Over My Head

[trunkerman63]

Let's see, Steve, I just checked. Did you get 464.5750 for Abilene Regional?
I made a mistake on one of the ham repeaters. It is supposed to be 146.96 instead of .92.

Another one is 152.2850, McMurry University and 160.80, Union Pacific. I get lots of chatter on that one for U.P. I was going through the freqs. on the scanner just now, and there are some oddballs like the school buses, etc., but I can live without that. Not that exciting. With all this plus the other, that thing may be non stop talking, and that will be just fine!
Thanks Steve -

 

[hiegtx]

Let's see, Steve, I just checked. Did you get 464.5750 for Abilene Regional?
I made a mistake on one of the ham repeaters. It is supposed to be 146.96 instead of .92.

Another one is 152.2850, McMurry University and 160.80, Union Pacific. I get lots of chatter on that one for U.P. I was going through the freqs. on the scanner just now, and there are some oddballs like the school buses, etc., but I can live without that. Not that exciting. With all this plus the other, that thing may be non stop talking, and that will be just fine!
Thanks Steve -

One I did not include, because I did not know if it would interest you, is the electric utility, American Electric Power. I have Oncor, the utility here in the DFW area, set up, & load them when we have storm damage, and the crews are trying to restore power. The rest of the time, I don't have them in the scanner.
Edit to add:

Here is the revised Abilene programming file, along with a pdf file that shows what is in it. (Abilene Regional is in there, also the RR's.)
The "scanlist" name is the name you'll see on the display when the scanner is in that list (works much like a bank on the older scanners). That name alternates with the text tag for the frequency for that object (like a channel, in the older scanners).

See the file download instructions back in this post.

 

[trunkerman63]

That's a great lineup, Steve, but would I really be able to hear far off stuff like Big Spring? I live on the bottom floor of an apartment complex with the scanner sitting in the window facing southeast, and a lot of buildings "in the way" of a lot of signals. I have heard Nolan Co.'s digital "hash" so I could probably get that, and a very weak Shackelford Co. digital noise, but those low power med channels from several counties away, I don't know if I could get those. But if the 600 is that sensitive, then maybe I could! I hope it scans fast to be covering those many channels or it might take a while to make the circle. I bet it does get up and go. You're right about AEP, not much interest there.

Still no news on anyone to help locally, but it will get done one way or another. Thanks so much.

 

[hiegtx]

That's a great lineup, Steve, but would I really be able to hear far off stuff like Big Spring? I live on the bottom floor of an apartment complex with the scanner sitting in the window facing southeast, and a lot of buildings "in the way" of a lot of signals. I have heard Nolan Co.'s digital "hash" so I could probably get that, and a very weak Shackelford Co. digital noise, but those low power med channels from several counties away, I don't know if I could get those. But if the 600 is that sensitive, then maybe I could! I hope it scans fast to be covering those many channels or it might take a while to make the circle. I bet it does get up and go. You're right about AEP, not much interest there.

Still no news on anyone to help locally, but it will get done one way or another. Thanks so much.

I have no idea if you'd be able to hear as far out as Big Spring, or some of the other frequencies entered, regularly. However, there's lots of room in that scanner. And there are times when conditions are such that signals from way out of my area come booming in, even with just a whip antenna. It's not uncommon for us to occasionally hear Houston or Austin, several times a year, sometimes a couple times a month.

I just figured I'd put those in there for you, so that if the signal was there, the scanner would be ready to hear it. You've got about 230 "objects" programmed. That's conventional channels, like Taylor County, the VFD's, etc, plus the talkgroups for Abilene. It'll go through those pretty quickly. I have several times that in some of my scanners, but then I'm dealing with a much larger, denser, area.

 

[trunkerman63]

Sounds like a winner. Making me more anxious to get it than ever! The guy told me on email before I ordered it they'd have to run my check, would add 10 extra business days, so that's probably the delay. I did see the check on my online banking a few days ago, so they got the bread for it.

 

[hiegtx]

Sounds like a winner. Making me more anxious to get it than ever! The guy told me on email before I ordered it they'd have to run my check, would add 10 extra business days, so that's probably the delay. I did see the check on my online banking a few days ago, so they got the bread for it.

The ten business day wait is fairly common, since if a check is returned, it comes back a lot slower. HRO has been around a long time. I would not be worried. That was a great price on the scanner.

I just noticed that on the Abilene EDACS system, they added a few more "tactical" channels, 5 through 8. I've added them to my file, but not going to re-post an updated file for now, in case you think of something else you'd like to add. I think I fairly well covered what I believe you can hear, as well as what you might hear. If you can get some of the ham/skywarn frequencies for the neighboring counties, particularly to the west or southwest (where severe weather seems to come from), we could add those.

 

[trunkerman63]

Neat about the new tac channels. I'll see if I can find any skywarn channels.
Getting back to the reception of far off channels, by what I'm gathering, this must be a pretty hot radio for sensitivity. That would be great. Whoever that guy was that trashed it for bad VHF reception apparently had a lousy antenna or didn't set it up right. That kind of quality radio should be hot on all bands and modes, and I think it will be.

 

[fasteddy64]

The AFD has TAC groups 2-9, 2 and 9 are Pro-voice. TAC-2 is used for most single company stuff (Medicals, car wrecks, alarm activations etc..) TAC-3 is our primary fire ground group, 4-8 can be used for just about anything so they are worth scanning.

For Skywarn in Abilene the N5TEQ repeater is usually linked to the National Weather Service station, 444.25 with an 88.5 PL. Storm spotters can be heard on 146.76 with a 146.2 PL also.
Other ham repeaters are 146.96 and 443.1

I know nothing about that scanner and software, but would be willing to help if I can when you get the radio.

