I have a new radioshack Pro 97 and I am trying to program the fire department frequencies from Orange County, Ca. I have entered all the channels but when I press scan, the scanner will stop on channels with static. Every once in a while I would get some sort of transmission. Please let me know what I'm doing wrong. I am very new at this so any help would be great. Thanks.
It looks as if the Countywide site is the only one your PRO-97 can monitor. Here is the step-by-step programming using the two control channels listed in the database.
1) PGM-FUNC
2) Press the UP arrow to go to BANK 1 (or any bank you want).
3) Press TRUNK.
4) Press MODE until you see MOT (Motorola trunked system).
5) Press PGM.
6) Press the UP arrow to select a channel (I start in channel 1).
7) Enter 856.7125, press ENT (Enter).
8) Press the UP arrow, enter 856.4625, press ENT.
9) Press SCAN.
Now you should hear all active Talk Groups. That is OPEN mode.
Find the Talk Groups in the RadioReference database
Countywide Coordinated Communications System (CCCS) Trunking System, Orange County, California - Scanner Frequencies
Your PRO-97 can only hear the Talk Groups with an "A" (Analog) in the MODE column. All the fire groups seem to be A.
To hear only the TGs you want, choose them from the RR database and enter them into Scan Lists (or sub-banks). That is CLOSED mode.
To toggle between OPEN and CLOSED modes press FUNC 5.
Entering Talk Groups - Page 73
The Banks change to Scan Lists or sub-banks when it's trunking.
How to enter Talk Groups into the Scan Lists.
1) Press PGM.
2) Press TRUNK.
3) Press FUNC.
4) Select the Bank.
5) Press TRUNK.
6) Enter a Talk Group (like 12345), press E.
7) Enter next TG, etc.
8) Press SCAN.