sentinel

[19K10Tanker]

I've been playing with the Sentinel software as well as ProScan, been unable to find a solution for this issue: when programming with ProScan I can choose what site tower I want to program in, but with Sentinel it automatically loads every tower in the state and I have to spend a lot of time deleting the ones I don't need, for example when I program Newton County Sheriffs on Safe-T I just need Lake County or Morocco site, but it loads EVERYTHING across the state, any way to change this in Sentinel?

 

[jtwalker]

Nope, you fully understand one of the limitations of Sentinel.

 

[19K10Tanker]

Nope, you fully understand one of the limitations of Sentinel.

Thanks

 

[jtwalker]

What I did before I started using ProScan to create FLs was to shift-select to mark all the sites in a system and avoid them all, then go back and un-avoid the 3 or 4 that I wanted to use. Seemed like a little less effort.

 

[VoicesInMyHead]

I see that behavior of Sentinel as a feature. If you use location-based scanning, it won't consider the simulcast towers that are far away when it begins scanning. Granted, as is in my case, you might be in an area where multiple sites overlap, which can be a bit of a problem to deal with (decreasing your range can help with that).

 

[buddrousa]

Simulcast sites all use the same frequencies at the sametime.
So Site 1 is the same as Site 2 is the same as Site 3 Location based scanning does not know the difference as all sites are the same. It scans the System or it does not sites do not matter.

 

[VoicesInMyHead]

Not sure why my brain added "simulcast" to my reply. The OP didn't mention if it was or not... my brain just added it. But, yeah... location-based scanning, in my experience, is great. My local system has five towers, non-simulcast. With a little tweaking on the ranges for the sites, now I can just enter my location, and only the sites I can really receive are considered.

 

[buddrousa]

You were thinking Multicast like most large state systems. Location based works great for those.
1 of my SDS100's is setup for location based scanning with a GPS connected to it and saves me while driving from having to turn on and off favorites as I have the entire area of West Tn and West Ky setup and the GPS does all the work for me (Hands Free Scanner)

 

[hightime]

Here is what I do. I use Proscan to get the radio just the way I want it and upload it to the radio. Open Sentinel, click on Favorites List and select all and delete them. (It's important to delete them so when you read from scanner it doesn't add duplicate Favorites list to what is already there). You now have Sentinel just the way you have it programed with Proscan. You can now Update Firmware, the database, and do profile edits and then write to scanner. With no changes Proscan favorites. I created a Favorite List with the large MPSCS so when I come across a TG I don't have I can use Proscans Utilities Find and look up the TG quickly.

 

[werinshades]

Another way to do this...is to learn how to self-program utilizing the information from the database and all the avoiding won't be necessary. I have a Lake County, Indiana file I've utilized on many trips in and around your area. Depending on what you want to listen to, I have 2 sites programmed (Lake County Public Safety, Safe-T Site 1-001), give them each a Quick Key, and have the Departments set up with each their own Quick Key. With a little time and patience, you could set this up to your liking, and while not the most efficient method of programming, could also set it up like a bank scanner, turning on and off departments with a couple key strokes (1-Enter, 2-Enter etc). I have ProScan and have uploaded everything as a back-up, but my preference is Sentinel. Just other options to consider.

 

[19K10Tanker]

Thanks to everyone for their response, I'll keep playing around with both and take into consideration some suggestions.

 

[bubbaearle]

Another way to do this...is to learn how to self-program utilizing the information from the database and all the avoiding won't be necessary.

With a little time and patience, you could set this up to your liking, and while not the most efficient method of programming, could also set it up like a bank scanner, turning on and off departments with a couple key strokes (1-Enter, 2-Enter etc). I have ProScan and have uploaded everything as a back-up, but my preference is Sentinel. Just other options to consider.

I do pretty much the same thing with the AWIN statewide system in Arkansas. I have each county (75 total, sorted alphabetically & numbered accordingly) as their own quick key.

I do this on both of my BCD352P2's and will refine it with my new SDS100 since it has a bit more flexibility in programming.

In my opinion, efficiency in programming is hindered by the DMA memory as opposed to object based memory of the Whistler radios. DMA forces duplication of systems & sites in my set-up, but I almost never have more than 2 counties running at one time.