Count me in. I'll be taking the test, hopefully getting a call sign soon.

4/22/2011 10:06:22 PM

@seangt

Good luck! Don't sweat it too much. Basic Electronics theory is all there is to it.
As long as you have done basic studying you should do fine.
Hope to see ya out there!
Marshall KE4ZNR

4/22/2011 10:13:48 PM

Had a great time at RARSFest. Saw alot of folks I already know and met some new ones.

I even withstood the temptation of buying any high dollar items.

4/23/2011 6:20:39 PM

Well that's no fun then

4/23/2011 6:26:50 PM

^ you don't know how difficult it was to walk away from some of the deals

In years past I did spend waaaay too much $chedda$ but gotta be fiscally
Conservative these days. I am lucky enough that my beta testing opportunities has allowed
Me to own free production models of scanners/radios that I otherwise would be
Unable to purchase at around $500 a unit.

4/23/2011 7:18:09 PM

My 1 and only purchase from earlier today:

4/23/2011 7:57:32 PM

i heard you on the simplex channel as i was walking in and i responded, but then i never heard anything on the simplex again. i was there for about an hour then decided it wasn't my cup o tea since i wasn't buying anything and didn't have all day to spend there.

I'm not sure my radio is transmitting.

4/23/2011 9:57:39 PM

My dad bought the radio that the skywarn people use, him and I are going to get our Technicians license in May.

4/23/2011 10:34:20 PM

I made it out there and took the test. Passed Technician and General. (it did take a bit of studying)
Now just have to wait for my call sign to show up in the FCC database.

KE4ZNR I'll have to catch you next time. The lady at the Skywarn booth said she'd seen you but I couldn't stick around long. (the tests took a while)

Now it's time to pick out a radio and wait for that callsign to show up.

[Edited on April 23, 2011 at 11:24 PM. Reason : ]

4/23/2011 11:23:50 PM

@scrager Sorry I missed ya man. I was there from about 9am till 12 noon.
Mostly to catch up with some other radio geeks from around the state.

4/24/2011 1:48:13 PM

@Str8BacardiL Cool man. Let me know if I can do anything to help yall get your ticket.

4/24/2011 1:48:53 PM

@seangt

Congrats man! Told ya it wasn't too bad. The callsign might show up in the online
database before your paper copy comes in the mail. You probably talked to Virginia NC4VA.
She is the local Skywarn Emergency Coordinator.
Let me know when ya get your call & radio and I will try to catch up with you on 64 or one
of the other local repeaters.

4/24/2011 1:53:58 PM

I, too, made it out there and passed Technician (didn't try for anything higher). I also met up with Brandon1 and picked up his vx-5.

Coming back into Raleigh Sat afternoon I heard an exchange on the 64 repeater, one guy had seen a manhole cover flipped up and protruding from the hole, so he called 911 on his radio and reported it to the dispatcher. is that repeater is patched into a phone line? He did something on his HT, it said something (sounded like "RAL911"), then it rang at the PSAP and I heard the whole exchange.

looking forward to getting my tag and talking on some local repeaters (for me, local=northern SC). next time i'm in Raleigh I'll hit the 64 repeater and try to talk with some of you guys

[Edited on April 25, 2011 at 8:06 AM. Reason : .]

4/25/2011 8:04:24 AM

@jtw208
Congrats Man! Keep an eye out online for your callsign. Also, I PMed you some
VX-5R links that should help you out but feel free to ask away if you have any specific
questions about that rig. I love mine and use it daily.

Overall I think the event was a success this year. Attendance looked to be up from years
past and there were more dealers/tables.

4/25/2011 9:30:08 AM

To give everyone an idea of how many channels/talkgroups are available in a Raleigh
Police Patrol Officers Radio these days here is their Zone Layout..a "Zone" is basically a bank
of channels Talkgroups...Raleigh PD Patrol officers has 29 Zones in their Radios:



Each Zone has up to 16 channels/talkgroups...here is Zone 26 which is the University Policing Zone/Bank:


Needless to say that keeping a reference card on hand to help remember what is where is needed.
Though I will say the most used channels/talkgroups (Status Channels/LE OPS/Front Desk/DCI) are
always within easy reach.

