Help

[banjo130]

I just got a radio shack pro 163 and i can not figure out all this trunking.... i have programed in the 800mhz and put in all the talk groups that i want but it is nothing new all i hear is a bunch of griding on some channel's. The book isnt real clear on programming but i thought i had it but guess i dont ....could someone help me out here ???

 

[djbrane]

What talkgroups have you entered? If they are digital talkgroups, you will not receive anything but noise since the 163 is not a digital scanner.

 

[holeinace]

what type of systems are you trying to listen to? what departments?

 

[SCPD]

It sounds like you are trying to monitor a trunked system in conventional mode.

For an easier to read manual and a great overview of how everything works with that model scanner, check out this link.

Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual

It says it is for the Pro 96/97 series, but the same information applies to the Pro 163/164.

There you will learn how to place your scanner into trunk mode, enter the frequencies, and talkgroups. This is a very hand reference and I recommend you bookmark it in your browser.

 

[banjo130]

help

I would like to hear isp and i live in orange county and but i dont know how much they use safety net yet but i dont hear anyone talking on there.. the scaner says it is digital. I am new to the 800 I had a RS pro 2037 but never tried to get to 800 much. I will look at your input and thank you very much. any other input would be very helpful ...all the info that i programed with i got from this site for orange county

 

[djl998]

What system are you trying to monitor? If it's the Orange County talkgroups on SAFE-T, you won't be able to monitor them with a Pro-163 because they are all digital.

 

[banjo130]

i am confused i thought it was a digital scaner ....what to do now. i dunno where they are for sure this safe t is all new to me. how do i find out what they are on ?

 

[SCPD]

You will need one of these digital scanners to hear what you want
Radio Shack 2096 or 96 or 106 Uniden 996 or 396 GRE 500/600
The radio shack 163 will not work The PD/FD for Orange CO looks like they are on Safe T and are Digital and the 163 is NOT digital you can get into a digital scanner used/new from $200 on up to 600 hope that helps

Link to that page on RR Orange CO http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=751
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=933

List of Radio Shack scanner so you can read up and see the diffrence look for ones that do P25 Digital
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Radio_Shack_Scanners
Uniden
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Uniden_Scanners
GRE
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/GRE_Radios

 

[banjo130]

Ok going to take my pro 163 back...thanks for all the help. Now what is APCO 25 ? i want to get the right scaner this time.

 

[djl998]

i am confused i thought it was a digital scaner ....what to do now. i dunno where they are for sure this safe t is all new to me. how do i find out what they are on ?

The database page for Orange County has some VHF frequencies for fire and sheriff. I'd monitor those for a while and see if you hear anything. If not, then those agencies must be using SAFE-T. In that case, you'll need a different scanner that can monitor digital voice.

 

[djl998]

Ok going to take my pro 163 back...thanks for all the help. Now what is APCO 25 ? i want to get the right scaner this time.

Oops, didn't see this post. If you're sure the agencies you want to monitor aren't on VHF, you need one of the scanners mentioned by w8fcc.

Radio Shack: Pro-96, Pro-106
Uniden: BCT396T, BCT996T (or XT are the brand new models)
GRE: PSR-500 or PSR-600

 

[banjo130]

how about the pro 197, i dont see any of the other radio shack models on there site ..

 

[banjo130]

i dont know if i even need a digital scaner ....dont know if i am missing out or not. i never hear the ISP anymore

 

[djl998]

i dont know if i even need a digital scaner ....dont know if i am missing out or not. i never hear the ISP anymore

The 197 will work also. It's the base/mobile version of the 106. And ISP is digital as well.

 

[banjo130]

let me know if i am wrong but everyone will start useing this next year and i wont hear them at all after that is that right ?

 

[banjo130]

One More Question what is the differance between the pro 197 and the 2096. Other then the price, I found one for sale used. 2096 that is used very little.

 

[rdale]

let me know if i am wrong but everyone will start useing this next year and i wont hear them at all after that is that right ?

Everyone who? What will they start using?

 

[banjo130]

i was told that fire and police would no longer be on VHF sometime in 2011. they are supposed to be on SAFE T then ....but i am not sure that is right ...that is what i was woundering

 

[SCPD]

If you are wanting to listen to County Fire Police not sure on that one but one of your post's said ISP if it is ISP you want to hear they are on Safe T and you have to have a digital scanner to hear them.
ISP "Indiana State Police"