GRE PSR-500 Post Release Thread

[LEH]

Guess I'm asking is if it the Default for anything, etc., and should (initially) be left blank ?

Any reason not to use it as a standard Scan List like the others ?
Thanks,
Bob

Bob,

No, I use scanlist 1 for my local department (the same number as on my 396).

Scanlist 1 is the automatic default when you load a new system. All you need to do here is to remember to deselect scanlist 1 and select the list number you want to save the TSYS as.

 

[scan-pa]

Push & hold the light switch about a second.

Just push the ligh button till it beeps, this will lock the light on, till you press it again to turn the light lock off.

 

[kikito]

b. is there a way to have the two rows of scan list numbers stay on the screen so you can select and de-select some of them, leisurely ?

Guess it takes me a bit of time to push the buttons, and it always seems to go back to scanning before I'm finished. Is there some sort of "lock" to hold the screen that shows the two rows ?

Thanks,
Bob

You don't have to wait for anything or have to be seeing the scanlists numbers to change them. Just do it whenever, even during a conversation. The scanner seems to go back to showing the numbers as soon as you start pressing the buttons and as long as you're pressing them, they seems to stay on display.

 

[BOBRR]

L/O Question

Hello,

Concerning Temporary L/O:

Let's say that you have pegged a bunch of freq's with temp L/O's during a session.

Is there any way to review and see which Objects have been L/O temporarily, simply, without scrolling through "everything" ?

Is there a way to reset them all back to normal with just a button push or two, or, again, you have to do them individually ? (I know turning the unit off and back on will do it).

Any different answers for the Permanent L/O ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[BOBRR]

"Zeromatic" Question

Hello:

Regarding the Zeromatic option:

Do most of you folks have it turned to ON ?
Any negatives or caveats to having it On ?

I see that it seems to be an option only in the LMIT, SRVC and the Skysweeper menus, according to the manual.

Does it also function for the Conv. and TSYS Objects in the "regular" scanning lists ?
If not, how come ?

Why no Global setting for it, or have I missed it ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[BOBRR]

FAV Items ?

Hello,

I have several V Folders that each have various scan lists in them.

For several of the Objects in them I have also ticked the FAV box.

So, I thought that when these V Folders are uploaded to the scanner, all I would have to do is press the FAV button on the scanner, and I could then scan All the items that were designated as FAV's.

I thought this would be true even for items in V Folders that although uploaded to the scanner, were not presently in working memory.
Apparently not so.

So, what am I missing here, please ?

Does it only work for FAV ticked items that are presently in the working memory ?

What do I have to do to just push the FAV button, and have ALL the FAV ticked items
scan, even though some are not in the working memory (or, is this not possible) ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[TES]

. . . (or, is this not possible) ?

It's not possible.

 

[n4jri]

I thought this would be true even for items in V Folders that although uploaded to the scanner, were not presently in working memory.
Apparently not so.

So, what am I missing here, please ?

Does it only work for FAV ticked items that are presently in the working memory ?

What do I have to do to just push the FAV button, and have ALL the FAV ticked items
scan, even though some are not in the working memory (or, is this not possible) ?

Thanks,
Bob

Bob, here's what I think you're missing:

V-folders are not in active memory--therefore you cannot access anything in them unless you load them into active memory. Think of the V-folder in working memory as a document you're working on. Active memory is where you do the work. The V-folders in storage are like other documents on your disk drive--inactive until you load them into RAM.

You can only get the fav's from the current memory.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[DaveIN]

The upside to the PSR-500 version of V-scanner is that it loads in ~5 seconds. So you could setup the V-scanners to be working memory and load them fairly quickly, just not use it as active memory.

 

[krbprogrammer]

PSR-500 Improved Antenna?

Hello to you all,

I am a soon to be proud owner of a new PSR-500 scanner in South/Central FL. My 1st ever scanner too and I hope I didn't go over-board with this one.

I am curious to know what antenna options work better than the stock rubber ducky for improved long range receptions? Oh, for portable, mobile and stationary usage.

For example, has anyone tried or know of W-881 Super Gainer BNC Portable Antenna or the Scan-Force-Tele Section Antenna?

Thank you all for any/all input!!

 

[kikito]

Is there a way to reset them all back to normal with just a button push or two, or, again, you have to do them individually ? (I know turning the unit off and back on will do it).

Just turning the unit off and on seems to be the only way. It's quick and easy enough in my opinion....

 

[Landman]

Hello to you all,

I am a soon to be proud owner of a new PSR-500 scanner in South/Central FL. My 1st ever scanner too and I hope I didn't go over-board with this one.

I am curious to know what antenna options work better than the stock rubber ducky for improved long range receptions? Oh, for portable, mobile and stationary usage.

For example, has anyone tried or know of W-881 Super Gainer BNC Portable Antenna or the Scan-Force-Tele Section Antenna?

Thank you all for any/all input!!

