Sentinel BCD436/536HP Software Manual |
Also the UBCD436PT, UBCD536PT, and UBCD3600XLT |
See also the Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual |
Home |
Last Updated August 17, 2024 |
Contents |
Understanding the Memory | Edit Departments |
Profiles | New Department/Options |
Favorites Lists | Append Department to Favorites List |
Systems | Department Location |
Departments | Delete Department |
Trunking Sites | Move/Sort Departments |
Understanding Quick Keys | Edit Sites |
Connecting the USB Cable | New Site/Options |
Installing the Sentinel Software | Band Plan |
Sentinel Menus and Toolbars | Site Location |
Planning Favorites Lists | Delete Site |
Worksheets | Move/Sort Sites |
Creating a Favorites List from the Database | Edit Channels |
Turning Nationwide Database Systems On/Off | New Channel/Options |
Add Channels On Range... | Append Channel to Favorites List |
Avoiding Systems, Departments, Sites, and Channels | Delete Channel |
Move/Sort Channels |
Managing Profiles |
New Favorites List | Profile Tabs |
Append to Favorites List |
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Scan Selection |
Location Control |
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Service Types |
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Dept/Site Quick Keys Status | Write to/Read from HomePatrol |
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Understanding the Memory |
Contents |
Understanding Quick Keys |
Contents |
Organizing your Quick Keys will be part of the planning. You will have to figure out which QK's to assign to your Favorites Lists, Systems, Departments, and Sites so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Enabling/disabling QK's is not the same thing as Avoiding or Unavoiding Favorites Lists, Systems, Department and Sites. Favorites
List Quick Keys (FLQK) System
Quick Keys (SQK) Department/Site
Quick Keys (DQK) Search
Quick Keys |
Connecting the USB Cable |
Contents |
The USB jack is the lower jack located under the rubber flap on the right side of the BCD436HP and on the front of the BCD536HP under the E/yes button. When you connect the USB cable to the scanner when
the power is on you will see "USB Cable Detected Select USB Mode" - "Mass
Storage = "E" or Serial Port = ".". The serial mode may be used for audio streaming,
raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party
developers. The USB cable can also be used to power the BCD436HP when the batteries are removed. Plug the USB cable into the BCD436HP with no batteries and "No Battery" will display. Press and hold the power button to turn on the scanner. Press the power button again to turn the backlight on. Press .no to select "Serial Port". |
Installing the Sentinel Software |
Contents |
The Sentinel Software allows you to manage your profiles, Favorites Lists, the database, and firmware updates. To download the latest version of Sentinel go to the BCDX36HP TWiki. You don't need to remove any previous version of the software. |
1. Use the USB cable to connect your scanner
to your PC. |
Sentinel Menus and Toolbars |
Contents |
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Update Firmware |
Uniden will release firmware updates to improve functionality, add new features, or address issues found with the existing firmware. Sentinel will need to connect to the Internet to check for the current version. |
To update the HomePatrol firmware: |
Update Master HPDB |
The HomePatrol website updates the database every
week. When you update through Sentinel it checks the website for the
most current database and downloads it to the software. You can then
upload it to the scanner. If you want to submit corrections or additions
to the database got to the
Radio
Reference Data Base and click the Submit Info button. Note: Favorites Lists are not updated when channels change in the main database. In Sentinel, select Update > Update Master HPDB… The next time you "Write to Scanner", the Database will be updated in the scanner. |
HomePatrol uses the following
databases:
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Favorites List Toolbar |
Create New Favorites
List
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Planning Favorites Lists |
Contents |
A Profile contains all your configuration settings as well as your Favorites Lists and settings, Systems, Avoids, etc., and is a complete image of what is in your scanner. Other settings such as range, service types selected, enabled Favorites Lists, weather settings, display and audio settings also define a profile. Remember that all Favorites Lists are common to all profiles. Enabling and disabling Favorites Lists within a profile is part of defining a profile. Deleting a profile will not delete the lists associated with a profile. However, deleting a Favorites List will delete it from all profiles. You automatically start to create a profile once you enter your location. If you create a new profile in the software, your Favorites Lists will be included (but not enabled) with the new profile. The scanner only holds one profile at a time. Others can be created and uploaded to the scanner with the Sentinel Software. |
Startup Keys
Number
Tags Alerts
Worksheets |
Creating a Favorites List from the Database |
Contents |
The easiest way to create a list is
to select (or turn off) any Nationwide Systems,
then use
Add Channels On Range to specify a
location, set the range, and the service types you want to listen to,
and import channels from the full database to a new list. Then,
delete or 'Avoid' any system, departments,
sites, or channels you don't want to hear. Another way is to create a new list and use Append to Favorites List to add systems, departments, or channels from the full database. You can't add single sites. All sites for trunking systems will be brought in with the systems. You can also program your own Favorites Lists, systems, departments, sites, and channels. |
