My Scanner experience.

[John1123]

I would like to document my experience with a recentlyy purchased scanner. Doesn't matter who's just that it is compliant throughout all systems. The system was preprogrammed for West Virgina with over 1812 talk groups already loaded. The manual that came with it was very vague so I went online and downloaded simplified instructions all 52 pages in very small print. Before I continue I am a retire engineer from a Major hospital. I have installed Cath labs, CT scanners entire fillers networks so I must say the manual was well written and a good description of the scanners capabilities. BUT in the end I was unable to grasp how the scanner was programmed and where the trunking frequencies were kept. So armed with Internet suggestions I found the software. Searching for the serial interface was a challenge since the place where I purchased it no longer had any stock. Finally I located a comparable IF cable and ordered from a ham supply in the Midwest. When it arrived I took the driver and manually loaded into my wife's XP laptop. ( I have a top of the line Mac because of my wife's I phone and my camera hobby). The driver loaded and the ups serial converter started flashing. Hooray. Next I downloaded a demo version of the SW plugged into the scanner changed the port to 4 and hit download and all the data came over. What I saw was 1812 scannable objects and under Trunking all the frequencies allocated to WV. So since I was able to monitor PDFs,fire and Ems from neighboring I was unable to monitor anything from Barbour County or the town of Philippi. They were certainly in their signce they were scannable objects with the proper talk group. So being very careful I disconnected whe scanner and over two days I made sure any changes were not saved an I closed the SW and downloaded a new copy from the scanner. From what I was seeing the scanner should have worked in my area. The primary control channel could be seen. I was starting to think the data for this town or Barbour County was incorrect. So I decided to download it again maybe the 6th time. While it was downloading my toast came up and I went to the kitchen to butter my toast and when I returned all data was lost. Sigh......
I packed it up and returned it to the store and told then the data was lost and I'm not smart enough to own this scanner. I told him it seemed to be programmed to work anywhere in WV. He said that was correct. I told him I could not pick up Philippi, Get this. He said they pick up the PD all the time. I told him I am just outside the town up on a mountain in sight of the tower. Then he said in the next breath well maybe they are still using the old System. (That is still listed on this website). I wonder if people listen to what they say?
I was a volunteer in search and rescue from 84 to 90 and in Ems and volunteer FF and it will always be in my blood. I had to leave it in 2004 because of kidney failure but it will always be in my blood. btw I pulled out my old trunking scanner and monitored the old fire and Ems frequencies and thet are quiet as is the PD. The control frequency has a strong signal with its usual digital sound.
So sorry for the long introductory post. It will probably be my last. I really feel I lost IQ points over this whole ordeal. I don't remember when I registered for this site but it said my last login was Oct 1969. That was pretty cool before bulletin boards.

 

[hiegtx]

I would like to document my experience with a recentlyy purchased scanner. Doesn't matter who's just that it is compliant throughout all systems. The system was preprogrammed for West Virgina with over 1812 talk groups already loaded. The manual that came with it was very vague so I went online and downloaded simplified instructions all 52 pages in very small print. Before I continue I am a retire engineer from a Major hospital. I have installed Cath labs, CT scanners entire fillers networks so I must say the manual was well written and a good description of the scanners capabilities. BUT in the end I was unable to grasp how the scanner was programmed and where the trunking frequencies were kept. So armed with Internet suggestions I found the software. Searching for the serial interface was a challenge since the place where I purchased it no longer had any stock. Finally I located a comparable IF cable and ordered from a ham supply in the Midwest. When it arrived I took the driver and manually loaded into my wife's XP laptop. ( I have a top of the line Mac because of my wife's I phone and my camera hobby). The driver loaded and the ups serial converter started flashing. Hooray. Next I downloaded a demo version of the SW plugged into the scanner changed the port to 4 and hit download and all the data came over. What I saw was 1812 scannable objects and under Trunking all the frequencies allocated to WV. So since I was able to monitor PDFs,fire and Ems from neighboring I was unable to monitor anything from Barbour County or the town of Philippi. They were certainly in their signce they were scannable objects with the proper talk group. So being very careful I disconnected whe scanner and over two days I made sure any changes were not saved an I closed the SW and downloaded a new copy from the scanner. From what I was seeing the scanner should have worked in my area. The primary control channel could be seen. I was starting to think the data for this town or Barbour County was incorrect. So I decided to download it again maybe the 6th time. While it was downloading my toast came up and I went to the kitchen to butter my toast and when I returned all data was lost. Sigh......
I packed it up and returned it to the store and told then the data was lost and I'm not smart enough to own this scanner. I told him it seemed to be programmed to work anywhere in WV. He said that was correct. I told him I could not pick up Philippi, Get this. He said they pick up the PD all the time. I told him I am just outside the town up on a mountain in sight of the tower. Then he said in the next breath well maybe they are still using the old System. (That is still listed on this website). I wonder if people listen to what they say?
I was a volunteer in search and rescue from 84 to 90 and in Ems and volunteer FF and it will always be in my blood. I had to leave it in 2004 because of kidney failure but it will always be in my blood. btw I pulled out my old trunking scanner and monitored the old fire and Ems frequencies and thet are quiet as is the PD. The control frequency has a strong signal with its usual digital sound.
So sorry for the long introductory post. It will probably be my last. I really feel I lost IQ points over this whole ordeal. I don't remember when I registered for this site but it said my last login was Oct 1969. That was pretty cool before bulletin boards.

