Programming tip for all users

[LarrySC]

I assume many of you program 800mHz scanners for the general public and media, as I do. I do it for profit. I've had people call and say the scanner dumped memory or some other issue. I look up the PGM which has hidden in a certain ch position their Sr#. They buy another scanner, find one in a pawn shop, or bring one that belongs to a friend and want me to re-program it for free as if it were the ORIGINAL scanner. BINGO I catch them when they bring it to me. I just tell them, that it not their scanner-someone must have pulled a trick on them. You should PGM in a special channel position the date, serial number and amount charged. [021507-29] [C001194] I usually use the last two positions in the scanner and enter text into the "name of the freq". Most of the people that have tried to pull this trick are wrecker drivers. It takes a lot of time to write a good working PGM you can certify that it has no errors. That has value backed up by your good name. But people will not even blink an eye when they try to cheat you. Good Luck to all.

 

[Grog]

And for those of us who help for free, what would be your advise?

Oh, yeah, come here :lol:

 

[JnglMassiv]

If the memory was dumped, wouldn't your 'secret channel' be lost as well?
Why not simply record serial numbers?

 

[Don_Burke]

I think I would just take a picture of the scanner ID plate with a card showing the owner's name and the programming date.

 

[kb2vxa]

"Most of the people that have tried to pull this trick are wrecker drivers."

Yeah, and you know where those scanners came from now don't you?

Don, it's much easer to record the info on the repair tag, one fly sheet gets stapled to the shop copy of the bill and filed, the other is the customer's "advance receipt". That way disputes are easily settled, both have a copy.

On the other hand one may record owner identification in a hidden channel as backup to the manufacturer's ID plate. Should the unit be stolen and the plate defaced or removed the unit still may be identified should it be recovered. I know, the key word is "should" but still I have my "secret code" programmed into my 2M HT.

"If the memory was dumped, wouldn't your 'secret channel' be lost as well?"

It would but Sneaky Sam isn't likely to know the procedure or even think about dumping the memory, he'd just reprogram it and if the "secret channel" is hidden he won't even know it's there.

Back to the top, the idea is to keep proper company records, it's only good business sense.

 

[Don_Burke]

Don, it's much easer to record the info on the repair tag, one fly sheet gets stapled to the shop copy of the bill and filed, the other is the customer's "advance receipt". That way disputes are easily settled, both have a copy.

Since we have hit the digital age, I have found handing someone a picture that proves he is lying to be a great conversation stopper. He can always claim my records are wrong, but arguing with a photo is considerably tougher.

 

[kf4pep]

I sell and program a lot of commercial 2-way stuff, especially motorola sabers, on the side for local hams, ems, firefighter etc. Every now and then one buys a radio off ebay and brings it in claiming the programming on one I sold is messed up.... serial number records always set em straight.

 

[hotdjdave]

Hobby or J-O-B?

I have never had someone try to cheat me when I program their scanner for them. Probably because I do it for FREE. It is my hobby, not my sourse of income.

 

[P-3_Radio_Guy]

What do you people charge? I've started getting a reputation doing private security companies. I'll go to their place of business with a laptop. $50.00 for the first and $20.00 for any subsuquent scanner. Doing mostly BCT15's.

 

[Nasby]

Is there money to be made programming scanners? I could see money in programming two way radios but scanners? I live near Cleveland and know lots of folks with scanners, radios, etc. I think I would be eating lots of ramen noodles and bologna if I tried to make and decent money programming scanners.

 

[kf4pep]

If they bring me the unit and are willing to wait a week for me to fit it in, $15 for the first 16 channels, $.50 each after that. If I have to take equipment to them $20 for the first 16.

I toss in free programming with my radios I sell for the first 12 or 16 channels, such as a VHF saber 1, fully tested and checked on a service monitor, new battery, and charger for $135. Yeah they are a bit cheaper on Ebay, but I stand behind mine and do more than "tested for power up, as is but not DOA". If its a saber II or III and they want more than the first bank that is $.50 a channel, unless they want a generic codeplug I already have configured (such as a saber III codeplug for 2m ham with all the repeater splits and common simplex freqs), in that case if I already have the codeplug saved it is a flat $10 more. For example if you have a VHF saber III and want all the ham freqs, $16+10= $26. Thats far cheaper than the /\/\ dealer will charge for doing 200+ channels, and in the case of ham freqs they proably won't take the time to hack the RSS to lower the bandsplit below 146.

Its not an income producng business for me, just a sideline that helps support my radio hobby. Over time its paid for me to have a lot of cables, ribs, software etc.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Is there money to be made programming scanners? I could see money in programming two way radios but scanners? I live near Cleveland and know lots of folks with scanners, radios, etc. I think I would be eating lots of ramen noodles and bologna if I tried to make and decent money programming scanners.

