iSCAN Post-Release Discussion Thread

[Apache_UK]

Eeeewwww.... an AR1000 you DO enjoy painful programming don't you?

I've modified this one with a discriminator output so it spends all of it's time plugged into my laptop on one of two frequencies. It's one of those Rx's you need the instruction manual for every time you switch it on otherwise!

Midlands huh? I was just out there this summer in Nottingham. Had a fun time on the trains - my brother lives out in the Radcliffe on Trent neighborhood.

I'm the Welsh side of the midlands, 100 miles or so away from the Nottingham area. Did you enjoy the rain?

 

[DonS]

So, if you want to drill down to a specific talkgroup or frequency, you couldn't just tag them and save them to a playlist?

You do drill down to conventional frequencies and trunked talkgroups (you also have to select at least one site, if you haven't already imported any sites for that system).

The scanner has a menu-driven version of the RR DB's hierarchy:

States
  Agencies
    Categories
      Subcategories
        Frequencies
  Counties / Independent Cities
    Agencies
      Categories
        Subcategories
          Frequencies
    Categories
      Subcategories
        Frequencies
    Systems
      Sites
      Talkgroup Categories
        Talkgroups
  Systems
    Sites
    Talkgroup Categories
      Talkgroups

You drill down through the menus, selecting things to monitor. The selectable items are Subcategories, Frequencies, Systems, Sites, Talkgroup Categories, and Talkgroups. Selecting any item that has "child" items selects all of those children. For example, selecting the SAFE-T system will give you all 133 sites and all 620 analog talkgroups, within one "trunking system object".

Importing that entire SAFE-T system requires these steps:
1. Press MENU key to display main menu
2. Select "Browse Library". You're presented with a list of states.
3. Scroll down to and select Indiana. You're presented with the 3-item "Agencies / Counties / Systems" menu.
4. Scroll down to and select Systems (this shows all statewide systems in IN).
5. Press SEL key to select SAFE-T (the only item in the list).
6. Press MENU and select "Import Selected"
7. Select target playlists for talkgroups
8. Press MENU and select "Import Now"
9. Wait while scanner parses DB files and builds its run-time data files/structures.

If you only wanted a few Sites / Talkgroups, you wouldn't select the entire system in step 5. Instead, you'd drill into the system and select individual sites, categories, and/or talkgroups.

 

[DaveIN]

I didn't see it in the prerelease manual, but since it has I-Call and Radio ID display, will it also output control channel data via the PC/IF port? (Analog systems only of course) I don't see any evidence of a super-global settings menu, or the likes, in the narrative.

 

[DonS]

I didn't see it in the prerelease manual, but since it has I-Call and Radio ID display, will it also output control channel data via the PC/IF port? (Analog systems only of course) I don't see any evidence of a super-global settings menu, or the likes, in the narrative.

Yes, it be configured to dump CC data. (There are a few "Expert" items at the bottom of the main Settings menu).

 

[SCPD]

Yes, it be configured to dump CC data. (There are a few "Expert" items at the bottom of the main Settings menu).

Excellent. It would be nice if the PC/IF protocol provided a way to identify the model of radio.

 

[RadioDaze]

I think this Pro-107 is exciting in that this is the first novel concept that we've seen in a while, at least since the time scanners started becoming programmable via computer. (Aside from other advances that enabled us to monitor certain system types.)

 

[jamesa53]

Just got mine an hour ago. Went to store here in Terre Haute Indiana that had it in stock. The store got it in this past Thursday night. They only had one, and this is the first one here. This after I ordered it online. RS agreed to refund my money at the other store where I was picking it up. Regretably I have to go to the other store to get the refund. Apparently they do not usually refund a shipped item in the store, you have to send it back to the warehouse. Since this is an item they were planning to stock, this is why they are doing that.

It is Serial Number 199.

 

[jamesa53]

Some impressions of this scanner:

1. Audio quality is excellent......
2. Reception with EDACS and Motorola analog truned systems is GREAT. WX reception is excellent also.
3. It helps greatly if you are familiar with the RR database when browsing the library in the scanner. I cannot imagine someone who is not familiar with it to some extent being able to select sites and talkgroups for trunked systems. Probably new users will just import everything from the SD card.
4. It is a small size.
5. It has no belt clip.
6. It has a power cut off switch on the left side under a rubber tab labeled "Cut OFF" that comes shipped to OFF. The theory is that if you are not going to use the scanner for a long time you can set this to Off. You have to use a ball point pen or paperclip to set it because it is so small. You may go nuts trying to figure out why the scanner wont power up with charged NiMH batteries and the USB charging cable connected if this is set to OFF. I am sure many questions on this will be generated on the RS forum.
7. The RS programming software that comes with it is unlike any package I have seen. Working with the Indiana Project Safe T system presented challenges. Selecting the talkgroups is straightforward. There is no way to get a listing of the sites that you have imported that I can figure out, I have either imported all 132 sites or two sites. Neither the scanner nor the software lets me determine what sites are actually programmed into it. Again, maybe there is a way to do this but I can't figure it out.
8. The software does not allow you to import a file that you have saved on your computer, it must be saved on the SD card. Maybe there is a way to do this but I cannot figure it out. Might be able to use Windows Explorer to copy the data file to the hard drive, then copy it back onto the SD card.
9. I had read this, but the only way to save data to the SD Card is to remove it from the scanner. To do this you must remove the battery door and the batteries. Not a big deal but would be nice if you did not have to remove it to use the software, just connect the cable, like all the other scanners.
10. The manual that comes with it is adequate, however no explanation is offered about the backlight settings or when to use them.

