SDS150 ARC536 vs Sentinel
- Thread starter KK4JW
- Start date
Go with Proscan, it's a better program
saint
saint
I use ProARC536 to manage my favorites lists in Excel. I have the complete profile for each channel in Excel and then copy/paste into ProARC536. If I’m updating a single department, I can use ProARC536 to read the applicable favorites lists from one of the receivers, make the changes and then write back to the radio. I then write the radio to Sentinel and can use Sentinel to update the SDS100, SDS150 and SDS200. All of the departments, channels and UID’s in the receivers match what I have in Excel.
The only reason I’m using the software is that I customize all the talk groups for both accuracy and readability on the receivers. If I was using only the RadioReference data, it probably wouldn’t matter.
Sentinel can be used to create and edit Favorites lists. Sentinel is also required to maintain the master database used in the scanner, as well as to enabling installation of any firmware updates.
The downside of Sentinel is that, while you can append systems from the main database to a Favorites list, appending a department form a statewide, or large regional, trunk system automatically appends all the sites in the system. There is no way to selectively append only the single, or small group of sites, for your specific area, Whether the system has five sites, ten, or several dozen (or even more). all of the sites are added to the Favorites list you are creating.
However, if you were to become a Premium Subscriber, and use software such as ProScan or ARC536, you can select and import only sites that you want or need, along with your talkgroups of interest.
Looking at your signature line, I see that you list a 996XT. ProScan can import the programming file from your 996XT into a Favorites list to be used on your SDS150. My preference is ProScan, but ARC536 also can be used to program your SDS150. Both ProScan and ARC536 have a 30 day free trial period, so that you can try the software before making a purchase.
I'm like the simplicity of the HP scanners. I set my service types, enter a ZIP, and roll with it. Hold on a system if I want to zoom in on some action. It's mainly for travel and signal hunting for me as I tend to use other dedicated radios for pointed, local monitoring. After decades of programming scanners, I'm happy to report that ignorance is indeed bliss.
tldr; I only use Sentinel to update the db. Sometimes Proscan to remote control. ARC is good software too but I really don't need either.
tldr; I only use Sentinel to update the db. Sometimes Proscan to remote control. ARC is good software too but I really don't need either.
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