4/25/2011 3:42:28 PM

For those wanting to get into the hobby without buying a digital capable
scanner you can check out the list of RR.com mobile streaming apps for all platforms:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Direct_Connect_Mobile_Device_Support
Even I, with all of my radios, still have the "Scanner Radio" Android App to use in a pinch

4/27/2011 8:10:28 PM

What just happened in Cary in hidden oaks
apt complex?

Probably ten cop cars.

4/27/2011 10:23:38 PM

@occamsrezr Good question. I don't usually monitor Cary PD unless I get tipped off to something going on. Sorry I could not help you more in this case.

For you I.T. Geeks out there: How much does it cost monthly to run the site behind all of the streaming audio apps Radioreference.com? Last August Lindsay Blanton (Site owner) gave a peek into
how much the bill is to AWS:
http://radioreference.blogspot.com/2010/08/monthly-bill.html
That's right: tab comes to about 8 Grand.

4/28/2011 9:15:43 AM

This batch of storms made me dig out my old Pro-97. I remember jumping on a website back in the day (maybe radioreference?) that had all the vital information needed to get the good channels added. At some point I ended up getting confused and annoyed with it. Is the USB/Serial cable + computer software pretty much necessary to keep your sanity while configuring this scanner?

That said, KE4ZNR I noticed you offered a config file for Raleigh's talk groups. Would this be easy to find for Pitt County/Greenville, NC/27834? Or is it a job for google?

[Edited on April 28, 2011 at 5:26 PM. Reason : ]

4/28/2011 5:22:47 PM

Boo, Pro-97 isn't digital. So I'm screwed eh ;(

4/28/2011 6:42:22 PM

@Grandmaster

Quote :

"This batch of storms made me dig out my old Pro-97. I remember jumping on a website back in the day (maybe radioreference?) that had all the vital information needed to get the good channels added."

Probably was Radioreference.com. There was one other local site (Strongsignals.net) but the guy behind SS has not updated it in a few years. When I want a stroll down memory lane I surf over to SS and look over my contributions from the 90s into early 00s.

Quote :

"At some point I ended up getting confused and annoyed with it. Is the USB/Serial cable + computer software pretty much necessary to keep your sanity while configuring this scanner?"

I usually tell folks that if you are gonna buy a radio go ahead and get programming cable & software. My Uniden XT Scanners have memory space for upwards of 25,000 channels Ain't no way in hell I am gonna try to program everything I have in there by hand (current stats: 178 Systems, 223 Sites, & a total of 11,944 Channels in my XT radios). That is not even counting my programming files for monitoring at the family beach house in Beaufort, SC which are not loaded at this time.
The Pro 97 used Win 97 http://bit.ly/iI9QAc for programming.

Quote :

"That said, KE4ZNR I noticed you offered a config file for Raleigh's talk groups. Would this be easy to find for Pitt County/Greenville, NC/27834? Or is it a job for google?"

RR.com is your one stop source It looks like you have stumbled across the fact that Pitt Co is primarily using digital
VIPER talkgroups for day to day public safety comms. and of course the 97 (while a great analog scanner) is analog only
My starter files ( http://bit.ly/mGy2AI ) were actually for use with a program designed for Uniden Scanners called Freescan (Scannow.org). I did also include an excel xls file so those that use different type of radio programming software can copy/pasta from my excel file into the software program of their choice.

Hey the Pro 97 is a GREAT Aviation band receiver as well as very selective/sensitive on the VHF/UHF bands.
I used to have one but sold it along the way and sometimes wish I still had it.
Here is the RR Wiki article on the 97 giving ya more info on it than you ever wanted :
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-97

4/28/2011 7:09:29 PM

Yeah I had that wiki pulled up while posting here. I even programmed all the motorolla frequencies like twice before realizing I wasn't just messing up the control channel for it to sound like it was...

