SDS100/SDS200: Not receiving sheriff in one county

[Mongoosmike]

The last reply is very informative and gives me a much better grasp of how to find the correct listings. In answer to a few questions I previously overlooked, I have never heard PD, or Sheriff in San Ramon, Contra Costa or Alameda on previous profile or current one. Previous profile just has less selections of what the current profile has. That's the way I thought I had San Mateo and Contra Costa and Alameda set up, only selecting PD, Sheriff and Fire/EMS to listen to. Then finding out I couldn’t hear the PD or Sheriff. I selected the zip code setup for San Mateo, then later added Contra Costa, and Alameda. I am trying to think of the best way to keep San Mateo and Contra Costa Counties, and making a new profile and copy them to the new profile then going in and editing in the new frequencies from what you have mentioned for the Sheriff channel info. First have to upload scanner to Sentinel, then upload any new firmware, then update the database since I have not updated since about Sept of last year. I actually can occasionally hear calls from Fire, and EMS in San Ramon and Alameda from home in South San Francisco. I am also using the Remtronix REM-820S SMA 800 MHz antenna on the SDS for listening. It is awesome. I hear calls all over the SM County down to San Jose, and coastal cities, and a few occasional calls from Fire in Marin County. I started out long ago, with the Bearcat Four-Six, six channel hand held, with crystals, looking at it now, in the box on the shelf). Then upgraded later to the Radio Shack PRO-92, (looking at it on table). I came to a rude awakening last year when I tried to listen on the PRO-92 and only heard a few calls a day. After asking on RR for info, I was told about the new technology being used, and had changed over to the newer digital system, and I would have to buy a newer scanner. The SDS-100 was well recommended, along with a few others. I hadn't listened to the radio for some time. Technology culture shock at that point. I haven't regretted it yet, but waiting for the day I get all the counties set up. I am getting spotty calls on CHP, from Dublin and east bay though and have to go through those listings and try to see if I notice any different listings like you mentioned, type of system and so on. The CHP system is a little hard to figure out since they have a wide variety of listings for repeaters and cities I have never heard of. I was heading to San Ramon two weeks ago on my usual weekly Friday visit and was on Frwy 880 NB by San Leandro, and heard a call of CHP pursuit. Then I heard the unit call in again, NB 880, #2 lane, 110mph, 2 approaching 580 split, vehicle just went dark. I was 1 mile south of the exit, in the slow lane getting ready to take that cut off towards San Ramon. About 5 seconds later, I saw the car going by in the fast lane at a high rate of speed, with it's lights out, followed by CHP. That to say the least was little too close for me. I will wait until tomorrow to try and do everything so I have the time available to tr update and transfer things. Update firmware, update database, then make a new profile for SM and Contra Costa County, then edit the new profiles database for the channels again, plus the new frequency listings that you mentioned, now that I know where the actual Sheriff listings are, then edit the database again. Thank you very much for the pictures as well. Worth a 1,000 words.

 

[hiegtx]

