Can anyone help me set up a scanner for South Milwaukee, WI

[a_rackowski]

I have always wanted a scanner since my father in law was using his old, 1970's looking thing in his living room many years ago.

Well today my wife got me a triple trunking handheld from Radio Shack - model 20-164.

Problem is, while I really want to hear the south milwaukee dispatch and police, I just cannot figure out how to use this thing . I have paged thru the manual - googled a million things and just want to hear it work. I hit scan and once in a while I will get something from a different county in Wisconsin, but I cannot get SOUTH MILWAUKEE .

I have found this but cant figure out how to put them in.

DEC HEX Mode Alpha Tag Description Tag
18064 469 A SMilwPD1Disp Police A1 Dispatch Law Dispatch
18096 46b A SMilwPD2Sec Police A2 Secondary & Car-to-Car Law Talk
18128 46d A SMilwPD3Tac Police A3 Tactical Law Talk
18160 46f A SMilwPD4 Police A4 Law Talk
18192 471 A SMilwPD5Spvr Police A5 Supervisors Law Talk
18992 4a3 A S Milw DPW Public Works Public Works
34256 85d A S Milw FD1 Fire 1 Fire-Talk

I am a total rookie and if someone can help me out with this new hobby of mine I would be very thankful.

 

[DaveIN]

Welcome to Radioreference a_rackowski

Take a look at this easier to read manual from Mark Scanners: Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual

Using the Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual try to input your Motorola trunked system: Milwaukee County Trunking System, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Scanner Frequencies

Once you have your trunked system programmed, then take a look at Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual

Using the above you can add the specific talkgroups you have listed and then use the Closed mode to scan the ID's you are interested in.

Don't hesitate to ask more questions if you get stumped.

 

[a_rackowski]

Thanks

Thanks Dave! Will give it a shot tomorrow on my lunch hour!

 

[DaveIN]

Just a note about the Mark Scanners online manual. The Pro-97/2055 use the same programming instructions as your 20-164 AKA Pro-164.

Also, you only need to program your primary system control channel frequencies 866.53750, 866.58750 867.03750, 867.06250. The P25 system (002) can not be monitored with your Pro-164.

 

[a_rackowski]

Well I am starting to understand but I can tell that for me this is going to be a long process. I follow the rules to program a trunking system but again the only channels I am getting (all 4 of the channels you provided pick up something) is MIlwaukee County and I am actually South Milwaukee - which is a different city.

Icant figure out how to set a talk group. For example

Conection tone…..116.13

Talk Groop ID:
1)…..18064…..Dispatch ……..A01…. hex=469
2) ….18096..…Car 2 Car….….A02…. hex=46b
3)…..18028….Tactical…….....A03…..hex=4…
4)…..18160…________……...A04.…hex=46f
5)…..18192….Supervisor…....A05….hex=47…


I can only set frequency. I have a feeling there might be a diff frequency for South milwaukee but how can I be sure?

 

[ltjweiss]

south milwaukee is in the milwaukee county trunked radio system which the frequencies are:
866.08750 866.15000 866.17500 866.53750c 866.58750c 866.65000 867.03750c 867.06250c 867.85000 868.16250 868.23750 868.61250 868.63750
along with other frequencies that are digital, the digital frequencies which i did not list cannot be monitored by your current scanner the pro-164, you will have to enter the frequencies i listed above as trunked frequencies seeing that milwaukee county uses a Motorola Type II Smartnet. your user manual will explain how to or your could use this: Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual as dave referenced you to it is a great manual. if you have any other questions about the milwaukee county trs please direct those question here: Wisconsin Radio Discussion Forum - The RadioReference.com Forums , there are more people that are more experienced with this system there. welcome to RR.com and your new hobby.

 

[ltjweiss]

for more questions about trunked radio systems (TRS) refer to this:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking

 

[a_rackowski]

I am about ready to run this thing over. Radio Shack guys are clueless. How much does it cost to have it programmed for me on this site?

 

[jamesa53]

I am about ready to run this thing over. Radio Shack guys are clueless. How much does it cost to have it programmed for me on this site?

Before you run this over with the car send it to me.

Seriously:

Go get Don Starr's Win 97 software here: Win97 - Data Management Software for the PRO-97, PRO-2055, PSR-300, PSR-400, PRO-164, and PRO-163 Scanners

You get a 30 day free trial for the software to see if you will like it, and if you like it you can buy it (get a license key) for $25.

Then buy a RS Interface Cable 20-047. Load Win 97 on your Windows PC. This software will allow you to import frequencies directly from the RR database. Believe me it will make all of this much easier than programming by hand. You can see the relationship between talkgroups and control channel frequencies much better with the software than looking at the scanner display.

Then plug the cable into the USB port on your computer and into your PC-IF jack on your scanner (NOTE: Do not use the stereo to mono adapter) and upload your file you created into the scanner.

Bonus is you might find someone in the Milwaukee area who has a Win97 file that they might email to you for free that you could upload to your scanner and have it running in 10 seconds.

Of course if you dont have a PC or access to one, then the above won't work.

 

[a_rackowski]

Thank you. I downloaded the software, need to run to radio shack this evening and pick up a cable.

Currently all the software looks generic (by that I mean all 0.0000000's) but I will read more on it once I have some time. Currently this is a 200.00 paper weight so I cannot wait! Hopefully I get it up in time for the friday crazys.

 

[jamesa53]

I forgot to mention in my above post that to import the freqs directly from the RR database into Win 97 you will need a Premium Subscription to RR. This is worth the small cost. I only get mine 6 months at a time.

The reason your software reads all zeros is that you have to enter the freqs in, cut and paste them from the RR database, or import them with a premium subscription from the database. However its much easier to enter them from a computer keyboard than using the scanner keypad and try to remember where you are and what you just entered.

Warning: With this scanner you will not be able to monitor digital talkgroups. Anything with a "D" in the "Mode" column cannot be monitored but anything with an "A" in the Mode column you will be able to monitor.

Generally the steps in this process are: 1. Buy Scanner, 2. Try to program using keypad 3. Give Up trying to program using keypad. 4. Buy software and cable and RR subscription 5. Program scanner useing software. 6. Enjoy listening.

 

[a_rackowski]

Thanks - seems to be working! I appreciate it!

 

[ltjweiss]

great glad to hear it!