Help with Pro-96 & Win96

[fyrfyter33]

I have been investigating buying a digital scanner for a while. Today, I finally decided to get a Pro-96; the price was helpful at $399, and the 10% discount on first purchase on a RadioShack credit card made it all worthwhile. only $360, before taxes. Before I left Radio Shack, they programmed it up with all the nearby channels for my area. My area is Hamilton County in Cincinnati, OH. The information on this sytem can be found here: http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=402

I like the Pro-96, but it seems whoever at RadioShack came up with the template did a sloppy job of it. Each bank has some intermixing of 800MHz channels as well as some of the older and lower 140-150MHz channels and some 460Mhz channels. Most of the traffic I want to hear is on the 800MHz TRS, either in the City system or the county system. If I start to rebuild my own template in Win96, How difficult is it gonna be to get everything to work right? I know there are control channels, but I am not sure how to mark a control channel in Win96. Also, I won't listen to a lot of the police Talkgroups, so I would like to be able to remove some of those, except for the tactical and special use ones. I am guessing that most of the info I need is at the above link, I am just unsure of how to designate control channels and alternate control channels, as well as what I need to do with talkgroups. I noticed in Win96 they are listed in a box on the right. Most of them I won't listen to, and would like to clear some of them out. Anyone who knows Win96 well, and can help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[seamusg]

The database shows two sites. If you don't want the conventional freqs, put each site in a different bank. You only have to put in the CC and alts for each site, bank setting is MOT and each channel is set to MOT.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Do I have to mark the CC's and alt's in any special way?

 

[fmon]

Load the data from the scanner to Win96.

The Pro-96 is a CC only scanner, thus edit in Win96 and remove any freq not red or blue in your site listing. Since you don't want to listen to conventionals in the same bank, remove them also. Or, you could just check the lockout block for any freq which is not red or blue.

The ID's can either be removed or locked out in Win96 also. Then send the data back to the scanner.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Ok. so if I understand this correctly, it is irrelevant whether or not the other channels are in the scanner, as long as the cc's and alt's are in there? Instead of trying to lockout the stuff I don't want, I just made a copy of the original settings in the scanner, and am rebuilding it to make sense,since I know what all the groups are. Most of the FF's I know that are buying Pro96's this week, don't care about anything more than local PD, so mostly I am interested in Fire. Thanks.

 

[Tom-H]

Why not become a donating member of the site and download just the frequencies and TGs you want through the import feature in WIN96? When I bought my 96 last week, the RS associate also asked if I wanted the radio programmed. I politely declined, knowing that the files that RS downloads into the radios are mostly garbage, and that I could do much better with the info from this website, which is also more up-to-date, BTW.

 

[seamusg]

Ok. so if I understand this correctly, it is irrelevant whether or not the other channels are in the scanner, as long as the cc's and alt's are in there? Instead of trying to lockout the stuff I don't want, I just made a copy of the original settings in the scanner, and am rebuilding it to make sense,since I know what all the groups are. Most of the FF's I know that are buying Pro96's this week, don't care about anything more than local PD, so mostly I am interested in Fire. Thanks.

The scanner only looks at the first CC in each bank unless you put a conventional freq between them. If you but site 101 and 102 in the same bank it would only find site 101 uinles there was a conventional freq between them. To get win96 go here:
http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/

 

[fyrfyter33]

So if I put an 866.xxxx control channel in and another 866.xxxx control channel after it, it will not scan the second channel, unless there is a normal radio channel like 460.600 between the two? If so, then I just have extra control channels, incase there were a problem, which is fine with me. I figured out how to use Win96 and re-edit all the groups so that I use the first 5 banks of the scanner. I think the idiot that sold it to me sold me a "K" tip, so I will definitely have to go back tomorrow and get a "B" tip.

 

[seamusg]

So if I put an 866.xxxx control channel in and another 866.xxxx control channel after it, it will not scan the second channel, unless there is a normal radio channel like 460.600 between the two? If so, then I just have extra control channels, incase there were a problem, which is fine with me. I figured out how to use Win96 and re-edit all the groups so that I use the first 5 banks of the scanner. I think the idiot that sold it to me sold me a "K" tip, so I will definitely have to go back tomorrow and get a "B" tip.

