Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

Hey all,

I'm having a helluva time programming in trunked systems. I've tried
following the manual verbatim but it have had zero luck. Can anybody
recommend a "Programming Trunk Systems on RS Scanners for Dummies" type
site or something similarly helpful?

I have been able to get frequency listings, talk group IDs, and the
trunking system type but not doing something correctly. I'll keep
plugging away at this and check in here for a scanner savior :)


THanks,

OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

OregonMike wrote:
Hey all,

I'm having a helluva time programming in trunked systems. I've tried
following the manual verbatim but it have had zero luck. Can anybody
recommend a "Programming Trunk Systems on RS Scanners for Dummies" type
site or something similarly helpful?

I have been able to get frequency listings, talk group IDs, and the
trunking system type but not doing something correctly. I'll keep
plugging away at this and check in here for a scanner savior :)

Have you tried Win97 software for it?

http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win97/default.asp

Go ahead and spend the money for it (and a cable):

http://www.starrsoft.com/software/Wi...es/cables.html

It will turn programming from a chore into a pleasure.
--
Bo Williams -
http://hiwaay.net/~williams/

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

Thanks for the insight.

OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

Radio Scrap should give it away.



"OregonMike" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for the insight.

OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

TNT wrote:
Radio Scrap should give it away.

It's certainly not very pleasant to program the trunking manually in an
RS/GRE scanner, that's for sure.
--
Bo Williams -
http://hiwaay.net/~williams/

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On 26 Nov 2005 17:02:17 -0800, "OregonMike"
wrote:

I have been able to get frequency listings, talk group IDs, and the
trunking system type but not doing something correctly. I'll keep
plugging away at this and check in here for a scanner savior :)

Are you sure you're marking both the bank and all the channels as the
trunking type, not FM?

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

"TNT" wrote in message
. ..
Radio Scrap should give it away.


Win97 is not Radio Shack's software. It's not theirs to give away.

Bill Crocker

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

"Bo Williams" wrote in message
...
TNT wrote:
Radio Scrap should give it away.

It's certainly not very pleasant to program the trunking manually in an
RS/GRE scanner, that's for sure.
--
Bo Williams -
http://hiwaay.net/~williams/

Ha! If you think RS/GRE is difficult, try manually programming Uniden's new
BCD396T!

Bill Crocker

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

Bill Crocker wrote:
"Bo Williams" wrote in message
...

TNT wrote:

Radio Scrap should give it away.

It's certainly not very pleasant to program the trunking manually in an
RS/GRE scanner, that's for sure.
--
Bo Williams -
http://hiwaay.net/~williams/


Ha! If you think RS/GRE is difficult, try manually programming Uniden's new
BCD396T!

It's not even really that it's difficult. I mean, if you do what it
says in the manual, you will successfully program the scanner. It's
just tedious, time-consuming, and completely unintuitive, such that you
continue to NEED the manual (and potentially hours of time). Honestly,
I can become proficient at even an Icom
push-this-hold-that-turn-this-other-thing scheme more quickly than
program a GRE for trunking manually with any efficiency.

OTOH, with Win9*, it takes only a few minutes to be swapping trunked
systems in and out of the scanner at will.

If RS had any idea what to do with itself other than stumble and bumble
toward death, it would see about paying Mr. Starr $5 a unit or something
to license that software and include it in the box.
--
Bo Williams -
http://hiwaay.net/~williams/

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:32:17 -0500, Al Klein
wrote:

On 26 Nov 2005 17:02:17 -0800, "OregonMike"
wrote:

I have been able to get frequency listings, talk group IDs, and the
trunking system type but not doing something correctly. I'll keep
plugging away at this and check in here for a scanner savior :)

Are you sure you're marking both the bank and all the channels as the
trunking type, not FM?


Hey Al,

I did, indeed, have the banks and channels marked as trunking but it
wasn't work. We may be able to chalk it up to lackluster reception
strength on the trunking system I was trying to receive whle down in
Oregon. Though, admittingly, I believe I didn't have everything
program in properly. I finally figured out the basic steps of
programming in the data channel for Motorola Systems and then manually
entering in the Talk Group #'s and AlphaNumeric tags. The manual could
have been quite a bit more insightful and less ambiguous and
confusing. I finally googled my way to a couple of sights with some
good, basic facts that pushed me forward much quickly than the manual
would ever do.

OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Sun, 04 Dec 2005 17:58:29 -0800, OregonMike
wrote:

The manual could
have been quite a bit more insightful and less ambiguous and
confusing. I finally googled my way to a couple of sights with some
good, basic facts that pushed me forward much quickly than the manual
would ever do.

Neither the Uniden or GRE manuals are worth much if you don't already
know how to use the scanner.

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:57:27 -0500, Al Klein
wrote:


Neither the Uniden or GRE manuals are worth much if you don't already
know how to use the scanner.


Sadly, I have to agree with you based on my experience with this 97.



OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Tue, 6 Dec 2005 06:45:00 +0000 (UTC), chesucat
wrote:

Al Klein wrote:
AKNeither the Uniden or GRE manuals are worth much if you don't already
AKknow how to use the scanner.

Well, that's nice to know!:-| After I just purchased a BC256T yesterday
and I'm now reading the owner's manual.

256 or 246?

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 05:54:27 +0000 (UTC), chesucat
wrote:

Al Klein queried:
AK256 or 246?

Uniden BC246T

If you're familiar wih scanners, stop thinking bank/channel and think
system/group/channel. Until you can do that, programming (and even
using) a scanner with dynamic memory will be difficult.

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005 22:26:04 +0000 (UTC), chesucat
wrote:

I don't understand bank/channel, I'm new to the scanning hobby, I made
a system named "Cobb County" and then I added groups called "Police"
and "Fire", then I added frequencies in the system and setup channels
names with their respective "talk group ID". It seemed to be working
okay so far, although there is still some static on some of the channels

Some of the transmitters are probably further away from you than
others.

and the Close-Call feature seems to pick up frequencies that don't have
voice traffic on it, just static and buzzing.

Close Call picks up everything. You can lock out what it reports to
you, but it hears everything strong enough, regardless of what you
have programmed.

Also, I have used up 75%
of memory and I only programmed police and fire, I guess I should delete
the "pre-programmed" systems that I can't receive. My firmware version
is 1.42! I downloaded a freeware backup utility from Butel and made a
backup and it seemed to work fine.

Then delete anything you don't need. You can always restore it.

I downloaded Uniden's BC246T
software and tried to install it and it failed to install on my computer.
The install program just hangs and won't install anything, very weird!
I have Pentium II 266Mhz with 128MB of RAM and 6GB hard drive.

What version of Windows?

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 06:07:33 +0000 (UTC), chesucat
wrote:

Al Klein wrote:
snipped some
I downloaded Uniden's BC246T
software and tried to install it and it failed to install on my computer.
The install program just hangs and won't install anything, very weird!
I have Pentium II 266Mhz with 128MB of RAM and 6GB hard drive.
AKWhat version of Windows?

Windows 98SE

Uniden's software has known problems with 98. (Actually, Win 98 has
problems, and Uniden's software pushes 98 hard enough to uncover
them.) Failure to install isn't one of the problems, but if you
could install it, you'd have problems anyway, so it's really a moot
point.

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

"OregonMike" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:32:17 -0500, Al Klein
wrote:

On 26 Nov 2005 17:02:17 -0800, "OregonMike"
wrote:

I have been able to get frequency listings, talk group IDs, and the
trunking system type but not doing something correctly. I'll keep
plugging away at this and check in here for a scanner savior :)

Are you sure you're marking both the bank and all the channels as the
trunking type, not FM?


Hey Al,

I did, indeed, have the banks and channels marked as trunking but it
wasn't work. We may be able to chalk it up to lackluster reception
strength on the trunking system I was trying to receive whle down in
Oregon. Though, admittingly, I believe I didn't have everything
program in properly. I finally figured out the basic steps of
programming in the data channel for Motorola Systems and then manually
entering in the Talk Group #'s and AlphaNumeric tags. The manual could
have been quite a bit more insightful and less ambiguous and
confusing. I finally googled my way to a couple of sights with some
good, basic facts that pushed me forward much quickly than the manual
would ever do.


I got a Pro-94 for Christmas and have never heard anything but static from
the trunked channels.

