Pro-97, Beaverton/Hillsboro/portland frequencies?

[Taigrr]

So, if you've seen my other noob posts, i've been playing with a Radio Shack pro-97 scanner. It's fun (When you get something to listen in on). But I need a little bit of clarification. I had Radio Shack program Washington County on it, thinking i'd get alot of things to listen to. But i'm not. So, a few questions.

1) What frequencies are good to listen in on, and do they use the trunk system? So far, with it programmed, the only one I found interesting was 855.96250. And when I hold the button to "hold ID", i'm not sure that it does anything.

2) Would I be better off just getting it programmed for Hillsboro? Or Beaverton? Every once in awhile "Tigard PD" or "Hillsboro PD" will come up on that bottom line. I usualy trunk on Hillsboro (On that 855.96250 channel above) and sometimes it's okay.

3) What means what? What does "mot: <number here>" mean? Is it the officer-spacific ID, and if so, what does MOT stand for? What does "Wash Co TRS" stand for? I get the Washington County part, but what is TRS?

I don't know why, but my mind is drawing a blank. I know I have a couple more questions, so will reply as I come across them. In the mean time, thankyou for the patients with me guys.

Thank you kindly!

 

[ExplOregon]

Here are a couple pages that will have your answers
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-97
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=3136

and most importantly:
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners/97/97.html

Good luck!

 

[DickH]

... I know I have a couple more questions, so will reply as I come across them. In the mean time, thankyou for the patients with me guys.

Your PRO-97 is similar to a PRO-95, so this may help.

Motorola Trunking in a PRO-95 Scanner.
The object of trunking is to allow many users to share a relatively few frequencies.
A trunking system is controlled by a computer. Information is sent to and received from the radios in the system on a control channel, or data channel. It sounds like a strong buzz.
A large system can have up to 28 freqs., 4 of which may be used as control channels. The control channel may be changed once a day or as often as the programmer decides.
You only need to put the control channels into your scanner.

After the frequencies are entered, the BANKS become SCAN LISTS that hold the IDs or Talk Groups.

Each group of users (Fire, Police, etc.) is assigned TALK GROUPS. In a Motorola Type II system, the most common type, TGs are usually in 32 number steps starting with 16 and going up to 65536; 16, 48, 80 --- 4656, 4688, 4720 --- 28944, 28976, etc.

When a user pushes the talk button on his radio, data is sent to the computer. The computer chooses an unused freq. and sends that data to all the radios using the TG of the originating unit. This all happens in a fraction of a second and it happens EVERY time a radio is used.

EXAMPLE:
Fire Dispatch calling Engine 4 (TG 4528 on 856.7125)
Engine 4 answering Dispatch (TG 4528 on 867.2625)
Respond to 73 Elm Street (TG 4528 on 866.9625)
Engine 4 responding (TG 4528 on 858.4375)

If you have entered TG 4528 into your PRO-95, it will decode the control channel data and change your scanner freqs. to follow the conversation on TG 4528.

The PRO-95 has 2 modes, OPEN and CLOSED.
OPEN (shows a + sign under the bank number): Receives all TGs using the system.
CLOSED (shows a - sign under the bank number): Receives only the TGs YOU have put into the scanner.

This should get you started, but you should READ THE MANUAL carefully. You may need to read it several times.

Here are the Control Channel freqs. for the 4 counties around Portland.
Just enter these into separate banks.

PORTLAND 858.7125
PORTLAND 858.7375
PORTLAND 859.2625
PORTLAND 859.4625

CLARK CO. 859.7625
CLARK CO. 859.9375
CLARK CO. 860.7625
CLARK CO. 860.9375

CLACKAMAS 866.3000
CLACKAMAS 866.4875
CLACKAMAS 866.8500
CLACKAMAS 867.1625

WASH. CO. 859.2375
WASH. CO. 859.7375
WASH. CO. 860.2375
WASH. CO. 860.7375

 

[Taigrr]

Thanks, ExplOregon, those links were most helpful! And the explanation on Trunking cleared alot up, Dick. Okay, so I reset the scanner to clear whatever was programmed, and now I just put each of those "sections" in each bank. First four in one bank, next four in another, and so on, correct?

And just to clarify, if I wanted to listen to portland, do I tune into -any- of those four frequencies, and hold the trunk button to "ID Hold", or do I just scan in whatever bank, until something comes up, and leave it, or trunk? Or..? I guess, after putting them in, how do I successfuly listen without issue?

 

[DickH]

... I just put each of those "sections" in each bank. First four in one bank, next four in another, and so on, correct?
Those 4 "sections" are Motorola trunk system control channel frequencies.

