Pro 197 / Win500 Help

[spicerz]

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any help or comments.

I feel like I'm getting the hang of programming my scanner properly. I'm wondering if there is a better way to to set up my scanner freq and TG's.

I'm in Douglas County Colorado and I am scanning DCSO, Lone Tree, Parker Pd Castle Rock PD. They all seem to share 7 different Sites. I have all 7 sites set up individually in seven different banks with identical talk groups in every bank. I feel like I shouldnt have to use that many banks much.

I will be listeneing to Parker PD or Castle Rock. The Dispatch channel will go to site 102, the same conversation will also pick up on site 164 at the same time. Here's the problem. When a different unit contacts the dispatch or if they go car to car the transmisson will transfer to site 108 or 101. So I will miss the transmission because my pro-197 is scanning 103,104,106,and 107 before it reaches 108. Most of the time I wull get interupted by a DCSO dispatch transmission. What can I do to make this work eaiser for me so I can stay tuned to the same conversation even if it jumps from site to site.

The only thing I tried was putting the 7 sites and 24 TG's all together in one bank and that doesnt work at all.

 

[jimmnn]

Would suggest you read some of the many previous threads posted here. Less is often better when it comes to control channels and you certainly don't need 7 unless you are traveling the entire metro area. Try a bank with all the TG's you want to listen to but use only one or two of your best (local) CC's and see how that works.

Also have you tried downloading any of the great metro area win500 programming files available here, that might help as well.

Welcome to the list!

Jim<

 

[GrayJeep]

(I'm still learning while Jimn is the old pro with well over a year of experience.)
The scanner is complex and the knowlege base isn't very easily located - it's scattered throughout any number of threads with the keywords "Pro-106".

Some possible ideas for improving performance in this situation would be to

1. Prioritize the talkgroup or two that you are most interested in. This will help the scanner return to those few most frequently.

2. Check the trunking selection. You can set the system to Roam/Stationary/off. Roam seems to be aimed at systems that simulcast the same traffic on multiple towers. Colorado doesn't seem to do that so don't use this selection. In Win500 there is a checkbox next to the Roam/Stationary field that tells it whether to check all sites in the list as it scans. You might want to experiment with checking and unchecking this box.

 

[04Z1V6]

I have most of Denver metro front range set up in multiple way's. I also scan DCSO, CRPD, LTPD,PPD. I have each set-up as a V-Scan folder so I can easily switch to just one agency only. This sounds like a waste of space but its easy to use. I am also trying deferent delay times so as not to hold on a channel I don't wish to stay with long. The people who listen to Denver or Aurora must have huge win500 files. I have gotten used to just using the PSE key when pausing to listen to C-C or SWAT or DTF.

 

[scanlist]

Whoa talk about overkill!

Download the MetroNC file in this thread http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126197

Use multisite stationary if you are wanting to poll multiple towers at your home location.

Take a look at how this file/profile is setup and add/subtract tower/site freqs to your liking.

To clarity the "Roam" setting is for when you are traveling similar to what real radios in the field do as in finding the strongest site in the area you are in. This of course is limited to the site freqs you have programmed in the TSYS you are scanning.

 

[spicerz]

I appreciate the fast responses

Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I will try everything mentioned. If I need any other help I'll check back.

I have read and gathered so much information on this site. Its been a wealth of information and is responsible for getting me to where I am now. I have an old Pro-43 my mom got me around 1985. So when I picked up my new digital scanners I was concerned about what to do. Between this site and the Win software I have gotten the hang of this and its been fun renewing my old hobby.

Thanks again.