Turning Database Nationwide Systems On/Off |
Nationwide systems are basically
common systems that used to be in the Service Searches. There is no real setting (yet) for turning all Nationwide systems on or off, but there is an ad hoc method that will accomplish the same thing. |
Expand the Database to Nationwide Systems for any
state. Select Nationwide Systems so you can see them in the right pane. Right-click to Avoid selected Systems or right-click and "Select All", then right-click "Set Avoid". |
Add Channels on Range... |
From the Menu bar click
Edit >
Add Channels On Range... This feature will allow you to add all channels from a Favorites List with locations programmed to a new list. This includes any selected list and the full database (if enabled). It will also allow you to enter any location, enter the range, and the select service types for the channels you want to monitor. This allows you to set up lists for other locations. |
Clicking OK will allow you Create a List or Select a List to save the channels in. |
Notes: Only departments and sites with programmed locations will be added. Any avoided system/site/department/channel (red type) will not be added. |
Avoiding Systems,
Departments, Sites, and Channels
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Right-click any System, Department, Site, or Channel to "Set Avoid" (permanent Avoid
only). See also Review Avoids. |
Editing Tips |
Contents |
Note:
There is no 'undo' feature after an entry has been entered (right-click
to undo during edit). The only way to undo changes is to redo them or
exit the Favorites List editor and select No at "Save
Changes". See also this post. |
Editing Favorites Lists/Database (Main Window) |
Right-Click any FL, System, Department, Site, or
Channel for options. |
Editing with the Favorites List Editor |
Select Favorites List to edit Systems options in the
right pane by clicking on field (twice) and selecting from the drop-down
menus. Select System to edit Sites or Departments options in the right pane by clicking on field (twice) and selecting from the drop-down menus. Select Department to edit Channel options in the right pane by clicking on field (twice) and selecting from the drop-down menus. Select Setting and type in number setting vs. the drop down arrow. Type the first letter for text entries to get close e.g. n for None. Click to select a Setting in a column to right-click copy (for Alerts, close the window then copy). Click and drag to select multiple settings in a column to right-click paste. Click and drag to select multiple Channel Rows to copy/paste into same number of rows in new/different department (or delete). Click and drag to select multiple Department Rows to copy/paste into same number of rows in new/different system (channels not copied). Click and drag to select multiple Sites Rows to copy/paste into same number of rows in new/different system (frequencies not copied). |
Edit Favorites Lists |
Contents |
It might be a good idea to just
load up the database to start with, to get a
feel for the scanner and how it operates, then come back and start
creating Favorites Lists. |
Append to Favorites List If you know what you want to hear, appending systems from the Database is the easiest way to construct a Favorites List. |
Expand the Database to select any System, Department, or Channel (can't
append a Site). |
Click the New Favorites List button
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Edit Favorites List |
Click Edit
Favorites List
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Location Control | Favorites List Number Tag | Export/Import a List | Rename List | ||
Understanding Range | Startup Configuration Keys | Export List to a kml File | Delete List | ||
Favorites List Quick Key |
Favorites List Editor The editor opens up at the Systems Tab for the Favorites List showing all the Systems and their settings. You can also make edits from here to systems by selecting the options drop-down menu. |
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Options Tab |
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Location Control
Allows you
to enable or disable channels scanned in the list based on your location.
Actually, it enables/disables Sites and Departments in Favorites Lists (as
long as they have locations programmed) based on your current location and
scan range settings. |
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Understanding Range
2. The range settings
will only work with Favorites Lists that have
Use Location Control set to On
and
with Departments/Sites that have locations and ranges programmed. |
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Favorites List Quick Key
You can only use a Favorites List QK once. If you don’t assign a QK to a Favorite List, it will always be scanned unless
you turn it off in Scan Selection. |
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Favorites List Number Tag
This allows you to number a Favorites List so you can access
it quickly from Channel Hold Mode. See also
Using Number Tags. |
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Startup Configuration Keys
This allows you to turn on the scanner with the Favorites
List enabled for scan. See also
Using Startup Keys. |
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System Quick Keys Status
Tab This is where you enable your System Quick Keys.
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Check the
Systems to turn the Quick Keys On or uncheck to turn
Off. |
Import/Export a List Allows you to import or save a Favorites List to share or backup. |
To Export a list click
File >
Export to hpe file...
Select the list you wish to export
and click OK. Select the systems to export and click OK.