The last reply is very informative and gives me a much better grasp of how to find the correct listings. In answer to a few questions I previously overlooked, I have never heard PD, or Sheriff in San Ramon, Contra Costa or Alameda on previous profile or current one. Previous profile just has less selections of what the current profile has. That's the way I thought I had San Mateo and Contra Costa and Alameda set up, only selecting PD, Sheriff and Fire/EMS to listen to. Then finding out I couldn’t hear the PD or Sheriff. I selected the zip code setup for San Mateo, then later added Contra Costa, and Alameda. I am trying to think of the best way to keep San Mateo and Contra Costa Counties, and making a new profile and copy them to the new profile then going in and editing in the new frequencies from what you have mentioned for the Sheriff channel info. First have to upload scanner to Sentinel, then upload any new firmware, then update the database since I have not updated since about Sept of last year. I actually can occasionally hear calls from Fire, and EMS in San Ramon and Alameda from home in South San Francisco. I am also using the Remtronix REM-820S SMA 800 MHz antenna on the SDS for listening. It is awesome. I hear calls all over the SM County down to San Jose, and coastal cities, and a few occasional calls from Fire in Marin County. I started out long ago, with the Bearcat Four-Six, six channel hand held, with crystals, looking at it now, in the box on the shelf). Then upgraded later to the Radio Shack PRO-92, (looking at it on table). I came to a rude awakening last year when I tried to listen on the PRO-92 and only heard a few calls a day. After asking on RR for info, I was told about the new technology being used, and had changed over to the newer digital system, and I would have to buy a newer scanner. The SDS-100 was well recommended, along with a few others. I hadn't listened to the radio for some time. Technology culture shock at that point. I haven't regretted it yet, but waiting for the day I get all the counties set up. I am getting spotty calls on CHP, from Dublin and east bay though and have to go through those listings and try to see if I notice any different listings like you mentioned, type of system and so on. The CHP system is a little hard to figure out since they have a wide variety of listings for repeaters and cities I have never heard of. I was heading to San Ramon two weeks ago on my usual weekly Friday visit and was on Frwy 880 NB by San Leandro, and heard a call of CHP pursuit. Then I heard the unit call in again, NB 880, #2 lane, 110mph, 2 approaching 580 split, vehicle just went dark. I was 1 mile south of the exit, in the slow lane getting ready to take that cut off towards San Ramon. About 5 seconds later, I saw the car going by in the fast lane at a high rate of speed, with it's lights out, followed by CHP. That to say the least was little too close for me. I will wait until tomorrow to try and do everything so I have the time available to tr update and transfer things. Update firmware, update database, then make a new profile for SM and Contra Costa County, then edit the new profiles database for the channels again, plus the new frequency listings that you mentioned, now that I know where the actual Sheriff listings are, then edit the database again. Thank you very much for the pictures as well. Worth a 1,000 words.

Since you are wanting agencies in several counties, your best path would be to create a specific favorites list with the 3 counties and/or their related agencies.You can do that by appending from the database as already mentioned. Once you get it tweaked to what you want, be sure and save it in Sentinel, as well as download it to the scanner.

While you could likely get those three counties when scanning using the main database and location,using your location, as well as a sufficient range to include the systems of interest, the down side is that that wide a range will also pick up a number of other agencies, in addition to the ones you do want. So you would need to lock those out (avoid them), but the time you shut the scanner down, then rebooted it later, some of those unwanted systems would come back,

 

[Mongoosmike]

I ran into a small problem when I first received the SDS-100. I ended up making 3 different favorites or profiles trying to get everything right and didn't want to delete any of them as they were different frequencies. When I made the new profile today, I made San Mateo~Contra Costa. When I opened up the file, I couldl not see it listed in the list with the others, as I show in the picture. It shows the previous 3, but not the new one when I am logged into that profile. I then opened uip another profile, and checked the list and it still only shows 3 lists. This is a little problem Sentinel seems to have with not quiite being straighforward. So, I am delayed in trying to figure out what is going on with the lists.

 

[Mongoosmike]

I made another profile, named San Mateo~Contra Cost County, and when I open any of the profiles and look at the lists, I do not see San Mateo~Contra Costa County in the list. So, if I start appending frequencies from the other profiles, to put in the new profile, how do I know it will be in the new profile I made and how would I be able to select it to download to the scanner so It is the new list on the scanner if I don't see it in the list to select? Sentinel is very confusing to say the least, and that is why I have the 3 previous profiles. I also posted a similar post with an earlier image, but this image shows a little more detail of the problem. Thank you for the help.

 

[ve1sef]

I'd check the quick keys, see if everything set correct.
Then go into sentinel open edit profile to check if both the monitor and download are turned on.
As for the "scratchy" reception try a different antenna on your handheld.

 

[Mongoosmike]

I was asking about sentinel software, not the scanner, nor was I asking about antenna reception. I have good reception with the Remtronics Hand held antenna. I was asking about why the software has problems not showing a new profile that I added and when I selelct edit profiles, it only shows the original 3 profiles and not the new one in the list, although I can open the profile from file open. i am not sure how I wil be able to add files into the new profile if I don't see it on the list.