Should I just try and sell it or keep it for weather? I have Fire/Police/EMS from Scanner Radio on my Android...*shrug*

4/28/2011 7:18:28 PM

@Grandmaster

Me, I find it difficult to part with any radio That might be why I even have 2 versions of some radios.
You should be able to receive one of the VHF WX channels just with the rubber duck antenna. If you can do
that then you have an awesome WX Radio with SAME FIPS Alert capability which you can place anywhere in your
residence to alert you to warnings in the area.
Not to mention you can take it to local airfield and monitor Aviation comms.
I have a pair of Icom R2s (http://bit.ly/IcomR2) that I only use for Aviation monitoring.
Nothing wrong with devoting a radio to specific purpose.

4/28/2011 7:33:25 PM

Well that's exactly what I dug it out of the closet for

I was listening to the EMS frequencies on my Android and I'd hear the NOAA reports on Pro97 and then a minute or so later on the others (granted there's ~30s delay built in). Then at one point it started going bat shit crazy with a Tornado Warning (couldn't adjust volume). I assume that's the Skywarn/SAME capability. I thought it was pretty cool.

4/28/2011 7:48:10 PM

I gathered the Handheld radios (that I could find right off) and got them together in one place for a pic:



Front Row From Left to Right: Yaesu VX-5R, Radio Shack Pro 96, (2) Icom R2s, Uniden BC246t, Uniden BCD396XT, Radio Shack HTS-200.

Back Row: Yaesu FT-50RD (barely visible behind the 5R), Uniden BC3000xlt, Radio Shack Pro 95, Uniden BC235XLT.

Note: The BC235XLT (http://bit.ly/UnidenBC235XLT) was the first "Trunktracking" scanner that could follow Motorola 800Mhz trunked systems. In May of 1997 myself and another radio geek Rich Wells were the 1st in NC to own 235's. Of course back then the only Moto system around (pretty much) was Cary's system but we could finally monitor the system like the actual PD/FD/EMS users.

Most days I carry the Yaesu VX-5R, Uniden BCD396XT, and a Uniden HomePatrol HP-1 (Homepatrol.com) to work.
With those 3 radios alone I can monitor 90% of what I would ever need to hear.

4/28/2011 8:03:43 PM

@Grandmaster

Use this link to get the heads up on the WX SAME Alerts on the 97:

http://marksscanners.com/97/97.shtml#weather_alert

4/28/2011 8:08:23 PM

Just checked the ULS database, I'm official now--KK4BVY

I took the test last Sat at rarsfest, that's a pretty quick turnaround.. Looking forward to getting on 2m and 70cm this weekend.

4/29/2011 1:50:33 PM

@jtw208

Congrats Man! Welcome officially to the Ham Radio world. Once you get a radio give me a shout on RARS 64.

4/29/2011 2:47:21 PM

Yep, I'm in there too. I'm KK4BVL. Pretty good turn around, less than a week.

Still looking a radio. The Yaesu VX-6, 7, and 8 are tempting but I'm thinking I'll try that Wouxun for now.

4/29/2011 11:20:00 PM

i heard lots of good things about the one that was selling at rarsfest for right around $100. good sound quality from what i heard. supposedly that same company (wouxun) is supposed to be coming out with a 2m/440 mobile sometime, i might have to get one if they ever release it in the US

4/30/2011 12:58:36 AM

@seangt Congrats on your call! I was so damn tempted to pick up one of the $107 Wouxun at RARSFest too.
Everyone I know that has one is happy with it. I might have to grab one at some point just to add it to the collection.
I am packing up several radios and the SLR and heading out to KRDU General Aviation to do some plane spotting.
Should be a perfect WX day out there.

4/30/2011 11:24:41 AM

SHP had a pursuit around (surprise) Southeast Raleigh Area about an hour or so ago.

SHP Troop C Dist 3 Talkgroup on VIPER had the radio traffic.

