I'm a bit overwhelmed...Hopefully you all can help...

[djsnoble]

Greetings!

I'm so very glad to have stumbled upon this website. It has been a HUGE help with my scanning.

I've been a fan of scanning all of my life. I recall my childhood sitting with my mother and my grandfather listening to the scanner. So, it's always been a part of my life.

A few years back, I purchased a Pro 94. It served me very well over the years, but I've noticed recently the static and choppy reception has been unbearable. I did some research and I purchased the Pro 96 today. Obviously, these two units are two totally different devices, and frankly I'm a bit overwhelmed.

I downloaded Win96, which so far has been a fantastic application. Here is what I'm looking to do:

I live in the Suburbs, Elk Grove Village, and I work in the heart of the loop. So I'm looking to program frequencies into the unit that I can scan while I'm downtown, and other frequencies that I can scan when I'm local.

I loaded the frequencies that come preloaded with the unit, and so far that's been grand. Basically, I'm looking for help on frequency information, and settings.

I'd like to scan, Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect, Prospect Hts, and pretty much all the surrounding areas, including the state police. As someone who is very new to this style of scanning, Win96 is a bit confusing. For example, I don't know the difference between the options in the Rx mode, what should be selected for the frequencies. Then there is this separate box for Trunk Mode options, but again, I don't know what to set them to.

So, does anyone have a Pro 96 in my area? Where maybe you could send me your settings files?

I'm very confused. Please help.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[John_M]

First of all you picked up a damn nice scanner. I have been exactly where you are when I first got my Pro-96. There is a learning curve but once you learn you will soon realize just how easy the Pro-96
is to use. Win 96 makes it even easier. (I wish that I could read your post right now while I am responding so I could remember what you asked)
Go to RR database and look up the frequencies in your area. If you can't find all of what you are looking for then do a Yahoo search for frequencies in your area. There are also State by State Forums at RR, just go down to your State and read through for information on websites that are in your area. I will take a deeper look at your post and will respond with another post! :lol:

 

[djsnoble]

Excellent!

Thanks for the starting advice! I look forward to reading more!

 

[John_M]

In the Rx section you can select between: AM, FM, Mot, Edacs,CT,
and DC. You will want to select FM for all frequencies entered except for
the airbands which are AM. If you want to enter a CTCSS tone or a DTCSS
tone you will have to select the Rx mode CT or DC and enter the tone.
For Edacs Trunked systems and Mot trunked systems you have to select
either Edacs or Mot. The only Trunked system I have programmed is a Motorola Type II Digital/Analog system. These systems are the easiest systems to program.

For programming Edacs Trunked Systems and other Motorola Trunked Systems it is best for you to ask a specific programming question.
There are far more experienced trunked system scanner programmers
here at RR that can answer your questions! :lol:

 

[djsnoble]

Thanks!

Thank you very much! I see in the RR database that it lists certain modes. If I send a donation, will I be able to use the automated import with Win96?

 

[John_M]

Yes, all kinds of extra scanner info there also. :lol:

 

[fmon]

Re: Thanks!

Thank you very much! I see in the RR database that it lists certain modes. If I send a donation, will I be able to use the automated import with Win96?

Exactly, make the donation and Win96 really comes to life for trunking systems. Conventionals you will still need to copy paste. BTW, the help file works well in Win96.

 

[djsnoble]

Great!

I donated a few bucks and so far I'm VERY pleased! This is great!

 

[N9JIG]

You can also join the CARMA Yahoo list and download the various files for the area. We have all the info on NWCD and the other area systems. I think there may be a few Win96 files for the area there.

If you are familiar with YahooGroups, the Files Sections at the CARMA group are chock full of good info.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/carmachicago/
http://www.carmachicago.com

 

[chgomonitor]

Bank Suggestions

Bank 0 - Your home bank for the NW burbs. Several of the towns you mention - Elk Grove, Mt. Prospect, Prospect Hts, Arlington Heights, etc are all dispatched by an Agency called "Northwest Central Dispatch". Most Police and some fire activity is dispatched by them on an 800 Mhz Apco25 digital trunked system. Actually, there are both analog and digital talk groups on this system, but that shouldn't effect you too much. The NWCD system will be the core of your bank one listening, so get good info to set it up. CARMA at Yahoogroups has an excellent, detailed file available.

