Same system across multiple system keys

[Brian252]

Question for the group: Just picked up a 396XT with a RH-96. I'm about to load in my list when I thought of a question.

Will the scanner performance take a hit if I program the same system into three different System Keys (one each for Fire talkgroups, EMS talkgroups and OEM talkgroups)? I'm considering this as an option, since it will make it significantly easier to drop groups while driving (instead of hitting Function and then a Group). I'm not sure if this will significantly affect the scanning versus programming the system into one System Key, and using the Group keys for Fire, EMS and OEM.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Tryton]

no, should be just fine.

 

[GTR8000]

I get what you're trying to do, however programming the same system into three different systems isn't ideal. If you set them up as Fire, EMS and OEM where you're only programming talkgroups into their respective system, then scanning in ID Scan mode, there's going to be a delay in the scanner getting back around to one of the systems and you'll probably miss stuff. There's going to be about a 2 second hang time while it checks each system for an active CC and active TG, then it will move on to the next system, and so on. So, if something is going on in the Fire system, but the scanner just started checking EMS, it will have to check OEM first before moving back to Fire. That's a 4 second delay at minimum, which is plenty of time to miss something key.

By having them all in the same system, the scanner does not have to reacquire the CC, it can just sit on it and wait for TG grants. Much more efficient.

So yes, the scanning performance will take a hit if you set it up this way. Give it a shot and see how it works. You can program four systems, your three setup like that, then a single system with everything broken up into groups.

 

[W8RMH]

I mainly listen to one trunked system. I have it in my scanner as 11 systems.

0 - City Fire
1 - Police Zone 1
2 - Police Zone 2
3 - Police Zone 3
4 - Police Zone 4
5 - Police Zone 5
6 - County Police
7 - County Fire
8 - Police Ops
9 - Hospitals
Etc.

I can easily change channels as I travel around the metro area. If I hear, say a shooting on fire dispatch, I can reach down, and "by feel", change to the appropriate police channel to follow the action. Once the EMS departs, I press 9 and listen for the hospital report. All with the radio on my side.

I've used this for many years and have not noticed any problems with memory or scan speed. I am only using 12% of memory and have some 24 counties and 45 systems programmed at this time.

 

[Dewey]

The "hit" that you will take is on overall memory since the same system will be programmed three times. You can see how much of your overall memory is used when you go into the version information menu. Another side note which you probably already know is that it can become a major pain trying to keep more than one of any system synchronized. It may never happen to you, but the possibility does exist that down the road that the systems will become "unlike" each other due to changes made to one, but forgotten on the other.

Dewey

 

[SCPD]

Brian, how big of a data base will you be covering, both Bedminster and Montclair ? If it is a small data base, W8RMH and Tryton replies would be ok, If a large data base then Dewey and Chauffeur's replies would be right on.

 

[UPMan]

If it is a trunked system, then you will receive no Fire calls while it is scanning the EMS version of the system. Programmed as three different systems, it will take about 4.5 seconds to complete a cycle of checking all three channel sets (regardless of how many channels are in each set), assuming no active channels during the scan.

If programmed as a single system and using GQKs instead of SQKs, all channels will be checked during a single 1.5 second cycle.

 

[SCPD]

UPMan, that would most likely be his best option.

 

[SquierStrat]

You just discovered one of the flaws I also hate. To scan properly you need it all in one system. I don't know what made uniden think 10 "banks" would be enough for systems with hundreds and hundreds of talkgroups. Id like to have 100 group keys just like there are 100 system keys..

 

[ofd8001]

I do this with my scanner and seem to be happy with how it performs. The main goal was to set something up so that if all I'm interesting in hearing is fire (for example) I can accomplish that with the fewest amount of key presses.

The above comments are valid, however. It does gobble up some memory (but I'm not at the limit).

You may wish to think about having four systems each with their own quick key. One for fire, another for EMS a third for OEM and a fourth for everything. When you are in a "listen to everything" frame of mind, then turn off the first, second and third quick keys.

If you want to listen just to specific things, then activate the key quick associated with the specific thing, leave the "everything" key off.

It gives you flexibility, but at the costs noted above.

 

[scanningisfun]

I programmed the whole KSICS system in my scanner. I have four systems with all the sites and various others with just a few. I unlock the sites within those SQKs as I move. Every KSICS system in my scanner has the I-Call flag. I have all of my programming PDFs on my phone, and also have them stapled together. I made PDFs of quick key assignments, KHP Maps, KDOT maps, Wildlife district map, Sedgwick County fire district maps, Wichita PD Zone map, ten codes, etc. I also made a google map that I can access on my phone of Wichita fire stations. I have a few other systems for county systems. They only have the sites that those counties would be using. I did this also for the MARRS system. This is just the quick picture.

