Newbie scanning questions

[greenacarina]

Hi everyone! I have been recently re-introduced to scanning and having a little trouble. I'm using a BC895XLT scanner and mainly interested in my local police system (analog, trunked system). I have found a channel that has a lot of activity, but it's too much random chatter....too many agencies. The dispatch center I'm listening to dispatches for multiple jurisdictions, which are all coming across on the same frequency. How can I single out just one jurisdiction at a time? For example, the local city police broadcast on 4 channels (main, data, car-to-car, and aux.)
I think this has something to do with talkgroups and the programming of my scanner, but I'm not finding (or properly understanding) the info in the manual.
Thanks.
Chris

 

[ka3jjz]

Chris, you need to build what is known as a scan list; this allows you to program the talkgroups that you want to hear, and ignore anything else. Unfortunately the 895's limits (10 talkgroups in 5 lists) is a bit limited, so you will need to choose which talkgroups you want to hear with some care.

Programming the 895 for trunking is a snap - supply which system in Washington you are trying to use (go to the database and supply the URL for the listing) and we can go from there. 73 Mike

[edit] Here is the listing of all trunked systems in Washington state - pick the right one...(all links appear in blue or are underlined)

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?tab=trs&stid=53

 

[greenacarina]

OK, here is the link- Scanner Frequencies: Snohomish County Emergency Radio (SERS) Trunking System, Everett, Washington
I am specifically wanting to monitor Everett PD. Didn't see anything in my scanner for "Hex" or "Dec", so..... ?????

Thanks.
Chris

 

[andy404ns]

OK, here is the link- Scanner Frequencies: Snohomish County Emergency Radio (SERS) Trunking System, Everett, Washington
I am specifically wanting to monitor Everett PD. Didn't see anything in my scanner for "Hex" or "Dec", so..... ?????

Thanks.
Chris

Use the DEC numbers listed under Everett Police as your talkgroup ID's.

You have to program a Motorola Type II trunking system in your scanner. I'd pick the site that's closest to you and gives you the most reliable reception. From there create a group for Everett PD, enter those talk group ID's as channels in the group and set the scanner to ID SCAN mode. This will allow you to only listen to Everett PD.

 

[DickH]

OK, here is the link- Scanner Frequencies: Snohomish County Emergency Radio (SERS) Trunking System, Everett, Washington
I am specifically wanting to monitor Everett PD. Didn't see anything in my scanner for "Hex" or "Dec", so..... ?????

To begin you need to enter the freqs. Choose the WEST Simulcast or EAST simulcast site.If you don't know which one to choose, put one in each of two banks to see which one works best at your location.

Enter the freqs. per the steps on page 39.
Once you hit SRCH you will start to see the active Talk Groups.

There are two trunking modes; SRCH & SCAN.
SRCH lets you hear all active TGs, SCAN lets you hear only the TGs you have entered into the Scan Lists. See page 45 to set up your Scan Lists.
Use the DEC column in the database for the TGs.

 

[greenacarina]

To begin you need to enter the freqs. Choose the WEST Simulcast or EAST simulcast site.If you don't know which one to choose, put one in each of two banks to see which one works best at your location.

Enter the freqs. per the steps on page 39.
Once you hit SRCH you will start to see the active Talk Groups.

There are two trunking modes; SRCH & SCAN.
SRCH lets you hear all active TGs, SCAN lets you hear only the TGs you have entered into the Scan Lists. See page 45 to set up your Scan Lists.
Use the DEC column in the database for the TGs.

Success!!! Had to re-program what I had already done (correctly this time!) and now things are starting to make sense.
Thanks everyone!
Chris