Sentinel: Favorites List Exchange

[radiochuck]

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place for trading favorites list files. I'm not sure what the policy is with regard to posting linke here, but it would be fun to see how others arrange their data and to maybe save some duplicated effort.

It wouldn't necessarily have to be in Sentinel format, as I know there are those of us who use ProScan and Butel ARC 536, etc.

Anyway... I'm sure it could be as easy as saving to a shared Dropbox or Google Drive, and posting the links in a thread here, if that's allowed. Otherwise, maybe there is another place that would be more appropriate.

Just looking for some input on that idea. Thanks!

 

[KE0HIN]

I've often asked and or offered this over the years, pre-RR wow how old am I now, my Yahoo group had that ....
I think an excel format would be best so you can swap column set ups to fit each software needs.
You would almost need this for each state or area at least.

I think it does not get much traction because of the excellent data base here.
just my 2 cense.

 

[CHHTX]

same. I believe the reason that it never gets traction here is because with the limitless variations that fav lists can be organized now.

I typically organize my favs by County>Dept>Channel. Then I use Set Quick Key Status>Favorites Quick Key and/or System Quick Key to include or exclude. It's pretty close to how it was always done.

Here's a screenshot of 2 of my nearby counties.


Also, I've built a fire Favorite for when there are uncontrolled fires in the area and the state OPs that might be involved that I can add to scan:

 

[hiegtx]

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place for trading favorites list files. I'm not sure what the policy is with regard to posting linke here, but it would be fun to see how others arrange their data and to maybe save some duplicated effort.

It wouldn't necessarily have to be in Sentinel format, as I know there are those of us who use ProScan and Butel ARC 536, etc.

Anyway... I'm sure it could be as easy as saving to a shared Dropbox or Google Drive, and posting the links in a thread here, if that's allowed. Otherwise, maybe there is another place that would be more appropriate.

Just looking for some input on that idea. Thanks!

There's a few files posted to this Wiki page:

Sentinel .hpe Files Library - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

These are mostly files for search ranges, with a few for Canada, and a handful of other countries. Other than search range lists, there's no U.S. area specific programming files.

Some of the old location-specific Yahoo groups had collections of files for their area, but that shut down some time ago. Groups.io has replaced Yahoo. A few of those have a small number of programming files, though most of the ones that I'm a member of do not. The old ScanDFW Yahoo group had quite a few files for various scanner models, but that group disbanded, and did not migrate to Groups.io.

 

[radiochuck]

I think it does not get much traction because of the excellent data base here.
just my 2 cense.

I hear ya. But I think we all have our variations on the way we like to organize our faves lists. Also, I (and I'm sure many others who use locatio-based scanning) have spent hours, days, weeks, drawing neat little rectangles to replace of the basic circles around our departments. It would be cool to be able to see how others

There's a few files posted to this Wiki page:

Sentinel .hpe Files Library - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

These are mostly files for search ranges, with a few for Canada, and a handful of other countries. Other than search range lists, there's no U.S. area specific programming files.

Some of the old location-specific Yahoo groups had collections of files for their area, but that shut down some time ago. Groups.io has replaced Yahoo. A few of those have a small number of programming files, though most of the ones that I'm a member of do not. The old ScanDFW Yahoo group had quite a few files for various scanner models, but that group disbanded, and did not migrate to Groups.io.

Interesting page. I've never seen that. I'm talking about lists that would be way more specific, though. I'm not sure if it's cool to posts links here, but I'd be happy to get us started.

 

[radiochuck]

same. I believe the reason that it never gets traction here is because with the limitless variations that fav lists can be organized now.

I typically organize my favs by County>Dept>Channel. Then I use Set Quick Key Status>Favorites Quick Key and/or System Quick Key to include or exclude. It's pretty close to how it was always done.

The variations are exactly what I'd like to see. I'm never too old to learn a new trick from a fellow scanner user.

