Pro-96: HOW DO I GET THIS THING TO TRUNK?

[Hoseman292]

Okay... I'm lost.

I've used the Pro-96 software and added the correct trunked frequencies with the Primary and Alternate control channels.

Secondly, I've programmed the talkgroups and their ID's (decimal).
I have selected MOTOROLA as the RX MODE and as the TYPE for each bank.

Now... after transferring the information into the Pro-96 scanner, I lockout every bank except the bank I wish to monitor (bank 1) and press the SCAN button.

I'm thinking, at this point, that the radio should detect the control channel and begin trunking. What happens is I hear every transmissions and data from every agency on those trunked frequencies instead of programmed talkgroups programmed for BANK 1.

First... What must I do to have this radio recieve only the talkgroups I've programmed?

Secondly, how can I manually select and monitor a single talkgroup?

Radio Shack should be ashamed of this booklet they include with the radio. It has information on every OTHER option in the radio except trunking.

PS. I've attached a copy of my working archive(.p96 file) if you'd like to look over my programming.

Thanks for all of your help folks.

Tim - N3WIR
Silver Spring, Maryland

 

[BobWeb]

That's because you are in "open" mode. If you only want to hear the talkgroups you have programmed, you need to be in "closed" mode. I've changed your file and attached it here. Hopefully this works for you.

 

[Hoseman292]

Thanks Bob,

I've tried to download the file and the only file I recieve is a file called "modules" with no extension. The P96 software does not recognize this file as being valid. If possible, could you zip it first and resent?

Thanks again,
Tim

 

[BobWeb]

Sorry, missed the second question. To monitor an individual talkgroup, do either of the following:

1) When you hear traffic on the TG you want to listen to, hit PAUSE while they are talking and you will stay on this TG. Or,

2) Hit MAN to drop to the control channel. Press FUNC and then TRUNK. Use the arrow keys to scroll the TG's and when you have the one you want to listen to, do the FUNC | TRUNK key sequence again and you will "sit" on that TG.

 

[Hoseman292]

Also,

How do I manually select which talkgroup I wish to monitor?
Pressing the MANUAL key only allows me to scroll through each radio frequency within the bank. I would like to know how I can manually select a talkgroup.

Thanks for all of your help once again.

Tim

 

[BobWeb]

Thanks Bob,

I've tried to download the file and the only file I recieve is a file called "modules" with no extension. The P96 software does not recognize this file as being valid. If possible, could you zip it first and resent?

Thanks again,
Tim

I did zip it and was able to download it just fine, but who knows. Anyway, just open the file in Win96 and go to that bank. Click the "closed" checkbox in the center at the top that is adjacent to the bank tag.

 

[Hoseman292]

I think we may have been typing at the same time.

Thanks for your patience and knowledge.

Tim
N3WIR
Silver Spring, Maryland

 

[Voyager]

Sorry, missed the second question. To monitor an individual talkgroup, do either of the following:

1) When you hear traffic on the TG you want to listen to, hit PAUSE while they are talking and you will stay on this TG. Or,

2) Hit MAN to drop to the control channel. Press FUNC and then TRUNK. Use the arrow keys to scroll the TG's and when you have the one you want to listen to, do the FUNC | TRUNK key sequence again and you will "sit" on that TG.

Method 3 (direct entry): Leave the last channel in the TG list open and when you want to listen to a specific TG, hit PGM TRUNK (select the last slot if it isn't already there) (Enter the TG number) then hit FUNC TRUNK.

This method will also allow text tags if the TG has been programmed in your list.

Joe M.

 

[loumaag]

Radio Shack should be ashamed of this booklet they include with the radio. It has information on every OTHER option in the radio except trunking.

Tim, actually all the information you want is indeed in the book.

Since you are having trouble with getting that corrected file, while the radio is in scan mode on the bank you want to close press <FUNC> <5>. That will toggle the bank from OPEN to CLOSED (or the other way). In closed mode it will only show the TG's you have programmed and not Locked Out.

 

[Hoseman292]

Thanks alot Lou. I'm programming this radio for a friend of mine and spent two hours yesterday trying to figure out where I went wrong after many hours of editing and typing. I figured I would have to upload the information into it with the cable and software and it would work. When I started to run into problems, I read the book over and over and still couldn't figure out how to get the radio to trunk.

With your posts, I'm going to try to hook up with him a little later today and play with it a little more.

Thanks again,
Tim

 

[loumaag]

...I read the book over and over and still couldn't figure out how to get the radio to trunk. ...

Tim, tell him/her to bring the book. Look in the back, there is a matrix of what does what when the radio is whatever mode.

 

[Hoseman292]

LOL Lou,

Hey thanks alot. I'll give it another shot later on today.
I believe what I expected in the book is a dedicated chapter on recieving trunked transmissions but the only thing I found was programming.. what I thought I didn't need to pay attention to since I had the hardware and software.

I'll give it another go and see what happens.

Tim
Silver Spring Maryland

 

[elk2370bruce]

The root of a lot of these troubles with Rat Shack units lies with the terrible, non-user friendly, manuals that are not meant for entry-level hobbiests. With the costing of the units, damned near all of us started with them. Some drifted away for some obvious reasons. They are probably written in Japanese, translated into Indonesian dialects, re-done in Chinese, and sent to the USof A where they are converted into English by someone who speaks Serbo-Croation who once tuned into Bay Watch with subtitles.

 

[Hoseman292]

Well... I must admit that I'm new to trunked radio scanning however I've collected many radio scanners over the last three decades. I'm not sure if the problems come from the sophistication within the electronics of the radio that makes the instructions hard to find and understand or if the manuals are poorly written.

I purchased a Bearcat 101 in the early 80's and never had a problem understanding how to program it because the instruction manuals were so easy to understand.

Just my opinion.

Tim


PS.. I've collected a few scanners over the years. Attached is a current photo.

 

[Pro-95]

Horseman,

Your picture is pretty impressive but can you make it a little smaller. Natives around here get restless if they have to scroll.