Systems with all sites

KSICS Statewide: SQK 71
-State Mutual
-State Interoperability
-Kansas ABC
-Fire Marshal
-Juvenile Justice
-Health Department
-Air Ambulance
-Guard Talkgroups
-State Emergency Management
-Other State TGID (MERG, Terrorism, Attorney General)
-All Other/No GQK (Revenue, Lottery, Racing/Gaming, SRS)

KSICS KHP/KBI: SQK 72
-KHP Troop A
-KHP Troop B
-KHP Troop C
-KHP Troop D
-KHP Troop E
-KHP Troop F
-Troop G Turnpike
-KHP Troop H
-KHP Troop K
-Kansas KBI

KSICS Wildlife: SQK 73
-Wildlife/Parks A
-Wildlife/Parks B
-Wildlife/Parks C
-Wildlife/Parks D
-Wildlife/Parks E
-Wildlife/Parks F
-Wildlife/Parks H
-Wildlife Events
-State Parks

KSICS KDOT: SQK 74
-You get the idea....

Jacob

 

[FlashSWT]

You just discovered one of the flaws I also hate. To scan properly you need it all in one system. I don't know what made uniden think 10 "banks" would be enough for systems with hundreds and hundreds of talkgroups. Id like to have 100 group keys just like there are 100 system keys..

I would LOVE to have this as well. 10 Group Quick Keys are not enough in the Houston area.

 

[RadioDaze]

This thread brings up the biggest complaint I have regarding group quick keys. Suppose you're mobile, and you accidentally lock out the last group. You can't get it back without some more involved actions, which for the life of me I always seem to forget when I'm out in the field. I ended up printing myself a cheat sheet to keep in the car.

I have California Highway Patrol broken up by group for different areas I travel, and I really hate seeing that "Nothing To Scan" message when my weakening eyes cause me to hit the wrong (i.e., sole) Group Quick Key.

On the other hand, I find Uniden's memory system so much more flexible than GRE's for keeping a lot of agencies and systems handy. Uniden is still my go-to choice when leaving the house. Thanks, Paul!

 

[GTR8000]

This thread brings up the biggest complaint I have regarding group quick keys. Suppose you're mobile, and you accidentally lock out the last group. You can't get it back without some more involved actions, which for the life of me I always seem to forget when I'm out in the field. I ended up printing myself a cheat sheet to keep in the car.

I have California Highway Patrol broken up by group for different areas I travel, and I really hate seeing that "Nothing To Scan" message when my weakening eyes cause me to hit the wrong (i.e., sole) Group Quick Key.

Here's a little trick to prevent accidentally locking all the groups out and getting the dreaded Nothing to Scan message:

- Create a new group called NO LOCKOUT and do not assign a GQK to it

- Enter a single frequency in that group that you know will likely never be in use anywhere you're traveling. I use 1301.500 with the ATT set on and with a random DPL tone, so it's highly improbable the scanner will ever pick up a signal and stop on it.

- Repeat for every system in the scanner

- Profit

Now, no matter whether you lockout all the groups by accident, there will always be one frequency active in the system that you can't lock out with the GQK's, so you'll never see the Nothing to Scan message again! Just don't lock out the NO LOCKOUT frequency, of course.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

This thread brings up the biggest complaint I have regarding group quick keys. Suppose you're mobile, and you accidentally lock out the last group. You can't get it back without some more involved actions, which for the life of me I always seem to forget when I'm out in the field. I ended up printing myself a cheat sheet to keep in the car.

I have California Highway Patrol broken up by group for different areas I travel, and I really hate seeing that "Nothing To Scan" message when my weakening eyes cause me to hit the wrong (i.e., sole) Group Quick Key.

On the other hand, I find Uniden's memory system so much more flexible than GRE's for keeping a lot of agencies and systems handy. Uniden is still my go-to choice when leaving the house. Thanks, Paul!

Amen!!

 

[One13Truck]

I do a mix of both ways and haven't noticed much of a difference either way. Depending on the system and how I want to listen determines if I have it in one or broken down to multiple systems.

 

[RadioDaze]

Here's a little trick to prevent accidentally locking all the groups out and getting the dreaded Nothing to Scan message:

- Create a new group called NO LOCKOUT and do not assign a GQK to it...

...you'll never see the Nothing to Scan message again! Just don't lock out the NO LOCKOUT frequency, of course.

Interesting.... I'll give it a try. Thanks.