New from Atlanta

[MTS2000des]

Didn't you work at RS?

I sure did, about 10-11 years ago. Then I got a real job LOL. It was just starting to evolve from a once great neighborhood electronics store into an overpriced cellphone hut. I went into the local RS the other day for some 1/8" mono plugs and almost became sick at the sight. Scanners and radios are history, the parts section are relegated to a corner, and pickings are slim.

Last I heard they are rebranding to simply "The Shack", as in "The crapper, the can, the shaft" in an attempt to be more hip. An article was written a couple years ago that said "even the company's CEO doesn't know why or how they are able to stay in business."

You can buy anything there for less at GarbageMart without the high pressure wireless sales.

 

[IrishTiger]

Yeah I tend to avoid Radio Shack if I can.... they're prices are astronomical. I'm looking forward to my trip up to HRO tomorrow. Then after I get it I have to figure out how to program the darn thing (I've already started reading the manual) but I'm thinking frequencies. Since I did sign up for the premium subscription, I need to find that frequency file around here somewhere. I haven't installed Win500 yet but I take it I can basically program the radio from the computer? Since APD is a trunked system, it's not going to have a frequency like, oh say - 126.65, it'll be more like 37183 or something right? I'm actually pretty excited about getting my first one tomorrow!

 

[IrishTiger]

Okay, so I pulled up the APD Talkgroups here, and I see several I'll want to program. I have Win500 up and running now. I see the colums for DEC, HEX, and Mode. I take it the DEC is the actual "radio frequency" so to speak? I'd love to be able to import all the APD frequencies from that page directly into Win500. Perhaps if someone has time tomorrow to deal with a 26 year old airline pilot scanner newbie (I promise I'm not too much of a pain in the butt), I could get some help setting this up. The Win500 sure looks like a great program, and I'm sure it beats the heck out of manually trying to program the actual scanner.

This site is such a great place. Thanks again for the warm welcome!!! You don't find that on a lot of forums. Anyone who has Braves tickets is welcome to park on my street (I'm two blocks away from Turner Field) for free. Can't wait to get my hands on that scanner tomorrow!

 

[N8IAA]

Yeah I tend to avoid Radio Shack if I can.... they're prices are astronomical. I'm looking forward to my trip up to HRO tomorrow. Then after I get it I have to figure out how to program the darn thing (I've already started reading the manual) but I'm thinking frequencies. Since I did sign up for the premium subscription, I need to find that frequency file around here somewhere. I haven't installed Win500 yet but I take it I can basically program the radio from the computer? Since APD is a trunked system, it's not going to have a frequency like, oh say - 126.65, it'll be more like 37183 or something right? I'm actually pretty excited about getting my first one tomorrow!

I will be home tomorrrow if you need any help with the software. It is simple to import from RR to the software. Then to download to the scanner. Before you start, plug in the USB programming cable to the pc, sorry, no Macs. If you are running Win7, it will search for the drivers. Go to device manager and see what com port the cable is using. Import your system and TGID's into the program. Save it with a file name, then plug the cable into the side of the scanner where it says PC/IF. Don't plug it into the headphone Go to the Scanner tab on the top of the software screen and click on Upload to scanner. Literally takes just seconds for it to do its thing. You don't even have to unplug, the scanner will start scanning, if not, just press the SCAN button.
HTH,
Larry

 

[N8IAA]

I take it the DEC is the actual "radio frequency" so to speak? I'd love to be able to import all the APD frequencies from that page directly into Win500.

Those numbers under the HEX and DEC are really the TGID's. Not really 'frequencies'. They are identifiers transmitted on frequencies. You can import all that you want to the scanlist for the Atlanta system, or, dedicate separate scanlists for PD, FD, and whatever else you want to hear. To bad you didn't go to HRO on Saturday. We could have met up.
Larry

 

[N8IAA]

The nice thing about the software, is that whatever you import to it, you won't have to worry about hex, dec, or, mode. The software will automatically put the system in the correct Mode with just the CC's (control channels) and assign the TGID's to their individual objects (channels) for the system. There are twenty Scanlists, 1-10 and 11-20. You can kind of think of them as banks. One thing to remember, when a system, or, conventional frequency is programmed in, it will automatically go to Scanlist 1. To the right of the objects (channels) are twenty boxes co-responding to the Scanlists. When you program different systems/conventional in just check which Scanlist you want them in and uncheck it from 1.
Larry

 

[IrishTiger]

. To bad you didn't go to HRO on Saturday. We could have met up.
Larry

Actually i was in Chattanooga getting a break from Atlanta. I just got home today. I'll PM you in a while here so that if I do have trouble tomorrow I can get in touch with you. That's awfully kind of you to offer too. Thanks!

I will be home tomorrrow if you need any help with the software. It is simple to import from RR to the software. Then to download to the scanner. Before you start, plug in the USB programming cable to the pc, sorry, no Macs. If you are running Win7, it will search for the drivers. Go to device manager and see what com port the cable is using. Import your system and TGID's into the program. Save it with a file name, then plug the cable into the side of the scanner where it says PC/IF. Don't plug it into the headphone Go to the Scanner tab on the top of the software screen and click on Upload to scanner. Literally takes just seconds for it to do its thing. You don't even have to unplug, the scanner will start scanning, if not, just press the SCAN button.
HTH,
Larry

Yeah I figured out how to do it. I thought you downloaded a file from here and imported it into Win500... but it's even easier than that. Win500 does it for you. I have imported all the APD channels I want and I'm renaming them, like instead of Zone 3 - Dispatch, I change it to Z3 Dispatch, etc. I'm also moving them around to organize them a bit better, so all the dispatch channels are together, etc.

