New 536 Programming question

[owl9704a]

I have just received a new 536. Now since I started this back in the early 60's with a halicrafters S-94, boy has this hobby come a long way. I just wish my brain had come that far. I currently have 4 BC 890 series and love them. But this is my first digital and it is a wonderful radio. Just much smarter than I am I think. I have read all kinds of posts, the users manual, easy and normal version, and have found one post for a guy with a 436 that was extremely helpful on how to make favorites lists. BUT, what if your own fire department is not listed in the data base? I program all of our Kenwood radios so I have all of the data. Just not sure where to put it to get it into this new digital radio. There has to be a way, but I just seem to be over looking something. Any hints or tricks would be greatly appreciated. This is using the Sentinel Software. I haven't went to the Butel yet. Thanks in advance. You guys are the greatest. Thanks again
Bob(owl9704a)

 

[fxdscon]

I have just received a new 536. Now since I started this back in the early 60's with a halicrafters S-94, boy has this hobby come a long way. I just wish my brain had come that far. I currently have 4 BC 890 series and love them. But this is my first digital and it is a wonderful radio. Just much smarter than I am I think. I have read all kinds of posts, the users manual, easy and normal version, and have found one post for a guy with a 436 that was extremely helpful on how to make favorites lists. BUT, what if your own fire department is not listed in the data base? I program all of our Kenwood radios so I have all of the data. Just not sure where to put it to get it into this new digital radio. There has to be a way, but I just seem to be over looking something. Any hints or tricks would be greatly appreciated. This is using the Sentinel Software. I haven't went to the Butel yet. Thanks in advance. You guys are the greatest. Thanks again
Bob(owl9704a)

The favorites list editor in Sentinel is where to start for that. From the Sentinel toolbar, click "edit", then "edit favorites list". Create a new favorite list, and then add your info.

When you are finished, write to the scanner to transfer your new favorites list.

You mentioned the easier to read user manual for the scanner, have you seen the easier to read manual for the Sentinel software?

Sentinel BCDX36HP Software Manual

.

 

[phask]

And please submit the info. to RR.

 

[owl9704a]

The favorites list editor in Sentinel is where to start for that. From the Sentinel toolbar, click "edit", then "edit favorites list". Create a new favorite list, and then add your info.

When you are finished, write to the scanner to transfer your new favorites list.

You mentioned the easier to read user manual for the scanner, have you seen the easier to read manual for the Sentinel software?

Sentinel BCDX36HP Software Manual

.

No I had not seen that page! However I have his manual in my favorites list already. Guess I better add this link as well. Thank you so much for your help! I will try this today and see how everything goes. I must say, I live in the mountains in Northern Arkansas, and this is one amazing radio!Again, thanks to everyone here for al of the wonderful help you give to everyone.
Bob(owl9704a)

 

[UPMan]

If the FD is Yellville, are they not shown on this page: Marion County, Arkansas (AR) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Also, you mention Kenwood...are they NexEdge (Kenwood digital)? If so, no scanner can decode them.

 

[owl9704a]

Actually we have new Harris digital radios, they are not online yet. the digital system is not in place as yet. So they are being used in the analog mode. And no, our kenwoods and vertex are all standard VHF units. And no I am not talking about Yellville, I am talking about Pine Mountain VFD. And there are several others that are not mentioned as well. I do have all of the current standard VHF info for all of them and I will submit it to RR and when the digital ever comes on line I will send that as well if it would help. Just have to figure out how that part works. But we have a lot of very small VFD's in this area and not many people scan them. Most of us that are interested already have radios of our own.
But thank you for your response. And no matter what others may say. This radio impresses the heck out of me. But then again I have had a lot of Unidens in my life and never really had many issues.
Thanks again for all of the help.
owl9704a(Bob)

 

[owl9704a]

Marion County Ar Radio system

Well it seems we have went to digital this weekend. So none of the info I have would be of much use. However, I am in the process of getting the information and will submit it as soon as I can get all of the information together.
Thanks everyone
owl9704a(Bob)

 

[ofd8001]

Looks like the updated information has been posted, or at least some of that. No NAC listed for east and west fire operations, but has one for central.

Marion County, Arkansas (AR) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Looks like a Yelville fire entry was there (a little further down the page).

 

[owl9704a]

Marion County Update

Thanks, I saw that already. Now I have some of the info, if I could just figure out how to get it into this 536 I would be good. I have read the manuals at Marks, they are great, but I am still confused. I was wondering if the ARC program would be easier to use? Anyone have any ideas on that? I have always used it on my other scanners and had good luck, but this baby is a different animal completely. And I heard they updatethe 536 database on Mondays. Just might have to wait. I also noticed that several of the local VFD's were still listed as Analog. That is not how it works, everyone is now on P-25. And the simulcast tone out on analog is not operational yet either. All of my analog radios are almost silent yet my digital radio is talking quite a lot. We will have to see what happens I guess. But I would like to put these frequencies in my 536 somehow.
Thanks for the reply and I really do appreciate all of the help.
owl9704a(Bob)

 

[ofd8001]

ARC is no easier to use than Sentinel. However ARC will access the current database, where Sentinel could be running a "late" because Uniden updates their database weekly.

For example, if the Marion County data is updated today, you can access it today with ARC. However, it would be next week Monday before you can access in Sentinel (presuming you do the Update Master HPDB).

ARC will do some things that Sentinel does not, such as centering alpha tags, changing their justification, etc. Depending on what I want to do, I use either Sentinel or ARC. I just have to be sure to coordinate my files - if I change something in the scanner with ARC, I need to read it in Sentinel, just so they are parallel.

What you could do right now is create a Favorites List based on what is in the database as of today. Then edit the Favorites List, adding channels with the information you have.

If the local VFDs are still shown as analog, its because no one has submitted updates.

 

[owl9704a]

Marion County Update

Thanks for the info on ARC. I think I will try it. That Sentinal is really not user friendly to me anyway. And as far as the VFD's still being listed as analog, these radio people down here are being very tight lipped about everything at this point. But we will get all of the info soon, we are using our old radios as home units for the pages/ tone outs and we can not program them with out all of the info. So we will get it son I hope. These new radios are not user friendly either. Never have figured out why we have to change what works.
Anyway. again, thanks for all of the help,
owl9704a(Bob)

 

[ofd8001]

And as far as the VFD's still being listed as analog, these radio people down here are being very tight lipped about everything at this point.

Radio folks tend to hold their cards close to their vest. A lot of mischief can and has been made by unauthorized people programming radios. A number of years ago, the Kentucky State Police was plagued with people programming radios and falsely reporting troopers were being shot at, etc. Also with the right type of equipment, people can program radios to set off firefighter pagers, which is very unkind at 3AM.

 

[owl9704a]

Marion County Update

I can understand what you are saying, believe me. But right now we have over 30 handhelds that the guys use at home for tone outs that are not working. And when they do not even want to give the fire chief the info so we can reprogram these units it seems a little silly. We have programmed our radios since we bought them. Now the Harris are different. We do not program them as yet. The software is very expensive for a single seat license and they just can't afford it. But that may become necessary in the near future if this problem is not resolved soon, Granted we do not have that many calls in these mountains, but it would be nice to be able to be notified when we do. But like you said, there could always be someone that would misuse the info.Have a great day.
owl9704a(Bob)