and was able to set lockouts. When I have more time I’ll try changing certain tac talkgroup to dispatch and see if it’ll take.
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Mike445
Member
So I've been using the 885 around Niagara NY and it does a fantastic job. I have an NMO Larsen 150/450/850 SPECIAL on my trunk so that helps. I had to reroute the cable for the antenna because it used to run to my console for my BCD436HP. The audio on the 885 is crisp and clear. Digital comms sound fantastic on the Niagara County Simulcast system.
I tried to edit individual hpd files in Butel ARC536 and the editing was successful. However, when I put the modified card back int o the scanner it wouldn't pick up any transmissions. When I used the factor uploader it worked like a charm. What I tried to do was change some law tac and law tac talkgroups to law dispatch so they can be heard. I was able to do it and able to save it. I don't understand WHY once edited that the scanner didn;t hit on anything.
I'm open to suggestions and ideas. I'm determined to get this to work one way or another. Don't misunderstand me. This radio does exactly what I want on road trips (driving to South Florida next Friday) I just want to be able to permanently lock out talkgroups/frequencies and perhaps change the service tag for them as well.
If I don't hear anything here by next week I'll start a new thread.
I tried to edit individual hpd files in Butel ARC536 and the editing was successful. However, when I put the modified card back int o the scanner it wouldn't pick up any transmissions. When I used the factor uploader it worked like a charm. What I tried to do was change some law tac and law tac talkgroups to law dispatch so they can be heard. I was able to do it and able to save it. I don't understand WHY once edited that the scanner didn;t hit on anything.
I'm open to suggestions and ideas. I'm determined to get this to work one way or another. Don't misunderstand me. This radio does exactly what I want on road trips (driving to South Florida next Friday) I just want to be able to permanently lock out talkgroups/frequencies and perhaps change the service tag for them as well.
If I don't hear anything here by next week I'll start a new thread.
Hey Mike,
Am considering this unit to put in my truck. Did you have any luck with modifying the lists for the scanner side? I think Uniden should at least enable the double press of the AVOID button to lock out a channel or TG and leave it that way until it was reset. In my work truck I don't listen to very many TAC channels but there are a handful that I would like to incorporate into the list.
Thanks,
Dave
Mike445
Member
I never was able to modify the scanner file and get it to work. But I do use that scanner regularly and the CB performs very well, especially when tuned up. You won’t be sorry with the purchase. Overall it’s a very good little unit. Very basic but it does the job very well.
Mike
Mike
I bit the bullet and bought one! Just used it for a drive down to Atlanta and back to Pittsburgh. It did great the entire time. I did stop at a CB shop and had it Peaked/ Tuned. I am using it with an Astatic D104M6B power mic and had very good feedback from other users on the road. I think it was a worthwhile investment. Now if we can get Uniden to do a firmware upgrade I would like to see the ability to press avoid TWICE to permanently avoid a channel with the option to "undo" the permanent avoid in the software. I also wish the 9/19 / Day/Night button was reversed. I will use the Day/Night feature way more than ever using the 9/19 feature.
Now my mission will be finding out how to edit the scan list when I am in my local area. I did find the correct favorites list for my state but just want to add/ delete a couple of channels. I need to determine how the 885 'looks' at the list and uses it.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Dave
When they put SSB on it I will grab one like a gold bar hidden in the bottom of a box of rocks.
Mike445
Member
I have tried everything to edit the scan list and it just doesn’t work. If you find anything let me know I am really interested in it. I am with you on the firmware update! I would love to be able to permanently lock stuff out. I am not a fan of the microphone and will be going the same route as you. I also have a 536 in the car. I still use the 885 quite extensively and it still does a fantastic job.
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Hey Mike.... I think I have it nailed! Message me with your email or other contact info and I'll see what you think about my findings. I am going to make some changes and see how it affects the list.
Mike445
Member
Does anyone use this radio with the Uniden wireless mic? Does both scanner audio and CB audio come through the wireless speaker mic? I really hope so cuz I just ordered one!
Mike
Mike
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