how do i listen to the LRGVRRS? Been out of the scanning game for too long.
- Thread starter OhSixTJ
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Looking at the system in the database, it's a P25 Phase I system. None of the sites are tagged as simulcast, so any of the P25 trunking scanners should work. The most current Uniden models (325P2, 996P2, 436HP, 536HP, SDS100, SDS200, HP-2) can handle the system. These also handle P25 Phase II. The GATRRS system also covers some of that region, and is a P25 Phase II system, though at present, the listed talkgroups are still Phase I. At some point, those talkgroups (on GATRRS) might upgrade to Phase II. Or. perhaps, LRGVRRS might upgrade to Phase II. Some of the sites on GATRRS are simulcast, but at this point, none of them in your target area are noted as such.
If LRGVRRS remains Phase I, and if none of the sites covert to simulcast, then the older Whistler WS1040 (handheld) or WS1065 (base/mobile) should work. (As would their predecessor models, PSR500/-600, Pro-106, -651, -197, -652.) While these models can deal with P25 Phase I, they are not good for simulcast, and are prone to being overloaded by other nearby transmitters such as cell towers.
There are at least some free software programs that cover the Uniden models. FreeSCAN, though no longer supported, does work for the 325P2 & 996P2. For the x36HP and SDS series scanners, Uniden's Sentinel works. A different ersion of Sentinel handles the HP-2. There are paid software programs for these as well. There is no free programming software for the Whistler scanners, only versions that require a licensing fee.
Hopefully, someone more familiar with that area will chime in. From what location (city? county?) would you be monitoring from?
The software for the Whistler scanners and upgraded RS and GRE versions is a free download. With the TRX models and upgraded factory firmware in older versions, some simulcast systems or locations work. I am located where my factory upgraded RS and PSR-800 work as well as my SDS100 on simulcast, but other locations will vary.
I did not mention the 396xT or 996XT simply because they are discontinued. But if you can find one in good shape, indeed they would work well.
While there is free, downloadable, software for the Whistler/RadioShack/GRE database scanners, there is none for the WS1040, WS1065, and the related models, which are the ones I'm referring to.
Yes they in the clear, and in that area you will hear quite a bit of unencrypted radio traffic. Also program some conventional channels like Donna fire, Edinburg fire and Elsa fire. If using outdoor antenna there are several more you could hear.
memo124
Member
I'm currently using the TRX1 here in Edinburg and it works great for me.
I went wild and picked up the SDS100. It should arrive today.
I already listen to Edinburg FD on my ID-5100 but thanks for the other suggestions.
The SDS100 will work well for your local systems. Plus, it will also work well if you are in an area with simulcast sites, such as what you’ll encounter in the Corpus Christi area, or even farther north around San Antonio or Austin (or here in the DFW area if you get up this way).
If you have not done so, download & install Sentinel. When shipped, the database in the scanner (as well as Sentinel, when first installed) will be several years out of date. Once you install Sentinel, you can use it to update it's database, then send the updated details to the scanner.
Also note that, when first shipped, the only service types active (for public safety) are for Dispatch: Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, & Multi-Dispatch. You should also enable the Tac and Talk service types for these: Law Talk, Fire Tac, EMS Tac, etc.
There is an online, Easier to Read Manual, for both the SDS100, as well as Sentinel. In addition to multiple forum posts on various programming & operation questions on these scanners, there are a number of Wiki articles to help. And, there are a large number of videos on YouTube with specific step by step instructions shown.
K5MPH
Member
I am using a Pro-668 works well for this area just put in the zip code and you are off and running........
Well I got my SDS100 in and Wowzers this thing is a trip to understand. Think I’ve got it sorted out. I have a favorite list and enabled/disabled the channels I want to hear/not hear. I definitely need to go through the easy online manual and watch a couple of youtube vids to learn all of its capabilities but as of right now I’m hearing local traffic so not too bad…
After dealing with it for a while, you may have what has been called the "light bulb moment", when the pieces come together for you & you begin to understand what does, or does not, work.
Just remember that you can't kill the scanner with an error in programming, so don't be afraid to program it. At the worst, you'd simply just delete the problem lists & give it another try. For more specific issues, there's a lot of help here in the forums, in multiple threads regarding various issues, and people that can help you solve any problems that have you stumped.
Don't forget the multiple videos on YouTube either, Just enter your query & model number in the search box, and see what comes up.
One last point:
The SDS100 & SDS200 are different scanners than the 436HP & 536HP. But other than the simulcast capability of the SDS scanners, the only other differences are that you have filters on the SDS scanner, you can enter a site NAC (not required , but it can help in some cases), and the more detailed & customizable displays on the SDS scanners. However, the basic nuts & bolts of programming Favorites lists, systems, & departments, as well as using quick keys is exactly the same for all four scanners.
The "zip code programming" on the GRE/Whistler scanners (and the RadioShack labeled models) is different than Uniden's location based process. For the GRE/Whistler scanners, entering a zip code pulls the systems in the county where the code is located. If you were near a border, entering your zip will get what is in your county, but not what is a mile or two across the border in your neighboring county.
Uniden's location control, instead, uses the actual location (latitude & longitude) both for the person monitoring, as well as that of the systems in the area. If the ranges entered for the scanner's location overlap the range circle for the specific system's departments & sites, the system is included in the process, regardless of which county it is in.
If it works for you, in your location, that's fine for you. But it may not work as successfully for someone in another area.
K5MPH
Member
What would be a better way for the Pro-668 put in the county or multi countys....
Use the Library import on a county by county basis. You'll see the available frequencies, based on your selected categories (service types) for each county. If you used location control, even when using county (not zip), it will blindly import a lot of things you probbaly don't want, instead of letting you choose anything. For instance, it imports all of the statewide listings for TX DPS & TPWD, & TX Forest Service.
Instead, leave location off, and select by county. There, you can select which items you do want to import, for the various agencies in the area. You'd do county one time for conventional channels, then do the process again for trunked systems. Even though you're just doing one county, for systems like LRGVRRS or GATRRS, which are in more than one county, you'd see all of the sites & talkgroups for the system, not just your one county.
Just as a reference, I tried doing a zip code import for Dallas County. It pulls in a ton of conventional that do not apply here (like, again, the statewide listings for DPS & TPWD, among others), with no option to stop the train & select specifics. For trunked systems, it pulls in some of those in the area, but overlooks others. For example, it pulls in NTIRN, the newly expanded regional system that Dallas (city & county) are moving to. But it only pulls the sites for Dallas (Dallas Layers 1 & 2) and Irving. It ignores Grand Prairie's site (which covers both Dallas & Tarrant County), but pulls GPs talkgroups anyway. It overlooks Balch Springs system, and the Seagoville site on GMRS; these are also in Dallas County. I do have the current version of the database, and I used my zip code, which is a few miles southwest of downtown Dallas. Not exactly in the middle, but not near any of the county's borders.
CHHTX
Member
good call. I was just going to give my 2cts and say to just go ahead and spend the money on the SDS100/200. While you may not need it now, I like to always think about the high possibility that you could need it later. Or it could be said that you'll never wish you would have gotten the older, less functional models. But there's always the chance that you'll wish you would have went ahead and got more.
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