I used the cable and ScanCat-Lite-Plus to upload the information (whether
you call it difficult or tedious, manual programming is not my cup of tea)
and the non-trunked channels work just fine.

The trunked channels seem to scan but I don't understand the display and the
manual doesn't explain it.

Any advice will be appreciated.

TIA...Bob

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:33:33 -0500, "Bob Bailey" wrote:


I got a Pro-94 for Christmas and have never heard anything but static from
the trunked channels.

I used the cable and ScanCat-Lite-Plus to upload the information (whether
you call it difficult or tedious, manual programming is not my cup of tea)
and the non-trunked channels work just fine.

The trunked channels seem to scan but I don't understand the display and the
manual doesn't explain it.

Any advice will be appreciated.

TIA...Bob



I'm sure some people can help you out with specific data channel
frequencies if you mention which area you're trying to receive those
trunked systems from.


OM

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

It's amazing how so many (countless) buyers of Radio Shack scanners
complain about "bad" experiences at Radio Shack ie...."they only want
to sell cell phones in order to get that all important % of the
sale"....."Radio Shack employees do not know anything about their
scanners"...."why don't Radio Shack employees program my scanner or why
don't Radio shack employees show me how to program my scanner" and on,
and on, and on............
Yet these people still walk out of the store with that Brand New
Scanner they purchased KNOWING that they will have to program their
scanners when they get their new scanner home.
When you but a car, does the car sales people teach you how to drive
that car you purchased?
When you go to the library, does the librarian ask you if you can read?
The answers to these questions is Almost Always no, yet that does not
stop people from completing these tasks. There is so much "How To"
information on the WWW. that a search will not help you get started
with the info needed to program your scanner. Not to mention the 10's
of scanner groups (pro-97 yahoo group, pro-96 yahoo group,
rec.radio.scaner group) where you can first search the archives, and
then ask questions if need be. Then there are the scanner programs
(Win96, Win97, scan cat etc..).
I think that new 1st time scanner owners get their scanner home, remove
it from it's box, and expect to "Fire" the scanner up and to
immediately hear the areas they want to scan. I know that few to
almost none of the first time owners read the manual, with their
scanner next to them, page by page to try to learn about their new
scanner, and when they hit a subject they can't quite understand, they
keep on reading (if that) instead of trying to understand with
resources at hand, before going forward in the manual. And then there
are the pages on the WWW with step by step reworking of the manual,
easy for the first time owner to program their scanner.....but then
they may not totally understand what/why they are doing these certain
steps.
Instead of bitching and moaning about Radio Shack, use that energy and
the resources givin' to you towards making your purchase of your Radio
Shack scanner a Great, Worthwhile experience!! There must be a REASON
WHY you purchased that Radio Shack scanner, even after reading all this
"RAT SHACK " Crap.
Take the time to learn about your Great new Scanner and enjoy it
instead of placing blame.
Happy & Healthy New Year to You & Yours !!!;
daviddd
just my $0.02 cents

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

"daviddd" wrote in message
ups.com...
It's amazing how so many (countless) buyers of Radio Shack scanners
complain about "bad" experiences at Radio Shack ie...."they only want
to sell cell phones in order to get that all important % of the
sale"....."Radio Shack employees do not know anything about their
scanners"...."why don't Radio Shack employees program my scanner or why
don't Radio shack employees show me how to program my scanner" and on,
and on, and on............
Yet these people still walk out of the store with that Brand New
Scanner they purchased KNOWING that they will have to program their
scanners when they get their new scanner home.
When you but a car, does the car sales people teach you how to drive
that car you purchased?
When you go to the library, does the librarian ask you if you can read?
The answers to these questions is Almost Always no, yet that does not
stop people from completing these tasks. There is so much "How To"
information on the WWW. that a search will not help you get started
with the info needed to program your scanner. Not to mention the 10's
of scanner groups (pro-97 yahoo group, pro-96 yahoo group,
rec.radio.scaner group) where you can first search the archives, and
then ask questions if need be. Then there are the scanner programs
(Win96, Win97, scan cat etc..).
I think that new 1st time scanner owners get their scanner home, remove
it from it's box, and expect to "Fire" the scanner up and to
immediately hear the areas they want to scan. I know that few to
almost none of the first time owners read the manual, with their
scanner next to them, page by page to try to learn about their new
scanner, and when they hit a subject they can't quite understand, they
keep on reading (if that) instead of trying to understand with
resources at hand, before going forward in the manual. And then there
are the pages on the WWW with step by step reworking of the manual,
easy for the first time owner to program their scanner.....but then
they may not totally understand what/why they are doing these certain
steps.
Instead of bitching and moaning about Radio Shack, use that energy and
the resources givin' to you towards making your purchase of your Radio
Shack scanner a Great, Worthwhile experience!! There must be a REASON
WHY you purchased that Radio Shack scanner, even after reading all this
"RAT SHACK " Crap.
Take the time to learn about your Great new Scanner and enjoy it
instead of placing blame.
Happy & Healthy New Year to You & Yours !!!;
daviddd
just my $0.02 cents