Hi John
Welcome to RadioReference

Without knowing exactly which scanner you bought, as well as how it was programmed, I can't tell why you were not able to hear your local agencies. Looking at your county and city in the database, it does indicate that your city, as well as the others in Barbour County, are using the statewide digital system, SIRN, The conventional police frequency listed on the county page, 156.2100, was on a license that expired in 2014. There is an active license that, in it's notes, states that it is used for the Fire Department. It is not shown on the county's page, so either it's not really in use, or no one has submitted it to be entered. Philippi does have another license for a conventional frequency that is active. It also is not shown on the database page (never been confirmed and submitted), but notes on the license give no hint as to what it may be (or was) used for.

Whoever programmed the scanner, and yes, from your description, it does sound as if the entire statewide system was added, did a disservice to you. From any one location in the state, you likely will only hear agencies in a much smaller radius of your position. Talk groups on the trunked system are normally carried on the transmit sites in, or adjacent to, the area of jurisdiction. That would be in the home county, and possibly sites in neighboring counties. For a division, or troop of the state police, that would mainly cover the counties it encompasses. While there are usually mutual aid or interchangeability ID's that are valid statewide, you may not be able to hear operations on them unless it is close to your area.

Should you want to give it another try with the same, or a different, scanner, there are many people on this site that can help you. You also may be able to find someone more local to you by either requesting more specific help in the West Virginia regional forum.

Good luck.

 

[John1123]

Thanks for the reply, I was reluctant to list the scanner because I was aware it is not the scanner. It has very good specs. It was a RS- pro 652 which is a Whistler 1065 or PSR 500/600. The SW that bricked it was the ARC 500. In fact the cable that worked with it was a GRE cable. We have an arsonist loose in the area that has taken upon himself to burn down old buildings in the area that the owners are not keeping up. I wanted to keep up on this since any fire puts firefighters and the public at risk during a response. So I tried Broadcastify and never heard any fire dispatch. I did hear Philippi PD and maybe Barbour County SO dispatch. So again I'm not sure anyone has the right data. My next step will be to visit the Firehouse and talk to the chief. I was planing on giving them my matchbox collection of fire trucks in a neat display case anyway. I downsized from a 2600 Sq ft house to a 1350 ft moduler home in the woods. I may try this again if I can get the right data. I think with the SW I can lock out everything but Barbour county. That was my next step before it bricked it.

 

[N8IAA]

