Suggestions to optimize for Sea/King/Eastside scanning

[pferama]

New to scanning a few weeks ago with the SDS100. Spent several hours over the past few weeks reading and trial and error. I'm pretty happy with current state but possibly not seeing as much TAC/special activity as I thought I would despite having those channels set for Priority.

On June 19th I sat in my chair and manually locked on what I think was a TAC channel and listened this police chase (Suspect in deadly trail shooting arrested after high-speed chase | KOMO) from about 10 minutes before the vehicle started moving in S. Seattle all the way down to captured in Des Moines. It might have been split over two channels, before/after suspect started moving. It was a pretty cool half hour. I started recording using ProScan a few days after that.

Pretty much interested in police activity. But I have some favorites for Fire and EMS near me as well. I'm using mostly KCERS but after reading other posts I'm wondering if there is advice to do things differently, different systems?

I have near constant activity on my SDS100 with the config below. I currently use DND Close Call and some DND Priority ID channels to prioritize activity most relevant to me (N King/Woodinville/Duvall area).

Based on recording history it does seem to work. I'm able to review what happened overnight near me while I was sleeping. Of course Close Call and Pri ID sacrifices some of the Seattle activity unless I'm around to manually lock a channel for an interesting event.

Anyway, I'm new and interested in Seattle/Eastside area advice to further optimize if you have any. I have read a lot in the forums, manuals etc. But I'm still new enough to do stupid things.

Current primary Favorite db below (Doesn't show my Priority channels flag, usually N. King and Tac channels, NC Pol 1, 2 etc). Use location is enabled:

Scanner Type: SDS100

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Statistics

Type Quantity
Favorites 1
Conventional Systems 0
Trunk Systems 2
Conventional Groups 0
Trunk Groups 21
Sites 2
Conventional Frequencies 0
TGIDs 155
Trunk Frequencies 27
UIDs 0

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Quick Keys

FQK # Favorite Name
SQK # System Name
S/DQK # Department Or Site Name
3 SeaKing
3 Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS)
4 WA State Patrol

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Tags

Favorite # Favorite Name System # System Name Channel # Channel Name
3 SeaKing None None
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None BotPd Invest
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None BotPd Rec
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None BotPd Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None City Merge
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Des PD Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Des PD Pri
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Des PD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Duv CityWide
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Duv PS
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Emer Z1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Emer Z3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Emer Z4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Encaw PD Dis
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ENTF1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None EPSCA
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ESPD Intop1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ESPD Intop2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ESPD Intop3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ESPD Intop4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None IPD Disp
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None IPD Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None IPD Tac 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCPD SR F2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCPD SR F3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Data
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO N
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO NW
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO SE
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Sp Ops
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO SW
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 10
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 12
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 14
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 16
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 18
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 20
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 22
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 30
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 5
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 6
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 7
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 8
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KCSO Tac 9
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Kent PD Adm
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Kent PD Pri
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Kent PD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KIPD Rec
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None KIPD Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None LFPPD Disp
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None LFPPD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None MI PD Record
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None MI PD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None MI PW
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC CC 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC CC 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC CC 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Data
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC PD Emer
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Pol 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Pol 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Pol 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 11
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 12
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 13
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 14
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 15
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 16
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None NC Tac 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Ops 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Ops 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Ops 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Disp
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Inv
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Tac 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Red PD Traff
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None RetPD Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None RetPD Pri
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None RetPD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Snoq PD
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Snoq PD Tac1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Snoq PD Tac2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD AS NARC
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD ATG
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD CIS 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD CIS 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 5
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Cmnd 6
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD CRT 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD CTR 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Data
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD DTAC1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD DTAC2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD DVICE1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD DVICE2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD E
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD EM RESP1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD EM RESP2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Emerg
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Event 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Harbor
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD INTERNAL
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD INV TAC1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD INV TAC2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD ITS
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD N
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Narc 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Narc 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD NTF
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD S
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac 3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac 4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac E
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac N
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac S
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD Tac W
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD VICE 1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD VICE 2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None SPD W
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None UW PD Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None UW PD Disp
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None UW PD Tac
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValCom Spec1
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValCom Spec2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValCom Spec3
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValCom Spec4
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValCom Spec5
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValComCom
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None ValComNarc2
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None VC Admin
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None VC PD Data
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None VCPubSafe
3 SeaKing None Seattle-King County Public Safety (KCERS) None Woodnvl PW
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP Car 1
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP Car 2
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP Car 3
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP D2 Area
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP King
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP N King
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP S King
3 SeaKing None WA State Patrol None WSP Seattle

Activity summary (recordings sorted by ProScan record duration, breaks recording to new file at midnight)

 

[nessnet]

If you have an SDS100, you should get a GPS module for it.
This makes the device exponentially more useful.
Get ahold of Jonwienke for some GPS options.
Or, make your own, if you are so inclined.
https://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-tech-support/372593-sds-100-build-gps-cable.html

Why?
You can program 'rectangles' into it for various departments.
More on how below.

Then, once set up correctly, when you move about, the scanner switches automatically to the dept where you are physically at.

Bothell when I'm in Bothell, or Seattle, or Kirkland, or Redmond or Bellevue, King Co, Snohomish Co, Pierce Co, etc, etc.

Here is the trick to do this right - bounding boxes ,which is the lat//long on the jurisdiction's outmost boundaries via a NW corner and SE corner coordinates, making a box.

This website will give you bounding boxes for whatever city/county/whatever you put in it.
It may make you register, but it's free and well worth the effort!

It takes some work, but I now have every city/county/dept in WA programmed that way, as well as the western Oregon counties (coast/I5).

Here is the site.
https://www.maptechnica.com/
Put in you jurisdiction, then look below for the bounding box info.

 

[pferama]

Thanks for the info. I might go with GPS later. But I'd probably only use it a few times per year for camping and road trips. Building my own would be preferable considering the Uniden pricing...

For now I started keeping the scanner at home when I go to work. I listen to my private SDS100 stream via my phone during the commute and wherever. SDS100 reception didn't do well with stock antenna in the car with me during my relatively short 10 mile commute, much of it through hills/valley. I live basically on top of a hill around 500 ft.

I usually go out of state for work for a few days every 4 to 6 weeks. At the moment I think I'll be more interested in being able to tune into what is going on near the family back home than near my hotel. I probably should care about what's happening down the street when I travel...

There's enough interesting special/tac things getting recorded on my PC most days that I get some entertainment even when I have little time to listen to the scanner live. And I can access those recordings when I'm bored in a hotel. This ain't traditional scanner usage, but hey, it's working for me now.

I was wondering why ProScan has the rectangle sizing option in the Location/Google maps setting for each site and department. Now I know. I'll probably try it there first since the link you sent looks like a lot of work! Thanks for the link and suggestions.

 

[nessnet]

It is a bit of work programming all this.
As to ProScaN, you still have to know where the various city limits/county borders/etc are to make the rectangles cover the area(s) needed.
Once you get the hang of it, it really isn't that hard.
Well worth the effort (if you are mobile a lot with the scanner)

Hell, bribe me a little with a cold one or two/three and I'll give you all of WA law already done.

 

[ProScan]

As to ProScaN, you still have to know where the various city limits/county borders/etc are to

Not really. In ProScan Google Maps, You can drag antenna sites around and resize them to
match the coverage area or any City & County boundries.