My tweets from it as it happened (Newest to Oldest so you probably want to start at bottom and work up):

Quote :

" KE4ZNR: Final SHP Pursuit U/D: Suspect ran due to drugs in vehicle. Suspect in custody & no injuries to anyone. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit U/D: Vehicle stopped & Suspect in custody in neighborhood off Poole Rd near Sunnybrook Rd 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit U/D: Suspect VEH turned into neighborhood street off Poole Rd. Vehicle possibly stopped. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP pursuit update: now on Poole Rd headed towards Ral downtown. Suspect vehicle now only running 5mph. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit U/P: suspect speed about 45mph. Car falling apart. Sunnybrook Rd near Poole Rd. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit update: Now on Sunnybrook Rd from Rock Quarry Rd. Suspect running on only 2 tires. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit update: Back on Rock Quarry Rd & Friendly Trail. On only 2 tires after other 2 hit stopsticks 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit Update: on Jones Sausage Rd back towards Rock Quarry. Other troopers setting up stopsticks. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR SHP Pursuit update: now on Jones Sausage Rd. 1 hour ago » KE4ZNR Sounds like SHP in middle of pursuit Outbound Rock Quarry Rd (from Ral)"

4/30/2011 8:45:20 PM

i've determined that my IC-T22A does not transmit. I've got it set up for the repeaters and it doesn't switch to the input when i press the talk button.

4/30/2011 10:04:44 PM

@scrager

Which repeaters are you trying to hit?
And are you in West Raleigh? If you are we can try to see if we get anywhere on a simplex freq.
And I am sure you have done this but you have the offset (+ or -) freq set correctly plus CTCSS/PL if needed?

Edit; I will be monitoring RARS 64 for awhile this evening.

[Edited on April 30, 2011 at 10:18 PM. Reason : added RARS 64]

4/30/2011 10:13:31 PM

it's not that i don't think i have the repeaters configured right, it's that the radio itself is not doing what it is supposed to when i press talk. I have the 64 repeater set at duplex minus and when I press talk it is supposed to automatically switch to the input freq, but it does nothing. I know i have the repeater set up right. during one conversation on the way home, I could hear one of the participants while monitoring the input.

5/1/2011 11:46:40 AM

@scrager

Yeah, I knew you probably had everything set correctly it just never hurts to double check.
It does sound like the rig is hosed. At least it sounds like it can receive ok.
Wish I could do more to help.
Hey maybe you can pick up one of the Wouxun's discussed earlier in this thread
Marshall KE4ZNR

5/1/2011 3:29:45 PM

In an ongoing series to show how different Public Safety Radios are programmed different ways
here is a look at how a Raleigh FD Radio is typically programmed:


We have come a long way from the days of only 16 channels.

5/3/2011 1:02:39 PM

Should be on the 146.640 RARS repeater later tonight from 9pm on.
If anyone is around feel free to say hey.

5/6/2011 5:31:55 PM

^ I may have to drop in if I am not asleep in this chair at that time.

5/6/2011 8:01:28 PM

Like last year I had the opportunity to spend time inside the Raleigh PD Command Post for the
NC Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service held earlier today. Got some pics with the cellphone camera:

Outside of the Command Post Bus:


Inside the Command Post:
VIPER Radio (on top) tuned to Wake PS Event 1 (which was used for Comms) with my laptop below:


Same place, VIPER Radio on top and 2 Uniden BCD396XT's and a Uniden HomePatrol HP-1 being programmed by my laptop.


Bunch of VIPER Motorola XTS 5000's that were used for Comms:


Command Post Guard Dog (Intimidating indeed)


[Edited on May 7, 2011 at 3:43 PM. Reason : ack]

5/7/2011 3:41:55 PM

Found this pic I took recently showing few of the radios out at KRDU General Aviation Bldg:



Uniden BCD396XT, Uniden HomePatrol HP-1, Yaesu VX-5R

5/12/2011 9:46:41 AM

I know I posted this in the past in other threads but here it is in this thread where it can be looked over in it's current form:

Monitoring Raleigh PD On VIPER:

UPDATED 9-5-2010. Please Read over and let me know if you have questions!

Raleigh PD has migrated from UHF 460Mhz to VIPER 800Mhz a year or so ago.

