Pro 668

[DAVE101]

Hello all
Nice site ty for having me here. Ok i purchased a RadioShack Pro-668 iScan Handheld. I purchased rechargeable batteries and power cord too for it. I live in n.y. I would like to pick up Wyoming county n.y., that i see no problem. Here is what i would like to know? I would like to pick up Genesee County n.y. They are on the new Project 25 Phase II TDMA. From what i have read this scanner will pick that up. Next will it be hard to program Phase II TDMA into the scanner. Please be nice lol im new to this.

I will be doing more reading on this, like what software comes with the scanner, and how to use it. And to make sure i copy all files on sd card FIRST and keep that safe. Just worried about messing scanner up.

Thank you for reading and the help.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

You can just put in the zip code of the area you want to listen to and the radio will load all the frequencies. You don't have to do anything special to listen to the TDMA broadcast, as this is done in the radio. Read the guide that came with the radio and you will see how easy this is to program.
I am at work right now and don't have the radio in front of me other wise I would walk you through the process.

 

[Blackswan73]

The stock antenna is just shy of worthless. If you wish to keep the radio in a handheld configuration, then I heartily recommend the RS 800 mhz. If you are mainly using the radio in a fixed location, I would suggest a outdoor base antenna.

 

[fredva]

Are you in Wyoming County, or closer to Wyoming County than Genessee? If so, that's further evidence that you need a better antenna, as muskrat suggested.

 

[fredva]

Dave, it's a little hard to say exactly what you would need because each location is unique. One thing that I would try to do first is to go outside with the scanner and see if there is any improvement in reception vs inside the house. Maybe you've already done that. That can give you an idea on whether you need a relatively small investment of money and effort just to have an outside antenna, or need to do something more significant.

There are a wide variety of antenna options and prices. But antenna height is BIG factor. You could potentially use a cheap antenna but as long as you had it high enough, you could get good reception. That might require investing in several sections of mast, depending on how and where you can mount it. I was going to suggest a cheaper Radio Shack antenna that went for $25-$30, but I no longer see that model listed on their web site. You might be able to find it on ebay or Craigslist.

If you go with a higher antenna, make sure you have lightning protection.

 

[fredva]

Dave, that antenna would connect to your PRO-668, since it works with a BNC connection. However, I have no experience with it and no idea on whether it would bring in the signals you want. It depends on terrain, distance to radio towers, which side of the house it's on, etc. A person would have to try it and see. Keep in mind that compared to an outdoor antenna, it would be more of a gamble as to whether it works or not.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

Hello fredva
Would this antenna be a good buy? Just not sure what one to buy that will help get Project 25 Phase II TDMA
And would it even fit my pro668. I thank you so much for the help.I just dont want to buy something that wont work for my scanner. ty dave

The Investigator Scanner Antenna

Dave this is a simple J-Pole antenna. It will work better than your factory antenna but you won't be able to mount it very high unless you mount it outside on a mast. You can make a simple discone antenna for about $10.00 or less. Do an internet search on homebrew discone antenna and you will find plenty of plans. I built one and it worked very well as I was able to pick up systems about 40-50 miles away and it was mounted on a fence.

The higher you place the antenna the better it can "hear" as structures will block out radio wave at the higher frequencies. Enjoy your new toy as you learn more about it.

 

[rabbittail]

pro 668 issues

My local PD has changed its system for a new one. So I purchased two pro-668 to pickup the new signal.
Well I did..... But all I hear is a loud buzzing sound. I read that the radio is suppose to automatic download the proper system to open the signal. I have several OKC trunk systems in and they seem to be working for the most part. I tried several times to do this. So I guess I need to program it in manually. Being new to this type of radios I am really in the dark. So... If I can have someone do a step by step maybe I can follow enough to get the job done.

IT's a bad thing when you slow down and the tech runs off and leaves you.

 

[xJackHackx]

You could also try and make a yagi antenna, here's one guide for one that is designed for lte and 3G signals but would work around the same freq range you'd be using bcbj.org/antennae/lte_yagi_diy.htm. I've seen some others that use coax and pvc pipes as well out there and can be made for under $40

 

[fredva]

Just keep in mind that a yagi is a directional antenna and if you are trying to listen to signals coming from vastly different directions at the same time, that could be an issue.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

It's nice that you purchased a J-Pole and placed it outside. The Pro-668 is capable of receiving Apco P25 phase 2 transmissions. I went to the Genesse County page here on RR and they are using the MPMCS which is a P25 Phase 1 system and you scanner is capable of receiving this system. If this system is encrypted then you will not pick up any transmission as there are no scanners on the market that will de-crypt an encrypted channel.

 

[Spitfire8520]

It's nice that you purchased a J-Pole and placed it outside. The Pro-668 is capable of receiving Apco P25 phase 2 transmissions. I went to the Genesse County page here on RR and they are using the MPMCS which is a P25 Phase 1 system and you scanner is capable of receiving this system. If this system is encrypted then you will not pick up any transmission as there are no scanners on the market that will de-crypt an encrypted channel.

The OP is asking about Genesee County, New York and not Genesee County, Michigan. The system being discussed is Genesee County P25 Trunking System.

The biggest issue is that no one from the area has submitted anything to the database. Apparently several users in the New York Radio Discussion Forum are actively hearing the system, but no one has come forth with any sort of information. At this point, the only way you can hear the system is to program a wildcard and figure out how to program the system manually.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

The OP is asking about Genesee County, New York and not Genesee County, Michigan. The system being discussed is Genesee County P25 Trunking System.

Thanks for letting me know that I gave information on the wrong state. I will check out Genesee County in New York.

 

[fredva]

The database doesn't list any talk groups for the Genesee County P25 system. That's unusual. That makes me wonder if nobody else is able to listen to it either. Perhaps it is not online yet, or it is encrypted. I recommend that you make sure you have a wildcard in your programming of that county's system. Also set your scanner to give a busy signal or to not mute encryption if it picks up encrypted transmissions, so you'll know if encryption is in use.

 

[fredva]

I did a search on "Genesee" in the New York forum and saw that you aren't the first person who has had this issue. The recommendation was to put a Uniden scanner in search mode. For your scanner, you want to put in a Wildcard, which would receive any talkgroup used on the system, since none are specified in the database.

 

[Nasby]

ty all for all the help. After some checking around with people. I was told that a guy named maha from the sheriffs does not want people to receive the channels. Its how he hides what some of his men do.

Ha Ha...That's a good one.

 

[sallen07]

Genesee P25 system

Ha Ha...That's a good one.

Actually I've heard that before.

But the fact that "the authorities" won't publish a talkgroup list does NOT mean one cannot listen to the system. All of the P25 Phase 2 capable scanners can be programmed to pick up ANY talkgroup on a system (GRE/Whistler uses a "wildcard" talkgroup; Uniden does talkgroup "search" instead of "scan"). So if the frequencies are available (and they SHOULD be, from the license database if not in the frequency database), it should be able to scan the system and start building a list of talk groups.

Of course, if everything is encrypted, then all bets are off.

This thread really should be in the New York forum. If you go there and search for "Genesee" you'll find other threads talking about this system and the issues the agencies using it appear to be having.