Help Programming SDS100 for FleetTalk in Pickens County, SC

[daugherh]

Hi all,

I'm trying to help my buddy program his Uniden SDS100 to monitor FleetTalk in Pickens County, South Carolina, but I'm struggling with the Sentinel software. I'm new to scanner programming and not sure how to properly set up a Favorites List or identify the correct talkgroups and trunked system settings for FleetTalk. He's wanting all of Pickens County's FT system along with surrounding areas (Greenville, Oconee, Anderson) along with any DNR, DPS, HP, etc. I've walked him through updating the database in Sentinel and firmware on the scanner and he made a Favorites List by appending the system (Pickens County FleetTalk) and HP, etc. He gets most of the HP, DNR, DPS, etc. No matter what we've done (including checking every service type) he can't seem to pickup anything for FT.

Does anyone have a step-by-step guide or preferrably a pre-made Favorites List for this area? I'd love to take a look at a known good file for Sentinel to compare and see what is different between a good working file and ours. Any help with navigating Sentinel or confirming the correct system settings would be greatly appreciated.

Oh - and he does have the NXDN license activated. DMR will come in the future.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Enforcer52]

Here is a starter favorite list for FleetTalk for Pickens area. Unzip and use Sentinel to import the .hpe file. You can add/delete/edit what you need.

 

[daugherh]

thank you @Enforcer52

 

[brian]

When adding a trunked system to a favorites list in Sentinel, the software automatically adds every site associated with the system to the Favorites list.

In Sentinel, on the left side where the favorite list is shown, right-click and select "Program Favorites List." In the new window that opens, Select the System from the list on the left side. You'll see tabs across the top of the Window on the right - Departments, Sites, Unit IDs, etc.

Select "Sites" tab. This will show all 100+ sites in the Fleettalk system. You'll want to delete all of those sites that are outside of the receiving range of the scanner. For Pickens County, delete all sites except Glassy Mtn, Easley, and maybe Six Mile and Long Mtn, depending on where in the county your friend is.

You'll then need to save the Favorites list and upload (save) the list to the scanner. I assume you know how to do that properly.

Doing this will prevent the scanner from scanning 100+ sites that you can't receive. See if that improves performance.

 

[daugherh]

Thanks Brian. We'll give that a try.

 

[kg4uad]

I found it easier to simply use sentinel to update the radios database, then manually create a favorites list with only the fleettalk system within it. Radius setting will affect how many sites the db will add to the system. i used 20 mile and have all the upstate sites. If your buddy is close to a particular site it will be preferable to "site lock" on that one. Scanning multiple sites on fleet talk doesnt work very well due to the nxdn registration architecture. Sites only transmit talkgroups that are affiliated and actively registered on that particular site. good luck!

-kg4uad