Just another dumb... looking for help

[scanabout]

Recently purchased Pro-106 along with programing cable and subscribing to this site. I'm by no means a novice when it come to PCs, auto-electric or mechanical but I'm truely in the dark when it comes to understanding hand held scanners. I researched enough to know buying a digital scanner was keeping current with today's technology but I don't quite get how to program this thing. Don't really have a good grasp on talk groups, trunking, "V" folders and the like.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. My home of residence is 32796 but I'm currently at my property in TN a few miles west of Chattanooga. Would like to know what's going on in both worlds.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[gmclam]

PRO-106 (PSR-500) way to go!

Welcome to RadioReference.com, you've found the best place to get help with this stuff.

Recently purchased Pro-106 along with programing cable and subscribing to this site.

Just getting the USB cable working is a big challenge for many people. I think GOOD step-by-step documentation totally is lacking from the manufacturers on this stuff. It is not you; most, if not all, of us had to go through these learning steps.

My suggestion is to get software to program the scanner. While it does not do it all for you, it makes the steps much easier. Personally I'd get WIN500 (www.starrsoft.com), but there are several out there to chose from. Read more about that scanner here, and you'll also find more links for things like programming software.

I researched enough to know buying a digital scanner was keeping current with today's technology but I don't quite get how to program this thing.

Arguably you have purchased one of the most difficult scanners out there. In order to monitor the most complex systems being used, it requires a complex device. Everything these days is computer driven, and computers are 'programming driven'. It's quite a dilemma.

I've been able to learn this stuff because I have learned along the way from crystal controlled, to programmable, to trunk trackers, etc. It is really tough to jump in to where we are now without lots of background. Certainly your computer/etc knowledge will help, but the radio aspects of things will likely be all new territory.

One way to approach this could be to get some software working (so you can read and write to the scanner), and then find someone in your area with the same scanner. They could share their scanner profile with you. You'd just upload that to the scanner and at least be listening. Then you can learn and customize while listening.

 

[scanabout]

GMCLAM - thanks for your reply. I agree that finding someone in my area with the same scanner would be most helpful and that's what I'll be working on when I get back to Florida. When time permits I'll go over some of the posts here to see what I can glean from them.

Mike

 

[ampulman]

Think of V-scanners as computer disk partitions. As such, you could store a backup of your 'working partition' on one VS, or a different operating system (channels and trunked systems for another area) on another, and so on.

Reading the WIKIs on trunked systems, etc., will give you a good grasp.

Amp

 

[Highpockets]

Recently purchased Pro-106 along with programing cable and subscribing to this site. I'm by no means a novice when it come to PCs, auto-electric or mechanical but I'm truely in the dark when it comes to understanding hand held scanners. I researched enough to know buying a digital scanner was keeping current with today's technology but I don't quite get how to program this thing. Don't really have a good grasp on talk groups, trunking, "V" folders and the like.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. My home of residence is 32796 but I'm currently at my property in TN a few miles west of Chattanooga. Would like to know what's going on in both worlds.

Thanks,

Mike

If you do decide to use Win500 software to program your scanner, here is a guide that will walk you through importing from RadioReference to the software for uploading to your scanner.

WIN500 - UtahRadio

 

[scanabout]

Think of V-scanners as computer disk partitions. As such, you could store a backup of your 'working partition' on one VS, or a different operating system (channels and trunked systems for another area) on another, and so on.

Reading the WIKIs on trunked systems, etc., will give you a good grasp.

Amp

Thanks Amp for describing "V" folders in terms I can understand. I'm sure in time I'll get myself educated on all this stuff just as I did with databases & spreadsheets - just the older I get the slower the brain absorbs....

Mike

 

[scanabout]

If you do decide to use Win500 software to program your scanner, here is a guide that will walk you through importing from RadioReference to the software for uploading to your scanner.

WIN500 - UtahRadio

Thanks Steve - I'll take a serious look at the Win500 sofware. I did purchase the ARC500 software - are they related?

Mike (a fellow VV)

 

[N8IAA]

Thanks Steve - I'll take a serious look at the Win500 sofware. I did purchase the ARC500 software - are they related?

Mike (a fellow VV)

No, they are designed by two different individuals. Win500 is from www.starrsoft . ARC500 is from butel software. Both program the GRE500/600 and the Pro-106/197 scanners. There is also PSREdit500. All of the software designers are here here on RR.
Larry

 

[Highpockets]

Thanks Steve - I'll take a serious look at the Win500 sofware. I did purchase the ARC500 software - are they related?

Mike (a fellow VV)

What you can do if your learning the scanner and software, Win500 has a 30 day free trial, use the Guide (Utah Wiki) to program what you want using Win500 and upload it to your scanner, then read the scanner with ARC500, then you can see the difference in the two, and make up your mind which one works best for you. (VV )