Specifications

The GRE method of MultiSite Trunking requires no user intervention, just the active control channels need to be
programmed into the radio. If you want to you can still program different sites into separate trunked systems. You are
however limited to a maximum of 32 channels for the system, if there are more than that you need to decide what channels to
use or duplicate the system with the additional channels. The Uniden method requires extra programming steps but allows
you to program Site names so you can tell what site is active.
The PSR410 also supports several flavors of standard Motorola and EDACS analog trunking as well as LTR. Motorola
modes (in addition to multi-site SmartZone and OmniLink described above) include older Type I, Type II and Type IIi modes
(with analog modulation). Both the Wide and Narrow modes of EDACS systems are supported. No scanner can decode
OpenSky, EDACS Provoice or Aegis used in selected areas such as San Antonio, Milwaukee and some others.
LTR, very popular on UHF and 800 business systems, is supported along with a neat feature called LTR Home Repeater
AutoMove. While the name is clunky, the feature is not. LTR systems are difficult to program since they rely on knowing the
channel order or position within the system. LTR Home Repeater AutoMove, when enabled, allows you to program in the
system’s frequencies without regard as to the order and the radio automatically determines the proper positioning.
The basic method of programming a trunked radio system in the PSR410 radio is pretty simple. Following the instructions in
the manual, enter the frequencies and other parameters as a TSYS (Trunked System). Then program in Talkgroups pointing
to the TSYS as part of Scan Lists. You can also program in a search of a TSYS by use of the “Wild Card” option. This works
in a similar fashion to Uniden’s Trunked Search feature in that it allows one to listen to all active Talkgroups instead of just
the ones in a Scan List. You can lockout talkgroups as they become active and you no longer wish to monitor them. When
using the Wildcard option it is still a good idea to label any known talkgroups, these will show up with the proper labels
when active, this is a good way of knowing that the talkgroup is already known.
When programming various types of trunked systems you need to know some of the basic information about these systems.
This information varies somewhat depending on the type of system. For many Motorola systems all you really need are the
Control Channels and system type. For rebanded 800, most UHF and VHF systems as well as some odd 800 and 900
Motorola systems you may also need further parameters, such as base channels, offsets or other technical details. For EDACS
and LTR systems each of the frequencies used as well as the order or Logical Channel Number (LCN) setup in which they
are programmed are needed.
The PSR410 can also display the radio ID number when listening to some trunked radio systems. This is enabled in the
Advanced Global Settings. You can then track individual radios and figure out specific users by monitoring over time. Often
dispatcher consoles have distinctive numbers like 101 and 102 while other users may have radio ID’s that match or are
similar to the car number.
Most of the information needed for individual trunked systems is freely available on the RadioReference.com website, paid
members can even program the systems directly into their radios using software such as ARC310. Thus, if you are not a
scanner expert capable of figuring out technical details of complex trunked radio systems you can share in the work of the
rest of the scanner community to program your radio.
Conventional Scanning
Remember the old days when you could enter in the local police and fire channels into your scanner, hit the scan button and
enjoy listening? While those days still exist in some areas, the new generation of scanners are more complicated to program,
even for the Plain-Jane conventional channels still used by many agencies.
“Conventional Channels” mean voice channels that do not use some sort of trunking. Mostly you just need to know the
frequency in use and you can monitor the action. These days however even these need a bit more knowledge or at least trial
and error. Things such as CTCSS, DCS and the modulation mode make programming even conventional channels a
challenge sometimes.
If you just want to listen to these basic analog channels then high-end models such as the PSR600 or BCD996XT are not for
you. It’s like buying a Ferrari to drive two streets to pick up milk. It’s far too complicated and costly when a simple low-cost
model will work equally as well for basic channels. In much of the country nowadays though you must have the Ferrari or