can't find the RANGE of frequencies

[g1414]

Hi. I need some help. Shack is useless to me at this point and I am on my own. I might even return my new scanner. I have a Pro 2052 that I need to program some trunking frequencies for. But how do I program the RANGE of frequencies like the book says, if I don't have a list of ranges of frequencies? I am so lost on this. Trunking is the only problem I have for the moment. All else seems okay.
Mostly, all I really have to have, barest minimum for my area for the trunking is:
City of Elwood -- police, fire, EMS... anything like that, maybe some road crews, since they are plowing tons of snow right now.
And also the State police and Madison County cruisers (or whatever you call them) if possible.
This is my very first scanner and I can't believe how horrible it is!
I've spent so many hours on this that I've got to give up and return it if I can't do this on my own -- Shack is giving me lousy service.
I will be hanging around and see if I can find info on any other scanner brand that might do me good -- but it looks like the service part is what I'm having a hard time with, not the scanner itself. I can't get another R.Shack product after this --IF I return it, becuz I am so ticked off at them. Is there any hope for me to get this straightened out on my own (with a little help from ya'all)????
I've got frequencies to program in, but I don't have the RANGES. Does that make sense? Am I saying it right?
Thanks.
~G1414

 

[eyes00only]

Range makes no sense! The first time you try any new trunking system can be a pain in the a**. What TYPE of system are you trying? If it is EDACS, the freqs have to be entered in the exact order as posted. If it is DIGITAL, your out of luck with your scanner. I'm sure someone in your area will help you. Friday is not the busiest time to get help, but hang in there! I will try to help if you reply to this. What County are you in? I will check the database after I send a few e-mails.

Jerry

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Hi. I need some help.

I've got frequencies to program in, but I don't have the RANGES. Does that make sense? Am I saying it right?
Thanks.
~G1414

Well, I'm not quite sure what you mean by ranges either, but after doing a little research with the help of my friend Google, and his pal, the database here on RR, it seems that you're located in Madison County. If that's the case, it would appear that your county's law enforcement operations are using an LTR system.

Unfortunately, that's bad news for you, since a lot of scanners will trunk-track LTR systems, but your Pro-2052 will not. You can still enter the freq's, which can be found here, but the scanner won't trunk them. You can find non-trunked freq's for your area here.

Let us know if you need anything else...

 

[loumaag]

g1414
Well I managed to track you down here. As the previous posters have pointed out your particular town of interest Elmwood, appears to be on the Madison County Sheriff & Rural Law Enforcement System. which is a LTR Regular system. The Pro-2052 cannot (as previously stated) track this system, but you can listen to the frequencies, just not track a specific conversation if it moves off of the "home" repeater. Older Radio Shack models (Pro-92 & 2067) can track them, but RS seems to have abandoned LTR. Some good news is that parts of the system are linked to conventional channels and you should review Madison County to see if there is any help there.

For the state police, I am guessing that you may not be ready of the financial commitment that may require as they are now on the Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T System and it appears that the Law Enforcement is all digital. To do everything you would want would require either a Uniden BC296d or BC796d, which is a considerable investment.

The good thing about the RS radio you do have is that you can bring it back within 30 days of purchase for return without a hassle. Hope you can get what you need from somewhere.

 

[g1414]

you are so helpful! I am learning!...

Okay, I think we may be getting somewhere!
First, let me explain a little bit... I have to say that I have been believing most of what I'd been told by different radio shack store employees from two separate stores. Some of what they say is problaby correct but that doesn't help me if they won't program my scanner correctly.

I've been told that Madison County has gone digital and I won't get much from them on the NON-digital scanner, but that I can pick up the county police sometimes. Okay, so even if I can't get any of them, fine. I'm willing to give that up. Mostly want to hear my own home town, and if lucky, hear some of the State Police if possible. We have state police that live in my community and we have countie-mounties around alot too..........

Then I'm told that I HAVE to have a dual trunking scanner to get Elwood. Well, I believed that. But then that fella tells me after he programs it for the SECOND time, that I don't need to use my trunk button. And apparently there are no trunked banks at all! So I found trunking frequencies (or what I believed to be trunking frequencies), at http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=942 and elsewhere.... but I guess I misunderstood what kind of freq's they are.

I know Elwood can be picked up by residents here, since I have a cousin with a bearcat (maybe I need one of those) who always knows what is going on before anyone else and calls us all up on the phone when our family has an emergency!

BoxAlarm187 thanks for helping with the info and links you provided. I have already programmed the non-trunked freq's, but didn't know that the LTR that I was trying to put in banks can't be trunked. Those are some of the ones that I was trying to get "freq. ranges" for. The book says I have to have the RANGES programmed in -- that what I was so confused about. Now I understand that the "LTR System Type" is supposed to be a clue to me!!!

