Is there an easier way to lock out DTRS Control channels other than the menu?

[David628]

Good afternoon everyone,

Background story: I have a CSP group in my 325P2 programed with all the DTRS control channels (CC's) for all the towers listed on the statewide DTRS in Colorado. The reason is because I use this unit in a mobile capacity (sometimes)to monitor the state patrol (CSP) TG's while traveling within Colorado. The set up idea is that as I drive throughout the state the 325P2 locks on to the CC/tower closet to my location until I'm out of range, at which time it then grabs the next/closest CC/tower that is within my range as I'm driving. This works great great in 90 percent of the cases until I get into an area where several towers are "close" and the specific CC/tower that it locks onto is only used as a secondary, backup or overflow (or what ever its called) for CSP and nothing from the CSP is normally heard on that tower.

Now here's the question: If I can avoid it; I don't want to have to stop on the side of of a busy highway just to go into the menu to perform a CC lockout when one of these secondary (to CSP) CC channels locks in. I also don't want to be manipulating radio menus while driving. Is there a faster way, maybe a "function" key press and "another key" press or two that can quickly lock a CC that its locked on to without accessing the site menu to do this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ka3aaa]

did you read the owners manual, its in there.

 

[David628]

did you read the owners manual, its in there.

Yes, I did.

Listed on Pg 80 it states to "To lock out a conventional system/trunked site/search while receiving the system/ site/search quickly press E/yes then L/O once to temporary lock out. Quickly press L/O twice to lock out." http://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD325P2om.pdf

However that procedure doesn't seem to work for me and doesn't lock out the control channel. So, if something works for you can you share the steps that work?

Edit to add: Page 84 states "LOCKING/UNLOCKING SYSTEMS/SITES/SEARCHES
With the advent of multi-site trunking, you can no longer lockout a trunking system. You have to lockout the site(s) assigned to the system. You can still lockout conventional systems and searches the same way. Also, with the ability now to assign quick keys the searches you can turn them off and on or lockout/unlock them just like conventional systems and trunked sites.
Remember, unlocking or locking out a system/site/search is not the same thing as enabling/disabling it (turning the quick key on or off).
To Lock out a Conventional System/Trunked Site/Search in Scan Mode hold on any channel/frequency in the system/site/search, press Func then L/O to toggle ‘Unlocked’, ‘Temporary L/O’, or ‘Lockout’. Press Hold to resume."

But doing so temporarily locks out the entire system (i.e. all control channel frequencies in the site instead of just the individual one i want to lock out).

Im just searching for a way to quickly, while driving, temporarily (or permeant) lock out just one CC frequency in the site of say 100 control channels in that specific site and not lock out all of them.

Im not even sure this will be possible and thats why I asked the question to see if someone had a way of doing this without having to navigate the full-up menu to get to each site control channel frequency.

 

[trunker]

It sounds like you have all your control channels in 1 site in 1 system. In that case, pressing func then L/O will lock out that site, thus locking out the whole system.
You can't lock out control channels, only sites that contain the control channels. If you put the control channels for each tower into separate sites, the scanner will simply go to the next site if nothing is there and you shouldn't have to worry about locking anything out. Don't worry about assigning QKs to the sites and it will still scan them all.
If it does get stuck on a site, then you can lock out just that site.
Also, with all the control channels in 1 site, the scanner will just stay on the strongest control channel until it hears something (or you go out of range). With multiple sites, if the scanner hears nothing on one site, it will go to the next site to try to hear something else (on another site that may be in range).

 

[dougjgray]

I don't have a 325 but if it can use the GPS and location control that is the best way to switch to different sites when you are on the road and covering a large area

 

[David628]

It sounds like you have all your control channels in 1 site in 1 system. In that case, pressing func then L/O will lock out that site, thus locking out the whole system.
You can't lock out control channels, only sites that contain the control channels.

Yes there all in one site as you indicated above. What you stated above is what I initially thought but it never hurts to ask! I really appreciate your reply back its very helpful.

I don't have a 325 but if it can use the GPS and location control that is the best way to switch to different sites when you are on the road and covering a large area

Yes, I agree. I do however use the SDS100 also with the GPS specifically for that purpose. I just acquired the BCD325P2 for cheap and thought it might work as a simple backup for traveling to monitor just the state, but it appears I'll have to manually lock out the troublesome CC frequencies as I stumble on them along the way.

Edit: BTW one of the trouble sites is the site "Swank" ( Swank Site Details (State of Colorado DTRS) ) which seems to be right in the middle of Cheyenne Mountain and Douglas South that it locks on to every single time and won't budge lol. I never hear CSP on Swank site. Ive locked that one out by the way.

Thanks guys!

 

[tvengr]

For covering a large area such as Colorado, GPS scanning would be the easiest. Another alternative is to assign the sites for each county to a different quick key. Just have a list of the county quick keys and enable the sites for each county as you travel.

 

[trunker]

...Another alternative is to assign the sites for each county to a different quick key. Just have a list of the county quick keys and enable the sites for each county as you travel.

Or QKs for just a few general areas you can remember i.e. west side of the 'Tunnel', Floyd Hill, Denver Metro, may as well be in Nebraska, etc.
That would cut down the number of dead sites the scanner has to go through to get to a good site.
Too many QKs may give you the same problem you had in your first post.

 

[jonwienke]

Site programming should ALWAYS reflect physical sites. Putting all frequencies in one site makes it impossible to partially disable things, and completely borks GPS scanning. You either scan everything or nothing. And for systems that use LCNs, programming everything in one site means when a call is heard on the control channel, the scanner will go to the wrong voice channel freq and you'll miss most or all voice traffic.

 

[ka3aaa]

press hold to stop scanning on the annoying channel, press lock out twice in rapid succession, that will lock out the channel you don't want to listen to, press scan again.

 

[jonwienke]

That works on standalone frequencies, but not programmed trunk system sites.

 

[ka3aaa]

thats funny because i do it all the time on trunked systems.