 

[trunkerman63]

Howdy fasteddy! Thanks for the rundown on the tac channels. Well by ned, I do have the 444.25, so that's good.

I sure do appreciate your offer to help me on this. I think for me, the hard part is making a file from what Steve has sent. It may be as easy as copy and paste. Just never have done it before. I was looking at the plugs on the USB cable for the 600 and I "hope" my computer has that type jack on it! It has two on the front that are long-ways, but not like a single plug like the 600's USB cable appeared to have. Internet images aren't that good sometimes, so maybe I looked at it wrong.

Thanks again, Eddy.

 

[hiegtx]

The AFD has TAC groups 2-9, 2 and 9 are Pro-voice. TAC-2 is used for most single company stuff (Medicals, car wrecks, alarm activations etc..) TAC-3 is our primary fire ground group, 4-8 can be used for just about anything so they are worth scanning.

For Skywarn in Abilene the N5TEQ repeater is usually linked to the National Weather Service station, 444.25 with an 88.5 PL. Storm spotters can be heard on 146.76 with a 146.2 PL also.
Other ham repeaters are 146.96 and 443.1

I know nothing about that scanner and software, but would be willing to help if I can when you get the radio.

Thanks for the notes, Eddy.
The scanner will ignore the talkgroups when Provoice is in use, so leaving them in there will not matter. That way, if used in analog, for any reason, they'd be picked up. I don't see a TAC-9 in the database. Is that actually the training talkgroup, or is it just not listed yet?

I'll add the other ham frequency (443.1) to the file, and update 445.25 & 146.76 with their respective pl tones.

 

[fasteddy64]

No problem.

I have been a ham, scanner guy and firefighter here in Abilene for 22 years and am happy to help when I can.

maikranze@gmail.com is my email.

 

[hiegtx]

Howdy fasteddy! Thanks for the rundown on the tac channels. Well by ned, I do have the 444.25, so that's good.

I sure do appreciate your offer to help me on this. I think for me, the hard part is making a file from what Steve has sent. It may be as easy as copy and paste. Just never have done it before. I was looking at the plugs on the USB cable for the 600 and I "hope" my computer has that type jack on it! It has two on the front that are long-ways, but not like a single plug like the 600's USB cable appeared to have. Internet images aren't that good sometimes, so maybe I looked at it wrong.

Thanks again, Eddy.

If you're computer was made anytime in the last 7-8 years (probably more like the last decade), it almost certainly has a USB port. It may be on the back, looks like a small slit-shaped socket, probably has a little symbol almost like a warped pitchfork by the USB port.

 

[trunkerman63]

Ten fur, Steve. I bet it does. A local computer repairman built it custom for me probably nearly 3 years ago by now. Big thing with dual core processors in it. It does the job, Windows numero 7 too! Ah okay. None on the back, but these two on the front are like that with the warped pitchfork, so I have two USB's right on the front real handy! Whoopiee!

 

[redhelmet13]

I can help also, I have a PSR-500 and Pro-197 (Radioshack mobile version of the PSR-600). Might I suggest downloading a program called crossloop...

This is one of those programs to allow us to remote into the other computer (control the othe computer). This would make tutoring you on how to program the radio via remote control. If someone shows you the ropes, you will pick up on it and be able to program the radio yourself as needed.

I program scanners for retired Fort Worth Firefighters and currently I am working on a scanner for the wife of retired Chief "Mac". I will be glad to help if I can.

Ed

 

[hiegtx]

Ten fur, Steve. I bet it does. A local computer repairman built it custom for me probably nearly 3 years ago by now. Big thing with dual core processors in it. It does the job, Windows numero 7 too! Ah okay. None on the back, but these two on the front are like that with the warped pitchfork, so I have two USB's right on the front real handy! Whoopiee!

Yep, you have what you need, right there handy.

I just built myself a new pc, quad core. It has multiple USB ports on the back, two on the front. Also has a firewire port, used for my 35mm negative & slides scanner. I'm slowly converting the old family photo stuff to digital.

 

[trunkerman63]

Sounds great, Steve. Next 'puter I get I would like a quad. As the internet changes we just have to upgrade over the years or get left in cyberdust.

Thanks Ed, I'll sure keep that in mind.

 

[trunkerman63]

Just to keep this from going to page 2, thought I better post. Still no radio.

over 'n' out.

 

[car55]

Quote I couldn't even set this 433 up by the "retarded" Shack manual. I had to have a guy walk me through setting up the trunking for Abilene EDACS, by long distance phone! I doubt it will be long before all law enforcement does as the DPS is doing, do it all by computer. Then where all all the digital scanners be? I know of nothing that can pick up computer communications in your living room. Quote
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My area most is analog so ya it okay for now .The digital radio sounds like a waterfall or mechanic being . I hate it many times comes in digitize and even police say to dispatch or dispatch say to police say it again you too digitize.It is technology that is not in its prime time yet.


Most 96% car to car taffic is done on the computer or cell phone now .

I know this one police force that no longer dispatch priority 2 or priority 3 calls any more over air !!! Only priority E calls and priority 1 calls is dispatch and it is at the dispatchers discretion.Put other way if they feel like it.


So you year some dispactch say unit xx can you take the domestic or fight call in the xx area the address and call information is in the call.

I didn't understand trunked radios until I got computer software. When I saw it layed out in front of me on the computer screen, it all came together in my mind. Now there are pre-programmed scanners and options to download from radioreference's database. There's still a lot I don't understand, but just ask as necessary.

I don't know any program that shows all the channels in use at the same time and who is using one channel .

 

[trunkerman63]

Still scannerless in Abilene. Maybe NEXT Christmas?