Help
is it worth me purchasing some good software such as ARC or proscan? If so what do you recommend?
I am trying to load the state of South Dakota System, below is the link.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=2315
below is the way I programmed the scanner initially. I have loaded some things with freescan, but only analog stuff.
Hit the Menu button, then go to
Program System > New System > MOT> VHF Band
(note: select VHF Band, NOT P25 for the system type, the state system
does not have a P25 control channel)
Then go to
Edit Sys Option > Set Quick Key
Assign the system a quick key
Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 1
Enter 155.415 for the base freq, 15.0 for the step, 380 for the offset
Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 2
Enter 157.2 for the base freq, 12.5 for the step, 436 for the offset
Edit Sys Option > Edit Band Plan > Band Plan 3
Enter 157.47 for the base freq, 15.0 for the step, 454 for the offset
The only thing left to do is is enter the frequencies. There are 2
schools of thought on how to do this. You could enter the control
channel frequencies for every site in the state. The advantage to that
is that you could take the scanner anywhere in the state and it would
pick up a local control channel and start scanning away. Personally, I
prefer to program each site as a separate "system", with a separate
quick key assigned for each site. That way, I can hear numerous sites
at the same time.
To do it the second way, all you need to do is enter the control channel
frequencies for the one particular site you're trying to program.
Set Frequencies > New Frequency
For the Sturgis site, enter 158.58 and 157.95
Now, if you hit the scan key, it should lock onto the active control
channel. If you make sure the system is in ID Search mode rather than
ID Scan mode, talkgroup IDs should start popping up and you should start
hearing things. When talkgroup ID numbers pop up, look them up on the
talkgroup list at radioreference.com, and you'll know what channel
you're hearing.
We have not programmed any talkgroup IDs, but the way I recommend
monitoring the system, that's not really a problem. If you stay in ID
Search mode, you'll hear every talkgroup that comes across the tower. I
think this is a better way of monitoring than using ID Scan mode,
because ID Scan mode ignores any talkgroup IDs that haven't been
programmed in. There are still a lot of talkgroups that haven't been
identified by the general scanning public yet, and therefore aren't
listed on radioreference.com. You'll miss these if you use ID Scan mode.
The problem is, you'll also pick up annoying talkgroups in ID Search
mode (AIB, DOT, transit buses, PBS, etc.) Just lock these out as they
come up.
That's the easiest way to get going. Just repeat the above steps for
every site you want to program. I'd also recommend changing the hold
time from 2 to 0.