Since I do a lot of location-based scanning, I have lists with all kinds of variations on the actual content of the list, but also how the coordinates are setup. Some have fencing around every site and department, some just the site, some no fencing at all. There are other variations, but those are the ones I use the most.

 

[hiegtx]

Interesting page. I've never seen that. I'm talking about lists that would be way more specific, though. I'm not sure if it's cool to posts links here, but I'd be happy to get us started.

I realized that was what you were looking for, but that Wiki page was the only one I ran across on RR.

What might be more useful to you would be to ask that your thread be moved to the Arizona forum. Maybe someone in your state will swap a file or two for a look. If that works, you'd see something more focused on your area, rather than some random location in a location totally unfamiliar to you.

Edit to add:
Found this thread regarding a file in the Tucson area. Again, not exactly what you are looking for, but might be worth a peek.

BCD436HP Tucson PD

I am in Tucson East Side, relocated From Hobart Indiana. I have a BCD436HP and I cannot pick up the same channels as the Broadcastify "Tucson Police Dispatch". . I do receive the Teams. But it is not the same as the Broadcastify stream. Thanks for any help. If someone could please share with me...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[radiochuck]

What might be more useful to you would be to ask that your thread be moved to the Arizona forum. Maybe someone in your state will swap a file or two for a look. If that works, you'd see something more focused on your area, rather than some random location in a location totally unfamiliar to you.

I'm open to files from any area, though. I travel a lot and I think the systems I don't see every day would be interesting to see from the perspective of a local user.

 

[radiochuck]

I checked the forum rules and it doesn't seem to prohibit any such posting of links to offsite files, as long as they're not illegal content. So here's an example of what I'm talking about. This is a pretty thorough list of the California Highway Patrol. It's all off the radio areas and divisions for the entire state of California, with some pretty tight geo rectangles aroud each. I hope someone can benefit from my work and that of whomever created the map I used to do the work.

California Highway Patrol - Statewide (Geo)

Also, I don't want to see this turn into a debate over the best way to setup a faves list. My needs are very specific, so I set it up the way I need it. Feel free to modify the list to suit your specific needs.

 

[KE0HIN]

what Ive been playing with is service types in sentinel and customizing some for my liking, that's very interesting that we can do this

 

[jimg]

I have a friend who just purchased a SDS 200, and was wondering if the ARC 536 was good to set up favorites and have they had any problems with the ARC 536?

 

[CHHTX]

I have a friend who just purchased a SDS 200, and was wondering if the ARC 536 was good to set up favorites and have they had any problems with the ARC 536?

I'm going to ask why you're leaning towards ARC356? I've never tried it, so I don't know what is good or bad about it. Like many others around here, I use Proscan. Of course I'm familiar with it so I like it more than something I don't know. From what I can see around here, there's more support and people using Proscan so that pushes me more that direction as well. Just curious, maybe ARC356 is super awesome and I just dont know.

 

[jimg]

A friend who just purchased an SDS 200 asked me to post this question as he was considering purchasing this software.
As I don't have this scanner, I have a Whistler TRX-1, do you have an opinion on which is the best for the SDS 200?

 

[hiegtx]

A friend who just purchased an SDS 200 asked me to post this question as he was considering purchasing this software.
As I don't have this scanner, I have a Whistler TRX-1, do you have an opinion on which is the best for the SDS 200?

Both ARC536 Basic (~$40), as well as ProScan ($50), can handle programming, including importing from the database for Premium Subscribers. The on-screen layout may be a bit different between the two, but both can create and edit Favorites list. Both have a 30 day free trial period, so you can try before having to purchase the software.

However, if you want the ability for logging activity, or using virtual control (controlling the scanner via a PC, you would need to purchase ARC536 Pro, about $70. Logging and virtual control capability is included with ProScan at the same $50 purchase cost; no extra expense needed.

ARC536 only handles the BCDx36HP scanners, and the SDS series models.

ProScan covers those, as well as many other Uniden scanner models, including the P2, XT, and T series, and does not require an additional fee for the other models. I prefer ProScan since it does such many of the other Uniden scanners that I own.