A good one to use is ITAC freq's between towers or sites

 

[fyrfyter33]

as in 8iTAC 1-4 and 8iCall? So then, if I have control channels in there, I don't need the other trunked channels in the scanner at all?

 

[fmon]

as in 8iTAC 1-4 and 8iCall? So then, if I have control channels in there, I don't need the other trunked channels in the scanner at all?

Not in this scanner, the rest are useless. Also, program the CC's and Alts from one site in a group then the Itac then the next sites CC's and Alts. That way if a site changes the control, the same rotation will continue.

 

[fyrfyter33]

So put in the county cc's and alt's in a list, then the iTAC channels, then the city cc's and alt's, since the systems are cross patched, in case something should happen or change?

 

[fmon]

Exactly, whichever set you place in first, the scanner will acquire the active CC and work it until no no more TG activity in open mode or unlocked programmed TG activity in closed mode, then nearly skip to the FM conventional freq for a sample and if no activity on it, go directly to the next active CC and repeat the first step. The unused programmed Alts in Mot mode will be ignored by the active CC's but the same frequencies may be used as VC's, but not from those programmed in your setup.

Edit: I wouldn't mix the MARCS system with your local system though. However, a few talkgroups are likely listed in the County/City system and could be programmed if that is your interest..

 

[fyrfyter33]

I took some of your guys advice and became a donating member. With the info provided by this site and the people on it, it is easily worth $5, if not more.

 

[Voyager]

The scanner only looks at the first CC in each bank unless you put a conventional freq between them. If you but site 101 and 102 in the same bank it would only find site 101 uinles there was a conventional freq between them. To get win96 go here:
http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/

Here is more info on the 'trick' to track multiple sites in the same bank:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13495

Joe M.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Here is more info on the 'trick' to track multiple sites in the same bank:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13495

Joe M.

Thanks. That was most helpful. I ended up redoing some of what you guys recommended. I set both sets of control channels in each bank, using the iTAC channels in between the cc's and alt's for site 101 and site 102. It seems to be working well. I ended up with 5 separate banks, 1ea for County PD County FD City PD City FD and County Gov't/Roads. It seems to be working well, and after reading that article, I understand more now on how the scanner functions, in terms of multpile control channels from different sites in one bank.

Another question about Win96. I noticed in the weather tab that there was an area for SAME codes for NWS. I put in the ones in our area. If there is an activation of some type, will my scanner automatically, flip over to the SAME frequency, or is that something I need to set?

Also, I live in a valley. The signal isn't bad, but I did notice, that dependent upon where I am in my house, the signal is better on the upper floors, as opposed to the basement. Sometimes, the signal cuts in and out just a little when in the basement. I still can tell what is being said, but it may not be constant. Is this something that could be improved with a better antenna perhaps? I don't want to carry around a huge antenna, I am just wondering, if there is a better one that the stock one that comes with the scanner. I am open to suggestions.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Working on trying to get Airport and BooneCo into Win96 to put on scanner. Where do I put in PL tone, or will the scanner even do it? It is this system. http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=996 Thanks.

 

[Tom-H]

Is this something that could be improved with a better antenna perhaps? I don't want to carry around a huge antenna, I am just wondering, if there is a better one that the stock one that comes with the scanner. I am open to suggestions.

If you didn't already buy it, go back to RadioShack and pick up the 20-283 rubber duckie antenna that is designed for 800 mhz systems. IMHO, this is the best, and least expensive way, to improve 800 mhz reception on the 96.

 

[Al42]

Working on trying to get Airport and BooneCo into Win96 to put on scanner. Where do I put in PL tone, or will the scanner even do it? It is this system. http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=996 Thanks.

You'll receive the signals fine without the PL. With the PL you won't receive any other service using the same frequency. (Aircraft radio systems don't use PL.) PL limits what you receive, it doesn't allow you to receive.

 

[fyrfyter33]

Ok. Thanks. Got the 20-283 antenna as suggested and the right adaptaplug for my scanner. things work great. I put the same codes into the pro 96, but I guess I won't know if they work until something happens.