I am so wet behind the ears. Phooey. Here I thought I just had to buy a scanner and have it programmed and everything would be great. I was soooo wrong.... And I've never been inclined to understand technical stuff -- being a girl, I never had to know anything technical... I try but it won't stick.

Loumaag, thanks for tracking me down, I failed to say I was in IN... you have been a big help. I may be returning the unit... then I don't know what to get, but I sure won't get digital right now with my budget. Now I understand that my 2052 won't do what I want.

eyes00only, the book talks about EDAC and Motorola Type II but it doesn't help me enough at all. That is what I was trying to figure out on my own, and still, the problem of the RANGE of frequencies that the book refers to but gives no help with. UGH. I think I now realize the importance of good service -- and that I better stay away from r.s. since they are clueless. Thanks...
I'll be reading up on scanners while I am here...
Grateful for the help!
~G1414

 

[g1414]

maybe a uniden

Considering buying either uniden bct8 or bc898t.
Do ya think one of those would do me well?
Thanks.
~G1414

 

[racin06]

g1414,

If you want to be able to trunk LTR systems, along with other types of trunking systems, I would suggest the Uniden BC796D. Yes, it's expensive, but it will meet all of your needs for Madison County. The BC796D will trunk EDACS, Motorola, LTR, and APCO digital systems. Of course, this scanner will monitor conventional freqs as well.

If LTR isn't important to you (you won't be able to trunk the City of Anderson's LTR system) and APCO digital systems are not important to you (you won't be able to monitor the State Police), then stick with what you have.

If LTR is important to you you and digital is not important to you, you could stick with your current scanner and purchase the new Uniden BC246T handheld scanner ($220.00 approx.). The 246T will trunk all systems (including LTR), with the exception of APCO digital. You will find owning multiple scanners is beneficial because you will always miss transmissions just using one scanner.

IF digital is important to you and LTR is not important to you, then you could purchase the Radio Shack Pro-96 handheld, as well.

I hope I haven't confused you, further. Just trying to help.

 

[loumaag]

g1414:
First, your welcome, that is why most of us hang around here. :lol:

As to the BCT8 or BC898T, either unit will do most of what you want. However, you mentioned that the county went digital, which sounds like they may have joined the SAFE-T program. Since I am so far away, I can't tell you for sure. But if so, who is now handling the Madison County system that you (and I) linked to earlier in the thread? You are in Elmwood and they seem to be listed on that county LTR system. Things change and like every other web site dealing with scanning, we can only rely on what we can get from the people in the field.

As for the budget, well as you can see any digital scanner is going to set you back quite a bit. But in your instance, if the local county has gone digital and the state is digital, if you want to hear them, it is going to be the solution you will eventually have to come to. In any case, take back the RS unit and find the store manager and let him know that you may have purchased the more expensive Pro-96 if the salesman would have been more knowlegeable and helpful, but now you are going to hunt up a place with better service to buy your Uniden radio. :lol:

 

[g1414]

fantastic

{{{HUGS}}} to all of you! Thanks!!!
Gonna think on it......

~G1414

 

[fmon]

g1414.

Merry Christmas.

Try this 2052 guide for programming your system.

 

[Swipesy]

Never mind the "girl" thing. I have been monitoring systems for 40 + some years and as radio systems become more sophisticated it is also more confusing to us all. It is not gender related.

In my opinion, (just like everyone's anatomy, everyone has one), I would spend the extra money and purchase the 796D and you will be set for quite some time into the future. Very expensive but still less expensive than having to buy new scanners every few years. Just remember a 796D will also be difficult to program but there is plenty of help out here willing to assist you.

 

[eyes00only]

Never mind the "girl" thing.

I kinda like the "girl thing." I've only known one girl in my 20 years of monitoring that enjoyed it, and she was a friends wife (bummer).

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !

 

[g1414]

g1414,

If you want to be able to trunk LTR systems, along with other types of trunking systems, I would suggest the Uniden BC796D. Yes, it's expensive, but it will meet all of your needs for Madison County. The BC796D will trunk EDACS, Motorola, LTR, and APCO digital systems. Of course, this scanner will monitor conventional freqs as well.

I like the above idea... looked up the price -- yikes, too much for now. I could save my pennies to get sumpthin like that in the future.

Looks like I will try to go out and purchase that BCT8. I reckon since I'm a beginner, the BCT8 will do me just fine for a bit. I'll have to learn more about scanners as I go along... Oh, but heading out to go buy something that I have in mind, does not mean that that is what I will actually come HOME with!!!haha So I'll see how it goes... :lol:

I appreciate all the input! Thanks. I'll have to print out everything so I can remember. I'm still hanging out here. Haven't had too much time to browse yet with the holidays keeping me so busy. But I will be trying to learn from ya'll. Can't wait to go shoppin. Maybe Monday...
~G1414