So long as there are people who can't spend the time, or won't spend the time (in plain language, lazy or non-learners), there's always a buck or two to be made off the gomers of the world. If you expect to make a living out of it, don't give up your day job or you'll be living in a refrigerator carton behind the K mart and living on discarded pizza crusts.

 

[LarrySC]

Gee, I realy love these answers. Grog and hotdjdave like doing it for free. Thats OK. snjet2000 questions money being made. I just did 15- 2096 mobiles for TV-7 CBS and 11 for FOX-21. $29 for one [1] custom PGM and $10 for each download. So for TV-7 that $150. + $29=$179.00 The NBC station TV-4 has no mobiles but pays once a year based on 1- service call per month x 12 months x $39. I upgrade 2- BC 796's as needed or when they call for help. KF4PEP gets it. Some others dont get it. The media engineers do not want to learn this and claim they dont have the time. The wrecker drivers bought new radios and I PGM'ed them. They later try to con me into redoing a scanner I didnt PGM to start with. It's all a big game. The object of my original post was to tip members of this forum from being taken by people that are not honest wheather or not you do for free or a fee. I started in radio in '55 when I was 15. Now 66 and having more fun than ever. Best Regards to all. Larry

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi again just for fun,

"He can always claim my records are wrong, but arguing with a photo is considerably tougher."

Don, the toughest thing to argue with is the silent stare.

"The media engineers do not want to learn this and claim they don't have the time."

Larry, you have no concept of the demands of broadcast engineering.

Oh, for those who may be wondering why wrecker, taxi and other such drivers have scanners, they're cut throat pirates stealing others' business. Sometimes it leads to fighting in the street, this can be fun when you collate information received on other channels if you know what I mean. Back in the days when they used 11M CB/BRS things got really interesting but I digress.

 

[scanfan03]

Hi again just for fun,

"He can always claim my records are wrong, but arguing with a photo is considerably tougher."

Don, the toughest thing to argue with is the silent stare.

"The media engineers do not want to learn this and claim they don't have the time."

Larry, you have no concept of the demands of broadcast engineering.

Oh, for those who may be wondering why wrecker, taxi and other such drivers have scanners, they're cut throat pirates stealing others' business. Sometimes it leads to fighting in the street, this can be fun when you collate information received on other channels if you know what I mean. Back in the days when they used 11M CB/BRS things got really interesting but I digress.

Wrecker drivers in Harris County Texas have to have radios in their trucks. If they didn't have one, they wouldn't make any money because the units call for wreckers on the dispath channel.

And back on subject, I program radios for free it I know them. If I don't know them, they usually offer me money and I take like $20. I am the only one who knows how to program the Icom IC-2720s, and I programmed one for a wrecker driver for $50. He offered me 50 and I said he didn't owe me that much because he drove to me, but he gave it to me anyways.

 

[Grog]

I am the only one who knows how to program the Icom IC-2720s, and I programmed one for a wrecker driver for $50.

OK, so wrecker drivers are using ham radio now?

Hopefully he's an extra, so it will be ok

 

[DSYCUTTER]

Never thought of charging people to program their scanners.... I usually tend to barter with people.

 

[jack103]

Well if you can not program a scanner or radio and Larry can and he charges a reasonable price why not?

 

[scanfan03]

OK, so wrecker drivers are using ham radio now?

Hopefully he's an extra, so it will be ok

For recieve only. HAM radios are way more sensitive than scanners.

 

[AuntEnvy]

so...

I assume many of you program 800mHz scanners for the general public and media, as I do. I do it for profit. I've had people call and say the scanner dumped memory or some other issue. I look up the PGM which has hidden in a certain ch position their Sr#. They buy another scanner, find one in a pawn shop, or bring one that belongs to a friend and want me to re-program it for free as if it were the ORIGINAL scanner. BINGO I catch them when they bring it to me. I just tell them, that it not their scanner-someone must have pulled a trick on them. You should PGM in a special channel position the date, serial number and amount charged. [021507-29] [C001194] I usually use the last two positions in the scanner and enter text into the "name of the freq". Most of the people that have tried to pull this trick are wrecker drivers. It takes a lot of time to write a good working PGM you can certify that it has no errors. That has value backed up by your good name. But people will not even blink an eye when they try to cheat you. Good Luck to all.

what exactly are you saying? What are people trying to "pull over" on you? I must be missing something and seeing as I'll probably be having this problem soon I'd like to figure out the "bad deal". I'm purchasing the whole "package" (BCT15) with CD so will this be the magic pill that does it all for me? (And simply of course)