SDS 200 location based

[blackbelter]

My interest are only local agencies thus I have set up my SDS 200 to our zip code and reduce the range to 0 with local FL and no data base, Is there any other steps that I should take ? , if so please let me know and how .
Thanks in advance

 

[sparklehorse]

If your only interest is local agencies, and you are using a Favorites List you have created, then there is no need for Zip Code or Range or Location Based anything. You just let your radio scan what you’ve put into your Fav List, and make sure you disable Location Control for that Fav List. Want to hear stuff farther away? Just add it to your Fav List or make a second Fav List which you can enable/disable with a Quick Key. It’s actually better to NOT use ANY kind of Location Based scanning if you’re just scanning at your home, because the location data in the RR database isn’t always accurate, meaning the location based methods can force your scanner to scan things you can’t receive because they are actually too far away, or miss things you could hear because the data says it’s farther away than it actually is. Spend some time building a good Fav List or two and you’ll be a happier camper.
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[blackbelter]

Thanks, how would I enable/disable location control?

 

[sparklehorse]

Thanks, how would I enable/disable location control?

Menu -> Manage Favorites -> (scroll to) Fav List -> Use Location Control -> On/Off
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[blackbelter]

Thanks,

 

[RF23]

Thanks, how would I enable/disable location control?

I agree with Sparkiehorse but don't forget to read your scanner into Sentinel other wise any changes made directly to the scanner will be overwritten by Sentinel with what ever it has in it.

 

[hiegtx]

My interest are only local agencies thus I have set up my SDS 200 to our zip code and reduce the range to 0 with local FL and no data base, Is there any other steps that I should take ? , if so please let me know and how .
Thanks in advance

As the other posters have said, I also don't use location control when at home, or at a location that I visit quite often. As Sparklehorse noted, the database ranges are not always correct. I believe that, if no other information has been provided, the range defaults to a range that covers it's jurisdictional area, So, far a city, the range would cover the city limits. A county system range covers the county. But many system can be heard well past the listed range, and for others, signal coverage is so spotty it does not cover the range setting.

I create my Favorites lists based on knowing what I can hear, or not receive, with the scanner and antenna I'm using. For areas I'm not familiar with, if traveling thru them, I do use the GPS.

Be sure to review the Service types you have enabled. By default, only Public Safety Dispatch types are set as on; i.e. Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, and Multi-Dispatch. Also enable Tac and Talk service types for these. In other words, Law Talk & Law Tac should also be on; the same with Fire, EMS, & Multi. Fire Tac, EMS Talk, etc.

 

[sparklehorse]

The approach that works for me is to enable ALL Service Types, but then only include channels of interest in my Fav List(s). The problem with Service Types is sometimes things of interest can be labeled with a Service Type I typically would disable. For example in my area, ODOT (our state transportation dept) has a Service Type of ‘Public Works’ assigned in the RR database, but so does the sewer cleaning crew and the street maintenance crew. I like listening to ODOT because I often get real time info I can use to avoid a nasty traffic jam somewhere. If I disable the Public Works Service Type I won’t get that info. It’s true in Sentinel I could change the Service Type for ODOT to something I wouldn’t typically avoid, I just find it easier to enable all Service Types, and then only include in my Fav List the things I actually want to monitor, which by the way includes only the sites I want to monitor as well.
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