WIN500

Revision as of 06:11, 25 May 2010

Using WIN500 to populate a scanner

NOTE: Importing from the Radio Reference Database will not work if you are not a Premium Subscriber to the Radio Reference Web site. The key to unlock the utility for importing systems, TGs, and/or conventional frequencies from the Database is the Premium Subscription.

It must be noted that a Premium Subscription is NOT required to take advantage of the information on the Radio Reference Web site, but there are some functionalities that you will not be able to access without it.

Trunked Systems

Open or Closed Mode?

It is considered scanning in "Open Mode" if there is a Wildcard in working memory while scanning. A Wildcard allows reception of radio traffic from any active Talk Group in a trunked radio system. "Closed Mode" occurs when there is not a Wildcard in working memory, or the Wildcard is locked out so scanning is limited to specific Talk Groups.

Importing Trunked Systems and Talk Groups

NOTE: As of August 1, 2009, you will have to have WIN500 Version 1.85 or higher in order to access the RR Database through the software to do an import. Also, be aware that the new interface between the software and the RR Database now takes longer to access the data, so be patient as the electrons flowing back and forth do their thing. It will happen, trust me.

You may also encounter a pop-up indicating a corrupted .dll file. Please go to Starrsoft.com for instructions and updates. You may have to download .NET Framework 1.1 from Microsoft. There is a link on the Starrsoft Web site.

1. To Import from Radio Reference, click File > highlight Web Import > RadioReference.com > select Trunked Systems.

2. On the next page enter your credentials for logging into the Radio Reference Web site then click on "START."

3. Using the drop-down menus, select the Country, State/Province, County, and System. It now takes a some time for the software to collect the data so be patient. Added to Version 1.93 you'll see a screen showing the progress of the transfered data.

When completed you'll be able to continue.

4. Click on the "+" signs to expand the Site(s) and TGs available for the system selected in the step above placing a check mark for those Sites and TGs you want to import. You must select at least one Site to Import along with the TGs or you will get a "No TSYS Assigned" warning when you begin to scan.

5. Click on "IMPORT THIS SYSTEM." (Any site or TG without a check mark will not be imported, so check them over before proceeding.)

WARNING NOTE: The scanner is limited to a total of 32 frequencies for a trunking system. That means that no more than 32 Control Channel frequencies or a combination of Control Channel frequencies and Alternate Control Channel frequencies can be entered per system. If all the frequencies in use on a particular site are entered, that will reduce the number of sites you will be able to enter in that system.

In an EDACS or LTR Standard system, each Site will have to be its own system. Since all the frequencies must be imported in these types of systems (instead of just a Control Channel as in a Motorola system), and since the frequencies must be in LCN order, frequencies from different sites CANNOT be mixed in the same TSYS frequency list.

Assigning Objects to Scan List

6. In the Import Settings Dialog box (shown below)...

a. Give a unique name to the system you are importing.

b. Select a Scan List assignment (without this, the TGs will not be assigned a Scan List and when you start to scan you will get a "Nothing Enabled" warning).

c. Select the second (middle) radio button to get the correct alpha tags imported with the TGs you have selected in the previous step.

NOTE: Check the Radio Reference Database for the system you are importing. Some of the Admins have better descriptions than display attributes. Remember, only 16 characters of either the description or the display attribute in the RR Database are imported. You can always change the alpha tag field yourself, too.

7. Click "OK" then click "Done." The software will now import the system(s) and/or TGs you have selected to the WIN500 software.

ANOTHER WARNING NOTE: At this point it would be a good idea to check the TGs that were imported. Make sure the Scan List Map shows numbers indicating the Tgs have been assingned a Scan List. If the TGs are not in a Scan List, you will get a "Nothing Enabled" warning when you begin to scan. The Scan List assignment box on the right side of the TG list is where you can assign each TG to a Scan List. You can highlight a group and only make one selection for the whole group or you can assign each TG individually.

8. To upload the data imported from the Radio Reference Database to the scanner, click on Scanner > Upload to Scanner. The scanner will reboot itself and then should start scanning automatically after uploading. If not, press SCAN. You might also have to press the number 1 key on the scanner to enable the #1 Scan List.

9. Click on File (upper left corner) > Save As... and save this information to the WIN500 folder on your computer as whatever.p500.

Adding Individual TGs

These images show how to add individual or specific TGs.

1. After selecting the TSYS Objects tab, select the system above the window where you want to add the TG(s).

2. Click on "ID" below the window. If you do not click below the window, when you do the next instruction a new System will be added above the window instead.