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Export List to a kml File You can export selected lists to a kml file that will allow you to see (programmed) locations (circle only) for departments (not sites) for your current location in programs like Google Earth. The feature will only export enabled Favorites Lists (lists with Monitor set to On). |
1. Click Edit Profile
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Copy Favorites List
Click the list to select then
Copy Favorites List
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Type a name for the new list and click OK. |
Type in a new name and press OK. |
Delete Favorites List
Click to select the Favorites then Delete
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Or, right-click any list and select Remove from Favorites List. |
Click to select Favorites List then
![]() ![]() Click ![]() For new order to appear in scanner you need to check Erase Favorites Lists on Scanner when you Write to Scanner. |
Edit Systems |
Contents |
New System |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Edit System |
Edit > Edit Favorites
List |
Append System to Favorites List | Status Bits (Motorola only) | End Code (Motorola only) | Dept/Site Quick Keys Status | |
System Name | P25 NAC (P25 1-TR only) | Analog/Digital AGC | Fleet Map (Motorola only) | |
System Avoid | System Quick Key | P25 Waiting Time (Conventional only) | TGID Format | |
ID Search | System Number Tag | P25 Threshold Mode (Conventional only) | Location Format | |
Emergency Alert (Moto/EDACS only) | Hold Time | P25 Threshold Level (Conventional only) | Delete System | |
Emergency Alert Light | Priority ID Scan | Unit IDs | Move/Sort Systems |
Append System to Favorites List |
Click to select any System from the Database or a
Favorites List. |
System Options Tab |
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System
Avoid
This determines whether a System will
be scanned or not (even if the system is enabled). |
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ID Search
This sets whether the scanner searches for all IDs
in a trunking system (On), or scans only programmed IDs (Off). |
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Emergency Alert
This sets how your scanner audibly alerts you
to IDs that have the emergency flag set. |
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Emergency Alert Light
This sets how your scanner visually
alerts you to IDs that have the emergency flag set. |
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Status Bits This
sets how your scanner works with
Status Bits (also
called S-bits), letting you control how the scanner interprets and displays
Motorola talk group IDs. |
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System
Quick Key
If you don’t assign a QK to a System, it will
always be scanned unless you Avoid it. |
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System Number Tag This allows you to number a System so you can access it quickly from Scan Hold Mode. |
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None, 0-99 |
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Priority ID Scan
This allows you to use Priority Scan with IDs in the System. See also
Priority Scanning. |
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Analog/Digital AGC
This allows you to turn AGC (Automatic Gain Control) on or off for the
System. |
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P25 Threshold Mode This mode sets the algorithm
for P25 decode [1]. |
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P25 Threshold Level
Sets the RSSI value below which the scanner will not attempt to make P25 fine
tune adjustments. If the signal is too low, RX reliability is not high enough
to make P25 adjustments correctly [1]. |
Display Mode must be set to
Unit ID Mode
in Display Options to view Unit IDs. |
This is where you enable your Department and
Site Quick Keys. |
This allows you
to program a
fleet map for Motorola Type I Systems. You must program a system
fleet map in order for the scanner to properly track and display talk group
IDs. |
12
can only be assigned to Blocks 0, 2, 4 or 6. |
TGID Format |
Click on the "View' menu in the Favorites List
Editor. |
Location Format |
Click on the "View' menu in the Favorites List
Editor. |
Delete System Click to
select a Favorites List. From the Systems Tab, Click to select a
System then click Remove ![]() |
Or, from the main window right-click and select Remove from Favorites List. |
From the Systems Tab, Click to select System then
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Edit Departments |
Contents |
Edit > Edit Favorites
List |
Edit Department |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Append Department to Favorites List | Department Quick Key | Delete Department | |
Department Name | Department Location | Move/Sort Departments | |
Department Avoid |
Click to select any Department from the Database or a
Favorites List. |
Department Options Tab |
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Department
Avoid
This determines whether a
Department will
be scanned or not (even if the Department is enabled). |
Department
Quick Key
If you don’t assign a QK to a
Department, it will
always be scanned unless you Avoid it. |
Department Location Tab Click on the "View' menu in the Favorites List Editor. Location Format click to select DMS:DDD MM’SS.ss or DEG:DDD.dddddd. |
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Location Type Select Circle or Rectangles. |
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Circle Enter the Longitude and Latitude. |
Delete Department
Click to
select a System. From the Departments Tab, Click to select a
Department then click Remove |
Or, from the main window right-click and select Remove from Favorites List. |
From the Departments Tab, Click to select
Department then
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Edit Sites |
Contents |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Edit Site |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Site Frequencies | Site Attenuator | Band Plan (P25/Motorola only) | |
Site Name | Site Quick Key | Site Location | |
Site Avoid | P25 Waiting Time (Motorola only) | Delete Site | |