In this same bank you can also program in other non-NWCD / non- trunked systems and freqs of local interest. I'd also include some common statewide aid and operations frequencies like ISPERN (155.475) and IFERN (154.265), MERCI400 (155.400), Fireground (153.830), etc. Some of the NWCD dispatch towns also have conventional freqs they work on themseleves, like Prospect Hts (155.115) and some use RED Center for their fire dispatch, another combined dispatch center. Again, CARMA has a very helpful file.

In the next bank (one?) I'd program in the city of Chicago freqs and system I'd want to listen to downtown.

I might use another banks for stuff to listen to while in transit.

I'd use a separate bank for the Illinois State Police, which is currently running a GE-EDACS trunked system, as well as some conventional freqs and systems.

I'd create a bank set aside for major fires and perhaps a bank for federal and tactical enforcement listening. How about a bank for listening to OHare air traffic and operations? How about banks for neighboring counties or a bank for wider area coverage listening when the mood hits? Maybe a specialized bank for one or more particular services like amateur radio, railroads, medical systems, marine band? I sometimes set up a bank with only fire and medical systems. Drive the tollways much? A tollway only bank is very handy.

In as busy a listening environment as this is, advance planning prior to programming is really very helpful. My suggestion, plan your banks with care. They not only organize your listening habits but help to sort out the thousands of systems up and running in Chicagoland. Think listening strategies and organize accordingly. Most folks separate banks either by geographic area or by service, or both.

 

[chgomonitor]

Elk Grove and Neighbors

Elk Grove - Police & Fire on NWCD Digital Trunked. Park District on 151.415 - CTCSS Tone (127.3). Elk Grove Township Fire covers some peripheral areas and dispatches on 154.205.

Itasca - Police 471.1875 (146.2) 200 series units. Fire 154.310 800's series. Public Works and PD Tac on 155.805 (DCS code 732). I suspect the PD makes use of several other Tac channels.

Ned Brown Forest Preserves & Unincorporated areas. Cook County Sheriff mostly on Band 1 - 155.535 (CTCSS-107.2). But they cover a huge area here.

Schaumburg - operates their own 800 Mhz analog motorola trunked system. 860.9625 859.9625 857.9625 859.7375 859.2125. Police & Fire. There's a ton of other stuff to listen to in the area with Woodfield and all the malls, etc.

Hoffman Estates / Streamwood. Dispatched by Northwest Central, but on a separate motorola analog trunked 800 Mhz system. 855.7125 857.2125 855.4625 859.2625. Police & Fire.

Rolling Meadows - Police 860.2125 (CTCSS-127.3). For car to car try 155.865, 156.150 and 155.130. Fire is on 154.205.

Mount Propect - Police, Fire and most local government services are all on the Northwest Central Dispatch 800 Mhz Motorola digital astro trunked system. There's a lot to NWCD listening, but the freqs: 866.0875 868.0750 866.5375 866.7875 856.7125 866.8375 867.3125 868.7500. The park district is still on 151.355 (CTCSS-100.0).

Arlington Heights - also NWCD digital trunked

Prospect Heights - Police on NWCD digital trunked, Fire by Red Center, try the west repeater channel - 153.215. You'll also hear about a dozen other burbs FD's here. Prospect Hts PD and Palwaukee trucks are on 155.115 (CTCSS-107.2)

Des Plaines and Park Ridge are dispatched from a mutual center, which also dispatches police for Niles and Morton Grove. Des Plaines PD is on 155.745 (CTCSS-118.8). Park Ridge PD is on 470.4875. Most fire ops are on 154.340. Niles and Morton Grove PD's are on 470.7125 (CTCSS-192.8), their Fire is done by RED Center.

Don't even ask about OHare, LOL. There's several hundred active systems to listen to there alone, it's a like big city unto itself. Try radioref or the CARMA guide.