 

[hiegtx]

I was asking about sentinel software, not the scanner, nor was I asking about antenna reception. I have good reception with the Remtronics Hand held antenna. I was asking about why the software has problems not showing a new profile that I added and when I selelct edit profiles, it only shows the original 3 profiles and not the new one in the list, although I can open the profile from file open. i am not sure how I wil be able to add files into the new profile if I don't see it on the list.

It sounds as if you are confusing Favorites lists and Profiles.
Looking at your screenshot:

The San Mateo~Contra Costa County is the name of the active profile. Profiles do not show up on the default screen Sentinel. Favorites always do.

To see your list of Profiles, click on the small icon that resembles an open folder.

When you select that, you'll see a list of the Profiles that you have created and saved, In this example, I have selected the profile I use for my SDS200. Note that the same name, SDS200, is listed at the top of Sentinel, as well as the selected list.

All the profile does is set certain details that will be loaded to the scanner, such as:
Which Favorites lists should be downloaded to the scanner
Which Favorites should also be set to be monitored
Whether you do, or do not, want to Monitor the Main Database (using your entered location and range)
Whether you also want to Monitor Search With Scan
Which Service Types are enabled
Quick Keys status
Whether or not Priority is enabled, along with setting the number of seconds between Priority channel checks (the interval desired)
It contains your settings for Display options, Weather (entry of the SAME codes)
And other items selected and saved in a specific Profile.

Regardless of which profile you have selected to use, the same Favorites lists are shown. You cannot delete a list from one Profile, and still have it available to be used in a different profile.

The Profile you select is the one that governs which lists and other choices are sent to the scanner when you write to the scanner. The Profiles themselves are not saved on the scanner. Only the settings for the Profile you've chosen are downloaded. However, you can always write all of the lists you have created, then toggle those on or off on the scanner via the Menu option for Set Scan Selection, or by using assigned quick keys. You might consider putting each of your counties of interest into individual Favorites list, then have Sentinel download all of them, regardless of the Profile chosen.

 

[Mongoosmike]

Thank you for the info, that helps a little bit more, but when I do select the new profile and it displays at the top of Sentinel, which line do I select to start appending channels to that profile, what line in the overall menu do I select to start appending new frequencies to that profile, which line in all the names do I select when I don't actually see the new profile name anywhere? Sorry for the extra questions but I sometimes I forget to add extra info in the questions. And thank you for the help as always.

 

[hiegtx]

Thank you for the info, that helps a little bit more, but when I do select the new profile and it displays at the top of Sentinel, which line do I select to start appending channels to that profile, what line in the overall menu do I select to start appending new frequencies to that profile, which line in all the names do I select when I don't actually see the new profile name anywhere? Sorry for the extra questions but I sometimes I forget to add extra info in the questions. And thank you for the help as always.

You're still confusing Profiles & Favorites lists. On your last screenshot, you showed that you have three lists created. Your profiles do not show up by default in Sentinels main screen, As I noted above, if you want to see a list of your profiles, click on that folder icon on the second line from the top of Sentinel's screen.

You cannot append channels to a profile. If there are additional channels or systems that you want available, then either add them to a new Favorites list, or add to a list you already have/ All the profile does is tell Sentinel which lists to send to the scanner, and where you have set them to only be downloaded, or both downloaded and monitored.

The only thing you see when looking at Sentinel is the name of the profile you are currently using. (That's at the very top of Sentinels main window.) So if you create a new list, it will show along with your others at Sentinel's main page. By editing one of your current profiles, or creating another one, then you can choose whether your additional list should be download, and if so, whether it should be monitored by default.

