Sentinel: Does updating database in Sentinel update information in Favorites list?

[n1chu]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm trying to understand the functioning of the software and the scanner. If there is an update to a trunk system in a favorites list, will this be updated automatically in the appropriate favorites list(s)? For example, if frequencies changed for a site would this update? If not, how do you keep track of changes?

Thanks,

Scott

I’ve seen numerous questions as to why the scanner isn’t updated when using Sentinel to get the latest database. I always understood it as a three step process. First, using Sentinel, grab the database update. That puts it in Sentenel, but NOT the scanner. The second step is to write that complete database to the scanner. But we aren’t through yet… the third step is to now update your FL’s in the scanner. (It’s part of the steep learning curve newbies experience when they go after the updates in Sentinel…) they think that single (first step) process is going to also re-program their scanner with the latest and greatest! Nope! That just gets Sentinel updated. Now it’s necessary to use Sentinel to update the database in the scanner. And then manually update the FL’s in the scanner.

 

[SurgePGH]

I have my own OCD-based process for that, which would take up WAY too much space and time to recount here, and I'm not sure that I even want to try. Suffice it to say that it works for me.

OCD huh? I can relate! I went so far as to figure out how to modify the FL in the 885 Bear Tracker so that I can hear more than just the primary dispatch channels.

 

[MississippiPI]

I updated mine and I chose to updates my favorites manually. They were listed and updated but not in my favorites

Be safe

 

[bearcat]

Sentinel does have an APPEND feature. As long as you retain the DEPT name as it appears in the Full DB it will append any new TG data, it will leave any changes you made intact. The big down fall is it will not APPEND new Sites. You also need to be aware to not have duplicate TGs in your file

 

[ofd8001]

Sentinel does have an APPEND feature. As long as you retain the DEPT name as it appears in the Full DB it will append any new TG data, it will leave any changes you made intact. The big down fall is it will not APPEND new Sites. You also need to be aware to not have duplicate TGs in your file

The thing to be mindful of is that if you have changed the name of anything in a Favorites List, be it System, Department or Channel. If that is the case, then Sentinel will re-add the item(s). For example if the database has TGID 1 assigned to a channel with the name "Fire One" and in the course of making your Favorites Lists work for you, you change that name to "FIRE 1", it will bring in a second iteration of that channel, calling it "Fire One".

So one ought to be cautious when appending to an existing Favorites List. If it was me, I'd append the system of interest to a new Favorites List and do some copying and pasting. Might take a little extra time, but won't lead to duplicates, etc.

 

[bearcat]

I did send a suggestion to the Uniden folks to do the APPEND matching based on TG# instead of NAME. That would solve the problem. If you renamed something to suit your needs then a matching TG# with a different name would not over write it. Only new TG#s would be written.
I also suggested that the sites should also be included in the APPEND function.

 

[brumey]

I think my workflow for now will be to Update the DB in Sentinal, delete all favorites and rewrite new favorites. That way I should have functioning lists with accurate data, at least on day 1

I'll update the DB tonight and check the options when writing to the scanner, I know it has checkboxes for Favorites.

I have ProScan too which adds another element of complexity or options.

Thanks....

 

[gmclam]

. . . I have really come up with no easy way, having about 40 Favorites Lists, so what I do is each time I update the main database, I take an extra moment to manually update 2 or 3 of my FL's. I keep them pretty much in alphabetical order on the radio, so the first time I will do the A, B and C lists, The next week the D, E and F lists, and so forth. You get the idea. It is not a simple chore.

With Favorites Lists, I believe that there is a point of diminishing returns. Where the result does not justify effort. I guess it all depends on one's listening habits and one's listening environment. I don't really need 40 FL's--- in reality, I generally only use 4 or 5 at at time. . . .

I strongly agree with this approach, unless you are just a "casual listener" (willing to accept whatever is selected automatically by zip code, GPS or the like).

For me, the bigger issue is so many radios that are all slightly different. I needed a SINGLE place that I could maintain my own "DB" (FLs) and then "convert" from there to whatever software a specific radio uses. I maintain this DB in Excel. I have most places I care about on my Watch List on RR, so when there's a change, I'll update my Excel quickly. I use a color code to denote this has not been propagated to the radios.

FL = state with 0 being national channels. System can be a trunked system or conventional system, named by the county first (which alphabetizes them). Departments are just an extra level, but I'll use for a group I might want to toggle on/off separately. I number trunking sites from 90-99 so they're on the end of the list. Larger systems use numbers going downward by 10. These are the same hot keys that Departments use, but I rarely have that many depts.

My understanding of updating the DB (from RR) and uploading to the scanner is when a user is NOT using FLs. Whenever I physically program a radio, I'll update the DB. That way, if I find myself outside of the area covered in my FL, I can use that option.

 

[N0NFY]

You just updated the full DB in your scanner, that's it. No FL, unless you edited it, or re-created it from the updated DB.

It would be nice to have the option to update favorites or not at least give you a choice .

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

It's OK the question has never been asked before.

I'm guessing sarcasm here as I'm pretty sure I've answered it in at least one other thread...

It would be nice to have the option to update favorites or not at least give you a choice .

This might only work if you keep everything named as it is in the DB. Given the fact that I (& I'm sure I'm not alone) rename a lot of my systems, depts, channels, etc to my liking, this may not work as intended unless some sort of hidden algorythm is used...

 

[N0NFY]

It would be nice to have the option on updating favorites or not at least give you a choice

 

[nessnet]

I'm guessing sarcasm here as I'm pretty sure I've answered it in at least one other thread...


This might only work if you keep everything named as it is in the DB. Given the fact that I (& I'm sure I'm not alone) rename a lot of my systems, depts, channels, etc to my liking, this may not work as intended unless some sort of hidden algorythm is used...

The real kicker (for me anyway) is that I have a TON of GPS info highly customized.
There is potential to wipe out a lot of work, if you are not careful with Sentinel - or ProScan for that matter.

So, I lean towards the way it is - changes are done manually,
And ALWAYS maintain a back-up. SD cards are cheap and it's so easy to drag/drop.