I would like to document my experience with a recentlyy purchased scanner. Doesn't matter who's just that it is compliant throughout all systems. The system was preprogrammed for West Virgina with over 1812 talk groups already loaded. The manual that came with it was very vague so I went online and downloaded simplified instructions all 52 pages in very small print. Before I continue I am a retire engineer from a Major hospital. I have installed Cath labs, CT scanners entire fillers networks so I must say the manual was well written and a good description of the scanners capabilities. BUT in the end I was unable to grasp how the scanner was programmed and where the trunking frequencies were kept. So armed with Internet suggestions I found the software. Searching for the serial interface was a challenge since the place where I purchased it no longer had any stock. Finally I located a comparable IF cable and ordered from a ham supply in the Midwest. When it arrived I took the driver and manually loaded into my wife's XP laptop. ( I have a top of the line Mac because of my wife's I phone and my camera hobby). The driver loaded and the ups serial converter started flashing. Hooray. Next I downloaded a demo version of the SW plugged into the scanner changed the port to 4 and hit download and all the data came over. What I saw was 1812 scannable objects and under Trunking all the frequencies allocated to WV. So since I was able to monitor PDFs,fire and Ems from neighboring I was unable to monitor anything from Barbour County or the town of Philippi. They were certainly in their signce they were scannable objects with the proper talk group. So being very careful I disconnected whe scanner and over two days I made sure any changes were not saved an I closed the SW and downloaded a new copy from the scanner. From what I was seeing the scanner should have worked in my area. The primary control channel could be seen. I was starting to think the data for this town or Barbour County was incorrect. So I decided to download it again maybe the 6th time. While it was downloading my toast came up and I went to the kitchen to butter my toast and when I returned all data was lost. Sigh......
I packed it up and returned it to the store and told then the data was lost and I'm not smart enough to own this scanner. I told him it seemed to be programmed to work anywhere in WV. He said that was correct. I told him I could not pick up Philippi, Get this. He said they pick up the PD all the time. I told him I am just outside the town up on a mountain in sight of the tower. Then he said in the next breath well maybe they are still using the old System. (That is still listed on this website). I wonder if people listen to what they say?
I was a volunteer in search and rescue from 84 to 90 and in Ems and volunteer FF and it will always be in my blood. I had to leave it in 2004 because of kidney failure but it will always be in my blood. btw I pulled out my old trunking scanner and monitored the old fire and Ems frequencies and thet are quiet as is the PD. The control frequency has a strong signal with its usual digital sound.
So sorry for the long introductory post. It will probably be my last. I really feel I lost IQ points over this whole ordeal. I don't remember when I registered for this site but it said my last login was Oct 1969. That was pretty cool before bulletin boards.

John, sorry to read about your experience. It sounds like you got a Radio Shack scanner, and had it programmed at the store. They obviously didn't hear that you wanted to monitor your county, and not the whole state.
You would not be able to hear the whole state regardless.
You are hearing broadcasts being simulcast on the older conventional frequencies. Your county is definitely on the statewide system.
Would you be interested in getting the scanner again, and letting one of us use the program you got to get the scanner running properly?
Larry

 

[KE0GXN]

John stay on here, get another scanner and I guarantee you the folks on here will get you set-up.

You came to right place, just give it another chance...

 

[N8DRC]

John stay on here, get another scanner and I guarantee you the folks on here will get you set-up.

You came to right place, just give it another chance...

Yes x2 John, we are here to help you don't give up!

 

[baptistjcat]

I too had a frustrating experience with my digital scanner, but when I found the RR forum the people here we're very helpful, and got me on the right track. Don't throw in the towel just yet. Go for a couple of rounds.

 

[John1123]

Thank you for the kind offer. At this point I am not invested in any software and the USB serial interface cable is set for com 4 so it should work with any SW. I downloaded the arc500 SW because of the claim it was the recommended SW for this scanner by Radio Shack. That being said . I saw on this website RadioShack programming software again from Butelsoftware and im not sure if it's the same As the ARC500 software. At least the screen captures do not resemble the ARC500 . It looks like it links directly to this database and you can select by states and counties. I can order it again from Amazon since my wife gets reward points and it should be here in a couple of days. I guess before proceeding what would be the best SW for this?
The one I'm speaking of is on this website under Radio Shack SW. It has a purchase button for the SW purchase and subscription to this site database pull down for the model type. I originally got the ARC500 SW to see how the store loaded the scanner All 1812 objects in WV were loaded in bank 1 including all Barbour county government and 911. In the trunking section there were four files containing what appeared trunking channels for this state. Each one had over 20 frequencies loaded in them. I assume thet were wildcard and it would use the strongest. Again I could only pick up the surrounding counties Harrison and Randolph.

 

[N8IAA]

Thank you for the kind offer. At this point I am not invested in any software and the USB serial interface cable is set for com 4 so it should work with any SW. I downloaded the arc500 SW because of the claim it was the recommended SW for this scanner by Radio Shack. That being said . I saw on this website RadioShack programming software again from Butelsoftware and im not sure if it's the same As the ARC500 software. At least the screen captures do not resemble the ARC500 . It looks like it links directly to this database and you can select by states and counties. I can order it again from Amazon since my wife gets reward points and it should be here in a couple of days. I guess before proceeding what would be the best SW for this?
The one I'm speaking of is on this website under Radio Shack SW. It has a purchase button for the SW purchase and subscription to this site database pull down for the model type. I originally got the ARC500 SW to see how the store loaded the scanner All 1812 objects in WV were loaded in bank 1 including all Barbour county government and 911. In the trunking section there were four files containing what appeared trunking channels for this state. Each one had over 20 frequencies loaded in them. I assume thet were wildcard and it would use the strongest. Again I could only pick up the surrounding counties Harrison and Randolph.

