How To Service Search

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UPMan

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I've seen several posts lately that the BCD436HP and BCD536HP don't have service search. Actually, they have the same functionality as service search, implemented a bit differently. Of course, for Police, Fire, etc, we are able to be very specific based on the data provided by RadioReference. The actual "bands" used in previous models resulted in a mix of business, public safety, public works, etc. (i.e. "police" service search is basically useless on those older models, as they rarely actually result in your hearing any police activity). So, you simply put in your location and tell the scanner you want to monitor LAW DISPATCH, LAW TALK, and or LAW TACTICAL to hear police activity.

The bands most people speak of as missing, though are the railroad, air, gmrs/frs, and similar searches. These are in the scanner, as they are in the RadioReference database. To turn them on, you turn on the appropriate nationwide systems, and enable the appropriate service types.

To get to the nationwide settings: MENU --> Set Scan Selection --> Set Nationwide Systems, then turn on the desired channels, which include:

Air Shows
Amateur Radio
American Red Cross
Bureau of ATF
CB
CAP
Coast Guard
Common Aviation
Common Business
Common Federal
Common Military
Customs and Border Protection
Environment Canada
FRS
Federal Disaster
GMRS
General Public Use
Immigration and Customs
Interoperability
Itinerant Business
Marine Channels
MURS
National Weather Service
National Incident Radio Service
Public Safety
Railroads
Wireless Microphones

Want to see what comprises each? Check out the links here: RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference Database


Something missing? Submit it to RadioReference and it will be included in future database updates.
 

AC2OY

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Ok Paul I think I get you on this but how do you limit it? Is that done by say toggle down the range setting to let's say 10 miles? Also when I do your walk through I was prompted to turn on the full database. What if I don't want to hear the full database? I then need to do some radical editing?
 

Voyager

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One option is to use two FLs I posted to the BCD436HP list FILES section that effectively emulate the older Service Search options on legacy scanners. In essence, it's a scan of every frequency in the various services. There are two since each is nearly at the size limit of the FLs in the HP series (HP-x or BCDx36HP).

The lists still need a bit of tweaking, but are very useable as-is.

One contains:
AIR
Business
CB
FM Broadcast
FRS-GMRS-Itinerant-MURS
HAM
MARINE
Public Safety
RAILROAD

And the second contains:
Federal
MilAir
T-band Segments

Downloads:
<<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BCD436HP/files/ServiceSearch.hpe>>
<<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BCD436HP/files/ServiceSearch2-Fed.hpe>>

Import the HPE files into new FLs.

I find it much easier to find over the full dB, too, as they are all in one place.
(well, two places)

I also believe these may be more comprehensive in some aspects. For example, the HAM search contains all ham frequencies while the full dB only contains common nationwide frequencies such as the simplex frequencies. Yes, there are SSB segments included at present - that will be part of the tweaking that will continue this week.
 
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gibson135

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Hello,

Thanks for the downloads. They certainly make most of this easier and have much of what I am looking for at the moment. I am having a problem with it though. I download this and load it to the scanner. If I only have this list selected, there is "NOTHING TO SCAN". If I understand correctly you need to have the Nationwide Systems enabled. But then when I do that, many more channels come up.

One note: Using Sentinel I disabled most of the frequencies but hand-held devices (Walkie Talkies, HAM, CBs) but am still getting signals from local Ambulances, Public Safety, etc.

The only lists selected to be used in SELECT LISTS TO MONITOR are the full database and CB radio.

To a degree, I see using the full database would load everything, but if that's the case, how do you possible only use the channels in one when you have to have FULL DATABASE enabled?

Thanks!
Jim
 

Voyager

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You can AVOID the Systems/Departments/Channels you don't want to hear.
You also may be able to use the RANGE setting to stop hearing distant users.
Last, you can use the Service Types to select the services you want to hear.

Personally, I prefer copying the full dB data to a FL, then customizing it to what I want to hear by deleting what I don't want.
 

gibson135

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I sort of get it. But for example, the FRS-GMRS..etc channels are open in the list I made that has those channels, but when scanning they're not being covered. What is missing? What Nationwide system is that? Does one of the Nationwide systems have to be on for that? And if that Nationwide system is on, does that mean every channel in that system will not be enabled?

Thanks,

Jim
 

phask

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What is the service type? Ensure that service type is enabled.

You say they are OPEN - no idea what you mean/
 

gibson135

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So that's one thing I wondering- what service type the GMRS radios/Walkie Talkies are considered.

OPEN meaning enabled, not locked-out.
 

phask

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It was answered - other, but for future reference - when you make the list, one of the fields is service type. You need to know, and know how to check.


So that's one thing I wondering- what service type the GMRS radios/Walkie Talkies are considered.

OPEN meaning enabled, not locked-out.
 
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