I have four profiles saved, and about 30 Favorites lists for various systems or areas. Each of the four profiles that I use shows all of the lists that I've created, For a specific profile, I then select whether or not I want that list to be downloaded to the scanner, and if so, whether I also want it monitored by default,

 

[Mongoosmike]

I don't know what's going on with email connecting to a forum response but it has been going on for about 3-4 days. I reply to response from the email, in the forum, and don't see the current reply, then maybe the second time I try or the third time it appears. I replied to this 3 times just now before I finally saw your response. The real BAD part of the Sentinel software confusion is that the software should show ONLY the profile info you are logged into, plus any favorites that you have for that profile. Really very disappointing design in a way and ease of use. As far as the new profile thought, I have decided to just upload the scanner to Sentinel, then update firmware, then update the database, then go into the one profile I use for now, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties, and look for the Contra Costa and Alameda County Sheriff channels and append them into the list, using the pictures and comments from a previous post response, then append the sheriff channels into that, based on info from a couple of previous posts. Apparently Contra Costa and Alameda have a somewhat more complicated P25 systems and have the sheriff channels in a different location within the system. I think it was mentioned that the channels were older frequencies or something like that. I want to try and get the Sheriff channels programmed in before Sat when I visit the friends in San Ramon so I can check out if they work. I also still have to update the favorite channel database so it is current after I download the database. I can pick up Valley fire in San Ramon and the other FD's as well and can also pick up the FD and calls from Alameda here at home. I am in a pretty good location, being about a mile from SFO across the freeway and about the same Sea Level and having no mountains in the way. Thank you for the help again and hopefully this will be the answer to the missing Sheriff frequencies.

 

[phask]

"The real BAD part of the Sentinel software confusion is that the software should show ONLY the profile info you are logged into, plus any favorites that you have for that profile. "

If that were the case, how would one add a favorite that was "in" another profile?

As has been stated numerous times - you are still confusing the 2.

Think of Profiles as CONTAINERS. The containers hold all the info for a specific radio setting.

Personally, I only use profiles for different radios. For what you are trying to do - I'd download all the Fav. Lists and use fav list quick keys to on/off.

You can always decide to do it differently later. Until you understand the basics though, keep it simple.

 

[gmclam]

Sentinel saves each Favorites list separately, but they are all one profile and can all be available at once. I have mine organized as Favorites=State, System=County. There's one for national. Counties might have 2 systems, one for Conventional and one for Trunked. This puts everything at my fingertips. It does take a little work to keep updated. I personally don't use the zip code feature.
Example:

	F	S	D
FAVORITES	05			Oregon
SYSTEM		00	00	Oregon Statewide
DEPARTMENT		00	01	Inter-Op
		00	02	US Fish & Wildlife
		01	00	Oregon S R P
		02	00	ODF
		03	00	OSP Common
		04	00	Baker
		05	00	Benton

 

[Mongoosmike]

Thanks again for info. I used the zip code feature for the different counties and then set avoid to everything except Police, Sheriff, CHP, Fire and EMS, then saved the info. Then I went into the different fav lists and appended the necessary frequencies to the 3 county favorite list that I use. But, I wasn't aware then that the Sheriff was using a different segment of the P25 system and it wasn't clearly identified, at least to me, under the Contra Costa and Alameda counties until several posts ago, and that's what prompted my previous questions. I am sorry for not explaining more, previously but I do understand the way Sentinel is and it could just be set up as I mentioned, and be a little less confusing but it is made the way it is, and it's free. To append frequencies from another "profile and favorite" list, if it were set up that each profile would show only the info and fav list for that profile only, you would do like many other software programs, where you want to add something to your content from another seection or file, (profile/favorite), and select insert, browse, (or append), and browse to that other profile/favorite and add the sections you want from it. I will post again when I get the scanner software and database updated and get the sheriff departments appended into the current fav list. Hopefully, some day/year. lol, I will have my system set up as nicely as yours. Thank you again for your and others help. Have a safe day, and weekend.

 

[rrobinso84]

I feel your pain guys. Bottom line is that each favorite list is GLOBAL. The FLs are the unit of storage, and profiles just activate or don't activate a given set of FLs. It's not like "normal" software, because the scanner is not like a "normal" device!

