choosing a uniden scanner

[Akuriko]

I'm interested in all, so far San Juan county like i said doesn't chirp much for a tourist trap island, ROFLMAO

 

[tvengr]

Here is the favorites list. When you first write to the scanner, only the frequencies for San Juan County will be scanning. Once the favorites list is imported into Sentinel, you need to go the Edit tab and Edit profile. Under the Scan Selection tab, both Download and Monitor need to be On for the San Juan Co WA favorites list. Download sends the list to the scanner. Monitor enables it to scan. If you remove the check mark from Monitor Full Database, only the favorites list will be scanned. Save the attached zipped file to your computer and extract. Go to the File tab and Import from hpe file (Favorites List). Click on New Favorites List and name it San Juan Co WA Click on OK. In the Downloads folder, highlight and Open the extracted file. It will appear as a favorites list in Sentinel. The WA State DOT system has 4 sites. The Mt Constitution site in San Juan County has a quick key of None and will scan anytime the trunked system is enabled. The other 3 sites in Skagit and Whatcom counties can be enabled using their quick keys to see if they are within range. I will explain the use of the quick keys a little later. Quick keys as follows:

FAVORITES LIST QUICK KEY:
0. San Juan Co WA
SYSTEM QUICK KEY:
0. San Juan Co Conv (Conventional system)
DEPARTMENT QUICK KEYS:
0. San Juan Co Government
1. San Juan Co Fire/EMS
2. San Juan Co Law
3. Skagit Co Fire/EMS
4. Skagit Co Law
5. Whatcom Co Fire/EMS
6. Whatcom Co Law
7. WA State Patrol
8. VHF Marine Band
SYSTEM QUICK KEY:
1. WA State DOT (Trunked system)
DEPARTMENT/SITE QUICK KEYS:
0. Highway Assistance (Dept)
1. Emergency Management (Dept)
2. Highway Ops (Dept)
3. Airlift (Dept)
4. WA State Ferries (Dept)
5. --------
6. --------
7. Devils Mtn (Skagit Co Site)
8. Galbraith Mtn (Whatcom Co Site)
9. King Mtn (Whatcom Co Site)

 

[Akuriko]

Thanks and thats for the sentinal or free scan? i am semi confused, lol

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks and thats for the sentinal or free scan? i am semi confused, lol

The *.hpe file extension indicates that it is a Favorites list export, that can be imported into Sentinel.

FreeSCAN files have a *.996 file extension.

 

[K4EET]

Here is the favorites list. <snip>

Hi @Akuriko. I just wanted to let you know that @tvengr is a Master Programmer when it comes to creating Favorite Lists. That list which was given to you will prove to be invaluable and will save you many hours and perhaps even days in programming time to come up with the ideal Favorites List for your area. Through the use of Quick Keys, @tvengr creates a very nice file structure that is efficient and easily managed. Enjoy!

 

[Akuriko]

maybe but let me just be crystal clear 4 hours no power, scanner on pro 97 running no chirping except every 90 minutes, did I do the right thing by getting a digital scanner ordered?

Sheriff,Ems, fire, electric company all programed in, no sound, just dead silence, makes me wonder, maybe i should of spent less on a digital scanner and more on other things, it was dead as a door nail, generators running in town, no sound or anything, please advise on what went wrong.

 

[tvengr]

I missed the electric company. Orcas Power and Light has been added to this updated hpe favorites list file. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like added to the file.

 

[tvengr]

After some more searching, I found 2 frequencies for Friday Harbor Airport. I am also going to add another department on the conventional system for amateur radio frequencies. Please let me know if I missed anything else.

 

[tvengr]

Hopefully, here is the final file. Island County has been added. I also found the Whidbey approach/departure frequency for aircraft coming to and leaving Friday Harbor Airport. Please use the previous instructions in post #102 for importing the file into Sentinel. Here is the updated department quick key list for the San Juan Co Conv system:

DEPARTMENT QUICK KEYS:
0. San Juan Co Govt/Misc
1. San Juan Co Fire/EMS
2. San Juan Co Law
3. Skagit Co
4. Whatcom Co
5. Island Co
6. WA State Patrol
7. VHF Marine Band
8. Amateur Radio

 

[Akuriko]

even with the power out the electric company wasn't saying anything, fire, sheriff, ems, airports, all dead, it was dead, the sheriff would speak 90 min or so at a time, I never seen a scanner not chirp so much as this island is very little chirps on it at all, so don't buy a booster and it might not reach to Skagit or Whatcom county, seems 40 miles to Skagit might not work.

 

[tvengr]

Do you have the BCD536HP yet and did you load the file into the scanner?

 

[Akuriko]

downloaded the file, scanner is currently stuck in Troutdale Oregon on a fed ex truck, lol due in Tuesday.

 

[tvengr]

Sorry to hear about the truck. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised when you try the new scanner. If you have any problems, I will give you step by step instructions of what to do. It is very important that you follow the instructions in post #102 before you write to the scanner. You may luck out and receive some of Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Range improves over water. A rooftop antenna definitely helps at that distance. To write to the scanner: Turn on the scanner. Plug in the USB cable. Press E on the scanner to enter USB Mass Storage. Go to the Scanner tab in Sentinel and click on Write to Scanner. Your scanner model and serial number should appear in the popup box. Check the box to Erase Favorites Lists on Scanner. That will give you a clean start. Click on OK. When warned that the favorites lists will be erased, click on OK. When writing to the scanner is completed, click on OK. To be safe, eject the scanner before pulling the cable. Try setting the squelch at 2 to see if that works OK.

 

[Akuriko]

Thanks, wish I could mount an antenna on the roof I live in an apartment, in the basement, lol, but will let you know when the scanner comes in. I was hoping for an easy booster.

 

[MStep]

Thanks, wish I could mount an antenna on the roof I live in an apartment, in the basement, lol, but will let you know when the scanner comes in. I was hoping for an easy booster.

I know your pain. I live on the ground floor of a small condo, but no roof antennas allowed anymore. Fortunately, I have a railing the leads to the yard in the back, so I'm living with half-a-dozen magnetic antennas. Then again, I am in midtown Manhattan, so you don't need much to hear a lot. Best of luck with your new scanner.

 

[tvengr]

When you receive the scanner, do this first: Turn on the scanner. Plug in the USB cable. Press E on the scanner to enter USB Mass Storage. Go to the Update tab in Sentinel and click on Update Firmware. If there is an update, the firmware will update when you remove the cable from the scanner. It is always best to eject the scanner before unplugging the cable. Do you have a window in the apartment and how tall is the window and how far from the floor? Do you have a patio or an exit door to ground level?

 

[Akuriko]

i have 1 door to the parking lot, that goes upstairs and im near the parking lot, 2 bedroom apartment, windows in the office and roommates room, the living room has a window, and the kitchen has a small window, otherwise, that is it.

 

[tvengr]

Which room will the scanner be in? Is there a metal filing cabinet under the window?

 

[Akuriko]

in my living room

 

[tvengr]

Let's see what results you get with the telescoping antenna that comes with the scanner. You may be able to setup a tri-band mobile or wideband base antenna on a stand near the window to improve reception.