245xlt Tricks & Hints

Star Trek:   Generations Movie MIDI

These tricks & hints are for the new bc-245xlt TrunkTracker
scanner, and any of of its forth coming Radio Shack clones.
These Hints were written, with the assumption that you already
know how to program your 245xlt or its clone, and have a basic
understanding of how Edacs & Motorola Trunk Radio Systems
work, and the differances between them.



The 245xlt is sensitive to 'Lock-Outs' during Trunk Mode.   However
its sensitivity to it, only extends to the Data-Channel Frequency.  So to
increase the 245xlt's speed to acquire the Data-Channel, every
Trunk channel in the bank can be locked-out, except for the current
Data-channel.  Please note, during Trunk mode, when the 245xlt is
scanning conventional channels, it will NOT scan the 'Trunk' channels,
even if those frequencies are left 'Unlocked'.  So to monitor 'SmartLine'
Comms, you can either put in the SmartLine Comm Repeaters in twice,
once as Trunk, once as Conventional, or take the scanner out of Trunk
Mode and monitor SmartLine only as conventional.  The catch with the
Conventional Mode scanning is that the current data-channel will also be
scanned, because it has to be left 'Unlocked', so the scanner can acquire
the Data-Channel next time you go into 'TRUNK' Mode.  It seems the
245xlt won't allow you to 'Have Your Cake & Eat it too...'.  :)  The
235xlt made it easier to monitor SmartLine Comms.


Second hint, like the 235xlt and its clones, the 245xlt will allow flexability
with the Motorola Trunk Radio Systems.  You can mix trunk systems
together, if carefully planned out.  There is a new rule though that needs
to be observed.  Since the 245xlt can now monitor Motorola Trunk
systems in almost all the bands, you can ONLY mix like-banded trunk
systems.  If you designate an '800Mhz E1', you can put in as many 800Mhz
Motorola TRSs as can fit into the 30 frequencies, or say you make the bank
'900Mhz-E2', you can fill this bank with as many 900Mhz Motorola systems
that will fit..  The 24xlt won't allow you to violate its Motorola Trunk Band-
Scheme.  Remember, Motorola Trunk systems aren't concerned with
channel-order.  The same applies to VHF & UHF Motorola Trunk
Systems, only now, there is a new rule to add.  The systems you combine
for VHF & UHF, should also share the same 'BASE' & 'OFFSET' settings.

So the question now becomes, how do I individually select which Trunk
system to monitor out of all the systems that I've squeezed together into
that bank.  Well, the 245xlt only requires the Data-channel to be left
'Unlocked'.  So, if there's a single Trunk system out of three-or-four in your
bank you want, then only unlock that system's currently active Data-
Channel.  There ya go...  As simple as that.  This makes this type of
monitoring easier.  With the old 235xlt, you couldn't do that.  With the old
235xlt, you'd have to program multiple Trunk systems into that single bank,
very carefully, in the order of priority.  Or you'd have to switch out of
Trunk Mode, and reprogram the other in-bank TRS's Data-Channels as
conventional.   The Trunktrackers lock onto the 'FIRST' Data Channel it
finds.  With the 245xlt, this previously difficult proceedure, is now as 'Easy
as Pie'.

The above proceedure will allow you to max-out your 245xlt to it's fullest.



Third hint, this one will allow you to easily figure out LCNs for Edacs
systems.  Edacs systems can use up to 25 LCNs.  The 245xlt doesn't
seem to be concerned with the current LCN slot for the active
Data-Channel, so put the currently active Data Channel into one of
the last five channels in the Trunk Bank.  I recommend the last one, if
its blank.  Now switch up to LCN1.  Get another 800Mhz scanner, and
get an accurate list of frequencies for the system in-question ; This is
very important.  Starting with the first frequency, put it into your 245xlt
into LCN1 & into your other 800Mhz scanner, now press the 'SEARCH'
key to acquire the Data-channel.  Listen to both scanners.  If both
scanners don't mirror the same audio at the same times, then zero-out
LCN1, and put that frequency into LCN2, and try again.  Use this
proceedure til you have them all.   You should only have one LCN left,
the LCN for the Data-Channel.  If you have more than one LCN left,
then its possible that the extra LCN is disabled because its been
reallocated or the repeater might be in the-shop for service.  To figure
out which of the remaining LCNs belong to the currently active Data-
Channel, wait for it to switch the Data-Channel over to another repeater.
Then, program the previous Data-Channel's frequency into one of the
empty LCN slots of your 245xlt & the other 800Mhz scanner.
If both scanners don't mirror the same audio, then try one of the other
empty LCN slots until you get it.  This proceedure might take sometime
to complete.  It is the, 'Process Of Elimination'.  Its the best way to get
it figured out.