I AM NOT a RS basher, BUT, I gave up on them for my scanner. Years ago when
I got into this I was given an old well used Pro79. Worked great. Then when
I heard the City was going to move to a Trunked 800 system I bought a Pro95.
When the city started up the new system I with some help from the net
learned how to set up the 95. I still used the 79 for about a year as they
were simulating on both till they had all their radios replaced. Then about
a year ago I decided to buy a 97 when I saw it. It was nice as it was
smaller. Got it home, since I had set up many 95's for others now I figured
it would be easy. Read the manual, things had changed a little but not much.
Could not get it to work. It would not trunk. I re did it a couple times
went through the manual a few times and made sure I followed the steps, same
thing, it would not trunk. I finally went back to the store. No one there
knew anything. They gave me my money back. I ordered a 246. Now that was a
whole new game. Does not work anything like the RS. By reading the manual
and a little help on line, within an hour I had it set up and working fine.
I still go to RS to buy stuff as it's close to my house, but the "customer
service" there is always a joke. I do like their 800 antenna's. I found my
246 worked a little better with one, so checked the stock on line, went to
the store to buy another one. When I walked in they had re arranged the
store since the last time I was there. A sales person asked me what I was
after I told them, they looked at me with that deer in the headlights look.
Asked me if it was a CB antenna. Finally she went to her computer, looked it
up, said "yes it shows we have 3 or them in the store". Of course all 3
people working there had no idea where they were. After a lot of stupid
questions, one of them gets out his cell phone to call someone else I would
guess some manager to ask where these were. I was on my way to work, so I
gave up and told tem forget it. I went to work, went on line and ordered
one. The way the store by me is run I am always surprised it's still in
business.
--
"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks."
[Lazarus Long]

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

The way the store by me is run I am always surprised it's still in
business.

Your RS sounds much like the one closest to me. I went in about a
couple of years ago to buy a scanner and they informed me that "Radio
Shack no longer sells scanners"!

I said to them: "You mean this store isn't selling scanners?" and they
answered "NO! We'd love to sell them but RS has stopped selling them
nationwide." I asked to see their catalog....which they willingly did.
I quickly pointed out all the scanners and their response was
"That's an old catalog". I checked it and pointed out that it was one
month old. They explained "RS is really poor about keeping their
catalogs up to date---that's probably a couple of years old, with a new
cover"!

I went home and copied some pages off the RS website and took them back
to them but even that didn't faze them. They offered the same
explanation--slow upkeep on the website.

Finally I went to the next nearest RS--51 miles away! There, I bought a
Pro-95. I took the new scanner to this local store.....only to be told
that the other store must have had some misplaced on the back shelves
because "Radio Shack stopped selling scanners about 2001"!

Since then, they've become more and more a toy store....radio control
toys, games, etc. About a month ago I went in to get some small parts
only to be told that they no longer stock "those items". They offered
to "order" them for me but I had to have a minimum $ 30 order!!

I've given up on them.

Help with RS Pro-97 and trunking
 

I just used the above software for my Radio Shack Pro 97 and once I
figured it out, it worked like a charm. I will be purchasing this
program for future use. Man, it made my life easier. I was ready to
take the frigging scanner back tied to a rock.

I don't want to listen to everything that comes over the 800 trunking.
I only want to listen to a certain thing, and now it can happen.

B I T C H E N !