Need help programing scanner R.S. Pro-163

[jall65]

Please excuse my ignorance, To me it seems like it hasn't been that long ago when replacing crystals was the way to change frequencies. I purchased a older but new scanner RS Pro-163, I know this is going to be one of those 'Oh no, not again threads.) I've searched read and re-read the trunking programing until I'm confused. I'm trying to program Albertville Police and Fire frequencies (Alabama).Albertville Police & Fire Trunking System, Albertville, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies Before long my home town Arab PD/FD is going to MotoTRBO system and the reason I wanted/needed new scanner. I can get to #5 and this is what confuses me. my scanner LED reads

P101FM 0.00000
PRI DLY lo +
Bank 1 Chan 01
Bank 1
What is the actual frequency I put in? These 853.30000c 854.83750c 855.88750c 856.76250c, or something else, Or am I doing this wrong?
P.S. What is the c that is on the end of the frequencies?

To program a Bank for TRUNKING:
1. Press PROG, then press TRUNK.
2. Press FUNC, then use an UP or DOWN ARROW to select a bank.
3. Repeatedly press MODE to select a trunking mode (Motorola).
4. Press PROG.
5. Enter the first control channel freq. and press ENTER.
6. Repeatedly press MODE to select a trunking mode (Motorola).
7. Press PROG or the UP ARROW to advance to the next channel.
8. Enter the next control channel freq. and press ENTER.
9. Repeatedly press MODE to select a trunking mode (Motorola).
10. After the last control channel freq., press ENTER, then press SCAN.
Now you should start to see all active Talk Group IDs (TGs).

 

[Ronaldski]

the little c at the end of the frequencies are the control channels and they are the ones that carry all the digital info a scanner needs to decode it, so they are the only frequencies you need to program in. So input all four you listed.
Seeing that is a type II system they normally do at least one time a day or more, change to one of those control channels for a day at a time then switch again.

I'm trying to program Albertville Police and Fire frequencies (Alabama).Albertville Police & Fire Trunking System, Albertville, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies Before long my home town Arab PD/FD is going to MotoTRBO system and the reason I wanted/needed new scanner. I can get to #5 and this is what confuses me.

No scanner made today can decode mototrbo, so save your money, others will probably reply about it being able to be decoded via software and a PC. That said they still could encrypt as well.

see Digital Speech Decoder (software package) - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[jall65]

Thanks Ronaldski, Appreciate it.

 

[hiegtx]

the little c at the end of the frequencies are the control channels and they are the ones that carry all the digital info a scanner needs to decode it, so they are the only frequencies you need to program in. So input all four you listed.
Seeing that is a type II system they normally do at least one time a day or more, change to one of those control channels for a day at a time then switch again.

Looking at the linked system, it appears that all of the talkgroups shown in the database are digital. While this is a Motorola Type II system, the 'System Voice' is tagged as "APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive", meaning that all the voice traffic would be digital. Unfortunately, that means that the Pro-163 would not work on this specific system, even when programmed correctly.

Please excuse my ignorance, To me it seems like it hasn't been that long ago when replacing crystals was the way to change frequencies. I purchased a older but new scanner RS Pro-163, I know this is going to be one of those 'Oh no, not again threads.) I've searched read and re-read the trunking programing until I'm confused. I'm trying to program Albertville Police and Fire frequencies (Alabama).Albertville Police & Fire Trunking System, Albertville, Alabama - Scanner Frequencies Before long my home town Arab PD/FD is going to MotoTRBO system and the reason I wanted/needed new scanner. I can get to #5 and this is what confuses me.

jall, looking at your county in the database, there are a number of other, conventional, frequencies you could monitor. As Ronaldski noted, if your town, and/or some of the other agencies move to Mototrbo, then no scanner will decode them. As long as they don't make that move, or switch to digital, your Pro-163 would still work. You may find more to monitor in your neighboring counties as well.

See the Easier to Read manual for your scanner, for perhaps a slightly better programming explanation. Based on your original post, it looks like you were trying to follow the programming shortcut in the Wiki for your scanner. However, as noted above, the system you're trying to program cannot be scanned with the Pro-163. You would, instead, need a digital scanner.

 

[jall65]

hiegtx, Thanks for the links. Made it more easy for me to understand, Sucks that I bought this scanner and it's not really going to help me any in the future but it sure beats my old Bear Cat 350A that I've had since Noah arrived. Got it for less than $50 so I'm not going to whine about it that much, Cullman County is already on the P25 and I was told that this scanner would carry that as well, Should have came here first, Live and learn, Now I need to save $ and purchase a digital scanner but that will be well after fishing season is over with HA!. What would be a good digital scanner one that I can utilize and not over step my needs, I basically just want to listen to the scanner for safety reasons to protect my family and be a little nosy.
Thanks,
jall65

 

[hiegtx]

hiegtx, Thanks for the links. Made it more easy for me to understand, Sucks that I bought this scanner and it's not really going to help me any in the future but it sure beats my old Bear Cat 350A that I've had since Noah arrived. Got it for less than $50 so I'm not going to whine about it that much, Cullman County is already on the P25 and I was told that this scanner would carry that as well, Should have came here first, Live and learn, Now I need to save $ and purchase a digital scanner but that will be well after fishing season is over with HA!. What would be a good digital scanner one that I can utilize and not over step my needs, I basically just want to listen to the scanner for safety reasons to protect my family and be a little nosy.
Thanks,
jall65

Any of the scanners below would receive your home county system. Cullman appears to be P25 conventional (not trunked). The same list of scanners would work for it as well.

[FONT=&quot]Current Model:
GRE PSR-500 (Handheld)
GRE PSR-600 (Base/Mobile)
GRE PSR-800 (Handheld)
RadioShack Pro-106 (Handheld)
RadioShack Pro-197 (Base/Mobile)
RadioShack Pro-18 (Handheld)
Uniden BCD396XT (Handheld)
Uniden BCD996XT (Base/Mobile)
Uniden HomePatrol-1 (Base/Mobile)

Slightly Older Model:
Uniden BCD396T (Handheld)
Uniden BCD996T (Base/Mobile)


Since you are dealing with P25 conventional, I'd lean toward one of the units in the 'current models' group. These all have the ability to utilize the NAC[/FONT] codes listed, which helps reduce interference from other users on the same frequency. While the 396T & 996T would receive your system & Cullman, you can't enter the NAC code. Having that option is a definite advantage. All of these are digital trunk-tracking scanners.

Looking at other systems in your vicinity, I see this one listed for Madison. This system is labeled as capable of P25 Phase II (TDMA) operation, though I don't see any listed talkgroups tagged for that at the moment. (Many of them are encrypted, so no scanner would work anyway.) Also in your area, the TVA is building this system. Based on the notes, once completed, it will change to a Phase II P25 system. The only current scanner that works for Phase II (which does not appear to be an immediate concern for you, but could be down the line) is the PSR-800.

 

[jall65]

WOW hiegtx, Thanks for that very researched thoughtful post,Really means a lot! I'm new and totally ignorant to the new systems that are being used these days. I have spent the last few days trying to catch up and it starts confusing the heck out of me trying to learn the definitions of the so many different codes. Where I live withing in 20 mile radius I have 4 county coverage with overlapping police/fire jurisdictions( and 5 within listening coverage) as well as a lot of federal and state agencies(Department of Conversation and state park, ect...) Just totally mind spent. LOL.
Thanks again for you help,
jall65.