You will need a digital capable scanner to be able to monitor Raleigh PD (and any other public safety agencies in Wake County).

The RR.com database has the current talkgroups used...Here is how the 800Mhz radios are programmed:

As many of you are aware Raleigh PD divides up the city into 6 Districts...Here is a map of the 6 districts:



Each of the 6 District Radios should be setup in the following format:

[*]District Specific Dispatch
[*]District North or South Status
[*]District Specific "Tac 1"
[*]District Specific "Tac 2"
[*]8 Citywide "LE Ops" Talkgroups Numbered 5-12


Let's go over each set of Talkgroups used by Raleigh PD.

Dispatch Talkgroups:

[*]RPD NWD DISP TGID 40016
[*]RPD ND DISP TGID 40032
[*]RPD NED DISP TGID 40048
[*]RPD SED DISP TGID 40064
[*]RPD DD DISP TGID 40080
[*]RPD SWD DISP TGID 40096


Districts breakdown as follows:


[*]RPD NWD DISP Northwestern District 1xx Units
[*]RPD ND DISP Northern District 2xx Units
[*]RPD NED DISP Northeastern District 3xx Units
[*]RPD SED DISP Southeastern District 4xx Units
[*]RPD DD DISP Downtown District 5xx Units
[*]RPD SWD DISP Southwest District 6xx Units


Raleigh/Wake 911 is not equipped to have a dispatcher for each of the 6 Districts. So they are using a feature called MultiSelect or "talkgroup merge" that allows talkgroups to be "merged" together to allow radio users to familiarize themselves with unique home talkgroups (like Raleigh PD districts) while bringing them all together. So for the time being (and the foreseeable future) one dispatcher handles all 6 Districts.

Status Talkgroups:


[*]Northern Units (NWD 1xx, N 2xx, NED 3xx) Status TGID 40112
[*]Southern Units (SED 4xx, DD 5xx, SWD 6xx) Status TGID 40192


Note: As far as RPD Status Channels/Talkgroups are concerned the 3 Districts of NWD 1xx, N 2xx, & NED 3xx are known as the "Northside Districts" and are patched together handled by one dispatcher while the SED 4xx, DD 5xx, & SWD 6xx Districts are known as the "Southside Districts" and are patched together to be handled by another dispatcher...The Northside Status Talkgroup/Channel (1xx, 2xx, 3xx units) is known by its old UHF nickname of "Raleigh 3" while the Southside Status Talkgroup/Channel (4xx, 5xx, 6xx units) is known by its old UHF nickname of "Raleigh 2"...

District Specific TAC 1 & TAC 2 Talkgroups:


[*]RPD NWD TAC1 TGID 40208
[*]RPD N TAC1 TGID 40224
[*]RPD NED TAC1 TGID 40240
[*]RPD SED TAC1 TGID 40256
[*]RPD DD TAC1 TGID 40272
[*]RPD SWD TAC1 TGID 40288
[*]RPD NWD TAC2 TGID 40304
[*]RPD N TAC2 TGID 40320
[*]RPD NED TAC2 TGID 40336
[*]RPD SED TAC2 TGID 40352
[*]RPD DD TAC2 TGID 40368
[*]RPD SWD TAC2 TGID 40384


A Note about the District Specific "Tac 1" and "Tac 2": These talkgroups are designed for intra-district communication only and are NOT monitored by Raleigh/Wake 911. These are basically a "Car to Car" chit chat channel.


8 LE OPS Talkgroups (Numbered 5-12):


[*]LE OPS5 TGID 40432
[*]LE OPS6 TGID 40448
[*]LE OPS7 TGID 40464
[*]LE OPS8 TGID 40480
[*]LE OPS9 TGID 40496
[*]LE OPS10 TGID 40512
[*]LE OPS11 TGID 40528
[*]LE OPS12 TGID 40544


The 8 LE OPS Talkgroups (Numbered 5-12) are used for communication of on-scene events where a Dispatcher needs to be able to monitor what is going on...these talkgroups are also used when units from more than one District respond to a situation...most events worth monitoring end up on an LE OPS channel...LE OPS 12 is usually reserved for units assigned traffic duty around the RBC Center and the NC State Fairgrounds.

