Bear with me, I am addressing your post piece-by-piece, and will be repeating myself along the way, simply for clarity, no other reason...
Once again..Really Appreciate your time and help. Perhaps the issue with my conventional systems is that I get the frequency on line 2, The alpha tag on line 3, and a display of , for example, "CT 97.4" on the fourth line.
This is not "an issue".
This is correct behavior. The conventional frequency will display on Line 2, and only Line 2, and cannot be replaced by text.
The alpha tag will display on Line 3 (in listening mode).
The CTCSS tone (CT 97.4, etc.) will display only on Line 4 (in listening mode).
(This is all correct. You cannot change the format or layout of the above items on your display.)
When the system is just scanning, I do get the display you mentioned above.
Ok. Good.
With the listening mode, I think this is because I did not over write the frequencies. Perhaps that is the problem. My guess is that I need to go into the conventional systems and overwrite the frequency with the site name. I would only do it once as I assume I can copy and paste the rest of the way down until I get to my next list, then start all over again. I used to manually program my 996T, and I would overwrite the frequencies with a name.
No. You're headed in the wrong direction, here. The frequencies should not be "overwritten" as you described above.
Conventional Frequencies don't have a "Site Name".
The Conventional frequencies are entered via the "Conventional" portion of the ARC500's "Object Browser". The "Alpha Tag" is the text that displays on the Scanner Display's Line 4 while scanning, and on Scanner Display's Line 3 while listening.
10 minutes later...no success there. When I try to re-place the frequency with the system name under the object browser list, it will not allow me to put any alpha characters in its place, only numbers.
Again, as mentioned above, this is the wrong direction. You cannot do this "replace frequency with system name" step as you described above. It is impossible. The radio and the software won't allow it.
(Now, as a second thought. The only way where this might get confused is if you also entered the frequency into ARC500's "Alpha Tag" column. That could get confusing. Hopefully, you did not do that. Hopefully, you entered the frequency into ARC500's "Frequency" column, and a textual description into the "Alpha Tag" column.)
When I try to enter a name over a frequency under the "scanlist preview" tab, when I double click on a frequency it sends me back to the "object browser" list and I am back at square one again.
That is correct. The "ScanList Preview" is not an editable list. It is only a convenient place to see what you have entered, but to see it in a list-by-list manner.
Only in the Object Browser can you edit your frequency-data.
If you notice in the Object Browser, in the third column, the "Scan Lists" column, of the Object Browser, you can enter more than one ScanList number for a particular row (frequency/alpha-tag record). This lets you put a single object (Conventional or Talkgroup) into multiple ScanLists.
The benefit of the "ScanList Preview" is that you can see just what is in a particular ScanList, to make sure it is the way you want it to be. Again, it is not an editable list. The Object Browser is the only place you can edit data and assign ScanList-membership.
Basically, and I am no stranger to software, I cannot change any of the frequencies for a name. Really, I know this stuff...but I have tried all the logical options to fix it and cannot. I thought it was odd that I was only seeing a frequency and alpha tag, cuz there was no way I could remember what system it was under.
A
Conventional Frequency and its associated Alpha Tag are NOT "under a system". They are "stand-alone" for lack of a better term.
Only a Talkgroup is associated with a "System", meaning a "Trunked Radio System". They are "never stand-alone" for lack of a better term. The Talkgroups rely on, and only exist within, a Trunked Radio System.
This is an important difference to understand.
Example:
- If I name ScanList #1 as "My Local PD", and then
- enter a Conventional Frequency (stand-alone analog) as "My Local PD Talkaround" and make it a member of the "My Local PD" ScanList, and then
- enter a Trunked Radio System called "My Town's TRS", and then
- enter a Talkgroup named "My Local PD Dispatch" and relate it to the "My Town's TRS" system, and also make it a member of the "My Local PD" ScanList, then
- both will be scanned when I scan the "My Local PD" ScanList (ScanList #1).
When it is scanning, the Conventional Frequency will display as described earlier; and the Talkgroup and System Names will display as described earlier.
Is there a way that should be done?
At this point, "that" (as you've described above) is something which should not be done, and no, there is no way to do "that".
Now in my talk group lists, I get the alpha tag on line 3 and the word TSYS on the bottom. I did punch that F2 button and got the extra info.
Ok. Good.
For the name of each system, I have the proper system name that I typed in located under the Object Browser, the scan list preview and the global settings tabs. But nothing I do will let me change a frequency for a name with characters.
