Favorites List (Convential & P25) Scanning

[AWH4]

Hello everyone. This has got me pretty much stumped. Hope someone might know what I am doing wrong. I created 4 favorites list. Two favorite lists are conventional frequencies, and two favorite list are P25 frequencies. I made sure to set them to download and turn on to scan. When I turn on the scanner I can see my 4 favorites list download into the scanner. It starts scanning the 2 convential favorites, but won't scan the two P25 lists. Went to "Set Scan Selection" > "Select Lists to Monitor" > and all 4 favorites are turned on to scan. Master database is off and seach with scan is off.

1. Colorado Medical Helicopters (Convential frequencies)
2. Colorado state patrol (Conventional frequencies)

3. Colorado State Police (DTRS / P25 Trunked)
4. South Metro Fire (DTRS / P25 Trunked)

I'm missing something, but can't figure it out. Probably just one setting, but I am at a loss to figure it out.

Any help will be appreciated

 

[dave3825]

Do you have all service types enabled for the freqs your scanning?

 

[AWH4]

Yes, Also checked select services. Law Dispatch, Law Tac, Law Talk along with Fire Dispatch , Fire Talk, Fire Tac are all on. When I put in a zip code and set it for 30 mile radius and scan using zip code feature, I get all of these frequencies conventional and Trunked, so I know the scanner can pick them up.

 

[drdispatch]

Did you program any of the trunked system's  sites as well as the talkgroups?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

When I turn on the scanner I can see my 4 favorites list download into the scanner. It starts scanning the 2 convential favorites, but won't scan the two P25 lists. Went to "Set Scan Selection" > "Select Lists to Monitor" > and all 4 favorites are turned on to scan. Master database is off and seach with scan is off.

Do you have quick keys set at the FL and/or system level for said P25 systems & if so are they turned on? Building upon what drdispatch said above me, you need at least one TGID programmed in or ID Search turned on per each trunked system or else they will be omitted from scan regardless if their FLs are set to monitor "on"

 

[nessnet]

"When I put in a zip code and set it for 30 mile radius and scan using zip code feature, I get all of these frequencies conventional and Trunked, so I know the scanner can pick them up:'

Sounds like it is a location control problem.
Your global range may be set wrong, or the sites themselves may have no lat/long data or their range is also set wrong.
Check all of the above.

 

[AWH4]

I think I figured it out. I would put in a trunck system like South Metro Fire & Rescue. I would save the page that shows Channel name, TGID numbers, service type. Then I would delete all the counties in the list farther down the tree. Believe those were my control channels I was wiping out. So with no control channels there is nothing to scan. Does this make sense ? Thru trial and error I am now able to scan trunk systems also. Strong learning curve on this new radio. Once I download South Metro Fire, I need to keep the control channels that apply to my county, is that correct ?

 

[nessnet]

What radio?
How are you programming (what software, or manually entering)?

Remember, in trunking you are scanning SITES, which transmit CONTROL channels.
The radio 'listens' to these control channels and either 'hears' a channel grant and tunes to that channel (and you monitor that transmission), or it times out and moves on to the next site/control channel.

Please let us know if you don't understand trunking and we'd be glad to walk you through it - or provide further resources to learn more.

 

[AWH4]

Thanks for all the replies. I have a Uniden SDS200 base scanner, was using Butel software but change to Sentinel software. You need Sentinel anyways to update the firmware. My biggist enemy is myself making mistakes by deleting control channels, without control channels, the system doesn't work. I need to spend more time reading up and really understanding how these trunking systems work. Thanks to everyone who chimed in to help me.

 

[nessnet]

.....change to Sentinel software.
....deleting control channels,

Yes, using Sentinel for these radios is wise - suggest you look at ProScan also. Yes, Sentinel is needed for firmware, but ProScan can be easier for programming - and it has a lot of features that Sentinel lacks.

May I suggest while you are learning that you avoid things, not delete.