The nice thing about the software, is that whatever you import to it, you won't have to worry about hex, dec, or, mode. The software will automatically put the system in the correct Mode with just the CC's (control channels) and assign the TGID's to their individual objects (channels) for the system. There are twenty Scanlists, 1-10 and 11-20. You can kind of think of them as banks. One thing to remember, when a system, or, conventional frequency is programmed in, it will automatically go to Scanlist 1. To the right of the objects (channels) are twenty boxes co-responding to the Scanlists. When you program different systems/conventional in just check which Scanlist you want them in and uncheck it from 1.
Larry

Yeah I'm figuring that out now. I haven't paid the $35 yet for the full license. Will that make it any more difficult when I program it tomorrow? I will purchase it, I just thought I'd give it a try before I did buy it. I guess what I'm asking is am I missing any features by just using the trial version now? Would it behoove me to go ahead and pay for it now or is it fine to wait?

 

[IrishTiger]

10 codes

Oh - and also.... I've looked around the net, but couldn't find anything that was correct. Does anyone have a list of 10-codes that APD uses?

 

[Highpockets]

Oh - and also.... I've looked around the net, but couldn't find anything that was correct. Does anyone have a list of 10-codes that APD uses?

Is this what your looking for?

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Fulton_County_(GA)#APD_Codes

Scroll up/down for other info.

 

[N8IAA]

Yeah I'm figuring that out now. I haven't paid the $35 yet for the full license. Will that make it any more difficult when I program it tomorrow? I will purchase it, I just thought I'd give it a try before I did buy it. I guess what I'm asking is am I missing any features by just using the trial version now? Would it behoove me to go ahead and pay for it now or is it fine to wait?

Everything you see for free is there when you purchase the key. The advantage is that you don't have to re-enter the key everytime DonS does an upgrade to the versions You just need to download the latest version and you're ready to go
Larry

 

[N8IAA]

Is this what your looking for?

Fulton County (GA) - The RadioReference Wiki

Scroll up/down for other info.

Used to be on ScanAtlanta.com, until they were assimilated by RR.
Larry

 

[wise871]

I still have all the zone maps, codes, radio lineup from the old ScanAtlanta website.

 

[CapStar362]

could you shoot me a email with the codes PDF file?

 

[kllian]

Hello, Ryan. Welcome to the GA forum. My suggestion is a Radio Shack Pro-106 if you can find a Shack that still has scanners.

This is the advice I took when I purchased my first scanner (I'm in Cherokee), it's done everything I've wanted and more.

 

[rmiller818]

I believe that they sell the GRE model. It is the same as the RS antenna, being they are the ones who made it for them, since you are in Atlanta, the duck that comes with the radio will work fine on the scanner. No harm in trying the 800 antenna, but I'm thinking overload. They do have a little duck by Pryme that will work great with the scanner. I've had my 106 for over two years, and find less is better most times on 800 with it
HTH,
Larry

I was thinking the same thing. I actually use a quarter wave 800Mhz antenna on my Pro-106 and leave the attenuator on for the system.

 

[b7spectra]

Hook up with Larry, he can really set up your scanner! He knows his stuff.

Oh, and he is a horse thief!

 

[N8IAA]

Hook up with Larry, he can really set up your scanner! He knows his stuff.

Oh, and he is a horse thief!

Ryan and I have already hooked up Mike. He got a PSR-500 yesterday, and I helped get it going on the software. He's got Zone 3 going in one scanlist and the rest of APD in another. I believe he knows more APD than you!

I categorically deny being a horse thief:wink:

Larry

 

[b7spectra]

Do I need to post the picture????

 

[IrishTiger]

Larry and I may have to hook up again. I'm having reception issues with my 500 and I'm getting annoyed. The durn thing lets me hear the officers speaking to dispatch clearly about, oh say 70% of the time, and then dispatch to officers clearly is about 40-50% of the time. There's A LOT of garbled transmissions, and it's not like I'm out in the boonies either. I'm smack dab in the middle of things... so close to Turner Field I can hear the baseball bat crack when someone gets a hit sometimes!

I've been trying to try different things, but none seem to work. I did buy a large antenna from HRO when I picked up my GRE, and I swap it out half the time to see if it makes a difference. I'm afraid I'm going to have to call Larry back up and see what the deal is! Wise down in Florida also has offered to help me. So it's not like I don't have any support (like I've said before, I'm so impressed by the members of this forum by how welcoming you are of a new member, and how willing to help me you are!). This week has been busy so I haven't had too much of a chance to mess with it. Here's a picture of the scanner with the different antenna (the stock one obviously on the left) and a picture of the description of the huge antenna I bought, since it might make more sense to you folks.

Ryan and I have already hooked up Mike. He got a PSR-500 yesterday, and I helped get it going on the software. He's got Zone 3 going in one scanlist and the rest of APD in another. I believe he knows more APD than you!

I categorically deny being a horse thief:wink:

Larry

I may know APD quite well, but that's only from dealing with them so often (and NO not from the back of the patrol car!!! ) and working with them.

Do I need to post the picture????

I would love to see it!

 

[rmiller818]

Looks like more antenna than you need to me. Try turning the attenuator on just for the system (not the global attenuator).