Site Modulation (No P25/One Freq) | P25 Threshold Mode (P25/Motorola only) | Move/Sort Sites | |
Band Type (EDACS only) | P25 Threshold Level (P25/Motorola only) |
Site Frequencies Tab This is where you program trunking frequencies for the Site. |
Click the append icon
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Site Options Tab |
Site Avoid
This determines whether a
Department will
be scanned or not (even if the Department is enabled). |
Site Modulation
This setting selects the modulation used for the Site. |
Band Type
EDACS Wide is the same as EDACS
Standard and uses a 9600 baud control channel. EDACS Narrow-band sites use a
4800 baud control channel. The default setting is Wide |
Site Attenuation
This setting
controls whether the scanner attenuates signals on the Site by about 20dBs. |
Site Quick Key
If you don’t assign a QK to a
Site, it will
always be scanned unless you Avoid it. |
P25 Waiting Time This setting gives the scanner time to determine if channels on
mixed Motorola Systems have digital or analog transmissions. During this time,
the scanner will evaluate the received signal and, if it detects digital data,
will open squelch immediately. If digital is not detected before the delay
expires, the scanner will open squelch at the end of this delay. This is to
prevent "false decode" problems. This setting only affects conventional
channels with an Audio Type set to All. |
P25 Threshold Mode This mode sets the algorithm
for P25 decode [1]. |
P25 Threshold Level
Sets the RSSI value below which the scanner will not attempt to make P25 fine
tune adjustments. If the signal is too low, RX reliability is not high enough
to make P25 adjustments correctly [1]. |
Band Plan Tab Band plans are required so the scanner can correctly determine the voice channel frequencies. |
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P25 Systems |
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Explicit mode systems (which comprise most systems
in use) include all information needed to determine voice frequencies on the
control channel, leave all entries blank. The system will automatically
detect the band plan and fill in the entries.
Implicit systems need
you to supply the systems band plan for the scanner to correctly
determine voice frequencies. |
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Input Base Freq -
Enter the base frequency. |
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Motorola Systems |
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For the
Band Type select Standard
or Splinter (analog 800Mhz systems with frequencies between 866-869 MHz ending with 0 instead of 5 e.g. 852.1250, not
852.1375). |
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Motorola Rebanded and Motorola/VHF/UHF Systems |
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These systems
require a Custom band plan.
Custom band plans require that
you enter both a lower and an upper base frequency value. The
lower base frequency (or
base)
is always the base frequency as provided in the
Radio Reference Database. |
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For Motorola Rebanded and
Motorola VHF/UHF Systems, select
the Custom option.
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Site Location Tab Click on the "View' menu in the Favorites List Editor. Location Format click to select DMS:DDD MM’SS.ss or DEG:DDD.dddddd. |
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Location Type Select Circle or Rectangles. |
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Circle
Click on the "View' menu in the Favorites List
Editor.
Location Format
click to select
DMS:DDD MM’SS.ss or
DEG:DDD.dddddd. |
Delete Site
Click to
select a System. From the Sites Tab, Click to select a
Site then click Remove |
Or, from the main window right-click and select Remove from Favorites List. |
From the Departments Tab, Click to select
Department then
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Edit Channels |
Contents |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Edit Channel |
Edit > Edit Favorites List |
Append Channel to Favorites List | Audio Option (Conventional) | Channel Delay | Channel Number Tag | |
Channel Name | Audio Type (Motorola) | Alert Tone/Volume | P-Ch (Priority Status) | |
Channel Avoid | Channel Service Type | Alert Light/Pattern | Delete Channel | |
Frequency/TGID | Attenuator (Conventional) | Volume Offset | Move/Sort Channels | |
Modulation (Conventional) |
Click to select any
Channel from the Database or a
Favorites List. |
Channel Options |
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Channel Avoid
This determines whether a Channel
will be scanned or not. |
Frequency or TGID Enter the frequency or ID. See also Entering IDs for partial IDs. |
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To enter an I-Call ID, enter an 'i' then the ID. |
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To enter a Wildcard I-Call (any) ID, enter an 'i' then 0. |
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To enter a Unit ID, see Unit IDs Tab. |
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Modulation
This setting selects the modulation used for the Channel. |
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All - The
scanner determines whether the audio is analog or digital. |
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Analog Options |
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CTCSS/DCS -
Select CTCSS/DCS Search, a CTCSS Tone or a DCS Code. |
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Digital - The scanner will receive the channel only if it is carrying APCO 25 digital audio. |
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Digital Option |
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Search - the scanner
searches and displays any NAC tone received. |
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All - The
scanner determines whether the audio is analog or digital. |
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Digital Option |
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Search - the scanner
searches and displays any NAC tone received. |
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Service Type This sets the Service Type for The Channel. |