Special Ops Status Talkgroup:


[*]RPD SO STATUS TGID 40400


The RPD Special Ops (SO) Status Talkgroup is for units doing speed enforcement, Animal Control and other assorted RPD Units. It is sometimes known by its old UHF nickname of "Raleigh 8".

Hopefully this gives you a good starting point for monitoring Raleigh PD on VIPER 800Mhz. Feel free to email me if you have further questions.

[Edited on May 12, 2011 at 4:23 PM. Reason : formatting]

[Edited on May 12, 2011 at 4:25 PM. Reason : errrr]

5/12/2011 4:20:54 PM

Captured this pic earlier this evening showing a Motorola XTS-5000 parked beside my Uniden BCD396XT:

5/15/2011 1:30:03 AM

Lol that radio has been well taken care of, the battery stays on it without a rubber band wrapped around it three times. Although you won't forget what talk group you're on when the battery comes out every time it's bumped and the radio restarts and announces the talk group again.

5/19/2011 9:33:38 PM

^ I know right

One of the coolest features about scanners these days is that they have the ability to be remotely controlled through software. Here is a couple of pics of me controlling my Uniden BCD396XT through
software on my laptop.

First up is the freeware program bcTool (bctool.org):


You can see the remote control window in the upper right corner. I can control pretty much every aspect of the radio through that control panel. bcTool is pretty straight forward and a little plain.

You want some Star Trek like radio geek control?

Here is the freeware program Freescan (scannow.org) with the Star Trek like "LCARS" interface:


Both software packages can log "radio hits" to a log file to be explored later.
There are even software packages that will allow you to not only control the
scanner remotely but also hear the radio traffic from the scanner.

5/21/2011 7:35:06 PM

I ain't gonna post this in the DSLR Thread cause my pics are not up to the
"Pros" in that thread but I had the chance to go up for awhile over the Triangle in a fellow hams
aircraft. He has a 1962 Beechcraft Debonair. Got some decent pics of the RBC Center and
Carter Finley Stadium. Flickr Set here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ke4znr/sets/72157626806846854/

Me in front of the Beechcraft:


RBC Center and Carter Finley Stadium:


REMAIN ON TOWER FREQUENCY


While in the air we tried to contact couple other hams on simplex 440 using handheld
radio but no joy. Even though it was hazy the pics turned out better than I hoped.

5/25/2011 9:04:57 PM

the guy I work for has a couple of planes. I'm looking forward to going up with him, maybe I'll try to hit some of the local 2m repeaters while I'm up there.

did you try any repeaters? seems like with a handheld, the body of the plane will do a pretty good job of preventing your signal from getting out

5/28/2011 9:11:06 PM

^The Pilot is also a ham and had his UHF Moto XTS 3K with him that was programmed with all of the local 440 action. I believe (after messaging him on FB and getting updated info) he was able to QSO a buddy of his on a simplex freq they hang out on. I had forgotten my Yaesu VX-5R that day and had gone straight from work to KRDU to meet him so I only had my Uniden BCD396XT with me and no Xmit capability
I was too busy shooting pics with my DSLR anyway

[Edited on May 28, 2011 at 11:22 PM. Reason : clarification]

5/28/2011 11:20:20 PM

Code 7 up on New Hope. Think its a kid. Struck by vehicle?

5/29/2011 1:44:48 PM

^ Sadly I think so.

Quote :

"ncident: 29D2M : Map: 050J Address: N NEW HOPE RD / HOLLENDEN DR Location: Apt: Cross: Units: EMS15,MEDIC92,DIST1, Talk Group: T13 City: RA Comments: **ACCIDENT-VEHICLE/PEDESTRIAN** A LITTLE GIRL JUST GOT HIT BY A CAR "

Edit: The above was the initial call that was dispatched. I have not heard anything about
if it was an F-Frank yet. I hope not

[Edited on May 29, 2011 at 1:58 PM. Reason : edit]

5/29/2011 1:55:58 PM