InterceptRadio.com Forums

Hello radio heads.
This will probably get moved since I wasn't sure where to post it...
Anyway, My father-in-law has had a new scanner in his living room for a month. He has taken it back to Radio Shack 2 times.
The store clerks have loaded it with 3 local county fire\police and EMS but he can only recieve a few channels.
He asked me to look at it yesterday. I was suprised to see how much the tech had evolved with Scanners.
He only wants to use the unit for local fire\police \ems etc and isn't interested in sports or HAMM etc.
I did some googling and found that it needs a usb adapter to hook up to a Win 32Bit machine (I don't think software exists for 64bit) , and freescan software..As far as I can gather.
Anyway, I didn't find a Pennsylvania Regional forum to try and find someone who knows this stuff locally so I'll have to do this stuff.
He doesn't have a PC nor is he experienced with them and I wondered if it makes sense to set this thing up right for him but in the future he may run into an issue of loosing the stored data or won't be able to update the freeware.
Are there easier methods of entering multiple frequencies without the use of a CSV file?
Any input is appreciated.

I would enter the frequencies with freescan and be done with it. Perhaps someone already has a freescan file for your area. There are freescan files on here for Washington, Oregon, and California. Not sure if anyone has uploaded any for PA.

I couldn't find any...thanks though

FreeScan has the 'EZ Grab' feature which works like 'copy/paste'.
If you have some spare time check it out.
You don't have to pay anybody for free data.
I would suggest bringing up the FCC data for your area.
I have the USB adapter that was for a different radio, works fine.
All I had to do was pop on the Uniden side of it.
Where-a-bouts in PA?

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I'm trying to make it bullet proof and backed up. Blair County PA. My thinking is that he won't be able to update it with latest firmware, fix anything that gets accidently changed. I know it can be locked but...
I understand that it uses delimited files (excel\csv) and I could make one easily I guess from the FCC local area but I am not even sure where to look for all of the police departments etc fREQs. I also am beginning to think that this unit might be overkill for someone who doesn't have pc skills.
He only wants to monitor local police etc...

First off, there are rarely any firmware upgrades for these scanners. They just had one earlier this year which was the first in over a year. I think they have only had three or four upgrades period.

Secondly, the stored data can't get changed very easily. He would have to delve deep in to the menu system and delete a specific item. I'm sure it happens but the software has safeguards against deletion of data. It'll give a confirmation dialog to make sure.

Lastly, this model is necessary for listening to the PA digital system. Now, it looks like there are two systems in that area. The P25 system can be monitored by the Uniden 996XT. The OpenSKY system cannot be monitored by any scanner. (It looks like PA State Patrol is on that one.)

I'm seeing some specific frequency information for local PD but it also requires P25 but it's using conventional and not a Trunk.

Use the FreeScan software to program it. You'll save the file so just keep the cable/file handy and you can easily reprogram it if something gets messed up.

PS. Turning the scanner OFF and then back ON will clear up about 99% of most issues.

Thanks- I had actually just read this about OPENSKY and other frequencies in the area using it that he can't get. Seems like overkill for him (996xt) to monitor only a few channels.
Radio Shack added Blair PD which works but SP doesn't (OpenSky) as well as Bedford County and Huntingdon that I assume he wouldn't get anyway without a GIANT antennae...

Not necessarily. Even a well-placed base station whip can pick up signals from miles away especially if you consider most of these are from repeaters.

A roof-mounted base station antenna (which isn't that big) can pick up signals from 50+ miles away with no issues.

...So it is common for local law enforcement to broadcast on repeaters over a few counties?

Yes... happens all the time.

Thanks, we will see what we can do...