Trunking Question

[chatterbox]

I have a Radioshack Pro-2052 scanner I got about a year ago.

It's dual trunking with 1000 channels (20 banks). I know they've got triple trunking scanners out now, because that's what we listen with at work, and there's always someone talking.

Somebody told me even though my scanner is only a year old, it's obsolete, and I'll only pick up half of the conversations.

I've got a free program that allows me to control it from my computer. That makes programming easy.

Right now I've got all the frequencies put in for two counties (San Diego and Riverside), but am not getting much conversation.

Could anyone explain to me triple trunking vs. dual trunking? Do I have to go out and get a triple trunking scanner now?

Thanks for anything!

[Chile]

I am certainly not a radio guru, but I noticed that your question has gone unanswered for some time, so I will throw you a bone.

I asked they guy in charge of our radio program, and he says to try and post your question in the forum at radioreference.com

I think your question is beyond the capabilities or knowledge of most firefighters who use radios.

Most of us know how to navigate the systems and channels of the 800's and the BK's, but not programming.

I hope that helps.

Good luck!

[jude23]

Try trunktracker.com and see if that helps.

[Sniper]

I am gonna try to answer your question... I am pretty sure triple trunking refers to the scanners ability to scan more than two trunked systems at one time. For example, if I am sitting in the City of San Bernardino with a triple trunking capable scanner, I can hear San Bernardino City (10-Group), the Mountains Group (8-Group), and the East Valley Group (6-Group) all at one time with a triple trunking capable scanner. If my scanner was a dual trunking type, I would have to choose which two groups I want to listen to. Remember this only applies to trunked radio systems (800 mhz) and not conventional VHF radio traffic...

Due to the complexity of trunked radio systems it is imperative that you program your scanner correctly or more than likely you won't be able to listen to everything you think you should be able to hear. Since a trunked system always looks for the frequency that is not being used your scanner must have every frequency programmed into that group. Does this make sense? For example, the San Bernardino City 10 group has eleven 800 mhz frequencies in its group. If I only have five of them programmed then I should expect to only hear about half of the radio traffic. Another factor is distance. I can't hear the West Valley Group 9 from San Bernardino even though Ontario isn't that far from here. 800 mhz (UHF) doesn't travel very well in comparision to VHF so even though I can't hear Ontario Fire Dispatch on their 9-DSPCH channel (800mhz) I can hear its VHF simulcast on 154.025 (Blue).

Trunked radio systems are notoriously difficult to program with Radio Shack scanners. I have never been able to get it right... Go to this website www.radioreference.com and look up the frequencies you want and hopefully you can program your scanner correctly...

Good Luck!