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Attenuator This setting
controls whether the scanner attenuates the Channel by about 20dBs. |
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Delay
Sets
the number of seconds the scanner should wait after a transmission stops
before moving on to the next channel. |
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Alert Tone/Volume This setting controls the alert tone and volume if the channel becomes active. |
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Tone - Alert 1-9 or Off. |
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Alert Light/Pattern This setting controls the alert light and pattern if the channel becomes active. |
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Color - Off, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White. |
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Volume Offset This setting
controls whether the scanner attenuates the Channel by about 20dBs. |
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Channel Number Tag
This allows you to number a
Channel so you can access
it quickly from Channel Hold Mode. See also
Using Number Tags. |
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P-Ch (Priority Status) This sets the channel as a priority channel while scanning. |
Delete
Channel
Click to
select a Department. Click to select a Channel. Click to
select a Channel then click Remove |
Or, from the main window right-click and select Remove from Favorites List. |
From the Channels Tab, Click to select
a Channel then
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Managing Profiles |
A profile contains all your
configuration settings as well as all of your Favorites Lists, Avoids, and
system settings. If you create a new profile, your Favorites Lists will
automatically be associated with the new profile but will not be enabled
for scan. Remember that all
Favorites Lists are common to all profiles. Enabling and disabling
Favorites Lists within a profile is part of defining a profile. Deleting a
profile will not delete the lists associated with a profile. However,
deleting a Favorites List will delete it from all profiles. |
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To Create a New Profile
Click the New Profile button
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Notes:
Anytime you "Read From Scanner" your current profile settings in
the software will be overwritten with the profile in the scanner. Good
idea to "File > Save as" Backup. There is no 'undo' feature after an entry has been entered (right-click to undo during edit). The only way to undo changes is to redo them or exit the Profile editor, close the program, and select No at "Save Changes". |
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Discovery Log Viewer |
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Select each list (or right click)
then select On or Off next to Monitor or
Download. Your Favorites List will not scan unless you set
Monitor to On for each list. |
Service Type | Description | |
Aircraft | For civilian aircraft and air traffic control operations most typically in the 118-136 MHz and 225-380 MHz bands in AM mode. | |
Business | Most business related entities not covered by other tags. | |
Corrections | Jail/prison operations and other corrections activities, including federal prisons. | |
Emergency Ops | Emergency Operation Centers and similar emergency management or disaster related operations. | |
EMS Dispatch* | Ambulance dispatch, including rescue squads. | |
EMS-Tac | Ambulance on-scene communications, tactical operations and secondary channels. | |
EMS-Talk | Ambulance talk-around, car-to-car and supervisor operations. | |
Federal | All federal government operations (except corrections, traditional law enforcement patrol and fire/EMS operations). | |
Fire Dispatch* | Fire dispatch, including combined fire/ambulance dispatch. | |
Fire-Tac | Fireground, tactical and on-scene communications, including combined fire/ambulance operations. | |
Fire-Talk | Fire talk-around and car-to-car operations, chiefs, supervisors, etc., including combined fire/ambulance operations. | |
Ham | Any amateur radio assignment. | |
Hospital | Ambulance-to-Hospital communications and patient reports. | |
Interop | Interoperability communications, cross-agency communications, mutual aid, etc. | |
Law Dispatch* | Law enforcement dispatch. | |
Law-Tac | Law enforcement tactical, SWAT, on-scene, surveillance and specific sub-agency communications. | |
Law Talk | Law enforcement talk-around, car-to-car and supervisor operations. | |
Media | Newspapers, television and broadcast radio operations. | |
Military | Military operations, e.g., range control, air-to-air combat, etc. | |
Multi-Dispatch* | Combined law enforcement and fire/ambulance dispatch. | |
Multi-Tac | Combined law enforcement and fire/ambulance tactical and on-scene communications. | |
Multi-Talk | Combined law enforcement and fire/ambulance tactical talk-around and car-to-car operations. | |
Other | Miscellaneous | |
Public Works | Public agency non-public safety communications. This includes any non-public safety government services, such as trash, streets, roads, sewer, zoos, administration, maintenance, animal control, community initiatives, code compliance, etc. | |
Railroad | All common carrier railroad communications. | |
Schools | School-related communications (schools, school buses, football games, etc.). | |
Security | Non-law enforcement security operations, including private security companies, noncommissioned government agency security, school security, etc. | |
Transportation | Public and private bus, taxi, and public passenger rail communications. | |
Utilities | Private electric, water, natural gas, phone, cable TV, etc. operations. | |
Custom 1*-8 | Custom 1 is default for new channels. Custom 2-8 can be used for custom groups of channels in systems, sites, etc. | |
Race Officials | Available for use to identify officials frequencies for racing events. | |
Race Teams | Available for use to identify team frequencies for racing events. |
Location Settings |
Current Location Settings |
To create a location from a zip/postal
code, click the Zip/Postal button and enter the zip/postal
code. |
Understanding Range |
1.
