[Scan-DC] Newbie "Jump Start"

[Mike Agner]

  Today, Terry Jemison wrote:
>Seeing the barrage of data in the trunkedradio.net
>database for Fairfax County public safety, I realize
>how many years passed since my trusty 8-channel
>Regency scanner, and now instead of plugging in
>crystals I apparently need to learn about "talk
>groups" and hex codes.  I'm wondering how daunting it
>would be for a newbie to get a bank up and running on
>a Uniden BC250D to begin monitoring my Mt. Vernon
>District substation while learning about trunking. 
>Know any dealers who would likely throw in programming
>with the $650 purchase, or for an additional fee?
>

  Terry, I kinda doubt even someone at HRO Woodbridge would be able to do
the programming.  However, do yourself a favor; if you do get a BC250d with
the digital card, get the ARC250 software from Butel (it's available at
Scanner Master, among other places).  It's very likely someone around here
has an ARC250 file you can import for the Mt.Vernon area.
  In the *highly unlikely* possibility no one here can help with such a
file, there are several Virginia-related email lists (and a couple of other
Va. based scanning clubs) that I'm sure would be a help.  You can find a
list of them at:

  http://henney.com/chm/links/vadatah.htm#VLIST

  (C'mon folks, don't make me out to be a fibber here!!!)

  And as for learning about trunking; trunkedradio.net has a few intro
articles to get you started.  By and large, don't sweat the hex codes; you
generally won't need them, unless you start using some more advanced
utilities like
Trunker.  Concentrate on concepts first.  This link will point you to a
couple of articles to get you started:

  http://henney.com/chm/links/intro.htm#NEWUSER

  (and by the way, I'm always on the lookout for trunking basics articles
so I can add them to our site - among other things :.))

  73s and GL...Mike
Contributing Editor Scanner Master MD/VA/DC
Editor Strong Signals Software Board
Links editor, Capitol Hill Monitors webpage
at http://henney.com/chm