 

[Mongoosmike]

View attachment 135443
That note under the Sheriff header is indicating that the Sheriff's Office is not using conventional frequencies. Instead, they are using that linked trunked system:

East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS) Trunking System, Various, California

East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

These are the talkgroups listed:
View attachment 135444
Looking at your file, you do not show Contra Costa at all. Nor do you have Alameda unless those counties are in separate Favorites lists that you did not attach in your first post in this thread.

You can easily either, or both, if these counties using Sentinel.

Go to the database section in Sentinel
Click on USA to expand the list of states.
Next, click on California to expand the list of Counties.
Scroll down to Contra Costa, and expand it.
Click on the County Systems folder:
View attachment 135445
The Contra Costa in the right side pane has the conventional frequencies shown on the county's database page.

If you select Contra Costa and,right><click. on it, you'll get a pop-up menu where you can select to Append it to either an existing Favorites list, or create a new one,
View attachment 135446
Similarly, if you select the East Bay system & <right><click. on it, you can append it to a list as well.
View attachment 135447
Both Costa Contra and Alameda Counties have talkgroups on the East Bay system.

If you also wanted the conventional channels for Alameda, click on that county, then on the County Systems folder to get a list of systems in that county. The entry Alameda is the one you would want to append.

If you append all of these, you'll likely end up with things you do not want. Those can be deleted either the Favorites list editor, or by right=clicking on them in the main Sentinel window & choosing the option to Remove from Favorites list

View attachment 135443
That note under the Sheriff header is indicating that the Sheriff's Office is not using conventional frequencies. Instead, they are using that linked trunked system:

East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS) Trunking System, Various, California

East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

These are the talkgroups listed:
View attachment 135444
Looking at your file, you do not show Contra Costa at all. Nor do you have Alameda unless those counties are in separate Favorites lists that you did not attach in your first post in this thread.

You can easily either, or both, if these counties using Sentinel.

Go to the database section in Sentinel
Click on USA to expand the list of states.
Next, click on California to expand the list of Counties.
Scroll down to Contra Costa, and expand it.
Click on the County Systems folder:
View attachment 135445
The Contra Costa in the right side pane has the conventional frequencies shown on the county's database page.

If you select Contra Costa and,right><click. on it, you'll get a pop-up menu where you can select to Append it to either an existing Favorites list, or create a new one,
View attachment 135446
Similarly, if you select the East Bay system & <right><click. on it, you can append it to a list as well.
View attachment 135447
Both Costa Contra and Alameda Counties have talkgroups on the East Bay system.

If you also wanted the conventional channels for Alameda, click on that county, then on the County Systems folder to get a list of systems in that county. The entry Alameda is the one you would want to append.

If you append all of these, you'll likely end up with things you do not want. Those can be deleted either the Favorites list editor, or by right=clicking on them in the main Sentinel window & choosing the option to Remove from Favorites list

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi. I wanted to say thank you again for the information about the Sheriff listings and give you an update. I went to the link you mentioned in the link for the sub listing under Sheriff, Contra Costa County, and I did go in and append those channels to the favorites list on Friday. Before I did that, I updated the firmware and also the database. I added them to an existing favorite list that I have been using for a while for the three counties. When I visited friends yesterday, I heard a few calls from San Ramon Sheriff, dispatch and the units. I also did not hear a reply on some of the call though. Dispatch would call and then no reception, then dispatch would continue the call and explain the situation like they had received a response from the unit. It only happened to a small amount of the calls though. But at least I am receiving some calls. I only heard calls that were showing San Ramon and that is the city I am interested in where my friends are. I also want to try to find Dublin PD or Sheriff frequencies thinking they may have a similar sub listing in theire database listings.

 

[hiegtx]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi. I wanted to say thank you again for the information about the Sheriff listings and give you an update. I went to the link you mentioned in the link for the sub listing under Sheriff, Contra Costa County, and I did go in and append those channels to the favorites list on Friday. Before I did that, I updated the firmware and also the database. I added them to an existing favorite list that I have been using for a while for the three counties. When I visited friends yesterday, I heard a few calls from San Ramon Sheriff, dispatch and the units. I also did not hear a reply on some of the call though. Dispatch would call and then no reception, then dispatch would continue the call and explain the situation like they had received a response from the unit. It only happened to a small amount of the calls though. But at least I am receiving some calls. I only heard calls that were showing San Ramon and that is the city I am interested in where my friends are. I also want to try to find Dublin PD or Sheriff frequencies thinking they may have a similar sub listing in theire database listings.