The range setting will only work with departments/sites that
have locations programmed and with Favorites Lists that have
Location Control
set to 'On'.
Everything in the full database has locations programmed.
If you manually program departments/sites with no location
information included, the range setting will have no effect on them
because the scanner doesn't know where they are. 2. You will receive departments and sites that have a range equal to your scan range setting plus the programmed range of the departments and sites. For example, if your scan range is set to 10 miles and a department/site range is set to 10 miles, and that department/site is less than 20 miles away from your current location setting, it will be enabled in your Favorites List according to both range settings. 3. If you Add Channels On Range with a 20 mile range and then set the range to 30 miles, Location Control will not add the other channels included that extra 10 mile range. |
GPS Options |
Select DMS for degrees, minutes, seconds or DEG
for decimal degrees. |
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Search/Close Call These are the settings you should look at before you perform a Quick Search, or Close Call Search. |
Quick Search/Close Call Settings |
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Attenuator
This controls the attenuator by about 20dB. |
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Modulation Select Auto, AM, NFM, FM, WFM, or FMB (Broadcast). |
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Delay -
Determines how long the scanner waits after a transmission ends before
resuming search operations. A negative delay will
force a resume after that number of seconds. |
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Analog/Digital AGC
This allows you to turn AGC (Automatic Gain Control) on or off. |
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P25 Threshold Mode
This mode sets the algorithm for P25 decode. The default setting is Auto. |
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P25 Threshold Level
Sets the RSSI value below which the scanner will not attempt
to make P25 fine tune adjustments. |
Custom Search/Quick Search/Close Call Settings |
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Repeater Find
Sets whether the scanner tries to tune to a
repeater output frequency when it detects a transmission on a repeater
input frequency. Turning this feature on can let you hear both sides of the conversation
on the output frequency. The default setting is
Off. |
Search Keys |
The scanner has three search keys that you
can assign to a search range. The search keys are number keys 1, 2, and 3.
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Avoided Frequencies This allows you to program, review, and delete search/Close Call frequencies. |
Preset Broadcast |
Select each common band desired. |
Custom Band Range |
Check to enable each custom range and double-click to enter the lower and upper frequencies. |
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Click to select
and enter the name, lower, and upper frequencies. |
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Bank Status
enables/disables each search range during Custom Search. |
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Close Call See also Close Call. |
Close Call Mode Selects the Close Call mode when scanning or searching. |
Off - Close Call is turned off. |
Close Call Alert |
Tone Type - Select the alert 1-9 or
Off (refer to Close Call menu in scanner for sounds). |
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3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, sec. or Infinite. |
Close Call Bands Check to select each band. |
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Options |
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WX Priority Turning the weather
alert priority feature on allows the scanner to check the weather
channels every 5 seconds for a 1050 Hz weather alert signal and still
scan or search. If you should receive an alert, you will hear a loud
warbling then the weather channel audio. |
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Attenuator Sets the
attenuator (20 dB) for weather operation. |
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Delay
Sets
the number of seconds the scanner should wait after a transmission stops
before moving on to the next channel during weather scan. |
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Analog AGC
This allows you to turn AGC (Automatic Gain Control) on or off. |
SAME
SAME (Specific Area Messaging System) is a
system developed by the National Weather Service to reduce the number of
alerts received by consumers by allowing them to hear alerts only for the
counties they are interested in. Each alert contains information about the
type and severity of the alert, as well as the specific geographic locations
affected by the alert. |
For each SAME group (0-4), double-click to enter the name, and click to enter each code. |
Tone-Out Your scanner can be set to respond to fire tone-outs, a system comprised of standardized two-tone sequential paging, short one-tone paging, and long group tone paging. Fire-Tone-Out will monitor up to 32 different channels for paging tones (two-tone sequential, single tone, and group tone). For more information on Fire Tone-Out see this webpage at Radio Reference. See also Fire Tone-Out. |
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Click to select
and enter the name and frequencies. |