The Radio Shack 800 MHz duckie that costs about twenny bucks is the best antenna that I have used so far. I tried some Antenex quarter wave 800 antennas as well as some 1/4 wave 400 MHz antennas as well a mag mount 1/2 wave 800 MHz antenna on the car. The mag mount provided too much RF gain and the scanner was too easily overloaded by cells sites in the 800 band. The radio shack antenna provided good gain on 700 and 800 MHz as well as most other UHF frequencies and will pull in UHF systems including 800 MHz in rural areas where my other portable antennas wont. In an urban environment replete with RF signals I have found that using this antenna with the scanners global attenuation turned on is the best combination for decreasing cell/nextel interference. I would stay away from any metal telescoping portable antennas because when fully extended they tend to put too much stress on the scanner's antenna connector which will eventually break the fragile little wire that connects the antenna connector the receiver. I have read many "what do I do now" posts about this very issue with radio shacks rather long telescoping antenna.

 

[BOBRR]

Hi,

Greetings from a real snowy Boston today.
Lots of fun listening to the PD's and Highway on thenew 500.

Questions regarding Temporary L/O.

Seem to have some "flaky" operation with it, but it is most likely that I don't understand it all that well, like I thought I did.

I have one TSYS with two Groups (set up as wildcards) with it in "FAVORITES".

a. Should I be able to temp. L/O both groups while parked via Manual on either of them ?
Or. is Temp L/O effective only while actually scanning ?

b. Am I correct that you don't L/O the TSYS, as that, in effect, is not being scanned; only the Groups are ?

c. Should the TSYS still show in a display line while scanning, even though it won't stop there now after pressing the L/O key ?

Any caveats, or limitations, etc., to the use of the Temp L/O function ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[DaveNF2G]

Figured out the answer

Is there something special about the Skywarn scanlist? I put a bunch of objects in that list as a sort of alternate FAVorites list. When I scan SKY, nothing is ever received even though those frequencies are active.

My problem had nothing to do with assigning frequencies to any particular scanlist. Using Win500 to program my unit, the digital frequencies for which I had no NAC information were entered as FM/NAC/000. This setting blocks all reception on the frequency.

Apparently there is no FM/NAC/Search configuration (or at least the Win500 software does not allow it) like there is for CTCSS and DCS.

The solution is to enter unknown NAC channels as FM/Search, which unfortunately also allows reception of analog signals and interference.

TIP: If you don't need the Skywarn functionality, you can use scanlist SKY as a second FAVorites button.

 

[hiegtx]

Apparently there is no FM/NAC/Search configuration (or at least the Win500 software does not allow it) like there is for CTCSS and DCS.

The solution is to enter unknown NAC channels as FM/Search, which unfortunately also allows reception of analog signals and interference.

Dave,
I had a set of reported digital channels (3 to be exact) that I wanted to verify & search for the NAC. I entered them, in Win500, as NFM/NAC/Search and it worked perfectly well in receiving the active channel (at a rural power plant) & identifying the NAC being used. No reception on the other two channels, either because they were inactive (on a weekend), or were being used simplex (I was approx. 15 miles away).

As this was well west of the metro area, I did not receive any FM/Analog interference. However, I loaded a file for my trip west before I left Dallas & left it in there till I got back, driving through the mid-cities & Ft Worth, with no interference on any of the three.

 

[mikey60]

Apparently there is no FM/NAC/Search configuration (or at least the Win500 software does not allow it) like there is for CTCSS and DCS.

There is a search feature on NAC. I don't know about WIN500, but PSREdit has a bug on this area that I'm fixing right now.

Mike

 

[kikito]

My problem had nothing to do with assigning frequencies to any particular scanlist. Using Win500 to program my unit, the digital frequencies for which I had no NAC information were entered as FM/NAC/000. This setting blocks all reception on the frequency.

Thanks for letting us know what the problem turned out to be. It helps everybody for future reference.

Apparently there is no FM/NAC/Search configuration (or at least the Win500 software does not allow it) like there is for CTCSS and DCS.

Like others have said, there is a search function for NAC.

TIP: If you don't need the Skywarn functionality, you can use scanlist SKY as a second FAVorites button.

Yes, that's what I do too. I put the most important dispatch channels in there when I only want to monitor "lightly".

 

[bee]

Is the "audio" in the 500, sufficent for use in a vehical? Also how is the sound quality?

Thanks!

 

[Landman]

I have the most road noise going 70 MPH on the interstate which I do quite often. My car is not exactly one of the quietest ones out there at highway speeds. I have everything in the scanner set on audio boost. With the scanner in a holder that clips on the air conditioner vents I can hear all transmissions except those by a few Louisiana state troopers that mumble softly like they have drunk a full bottle of nyquil and are about to go nighty night. I pretty much have to be stopped to hear those select few. At less than highway speeds I have no problems hearing anything. Some of it depends on the system too. Some systems are just louder than others.

 

[Stick0413]

Some systems are just louder than others.

You mentioned that you had all of your systems on Audio Boost. I use the Audio Boost feature to boost the quiter systems, and conventional frequncies that way I have a more uniform audio level. I hate nothing more than to have it turned up to listen to something then for it to scan to another system/frequency and blast me away.