Everything above is in FM mode. You can ignore the CTCSS tones if you want, though they do better targeted listening and reduce interference problems. I think each trunked system (the 2 NWCD systems and Schaumburg) each need to be in their own separate bank - so you may want to ignore Schaumburg and Hoffman/Streamwood for now. But I'd encourage you to explore the NWCD digital trunked system. Your local town is on it. It will put your pro-96 to work for you since it's both trunked and digital and it's a very busy, active system with many well defined talk groups, a real system structure and some 'depth".

And just think, we haven't even touched the state police yet, or DuPage county, or Lake County, or DuComm, or Chicago, or the north burbs, or aviation, or railroads, or...

And guess what? In a year or two or three - most of the 800 Mhz stuff will be changing! Isn't this hobby fun? My advice - join up with the CARMA crew. You are in a very dense listening environment and will have many questions and need much assistance. Happy Scanning! - Ted

 

[chgomonitor]

Elk Grove and Neighbors

Elk Grove - Police & Fire on NWCD Digital Trunked. Park District on 151.415 - CTCSS Tone (127.3). Elk Grove Township Fire covers some peripheral areas and dispatches on 154.205.

Itasca - Police 471.1875 (146.2) 200 series units. Fire 154.310 800's series. Public Works and PD Tac on 155.805 (DCS code 732). I suspect the PD makes use of several other Tac channels.

Ned Brown Forest Preserves & Unincorporated areas. Cook County Sheriff mostly on Band 1 - 155.535 (CTCSS-107.2). But they cover a huge area here.

Schaumburg - operates their own 800 Mhz analog motorola trunked system. 860.9625 859.9625 857.9625 859.7375 859.2125. Police & Fire. There's a ton of other stuff to listen to in the area with Woodfield and all the malls, etc.

Hoffman Estates / Streamwood. Dispatched by Northwest Central, but on a separate motorola analog trunked 800 Mhz system. 855.7125 857.2125 855.4625 859.2625. Police & Fire.

Rolling Meadows - Police 860.2125 (CTCSS-127.3). For car to car try 155.865, 156.150 and 155.130. Fire is on 154.205.

Mount Propect - Police, Fire and most local government services are all on the Northwest Central Dispatch 800 Mhz Motorola digital astro trunked system. There's a lot to NWCD listening, but the freqs: 866.0875 868.0750 866.5375 866.7875 856.7125 866.8375 867.3125 868.7500. The park district is still on 151.355 (CTCSS-100.0).

Arlington Heights - also NWCD digital trunked

Prospect Heights - Police on NWCD digital trunked, Fire by Red Center, try the west repeater channel - 153.215. You'll also hear about a dozen other burbs FD's here. Prospect Hts PD and Palwaukee trucks are on 155.115 (CTCSS-107.2)

Des Plaines and Park Ridge are dispatched from a mutual center, which also dispatches police for Niles and Morton Grove. Des Plaines PD is on 155.745 (CTCSS-118.8). Park Ridge PD is on 470.4875. Most fire ops are on 154.340. Niles and Morton Grove PD's are on 470.7125 (CTCSS-192.8), their Fire is done by RED Center.

Don't even ask about OHare, LOL. There's several hundred active systems to listen to there alone, it's a like big city unto itself. Try radioref or the CARMA guide.

Everything above is in FM mode. You can ignore the CTCSS tones if you want, though they do better targeted listening and reduce interference problems. I think each trunked system (the 2 NWCD systems and Schaumburg) each need to be in their own separate bank - so you may want to ignore Schaumburg and Hoffman/Streamwood for now. But I'd encourage you to explore the NWCD digital trunked system. Your local town is on it. It will put your pro-96 to work for you since it's both trunked and digital and it's a very busy, active system with many well defined talk groups, a real system structure and some 'depth".

And just think, we haven't even touched the state police yet, or DuPage county, or Lake County, or DuComm, or Chicago, or the north burbs, or aviation, or railroads, or...

And guess what? In a year or two or three - most of the 800 Mhz stuff will be changing! Isn't this hobby fun? My advice - join up with the CARMA crew. You are in a very dense listening environment and will have many questions and need much assistance. Happy Scanning! - Ted

 

[djsnoble]

WOW!

Wow Ted! Those were come amazing posts! Thank you so very much! I am looking forward to listening to all of those banks!

THANK YOU AGAIN!
David