This is why you are not hearing anything on the scanner. With everything loaded into one Scan List, the scanner is too busy trying to find all the CC's that were programmed for the statewide system. Presuming that the four systems were for the statewide system.
Wildcards are not frequencies. They are TGID's that will allow the scanner to receive all TGID's on the system.
All three counties should have been in separate Scan Lists. Especially if there were conventional frequencies.
Poorly set up by people who don't understand the workings of a scanner like the one you had.
Larry

 

[buddrousa]

John I would say to use win500 (starrsoft.com) comes with a 30 day free trial and was written by the man Donn Starr that writes the firmware for the scanner you bought pro651 pro652 gre500 gre600 pro197 pro106. To me it is more user friendly and users here that have it can can see your file if you send it to them make changes to it and send it back to you working for your area.

 

[John1123]

Hello everyone. The replacement scanner arrived today from Amazon less tax so I actually got ir cheaper than the local RS. I downloaded the SW subccribed to this service ans was up and running in 15 minutes. I've been adding some customization like flashing led for fire calls. NBIAA. Yes it was picking up the control frequencies for Clarksburgh. In addition no conventional dispatch frequencies were loaded in the original RS scanner. These are still the fire dispatch frequencies fo set off the fire pagers. I thought something was off with the one I brought home. No scanner I ever had was this difficult. The scanner SW was a snap and I saved the backup to disk. I'll probably load some surrounding counties into separate banks so I can shut the bank off when I want.

 

[John1123]

Need help in locating local PD

I previously posted here http://forums.radioreference.com/ne...323141-my-scanner-experience.html#post2477525

I was able to get a new pro 652 that had not been preprogrammed at Radio Shack and purchased the Arc500 SW along with a subscription to this sites data base. EMS, Fire, and county SO works fine. I am unable to pick up the local PD.
Details I live in West Virginia, Barbour County just outside the town of Philippi. The talk group is present. I even put the old frequencies in conventional with a city license I found in the FCC website. I turned on the hit counter and no hits on any frequencies other than SO, Fireand EMS. I also cannot pick up the local hospital ED ( I'm assuming I am not on their trunking network) When I pre loaded the area I picked trunking Barbour county. And all 45 talk groups listed. We're kind of a quiet town but not that quiet. I checked several online databases and confirmed that those licenses had expired.
I loaded all conventional frequencies and that was the fire and EMS dispatch the fire ground is trunked. Philippi PD dispatch was quiet 0 hits.

Any suggestions?

 

[NDRADIONUT]

Check that your local site is in there and that the control channal is correct....

 

[John1123]

They seem to be correct. The fireground channels work for my local FD and the SO trunked frequencies along with the local county EMS. I chose Barbour county and it populated 45 talk groups including the Philippi PD. But that one has been silent.
How would I confirm the proper net?

 

[NDRADIONUT]

1 (1) 019 (13) Philippi Barbour 453.65000 460.12500 460.15000 460.33750c 460.37500 460.47500a

460.33750c < that freq should have the constant buzzing sound on it...

you can check the base space and offset too

Table 1:

Base: 452.0000
Space: 12.5
Offset: 380

Table 2:

Base: 460.0000
Space: 12.5
Offset: 570

 

[mitbr]

If you don't get the problem resolved here I would recommend you post the same question in the WV forum.

 

[mikewazowski]

John, if you would like this thread moved to the West Virginia forum, please click on the white triangle in the top right of your first post and ask that a Moderator move it.

Thanks.

 

[John1123]

John, if you would like this thread moved to the West Virginia forum, please click on the white triangle in the top right of your first post and ask that a Moderator move it.

Thanks.

Thanks I'm Sick with a cold. Combo of chemo and immune suppression takes me down pretty hard. I will check some of these suggestions when I'm better.

 

[John1123]

I think the info given in previous post may be from win500 SW Im not sure but there are only two frequencies listed. and the TT Tables are populated from the data transmitted from the control channel.
I am asking that this be moved to the WV forum. Everything works SO, Fire, EMS but the Philippi PD. Almost all the talk groups are silent except the FD and SO leaving me to think maybe they are on a different trunking network.Im attaching how the unit is programmed in an excell zipped file.

Thanks for any help

 

[NDRADIONUT]

Do you have a wildcard tg or have your scanner in the open mode so you hear all groups on the system ?? They may have moved to a different group....