3. Use Ctrl + Shift + N on computer keyboard or click on Edit > New Item at End. The TG added will be a Wild Card TG and can be scanned as a Wild Card or you can edit it to make a specific TG by changing the information in the fields on that line (ID numbers will be assigned by the program automatically).

4. Repeat as necessary to add as many individual/specific TGs as you want.

5. This image shows what it looks like after adding four additional spaces for TGs. Even though the text in the image says the added TGs will default to Scan List 1, that no longer may be the case with the newest updates to the WIN500 software since Aug. 1, 2009. Be sure to check the Scan List assignment.

6. Double click "Talkgroup" in the Alpha Tag field to change it for editing and type in the alpha tag you want to use for that TG. Then double click "Wildcard" in the Group or Radio ID field and add the TGID in DEC format. You can always leave one as a Wild Card TG, too.

7. Make sure these new TGs are in the scan list where you want them, then upload the changes to the scanner and save them to your WIN500 file on your computer.

Adding a Block of TGs to an Existing System

So you want to add more than one or two TGs to an existing system in your scanner. How to do it the least painful way using WIN500? The easiest way to add a block of TGs to a system that has been previously imported is to do another import from RR.com only with a couple of very small but critical changes.

1. Before you start your import, open WIN500 and look at the TSYS Object ID number of the system where you want to add the TGs. That ID number was automatically assigned by WIN500 when the system was originally imported. Make a note of that number (see image below).

2. When you get to the page shown below, only expand the Talk Groups because you are not importing a system. Place a check mark by each of the TGs you wish to add to the existing system in your scanner.

3. At the Web Import Settings page enter the TSYS Object ID number (that you noted earlier) into the "TSYS Object ID" box replacing the default of "-1". Also make a scan list assignment and select the Alpha Tag format you desire.

4. Click "OK" and "Done." Click on the TSYS tab and scroll to the bottom. Your new TGs will be there at the bottom of the list. Upload to your scanner and save the changes to your whatever.p500 file on your computer.

Deleting Systems and/or TGs

1. Highlight the System or the TG to be deleted.

2. Click on the Edit menu.

3. Click "Delete Item(s)" on the menu or use Alt + Del on the computer keyboard.

Edit Control Channel Frequencies

To edit the Control Channel frequencies click on the TSYS Objects tab > click on the System Frequencies bar. After rebanding, all that is necessary is editing the CC frequency as long as a custom band plan is programmed into the scanner.

WARNING NOTE: The scanner is limited to a total of 32 frequencies for a trunking system. That means that no more than 32 Control Channel frequencies or a combination of Control Channel frequencies and Alternate Control Channel frequencies can be entered per system. If all the frequencies in use on a particular site are entered, that will reduce the number of sites you will be able to enter in that system.

Custom Band Plan (Trunking Tables)

To edit or install a Custom Band Plan (Trunking Tables), click on the TSYS Objects tab > click on the Trunking Tables bar, and when the next window opens, click the drop-down menu and select the appropriate band plan > click OK. For the 800 MHz trunking systems select 800 MHz Rebanded. This band plan or trunking table will be good for systems already rebanded as well as those not yet rebanded.

With WIN500 V 1.86 released around Aug. 2, 2009, the software will calculate the trunking table for you before importing. You should still check to be sure everything is correct.

Conventional Frequencies

Importing Conventional Frequency Systems

NOTE: As of August 1, 2009, you will have to have WIN500 Version 1.85 or higher in order to access the RR Database through the software to do an import. Also, be aware that the new interface between the software and the RR Database now takes longer to access the data, so be patient as the electrons flowing back and forth do their thing. It will happen, trust me.

You may also encounter a pop-up indicating a corrupted .dll file. Please go to Starrsoft.com for instructions and updates. You may have to download .NET Framework 1.1 from Microsoft. There is a link on the Starrsoft Web site.

1. To Import from Radio Reference, click File > highlight Web Import > RadioReference.com > select Conventional frequencies.

2. On the next page enter your credentials for logging into the Radio Reference Web site then click on "Start."

3. Using the drop-down menus, select the Country, State/Province, County, and System.

4. Click on the "+" signs to expand the Categories and Sub-categories available for the system selected in the step above placing a check mark for those you want to import.

5. Click on "IMPORT SELECTED CHANNELS." (Any frequency without a check mark will not be imported so check them over before proceeding.)

Assigning Objects to Scan List

6. On the next page, select the second (middle) radio button to get the correct alpha tags imported with the frequencies you have selected in the previous step. Also make sure that a Scan List is selected or the message, "Nothing Enabled" will be the result.

