Good afternoon all, I recently got a 100 and I have my systems set up but they scan through them way to fast and I feel like I'm missing transmissions. Is there anyway to slow that down?
SDS 100 Scanning
- Thread starter danc107
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palmerjrusa
Member
Why would you want to do that?
If the scanner detects a transmission it will open the squelch.
You're more likely to miss transmissions by slowing a scan down (even if you could do that).
tvengr
Well Known Member
If it is a conventional system that just flashes on the screen, you can put a hold time of one second on the system. That is different than the scan delay. The system will then stay on the screen about the same time as trunked systems. As noted, that will slow down your scanning.
As tvengr noted, if you add a hold time of 1 second to any system, you will see (on the display) that the scanner pauses on that system for the specified hold time, before moving to the next system.
More important, though, would be to verify that it is actually scanning all of your programmed systems.
Are you scanning Favorites lists only, or both lists and the main database?
For any lists that are being scanned, are you using Location Control? If so, did you create that list, as well as the systems on it, by appending from the main database or importing via software such as ProScan? For any system created by manually entering sites and departments via your keyboard (or the scanner's keypad), you would also need to add the location and range information. Otherwise, when using location control, the 'blank' data is treated as zero degrees for both latitude & longitude, which is a location off the coast of Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean, and obviously out of range. But if a system was created via import (since you are a Premium Subscriber) or appending from the main database, then the location details would be present. Also, if Location is used, be sure that your entered location (in your Sentinel profile, as well as on the scanner itself) is correct, along with your desired range setting. More information on how location is used can be found here.
Also make sure that your service types of interest are enabled. If they are not enabled, the scanner would ignore the channel (whether a trunked system talkgroup or conventional channel frequency). When the scanner is first received, as well as when Sentinel is initially installed, the only service types that are enabled are Dispatch for public safety agencies (Law, Fire, EMS, and Multi). You should also enable the Tac and Talk service types for those, such as Law Talk, Fire Tac, etc. Service type Custom 1 is also enabled by default. That is the service type that the scanner initially uses for manual channel entries. Once you've entered a channel, with Custom 1 as the service type, it would be scanned. Of course, most likely you would change it to an accurate type, but at least it would not be ignored if left at Custom 1.
For any trunked systems programmed, be sure that you have both the talkgroups, as well as the sites, entered. Normally, for trunked systems, the SDS scanners pause on the system for roughly a second, to acquire & decode the control channel, and check for activity of the desired talkgroup IDs. If you have one or more trunked systems programmed, and are not seeing the brief hold for site evaluation, then it's likely that either no site is present, it's set as Avoid, or it's treated as "out of range". The other possibility is that if you are using Quick Keys, it's key is not enabled, either turned off, or is not set as being active.
If you'll post one (or more) of your Favorites lists, then one of us can take a look & see if something is out of place or otherwise needs modification. To attach a list to a post, you need to export it into an *.hpe file. That is under the drop-down File menu in Sentinel. Sentinel will ask you which list to export, and verify whether you want to include all, of just some, of the systems on a list. Note where it is being saved on your PC. Then, using File Explorer (Windows Explorer on older Windows versions), find your hpe file & <right><click> for a menu of options, and then select to compress it into a zipped file. (On some earlier Windows versions, instead of a specific 'zip' menu choice, you will see "Send to". If you choose that, then you will see an option to add the file to a compressed folder (zipped).) You can then attach the zipped file(s) to a post.
It depends on what you are scanning. Specifically if you're scanning a (trunked) system or conventional channels (frequencies).
If everything you want to listen to is on a single system, the radio is really not scanning. It monitors the control channel waiting for a TG you want to hear. However, if the radio leaves that system (such as to monitor another system or other frequencies), while you're gone, you'll likely miss something. Others here have stated "the more you scan, the less you hear". It's why many of us have more than one scanner running at the same time.
If you're scanning conventional channels, it's a different game. The radio has to check each and every one of them for a transmission. The good news is it can likely pick up a transmission in the middle (you would only miss part of it), whereas this is usually not the case with a TG on a trunked system.
I doubt the display can keep up with what's actually going on or being scanned. It might look fast, but ironically it's likely going even faster.
Are these conventional objects or a trunked radio system? The answer varies depending on what specifically you're trying to scan. Rule of thumb with trunked radio systems is only scan one site (ideally the closest site within listening range carrying traffic of interest) at a time to minimize missed transmissions: Site hold. Make sure all applicable service types are turned on for the channels or talkgroups you want to hear (reference "tag" column in RRDB for applicable service types) to further ensure traffic isn't missed
...and I am trying to get mine to scan faster!! lol!!
Ubbe
Member
Check that squelch isn't set too high, 2 is usually used. It's already scanning at half rate, 45ch/s, compared to other scanners. The hold time for digital systems are only in effect if there's a carrier signal on a frequency. For conventional the hold time will only have the scanning stay in that department and scans all frequencies in it several times until the hold time runs out, but still at the same scan rate.
For digital systems there's some uncertain detection of digital signals in Unidens scanners and can sometimes skip them. Hopefully the coming firmware upgrade will have an improved digital decode quality that will make data detection much better when scanning.
/Ubbe
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