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Quick Keys Status |
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Check the
Favorites List to turn the Quick Keys On or uncheck to turn
Off. |
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Discovery Allows you to setup your Discovery Sessions. See also Discovery Mode. |
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Click to select
Conventional or Trunked Discovery. |
Discovery Log Viewer Allows you to view Discovery logs in the Sentinel software. |
Plug the scanner into your computer using
the supplied USB cable and select Mass Storage. |
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Display Options |
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Motorola/P25 TGID Format Sets the ID display format. |
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Opening Message Allows you four lines to text and show when the scanner powers on. |
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Backlight The scanner will turn on/off the LCD and the Keypad backlight automatically according to backlight setting. |
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Dimmer Sets the Dimmer. |
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Squelch Light Determines how the backlight
acts with squelch. |
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Keypress Light |
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Backlight Timer (BCD436HP only)
This allows you to reverse the display so you can mount the scanner upside-down and hear the
speaker from the top. |
Band Defaults This allows you change the ‘Auto’ values you can select while programming frequencies, searches, etc. to whatever you feel Auto should be for each band (vs. the radio defaults). Since all of the step and modulation settings default to Auto, this allows you to skip those settings when programming. See also Band Defaults. |
|
Click to select
and enter the settings, or click twice (not double-click) to use the drop
down menus and select. |
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Miscellaneous |
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General Options |
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Priority Scan Mode |
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Priority Interval
Time This
sets (in seconds) how often the scanner will check the priority channels. |
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MaxChannels/Pri-Scan
This
sets the maximum number of priority channels that are scanned during one
priority scan interrupt. If there are more priority channels than the value
you select, the channels are divided into more than one group and the scanner
scans each group in turn. Example: If you set the maximum channels to 20 and
there are 100 priority channels, the scanner checks those 100 channels in
groups of 20 and takes a total of 5 intervals to complete the priority scan. |
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Global Attenuator
This
setting turns attenuation on for everything. |
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Key Beep
Allows you to turn the key beep on or off and adjust the volume
level. Auto sets the alert beep to the master volume level. |
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Clock Options |
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Time Zone Select. |
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Daylight Savings Time
Advances the clock one hour during DST when On. |
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Replay Options |
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Replay Duration Is how far
back in real time recordings are kept. Your scanner Replay
feature acts as an instant replay of the transmissions you’ve just heard. You
can set how long a period Replay records for instant playback. This period can
range from 30 seconds to 240 seconds (4 minutes) or off. While you can replay that
recording immediately and continue replaying it, you cannot save it for future
listening. |
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BCD436HP Options |
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Volume |
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Squelch |
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Keypad Lock
The only keys/knobs that work when the keypad is locked are Channel
for Hold Mode,
Func,
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Battery Save
Turns off RF power for 1 second and turns it on 300 ms to extend the
battery life in Channel Hold Mode for a Conventional System (without Priority
Scan), and in any Search Hold mode when there is no transmission over 1
minute. |
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Battery Low Alert |
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Alert Tone |
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640, 780, 920, 1060, 1200 (Hz). |
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Alert Volume |
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Off, 1-15, Auto |
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Alert Interval |
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1-60 sec. |
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Intermediate Frequency
Exchange (IFX)
Changes the IF used for a selected channel/frequency to help avoid image
and other mixer-product interference on a frequency. |
Write To/Read From HomePatrol |
Contents |
|
