Can I use the Sentinel software to program the scanner directly from the Radio Reference database? I don't see any capability in Sentinel yet the Radio Reference site says it can. RR lets me download CSV, PDF, and DSD formatted files of the SRRCS P25 but how do I load something on my radio. Am I not understanding a major component here? When I program my zip code on the radio, it does not load any SRRCS P25 frequencies.
You can use the Favorites List editor to manually create the system.
But that should not be necessary. The system you are referring to, Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System (SRRCS) P25, is in the Sentinel database. You can append that system to a Favorites list, and not try to program manually. The name of the appended system, which would be the same one you should see on the scanner's display when it goes through the system, is the long form name I listed above, not simply SRRC P25.
If you are not hearing the system when using your zip code, then one or more of several things are happening:
You have not updated the master database in Sentinel, and have not written that to the scanner. In Sentinel, look in the lower left corner of the Sentinel window. You'll see the date of the current database version there. The most current is 09/27/2020.
You do not have the correct location and range set in your HP-2. Verify that what you have loaded is correct.
The new system is has both a "Davis Simulcast" site as well as a "Countywide Simulcast" site (for Sacramento County). Depending on your exact location relative to the individual tower locations,
Simulcast Distortion may be affecting you.