Ok. Several things here:
- The term "system name" refers to a Trunked Radio System's name (edited under Object Browser). This is different than the 20 "ScanList" names (edited under Global Settings).
- "Systems" are entered in ARC500 by clicking in the left navigation column on "Object Browser", "Trunk System Object", "Trunk Systems". This displays the "TSYS" list in the main right-frame. This is where you create the individual Trunked Systems that you want to monitor.
- "Talkgroups" behave like a "channel" within a "System". The "Talkgroups" are entered by clicking "Talkgroup" in the left-nav column. This displays the "TGRP" list. In this list, you enter the "Talkgroup ID" (meaning the Talkgroup number), the "Alpha Tag" (a meaningful description), choose the Scan List(s) you want this to be a member of, and choose "Trunk System" (the "System" that the Talkgroup is related to.)
- Example 1:
- Let's say you want to listen to the Illinois-StarCom21 statewide Trunked Radio System (TRS).
- Let's say you want to listen to the "Andover" tower in "Henry County". On the StarCom DB page, scroll down to the "System Frequencies" section, and look for the "1(1) / 003(3) / Andover / Henry / 852.4375 / 852.9625c / 853.48750a / 858.21250" listing.
- The four 8xx frequencies will be entered into your scanner in the "Systems" list explained above. That system could be named "StarCom21-Andover".
- Let's say you want to listen to the "ISP AeroOps1" talkgroup on the "StarCom21-Andover" system.
- On the StarCom DB page, scroll down to the "System Talkgroups" section, and look for "13105 / 3331 / D / ISPAeroOps1 / Aero Bureau - Unit to Unit ("Lincoln Units") / Law Tac"
- To listen to this, you enter the Talkgroup Number and Alpha Tag in your scanner's Talkgroup list, and on that same row in your Talkgroup list, you choose the System "StarCom21-Andover", so that the scanner knows that this TG belongs to that TRS.
- Example 2:
- Let's say you also want to listen to the Amtrak Railroad Conventional Frequency for the St.Louis Station.
- On the Amtrak page, scroll down to the "160.5000 / KC8086 / M / CSQ / 160.5 Amtrak / Ops - St. Louis Station / FM / Railroad" listing.
- In ARC500's "Conventional" listing, you would enter the frequency 160.500, the alpha tag 160.5 Amtrak, and choose your ScanList (for this example, also assign it to "My Local PD" (Scan List #1)).
- Note: The conventional railroad frequency is not associated with any Trunked Radio System. It stands on its own.
- Note: All of the above examples are part of your "My Local PD" ScanList #1. So, when you are in scan mode, and have enabled ScanList #1, by pressing the "1" button on the keypad, you will see screen-shots mentioned earlier.
- In Scan Mode: Line 4: Your Conventional Alpha Tags rapidly cycling with the Trunked System Names as each is scanned.
- In Listen mode: Line 3: Either (Conventional Alpha Tag briefly interrupted by the ScanList name) or (Talkgroup Alpha Tag briefly interrupted by the System name).
Its frustrating. Nothing I have done causes the name/alpha tag to alternate. And I have checked every thing you said, which all makes sense, but still no luck.
If the Talkgroups and the Trunked System names are too-similar, it might be difficult to see them alternate. I had this problem when I first manually programmed a RS 197 years ago. That's why I use ProperCase and UPPERCASE letters.
As mentioned above, the Conventional Alpha Tag alternates with the Scan List Name (not a Trunked System name).
..I admit I am out of options; all that I have tried failed. If I could overwrite the frequency and replace it with the site or system name, that would probably do the trick; but I cannot find a way to do that.
Again, as mentioned above, this is the wrong direction. This is impossible.
EDIT: I worked with scanners for many years. In 1973 I bought my first scanner, a regency/bearcat 8 channel scanner with 8 red lights on the front. You had to buy a crystal for each frequency you wanted and manually install them. Funny how everyone could cooperate with each other back then all being on a shared frequency. I have not been able to use any of my toys over the last year or so as I was sick. Most of my memory is back, but still things get frustrating at times. I am looking forward to the new Uniden models coming out, but can't decide if I want the hand held or desktop model.
Be sure to read the many Uniden forums related to those particular scanners. The 436/536 have been receiving mixed reviews here, some only for very precise technical reasons. Uniden has made very good scanners for many years. Be sure to understand the pro's and con's of the various models, including the new ones before choosing.
You're welcome.
Hope this helps,