Edit Profile > Scan Selection Tab: Make sure 'Monitor' and 'Download' are On for FL's you want to scan. Check or uncheck 'Monitor Full Database'. Edit Profile > Service Types Tab: Make sure Service Types you want to monitor are checked. Custom 1 is needed for miscellaneous channels. Edit Profile > Location Settings Tab: Make sure you have a location programmed for scanning the Full Database or FL's with 'Location Control' set to On. Edit Profile > Quick Key Status Tab: Make sure FLQK's are checked for FL's you want to monitor. Edit Favorites List > System Quick Keys Status Tab: Make sure SQK's are checked for systems you want to monitor. Edit Favorites List > System > Options Tab: Make sure 'ID Search' is On if no IDs are programmed. Edit Favorites List > System > Dept/Site Quick Keys Status Tab: Make sure Department/Site QK's are checked for departments/sites you want to monitor. Edit Favorites List > System > Dept/Site > Location Tab: Make sure Departments/Sites have locations programmed if 'Location Control' is set to On for the FL. |
To Write to Your
Scanner
plug the scanner into your computer and select 'Mass Storage'. Click the
Scanner menu and select Write to Scanner. If you are connected to your scanner properly you will see the model number highlighted with the ESN number to the right. Use the write options to erase your favorites lists or update the database in you scanner if desired. The software will ask you to replace any Favorites List that is different in the scanner. To Read from Your Scanner plug the scanner into your computer and select 'Mass Storage'. Click the Scanner menu and select Read from Scanner. If you are connected to your scanner properly you will see the model number highlighted with the ESN number to the right. The software will ask you to replace any Favorites List that is different in the software. It's also a good idea to backup the data on the microSD card to your computer in case you have to reformat it. |
Common Fleet Maps | Contents |
These are some common fleet maps to
choose from. In Motorola II systems, all the blocks have
size code S-0. In Type I systems,
size codes are used in different blocks to denote the
maximum number of users in that block. Notice that size
code 12 uses 2 blocks. A Motorola Hybrid system (Type
IIi) has 'blocks' of the system that are Type I
Fleets/Subfleets and Type II talk groups. The maps that are Hybrid systems are in bold. |
Fleet Map 1 | Fleet Map 2 | Fleet Map 3 | Fleet Map 4 | Fleet Map 5 | Fleet Map 6 | Fleet Map 7 | Fleet Map 8 | ||||||||
Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code |
0 | S-11 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-12 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-3 | 0 | S-10 | 0 | S-1 |
1 | S-11 | 1 | S-4 | 1 | S-4 | 1 | (S-12) | 1 | S-4 | 1 | S-4 | 1 | S-10 | 1 | S-1 |
2 | S-11 | 2 | S-4 | 2 | S-4 | 2 | S-4 | 2 | S-12 | 2 | S-4 | 2 | S-11 | 2 | S-2 |
3 | S-11 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | (S-12) | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-2 |
4 | S-11 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-12 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-3 |
5 | S-11 | 5 | S-4 | 5 | S-4 | 5 | S-4 | 5 | S-4 | 5 | (S-12) | 5 | S-4 | 5 | S-3 |
6 | S-11 | 6 | S-4 | 6 | S-12 | 6 | S-4 | 6 | S-4 | 6 | S-12 | 6 | S-4 | 6 | S-4 |
7 | S-11 | 7 | S-4 | 7 | (S-12) | 7 | S-4 | 7 | S-4 | 7 | (S-12) | 7 | S-4 | 7 | S-4 |
Fleet Map 9 | Fleet Map 10 | Fleet Map 11 | Fleet Map 12 | Fleet Map 13 | Fleet Map 14 | Fleet Map 15 | Fleet Map 16 | ||||||||
Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code | Block | Size Code |
0 | S-4 | 0 | S-0 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-0 | 0 | S-3 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-4 | 0 | S-3 |
1 | S-4 | 1 | S-0 | 1 | S-0 | 1 | S-0 | 1 | S-3 | 1 | S-3 | 1 | S-4 | 1 | S-10 |
2 | S-0 | 2 | S-0 | 2 | S-0 | 2 | S-0 | 2 | S-11 | 2 | S-10 | 2 | S-4 | 2 | S-10 |
3 | S-0 | 3 | S-0 | 3 | S-0 | 3 | S-0 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-4 | 3 | S-11 | 3 | S-11 |
4 | S-0 | 4 | S-0 | 4 | S-0 | 4 | S-0 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-4 | 4 | S-11 | 4 | S-0 |
5 | S-0 | 5 | S-0 | 5 | S-0 | 5 | S-0 | 5 | S-0 | 5 | S-4 | 5 | S-0 | 5 | S-0 |
6 | S-0 | 6 | S-4 | 6 | S-0 | 6 | S-0 | 6 | S-0 | 6 | S-12 | 6 | S-12 | 6 | S-12 |
7 | S-0 | 7 | S-4 | 7 | S-0 | 7 | S-4 | 7 | S-0 | 7 | (S-12) | 7 | (S-12) | 7 | (S-12) |
You can tell which block a Motorola ID is
in by its number.
|
|
Thanks to Radio Reference.com for most of this information. |
These are the acceptable entry
formats for IDs. |
System Type |
TGID Format |
Motorola
Type I Systems
N=Decimal
Number |
BFF-SS
Normal ID |
NNNNN (size code 0) |
|
Motorola Type II Systems
H=Hexadecimal Character |
Decimal Format |
NNNNN |
|
Hexadecimal Format |
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HHH |
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P25 Systems
H=Hexadecimal Character |
Decimal Format |
NNNNN |
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Hexadecimal Format |
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HHHH |
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EDACS Systems |
AFS Format |
AA-FFS Normal ID |
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Decimal Format |
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NNNN |
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LTR Systems UUU = Decimal Number (000-254) |
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Click here to visit Scanner Master |
Last updated August 17, 2024 |