To sum up, it is a very nice and small, almost shirt pocket size scanner that performs well.

 

[slatescan]

James how does it work on the anlog TGs on safe-T?

 

[DaveIN]

Well I'm sure it will only work on the analog talkgroups for SAFE-T, it's analog only.

 

[DaveIN]

Some impressions of this scanner:

To sum up, it is a very nice and small, almost shirt pocket size scanner that performs well.

Thanks for the info James. Anyone have some time to take pictures of the display?

 

[DaveIN]

Excellent. It would be nice if the PC/IF protocol provided a way to identify the model of radio.

Something odd about that Rick. Andy is able to use a generic setting for both the Uniden XT output and GRE/RS output and it works fine on Trunk88.

 

[jflattery]

Download Errors

Anyone getting download errors trying to update the library, it doesnt seem to connect to radioreferences database. Does radio refrence require any special sign up or anything.

 

[trido]

After you make check mark for project hoosier click the right arrow now you will see SITE you can turn on and off all Safet sites they are there.
Then same for talk groups all the analog groups will be checked for on.
Also all towers are checked on by default.

I sure like this scanner so far we hope for digital model in 2010.

 

[Michael-SATX]

It would be GREat if this new Pro-107 did "ESK" ... anyone know if it does LTR TRS narrow band ?
Yes, with no belt clip, I can see GRE or RS offer holsters and leather cases to carry and protect it !
Man, I thought the transition to the Pro-106 different ( love it now ) but the Pro-107 is VERY different.

 

[jamesa53]

Thanks for the info James. Anyone have some time to take pictures of the display?

I have taken about 10 pictures of the display, however even when I zip them they are too big to post on the site...................I guess I could use webhosting but havent had the time to do that.

 

[jamesa53]

James how does it work on the anlog TGs on safe-T?

It works very well. Here in Vigo County SAFE-T is digital for the most part but county fire is still analog, the reception has been excellent on these talkgroups.

 

[jamesa53]

After you make check mark for project hoosier click the right arrow now you will see SITE you can turn on and off all Safet sites they are there.
Then same for talk groups all the analog groups will be checked for on.
Also all towers are checked on by default.

I sure like this scanner so far we hope for digital model in 2010.

The problem for me is I believe I only checked two sites but the software says there are 132 sites in my radio but they are all unchecked. I dont know if the 132 shown in the software refers to the possible number of sites or the number of sites programmed. Its easy to determine this with the WIN packages by Don Starr, you can easily see them but with this software its hard to determine. Maybe someone has an idea.

 

[jamesa53]

Several pictures of the scanner are here, they include the box, SD Card, its size, comparison with the size of an iPhone, etc.

Picasa Web Albums - jamesa53 - iscanPICS

 

[KC5EIB]

Some impressions of this scanner:

1. Audio quality is excellent......
2. Reception with EDACS and Motorola analog truned systems is GREAT. WX reception is excellent also.
3. It helps greatly if you are familiar with the RR database when browsing the library in the scanner. I cannot imagine someone who is not familiar with it to some extent being able to select sites and talkgroups for trunked systems. Probably new users will just import everything from the SD card.
4. It is a small size.
5. It has no belt clip.
6. It has a power cut off switch on the left side under a rubber tab labeled "Cut OFF" that comes shipped to OFF. The theory is that if you are not going to use the scanner for a long time you can set this to Off. You have to use a ball point pen or paperclip to set it because it is so small. You may go nuts trying to figure out why the scanner wont power up with charged NiMH batteries and the USB charging cable connected if this is set to OFF. I am sure many questions on this will be generated on the RS forum.
7. The RS programming software that comes with it is unlike any package I have seen. Working with the Indiana Project Safe T system presented challenges. Selecting the talkgroups is straightforward. There is no way to get a listing of the sites that you have imported that I can figure out, I have either imported all 132 sites or two sites. Neither the scanner nor the software lets me determine what sites are actually programmed into it. Again, maybe there is a way to do this but I can't figure it out.
8. The software does not allow you to import a file that you have saved on your computer, it must be saved on the SD card. Maybe there is a way to do this but I cannot figure it out. Might be able to use Windows Explorer to copy the data file to the hard drive, then copy it back onto the SD card.
9. I had read this, but the only way to save data to the SD Card is to remove it from the scanner. To do this you must remove the battery door and the batteries. Not a big deal but would be nice if you did not have to remove it to use the software, just connect the cable, like all the other scanners.
10. The manual that comes with it is adequate, however no explanation is offered about the backlight settings or when to use them.

To sum up, it is a very nice and small, almost shirt pocket size scanner that performs well.

6 Can use finger nail to switch on or off

7 There is a learning curve for this issue

9 Can save changes made in the scanner to the SD card also.Go to Settings then to save changes

One this I do not like is the user can not save more than 1 configuration. Example, I want to save a file for my own scanner and I want to save another one for the store scanner on the same computer. I have not been able to do this yet with out using 2 SD cards but will keep trying.