Looking at the East Bay system in the database, it indicates that Dublin is dispatched on the Dispatch 2 talkgroup for the Alameda County S.O.



Look at this post from the California Forum:

EBRCS: Alameda Sheriff

So we know from the database that these two dispatch channels cover the listed below areas, but where does ACSO DSP3 dispatch? Emeryville, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, Alameda City, and more seem to not have an ACSO dispatcher?? Does anyone know? Dispatch 1 - Eden Township Dispatch 2 - AC...

forums.radioreference.com

It indicates that Dublin unit IDs start with a 7. I'm not in your state, so I'm only relaying what someone else posted.

 

[Mongoosmike]

Looking at the East Bay system in the database, it indicates that Dublin is dispatched on the Dispatch 2 talkgroup for the Alameda County S.O.

View attachment 135899
Look at this post from the California Forum:

EBRCS: Alameda Sheriff

So we know from the database that these two dispatch channels cover the listed below areas, but where does ACSO DSP3 dispatch? Emeryville, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, Alameda City, and more seem to not have an ACSO dispatcher?? Does anyone know? Dispatch 1 - Eden Township Dispatch 2 - AC...

forums.radioreference.com

It indicates that Dublin unit IDs start with a 7. I'm not in your state, so I'm only relaying what someone else posted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wanted to see if someone could check my Sentinel file and see if it is showing the correct frequencies and selections to be receiving the San Ramon Sherifff, (Contra Costa County or Alameda County)? And the Dublin Sheriff, (Alameda County). Dispatch 1? I also realize that I forgot to add Dispatch 2, you said that was for Dublini Sheriff? I only have this one favorite loaded with the three counties on my SDS-100. I finally got around to updating the firmware and database, and appending more channels in last Friday, but I only heard a few calls from San Ramon Sheriff when I was visiting friends there on Saturday. I only need to listen to the Dublin Sheriff when I travel through the city, which borders south side of San Ramon, as I leave and go to the 580 West freeway, going back home. Someone in another post mentioned to program the channels so it is showing the P-25 system, but I thought the channels were already showing that when I append the channel selections from the database, to the favorite channels. I am eventually going to de select Sheriff, Fire/EMS and other frequencies from Alameda County, the go over the CHP frequencies. That is a strangely complicated system and I have a lot of outlying repeaters ignored to avoid unnecessary calls, but I hear Alameda, Dublin, East Bay but nothing from SF to Redwood City, in the San Mateo County areas. Thank you again for all the help, which has helped a lot. Pre 80's used to be simple. 8 crystals in the Bearcat scanner. LOL But, I must say, these digital systems are great, but a little more complicated if you don't which areas are in what talk group, or sub talk group, or under a different County system like the Contra Costa and Alameda systems, and CHP.

 

[Ensnared]

I don't know what's going on with email connecting to a forum response but it has been going on for about 3-4 days. I reply to response from the email, in the forum, and don't see the current reply, then maybe the second time I try or the third time it appears. I replied to this 3 times just now before I finally saw your response. The real BAD part of the Sentinel software confusion is that the software should show ONLY the profile info you are logged into, plus any favorites that you have for that profile. Really very disappointing design in a way and ease of use. As far as the new profile thought, I have decided to just upload the scanner to Sentinel, then update firmware, then update the database, then go into the one profile I use for now, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties, and look for the Contra Costa and Alameda County Sheriff channels and append them into the list, using the pictures and comments from a previous post response, then append the sheriff channels into that, based on info from a couple of previous posts. Apparently Contra Costa and Alameda have a somewhat more complicated P25 systems and have the sheriff channels in a different location within the system. I think it was mentioned that the channels were older frequencies or something like that. I want to try and get the Sheriff channels programmed in before Sat when I visit the friends in San Ramon so I can check out if they work. I also still have to update the favorite channel database so it is current after I download the database. I can pick up Valley fire in San Ramon and the other FD's as well and can also pick up the FD and calls from Alameda here at home. I am in a pretty good location, being about a mile from SFO across the freeway and about the same Sea Level and having no mountains in the way. Thank you for the help again and hopefully this will be the answer to the missing Sheriff frequencies.