And just to clarify, if I wanted to listen to portland, do I tune into -any- of those four frequencies, and hold the trunk button to "ID Hold", or do I just scan in whatever bank, until something comes up, and leave it, or trunk? Or..? I guess, after putting them in, how do I successfuly listen without issue?
NO, NO, NO. Read the Trunking Info. again because you still do not understand how trunking works. After entering the last freq., push SEARCH, then it will start trunking.
You must set the banks for MO (Motorola), etc., etc. READ THE MANUAL. Then READ IT AGAIN and again until you understand it. Program the scanner while you read it.

Now for the important thing. You said you had a PRO-528, now you say you have a PRO-97. If you returned the PRO-528 and changed it for a PRO-97, that was a big mistake, because in a few months the PRO-97 will no longer be able to trunk track those 4 systems. The PRO-528 can be upgraded to work.

 

[icom1020]

... I just put each of those "sections" in each bank. First four in one bank, next four in another, and so on, correct?
Those 4 "sections" are Motorola trunk system control channel frequencies.

And just to clarify, if I wanted to listen to portland, do I tune into -any- of those four frequencies, and hold the trunk button to "ID Hold", or do I just scan in whatever bank, until something comes up, and leave it, or trunk? Or..? I guess, after putting them in, how do I successfuly listen without issue?
NO, NO, NO. Read the Trunking Info. again because you still do not understand how trunking works. After entering the last freq., push SEARCH, then it will start trunking.
You must set the banks for MO (Motorola), etc., etc. READ THE MANUAL. Then READ IT AGAIN and again until you understand it. Program the scanner while you read it.

Now for the important thing. You said you had a PRO-528, now you say you have a PRO-97. If you returned the PRO-528 and changed it for a PRO-97, that was a big mistake, because in a few months the PRO-97 will no longer be able to trunk track those 4 systems. The PRO-528 can be upgraded to work.

Hasn't rebanding become a bit like predicting the afterlife with each side claiming it's own religion. Can't we just wait a bit since no one from the manufacturing side is making a steadfast claim as to what will happen? I love (like) my 97 even if if may not trunk after rebanding, so what, plenty to listen to with close call and conventional . It's cheap and one can still upgrade later on to a better radio with more features when systems change.

 

[RayK]

because in a few months the PRO-97 will no longer be able to trunk track those 4 systems. The PRO-528 can be upgraded to work.

What do you base this assumption,no body knows for sure what re-banding will do,not even the manufactures know,do you have magic ball.????
.

 

[DickH]

What do you base this assumption,no body knows for sure what re-banding will do,not even the manufactures know,do you have magic ball.????
.

Re. the PRO-97, there was an e-mail from Radio Shack posted in the last couple of weeks that stated the PRO-97 could not be re-flashed.

The details of re-banding are well known:
1) The channel 1-120 freqs. (851-854MHz) must be cleared (moved to 854-860 range for Public Safety).
2) After those channels are cleared, all 866-869 freqs. will be moved down 15MHz to the 851-854 range.
Step 2 requires that channel numbers change. Channel numbers are what the control channel uses to instruct the radios what freq. to tune to.
For example, channel 68 is now 852.6875. Under the new band plan channel 68 will be 851.8500. So when your scanner hears 68 it will tune to 851.8500, not 852.6875.
Newer scanners can be re-flashed for the new band plan, but older scanners can not.

Motorola released their new software one year ago, but until some systems are up and operating, the scanner manufacturers must wait to be certain, before going ahead with costly changes.

 

[Taigrr]

Well, i'm learning alot faster on the 97 than I did on the 528, that's for sure. So oh well. Maybe i'll learn enough before my month is up, to take it back and get a diffrent one, without waisting 150 dallors, hahaha. (That's so morally wrong!)

But honestly, I like this scanner. And even if it's not the greatest, and will soon be obsolete, it's definately easier to learn on. Even the "user manual" is more helpful. So we'll see what money I have when the time comes that things are changed. Never know, maybe by then i'll be addicted enough to buy the pro-96.

 

[DickH]

... But honestly, I like this scanner. And even if it's not the greatest, and will soon be obsolete, it's definately easier to learn on. Even the "user manual" is more helpful. So we'll see what money I have when the time comes that things are changed. Never know, maybe by then i'll be addicted enough to buy the pro-96.

You have a good positive attitude. I've heard the PRO-97 is a very good scanner and even if it won't trunk track later, there are lots of other interesting things to listen to.
It's not easy learning all this new stuff, so just keep plugging away and eventually things will make sense.

 

[Taigrr]

Well guys, I had to return the scanner. Money got really tight, and ended up needing the 150 bucks.

But, i'll definately be getting another scanner in the future, and hopefuly not too far off from now.

So thank you for all the help, and i'll continue reading through the forums! The second I get a new job (Looking, if anyone has tips.), and my wife will allow it (I'm nineteen, irresponsible, and completely in her control.), i'm be sure to pick up a new scanner. She wants one too!



Take it easy guys.