ST-Bob
Member
The new Uniden HomePatrol scanner relies heavily on the RR database's geo-tags for proper operation. Since geo-tagging is relatively new (from what I've read) there seems to be a lot of defaulted data in many of the database records which is apparently aimed a giving the HomePatrol some sort of a default fall-back position and range which assures reception of the most possible frequencies. This stop-gap measure, however, reduces the ease of use of this (advertised as super-simple) scanner because it selects hundreds or thousands of frequencies instead of paring them down to the ones local to the city, zip code or latitude/longitude as it was designed to work.
To help fix this problem I've taken it upon myself to try to assist in determining the proper geo-tag information which results in the most selective operation of the HomePatrol and other similar scanners down the road. I travel throughout New England almost daily in my job so have ample opportunity to test and verify these settings as well as suffer the problems which occur when the data is incorrect or at default (fall-back) settings. Since the only way to get the data out of the scanner is to use 3rd party software such as Butel's ARC-Patrol, I have what looks like a very messy list of data for the areas I've worked on. It's not really "messy" but it could be difficult or impossible to submit using the traditional RR data submission text-box. Here's an example of a cut-and-paste from an Excel spreadsheet:
The important lines are the ones with the agency name (Community Name) which contains the latitude, longitude and radius of intended coverage (just enclosing the municipal boundaries). The rest is just a duplicate of the existing data already in the RR database for frequencies, tones etc. along with some HomePatrol-specific coding indicating avoid options and service types etc.
Can any of you help with the best way of submitting this info in a way that can easily be input by administrators? Should I submit only the agency information lines? Should I pare it down further by eliminating some columns which do not directly relate to the data needing to be changed? What say you?
Thanks
Bob Peloquin
Worcester, MA
To help fix this problem I've taken it upon myself to try to assist in determining the proper geo-tag information which results in the most selective operation of the HomePatrol and other similar scanners down the road. I travel throughout New England almost daily in my job so have ample opportunity to test and verify these settings as well as suffer the problems which occur when the data is incorrect or at default (fall-back) settings. Since the only way to get the data out of the scanner is to use 3rd party software such as Butel's ARC-Patrol, I have what looks like a very messy list of data for the areas I've worked on. It's not really "messy" but it could be difficult or impossible to submit using the traditional RR data submission text-box. Here's an example of a cut-and-paste from an Excel spreadsheet:
Code:
TargetModel HomePatrol-1
FormatVersion 1.00
Conventional AgencyId=1226 StateId=0 Worcester County Off 11/18/2010 14:43 Conventional
AreaState AgencyId=1226 StateId=0
AreaState AgencyId=1226 CountyId=0
C-Group CGroupId=2 AgencyId=1226 Ashburnham; Town of Off 42.655424 -71.920195 2.5
C-Freq CFreqId=50 CGroupId=2 Fire Off 33820000 FM TONE=C118.8 3
C-Freq CFreqId=51 CGroupId=2 Fire Off 470450000 FM TONE=C118.8 3
C-Freq CFreqId=52 CGroupId=2 Police Off 39340000 FM 2
C-Freq CFreqId=53 CGroupId=2 Police Off 470300000 FM TONE=C127.3 2
C-Group CGroupId=3 AgencyId=1226 Athol; Town of Off 42.598966 -72.227039 2.5
C-Freq CFreqId=54 CGroupId=3 Athol Fire Dispatch Off 33480000 FM TONE=C123.0 3
C-Freq CFreqId=55 CGroupId=3 Athol Fire Fireground Off 453175000 FM TONE=C118.8 8
C-Freq CFreqId=56 CGroupId=3 Athol Fire Simulcast w/33.48 Off 453575000 FM TONE=C110.9 3
C-Freq CFreqId=57 CGroupId=3 Athol Police Dispatch Off 453225000 FM TONE=C100.0 2
C-Group CGroupId=4 AgencyId=1226 Auburn; Town of Off 42.200547 -71.844063 2.5
C-Freq CFreqId=58 CGroupId=4 Fire (85.4 PL on input) Off 154385000 FM TONE=C82.5 3
C-Freq CFreqId=59 CGroupId=4 Highway Department Off 158760000 FM TONE=C136.5 14
C-Freq CFreqId=60 CGroupId=4 Police Off 472312500 FM TONE=C151.4 2
C-Freq CFreqId=61 CGroupId=4 Police Backup Off 45140000 FM TONE=C167.9 7
C-Freq CFreqId=62 CGroupId=4 South Worcester County Fire Net Off 33620000 FM TONE=C131.8 8Can any of you help with the best way of submitting this info in a way that can easily be input by administrators? Should I submit only the agency information lines? Should I pare it down further by eliminating some columns which do not directly relate to the data needing to be changed? What say you?
Thanks
Bob Peloquin
Worcester, MA
