How to scan/monitor several departments simultaneously on SDS100?

[fredlorrain]

I have programmed this SDS100 with my county systems for 2 cities. There is some overlap during busy season, so ideally I'd like to be able to scan both simultaneously.
My favorites list has 2 entries, one "PA" for one city and the other "Corpus" for the other. I have them both marked "On" in "select lists to monitor"
The PA list includes Fire and PD, the Corpus list has 4 entries for PD. I can't figure out how to make it so they are all being scanned, or even to manually switch between them. It's erratic, sometimes I can use the soft keys (channel usually) and turn the MF knob and scroll between cities, so I can see that I'm monitoring the second agency on my list, but I've never seen it scan those. Many times I can't switch between cities at all. I have assigned quick keys to both, and can toggle them on and off, but I have no indication I'm scanning the Corpus channels. Is it possible to have it scan all the channels on my lists? How will I know that it's doing so? The default behavior when I turn it on is it scans between PA fire and PD, the display is divided into 3 horizontal zones, the top shows the county name and the favorites list name in smaller letters, below it shows "Nueces County-Port Aransas", below that is shows "scanning" and the alternating frequencies. Is it simply because there is no activity on the Corpus bands that I never see any indication that it's scanning those frequencies? I don't get it. Any tips will be appreciated.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums, you are aware that your county now operates on a P25 Phase-II trunked radio system, correct? Be sure all service types in the "Tag" column of the RRDB are turned on otherwise the scanner will omit those objects/talkgroups during a scan. Talkgroups listed as mode "TE" are fully encrypted and therefore cannot be scanned.

Coastal Bend Regional Interoperability Network Project 25 Phase II

The PA list includes Fire and PD, the Corpus list has 4 entries for PD.

Based on what you described here it sounds like you're trying to scan the VHF & UHF conventional channels listed for both cities? They may no longer be used or only used as back up so that's likely why you aren't hearing any activity there. You should be scanning the trunked radio system listed above

 

[jtwalker]

Welcome to the RR forums, you are aware that your county now operates on a P25 Phase-II trunked radio system, correct? Be sure all service types in the "Tag" column of the RRDB are turned on otherwise the scanner will omit those objects/talkgroups during a scan. Talkgroups listed as mode "TE" are fully encrypted and therefore cannot be scanned.

Coastal Bend Regional Interoperability Network Project 25 Phase II

Based on what you described here it sounds like you're trying to scan the VHF & UHF conventional channels listed for both cities? They may no longer be used or only used as back up. You should be scanning the trunked radio system listed above

I see this system has five different system NACs. Does this create any oddities in how you set up the system in an x36 or SDS scanner?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I see this system has five different system NACs. Does this create any oddities in how you set up the system in an x36 or SDS scanner?

Never encountered that with anything I scan so can't say for sure.

 

[jtwalker]

Never encountered that with anything I scan so can't say for sure.

I have not either and was just curious.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I see this system has five different system NACs. Does this create any oddities in how you set up the system in an x36 or SDS scanner?

I would program it with the NAC wildcard on a Unication G4. It's been too long since I had an SDS, can it handle a wildcard?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I would program it with the NAC wildcard on a Unication G4. It's been too long since I had an SDS, can it handle a wildcard?

Sys IDs aren't programmable on the x36s or SDS so default operation is to search. For site NAC you would just set it to ignore site NAC, unless you have another trunked system within range that uses one or more of the same frequencies then it'd be best to set site NAC
Site NAC Operation

 

[N0ZQR]

I have been here for two months (January – February) and the only way that I have been able to make it work, 2 (two) radios!

Ron

 

[Hit_Factor]

... 2 (two) radios!

Ron

That's the best way to handle 2 radios. Too much overhead switching between systems.

 

[fredlorrain]

Welcome to the RR forums, you are aware that your county now operates on a P25 Phase-II trunked radio system, correct? Be sure all service types in the "Tag" column of the RRDB are turned on otherwise the scanner will omit those objects/talkgroups during a scan. Talkgroups listed as mode "TE" are fully encrypted and therefore cannot be scanned.

Coastal Bend Regional Interoperability Network Project 25 Phase II

Based on what you described here it sounds like you're trying to scan the VHF & UHF conventional channels listed for both cities? They may no longer be used or only used as back up so that's likely why you aren't hearing any activity there. You should be scanning the trunked radio system listed above

I'm scanning trunked P25 systems, no conventional, they all made the switch some time ago, the Corpus fall-back may be conventional, but I'm not worried about that one.

 

[fredlorrain]

I have been here for two months (January – February) and the only way that I have been able to make it work, 2 (two) radios!

Ron

Thanks, that makes sense, a bit pricey perhaps.

 

[dmfalk]

I would program it with the NAC wildcard on a Unication G4. It's been too long since I had an SDS, can it handle a wildcard?

NAC set to "Search".

 

[dmfalk]

I have programmed this SDS100 with my county systems for 2 cities. There is some overlap during busy season, so ideally I'd like to be able to scan both simultaneously.
My favorites list has 2 entries, one "PA" for one city and the other "Corpus" for the other. I have them both marked "On" in "select lists to monitor"
The PA list includes Fire and PD, the Corpus list has 4 entries for PD. I can't figure out how to make it so they are all being scanned, or even to manually switch between them. It's erratic, sometimes I can use the soft keys (channel usually) and turn the MF knob and scroll between cities, so I can see that I'm monitoring the second agency on my list, but I've never seen it scan those. Many times I can't switch between cities at all. I have assigned quick keys to both, and can toggle them on and off, but I have no indication I'm scanning the Corpus channels. Is it possible to have it scan all the channels on my lists? How will I know that it's doing so? The default behavior when I turn it on is it scans between PA fire and PD, the display is divided into 3 horizontal zones, the top shows the county name and the favorites list name in smaller letters, below it shows "Nueces County-Port Aransas", below that is shows "scanning" and the alternating frequencies. Is it simply because there is no activity on the Corpus bands that I never see any indication that it's scanning those frequencies? I don't get it. Any tips will be appreciated.

Set your "PA" and "Corpus" as two separate Favourites Lists, and select both of them in Set Scan Selection > Select Lists To Monitor.

This can also allow each to be monitored separately.

 

[mc48]

I'm not sure why you see frequencies scanning unless you did not program this as a trunked system, you should see ID scanning.
You need to start over and program this as a trunked system as Whiskey said.
Monroe County is set up like this and you can split up the system into two (or more) groups with the Dept Q-keys. I use NAC on the system and only use the site nearest me. You may not receive all the traffic if the site you monitor is not associated with some depts. If you toggle on Corpus Cristy, you may need to have a site turn on for it as well as the TG's. the same would apply for PA. Some departments may be associated with all the sites while others such as DPW may only associate with the local site. Remember fewer sites is better than trying to monitor them all.
You do this all-in-one favorite list and one system and simply split with Dept. Q-keys.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Set your "PA" and "Corpus" as two separate Favourites Lists

They utilize the same trunked system, this wouldn't make any sense. If anything the OP could assign two dept quick keys. But even that wouldn't be necessary given the fact that the OP wants to monitor both depts at the same time