SDS100/SDS200: Site Hold like Unication

[buddrousa]

@N7OLQ
If you make a Favorite List for each State System for the SDS100 and use Location Control and the Uniden GPS it will turn on and off site for you and you will hear more traffic.

 

[Trilliumaire]

I noted that when I use Site Hold on the SDS100, it will lock you to whatever System it was on when you enabled the Site Hold. So basically it stops scanning across Systems, which is a no-go for me.

 

[werinshades]

I noted that when I use Site Hold on the SDS100, it will lock you to whatever System it was on when you enabled the Site Hold. So basically it stops scanning across Systems, which is a no-go for me.

That's probably because it's holding the Site on the System you selected, or as we say, it's performing as it's advertised in the manual. When you perform Site Hold, what did you think it meant?

 

[Trilliumaire]

That's probably because it's holding the Site on the System you selected, or as we say, it's performing as it's advertised in the manual. When you perform Site Hold, what did you think it meant?

I thought that Site Hold just would act as a filter. So it will scan everything in my list (across Systems) and only tune to items that match the Site that I held. I understand that this is how the radio works, but implementing a simple filter operation seems doable/easy from a firmware update perspective. So Scan --> Check if Site == Site Hold, then tune if True.

 

[werinshades]

I thought that Site Hold just would act as a filter. So it will scan everything in my list (across Systems) and only tune to items that match the Site that I held. I understand that this is how the radio works, but implementing a simple filter operation seems doable/easy from a firmware update perspective. So Scan --> Check if Site == Site Hold, then tune if True.

Not sure where you read that, but it’s good the way it is. I rarely use that feature because the way I program, it’s usually a System, then divide up by departments. By programming it that way, I think it will achieve the goal you’re looking for. Then, you can hold a site and all the departments you have programmed that affiliate with that site only will get through. To further isolate it, place the scanner in ID Scan and it will only scan those departments.

 

[Trilliumaire]

I agree, if you set things up for this in Sentinel, it's a non-issue. Admittedly, I am new to the SDS100 (and scanners in general), and Sentinel seems pretty non-intuitive (for n00bs like myself). So what I did, was just set my location, set my preferences on what I wanted to listen to, the send this over to a favorites list on the device. But the problem is, when I did this, it pulls in multiple redundant sites, which degrades my scan efficiency.

Maybe I will get brave with the software.

 

[werinshades]

I agree, if you set things up for this in Sentinel, it's a non-issue. Admittedly, I am new to the SDS100 (and scanners in general), and Sentinel seems pretty non-intuitive (for n00bs like myself). So what I did, was just set my location, set my preferences on what I wanted to listen to, the send this over to a favorites list on the device. But the problem is, when I did this, it pulls in multiple redundant sites, which degrades my scan efficiency.

Maybe I will get brave with the software.

I understand, and yes that programming method doesn’t leave you with many options. I’ve been at it a lot longer and self-program my favorites lists which gives me much more flexibility and ability to use features.

 

[Ubbe]

it pulls in multiple redundant sites, which degrades my scan efficiency.

When you have the systems in a favorite list you can edit its sites, either in Sentinel or other program or directly on the scanner.
Go to "Manage Favorites" and select your list and then "Review/Edit System" and select a system and then to "Edit Site" Each site not wanted can be selected to be permanently avoided.

If its a simulcast system then all sites send out the exact same information so only one site that are the closest and strongest are needed to be scanned. Other systems will have different TG's active on different sites, so if you want to hear what's going on in an area not close to you then you will have to scan those weak sites as well.

/Ubbe

 

[Trilliumaire]

On the scanner, all I see under a system is:

Edit Name
Edit Sys Option
Edit Department
Copy System
Delete System

So maybe this is Sentinel only? Not on the device?

 

[hiegtx]

On the scanner, all I see under a system is:

Edit Name
Edit Sys Option
Edit Department
Copy System
Delete System

So maybe this is Sentinel only? Not on the device?

Your example is what you see, on the scanner, when you chose a conventional system to edit. Your screens, for a trunked system, are different.

See these screenshots. (You're asking about an SDS100. These screenshots, technically, are using one of my 436HP's, that is connected to my laptop to log activity via ProScan. The screens and basic menu process for this process is the same for both models.)
Pressing the Menu button (lower button on the left side of the scanner gets you here:


Select Manage Favorites and press Enter


Select the list you want to edit and press Enter again.
That gets you here: (I chose a trunked system for this example.)


Once you've selected the system you want to edit, press Enter to select it.


For trunked systems, you see an option for sites, which you did not see on your example, which it appears that you chose a conventional system, not trunked.

 

[buddrousa]

@Trilliumaire
Here is the easy to read SDS Manual it will help you a lot to read it.

Easier to Read SDS100/200 Digital Scanner Manual

 

[Trilliumaire]

For trunked systems, you see an option for sites, which you did not see on your example, which it appears that you chose a conventional system, not trunked.

This must be what is going on. I tried uploading photos, but the forum software rejected them due to the size being too large. Bottom line, what happened is that this collection of 21 systems was generated by setting location, then setting types, then sending to a favorites. This wasn't from the Sentinel software, just a few button presses on the device. Basically there was no organization in creating this list, and also, no filtering.

These screenshots, technically, are using one of my 436HP's, that is connected to my laptop to log activity via ProScan.

That's another thing I was was wondering, can I use the SDS100 to log the metadata that appears when you lock onto a signal, along with the recording ... this seems like what you are doing with ProScan.

@buddrousa Thanks for the link