In time, this might make better sense. At present, the architecture may seem a bit foreign. I hope that you take the time to learn from people who possess intimate knowledge about Uniden radios and such. Don't throw in the towel.

 

[Mongoosmike]

Not throwing in any towels.. Not familiar with the software, slowly learning it's idiosyncrasies a little at a time.
Still needing someone to look at the HPE file to help determine if I selected the correct frequencies and sections that are needed to receive San Ramon and Dublin Sheriff. After adding I think were the correct 5, (4 requencies and 1 dispatch), last Friday, I did hear a few San Ramon Sheriff calls Sat night when I was visiting friends, but a few of the calls didn't seem complete. Dispatch would call, unit would answer. a few times dispatch would call and no answer, then dispatch would call out again and talk liked they WERE talking to the unit, but I didn't hear the response. I did hear other calls which I heard both sides of the conversations though but not many calls overall. That wouldl vary depending on time of day though, understandable. All were within listening distance, within a few miles or so, so distance is not the issue. Have a good Remtronics antenna on the SDS-100 and can hear calls in Contra and Alameda County 40 miles away from home in San Mateo County. Just trying to make sure someone can possibly advise, from the HPE file if I need to add anything more from the RR database. Thank you for all the help.

 

[hiegtx]

Not throwing in any towels.. Not familiar with the software, slowly learning it's idiosyncrasies a little at a time.
Still needing someone to look at the HPE file to help determine if I selected the correct frequencies and sections that are needed to receive San Ramon and Dublin Sheriff. After adding I think were the correct 5, (4 requencies and 1 dispatch), last Friday, I did hear a few San Ramon Sheriff calls Sat night when I was visiting friends, but a few of the calls didn't seem complete. Dispatch would call, unit would answer. a few times dispatch would call and no answer, then dispatch would call out again and talk liked they WERE talking to the unit, but I didn't hear the response. I did hear other calls which I heard both sides of the conversations though but not many calls overall. That wouldl vary depending on time of day though, understandable. All were within listening distance, within a few miles or so, so distance is not the issue. Have a good Remtronics antenna on the SDS-100 and can hear calls in Contra and Alameda County 40 miles away from home in San Mateo County. Just trying to make sure someone can possibly advise, from the HPE file if I need to add anything more from the RR database. Thank you for all the help.

Looking at your file, on the East Bay trunked system, you don't have any of the talkgroups for the Alameda County S.O., so you don't have the Dispatch 2 TGID that covers Dublin. If you go into the database, and go down to the county & expand the trunked system, you can select only the Alameda S.O. department & append it to your list. If you specifically select the S.O.'s department, then that is all that would be appended to the system already in your Favorites list.


Since you appended the systems from the main database, your frequencies would be correct unless you went in, and for whatever reason, deleted a few of them. With a cursory glance, it appears that they are in place.

I would also go through the list & see how many of the sites (that are not set as Avoid) than you can actually receive. I suspect you have more in there than only what is in range. The excess sites, if they are not needed, slow your scanning speed down. I would also go through there & remove all the things that you have set as Avoid, if they are not anything of interest, such as Public Works department.

I also would suggest that you click on the Report link down in the lower left corner of your posts, and request that a moderator move your thread to the regional forum that covers your area, I see that you've asked a couple of questions in an existing thread in that forum. If you have this one moved down there, you're much more likely to catch the attention of someone is familiar with the systems. While I can look at the database, I'm not in that area, so I would not know exactly which sites, on whatever system, that you really need. My guess is that you have some that you don't need, and some that you do are either not there, or are set as Avoid.