NOTE: Check the Radio Reference Database for the system you are importing. Some of the Admins have better descriptions than display attributes. Remember, only 16 characters of either the description or the display attribute in the RR Database are imported. You can always change the alpha tag field yourself, too.

7. Click "OK" then click "Done." The software will now import your selected frequencies to the WIN500 software.

ANOTHER WARNING NOTE: At this point it would be a good idea to check the frequencies that were imported. In the past, they have all been defaulted into Scan List 1, but with recent changes in the software, it is possible that they were not assigned a Scan List at all. The Scan List assignment box on the right side of the frequency list is where you can assign each frequency to a Scan List. You can highlight a group and only make one selection for the whole group or you can assign each one individually.

8. To upload the data imported from the Radio Reference Database to the scanner, click on Scanner (menu at top of page) > Upload to Scanner.

9. Click on File (upper left corner) > Save As... and save this information to the WIN500 folder on your computer as whatever.p500.

Conventional Frequencies NOT belonging to a System

Some conventional frequencies do not belong to a system and are organized in the Radio Reference Database as Categories and Sub-categories only. To access them, after selecting the County wait just a few seconds. Categories and Sub-categories will appear in the large window. Simply click on the "+" sign to expand them, then place a check mark by those frequencies to be imported. After placing the check marks, follow instructions 5 through 9 above for importing conventional frequencies.

Adding Individual Conventional Frequencies

These images show how to add an individual or specific frequency.

1. After selecting the Conventional Objects tab, click on "ID" (See image) then Ctrl + Shift + N on your computer's keyboard.

2. You can also click on the Edit menu at the top of the page and then click on "New Item at end" instead of using the keyboard shortcut.

3. A new Conventional Frequency Object will be created by each use of the keyboard shortcut or clicking on the Menu command. The new Conventional Object will be added to the END of the list if other objects already exist.

4. Double click the field to open it for editing. Fill the fields in manually after creating the space to accept the new frequency (ID will be automatically assigned by the program). CTCSS, DPL, or DCS tones can be added manually if known, or allow the scanner to seek them out by leaving the Squelch Mode in "Search."

5. Repeat as necessary to add as many individual/specific frequencies as desired.

Deleting Conventional Frequencies

1. Highlight the frequency(ies) to be deleted.

2. Click Edit on the menu.

3. Click on "Delete Item(s)" or use Alt + Del keys on computer keyboard.

Finish

Remember to upload any changes you make in your software to the scanner and to save that change to your WIN500 folder on your computer.

"Nothing Enabled"

When you turn your scanner on you should get the "Welcome Screen," then you should see the following screen (there may be more numbers showing depending on how many scan lists are created by the user):

When the objects are imported to the WIN500 programming software you must select a Target Scan List. In prior versions of WIN500, objects imported were defaulted to Scan List 1, but with recent updates that no longer occurs. You must have objects assigned to a Scan List or you will get "Nothing Enabled." If you are seeing "Nothing Enabled," press the number 1 key on the scanner's key pad. If that does not work, open your WIN500 program and check to see if the objects are, indeed, assigned to a Scan List. If they are not, assign them and then upload to the scanner again. Be sure to save any changes to your whatever.p500 file on your computer.

Toggling Scan Lists

To toggle scan lists off or on, use the number keys on the scanner's keypad. Scan Lists 1 - 10 are toggled by using numbers 1 - 0, and Scan Lists 11 - 20 are toggled by pressing the FUNC key and then a number 1 - 0 (i.e. FUNC + 3 = Scan List 13).

Virtual Scanner Management (V-Folders)

Virtual Scanner Management is a tool that will let you select from 1 to 20 .P500 files and send them all to the scanner V-Folders. This will not effect the working memory of your scanner. At the end of the process the scanner will reboot and scan your working memory.

In Win500 top left hand corner, click on the Scanner then click on Virtual Scanner, also you'll need the programming cable connected to use this function, you can Read, Clear, or Write to a V-Folder(s).

Hit Refresh (Remote V-Scanner Mode) first, then as the above screen shows you check Write another screen will appear (Win500 Directory) and you choose the file to be entered into the numbered column, after you are done entering the file/files to be sent to the scanner V-Folders, you hit the Commit button and the transfer should begin, after the completion hit Done, a reboot will take place and you should be back in your normal scanner operation, and your V-Folders should now be ready for access when needed.

Monitor/Control

Using the Monitor/Control you can view and control your scanner using the computer.

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