SDS100/SDS200: P-25 issue

[telco50]

Loaded several favorites groups into the scanner-most use the statewide P-25 system. The problem is that every time I get a hit on something it wants to search the entire state system. Any way to isolate the areas I want to listen to?

 

[Enforcer52]

Did you load the entire state database for the system? On any P25 system I will load only the areas I want to monitor, then will go into the database and avoid any channel I don't want to listen, and place the scanner in ID SCAN mode and not ID Search Mode, the scanner will then just look for and show the TGIDs that are in the database, and ignore anything else.

What system are you monitoring? You should only have the towers and channels that in the Fort Wayne area for around a 40 mile radius.

 

[ofd8001]

I suggest you use Sentinel to edit your Favorites List which contains these things, go the the right pane, looking for the Options tab. Change Location Control to ON.

Presuming you have set your Location to a zip code near where you are and you use a lower Range value (less than 10.0), the scanner will turn off all the sites that exceed your location.

 

[telco50]

I have tried both suggestions and the scanner still wants to scan the entire state system

 

[ofd8001]

Once you made the change location control to on, you you write that to the scanner? Erase favorites as part of process. Also is scan master database off in profile? Should be.

 

[n1chu]

As ofd8001 has mentioned, the “Full Database” must be Off. To get to this setting do the following; Enter the Menu and select the first item “Set Scan Selection”. Then select “Select Lists to Monitor”. Make sure “Full Database” is Off.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I have tried both suggestions and the scanner still wants to scan the entire state system

In addition to the suggestions above you'll want to remove the sites, departments & talkgroups you feel you don't need via Sentinel: Edit > Edit Favorites List. Adding an entire state system to a FL via Sentinel will append every site, department and talkgroup systemwide, like it or not. There's no selectivity prior to appending which is why I and others prefer Proscan over Sentinel for building FLs

 

[gmclam]

When programming anything, I set up Quick Keys for each county. With regard to the typical state-wide trunked systems, I might let all the TGs be enabled, but I certainly put the towers into the county they cover. There's no sense in letting/telling the scanner to search every tower in the state, when I already know I can only receive from some of them.

 

[telco50]

I finally got this to work. I found out that when you pull up the P-25 system sites you can right click with the mouse and Select All. Then select Avoid All. Then you have to go back in and unavoid any site you need. Sentinel seems like a clumsy program to me. I've programed with CHIRP and multible Whister scanners and I've never had so much trouble.

 

[ofd8001]

It's a learning process. I haven't done much CHIRP and struggle with it. The more you use Sentinel, the more comfortable you will be.

Avoiding and Quick Keys are effective ways of accomplishing what you want to do. Modern scanners have several routes to the same destination.

I like the Location method because all I need to do if I go elsewhere is change the zip code. Then the scanner with do its thing just turn sites and talkgroups on/off as appropriate to location. Fewest things to remember. It's even better for mobiles with GPS devices.

 

[buddrousa]

I have 99 Favorites set up in my SDS100's and 436 for the 2 states I travel the most and run location control and the GPS's to turn on and off the areas as I drive for true hands free of only what I want to receive.