Fourth Hint, combining Edacs & Motorola Systems into the same Bank.
This one was pointed out to me by Ben Compere. First, the Edacs system
needs to be programmed in.  Then switch Trunk Mode on this Bank, then
begin entering in all the Motorola Trunk Systems that you can possibly
squeeze into the remaining channels.  Be sure to 'Lock-Out' all non-data
channel frequencies, so that the 245xlt locks onto the Data Channel quicker.
If you plan it out carefully, its possible to have wall-to-wall Motorola &
Edacs systems, squeezed into the 245xlt.  Thus getting more out of your
scanner.  Which to me, is very important, because we have so many Trunk
Systems in St Louis, Missouri.


Here is my 245xlt:

Bank #1:  (St Louis City Police Motorola & Olin Co.)
1     --  856.3625  -  Olin Company ; E Alton, Il ; Edacs
2     --  857.3625  -  "      "                "                  "
3     --  858.3625  -  "      "                "                  "
4     --  859.3625  -  "      "                "                  "
5     --  855.3625  -  "      "                "                  "
6     --  857.4375  -  St Louis City Police ; Motorola  (Data Channel)
7     --  858.4375  -  "   "        "      "           "                 "       "
8     --  859.4375  -  "   "        "      "           "                 "       "
9     --  860.4375  -  "   "        "      "           "                 "       "
10   --  856.4375  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
11   --  856.4625  -  "   "        "      "           "                  "
12   --  856.4875  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Phone)
13   --  856.7125  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Not used)
14   --  856.7375  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Encryption)
15   --  857.4625  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
16   --  857.4875  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Phone)
17   --  857.7125  -  "   "        "      "           "                (SmartLine)
18   --  858.4625  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
19   --  858.4875  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Phone)
20   --  858.7125  -  "   "        "      "           "                (SmartLine)
21   --  859.4625  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
22   --  859.4875  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
23   --  859.7125  -  "   "        "      "           "                (SmartLine)
24   --  860.4625  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
25   --  860.4875  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Normal)
26   --  860.7125  -  "   "        "      "           "                (Phone)
27   --  30  Unused

Bank #2: (Ameren/UE Chouteau, 900Mhz Nextel & 800Mhz Business)
31   --  856.8375  -  Ameren/UE Chouteau Site ; Edacs
32   --  857.8375  -  "                  "              "        "
33   --  858.8375  -  "                  "              "        "
34   --  859.8375  -  "                  "              "        "
35   --  860.8375  -  "                  "              "        "
36   --  Unknown LCN
37   --  Unknown LCN
38   --  855.4875  -  "                  "              "        "
39   --  937.325    -  Nextel Business ; Motorola
40   --  937.3375  -  "          "               "
41   --  939.325    -  "          "               "
42   --  939.3375  -  "          "               "
43   --  939.350    -  "          "               "
44   --  939.3625  -  "          "               "
45   --  939.825    -  "          "               "
46   --  939.8375  -  "          "               "
47   --  53  Unused
54   --  865.5125  -  Illinois Nextel Business TRS ; Motorola
55   --  865.3375  -  "         "          "             "         "
56   --  864.5125  -  "         "          "             "         "
57   --  864.3375  -  "         "          "             "         "
58   --  863.3375  -  "         "          "             "         "
59   --  862.3375  -  "         "          "             "         "
60   --  861.3375  -  "         "          "             "         "

Bank #3:  (Nextel Edacs, Nextel Motorola)
61   --  855.5625  -  St Clair County, Il Nextel ; Edacs
62   --  854.5625  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
63   --  853.5375  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
64   --  Unknown LCN
65   --  852.8625  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
66   --  852.5625  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
67   --  853.2375  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
68   --  861.4875  -  "    "       "           "  "           "
69   --  Unused
70   --  865.9125  -  Nextel SMR ; Motorola
71   --  865.4625  -  "          "          "
72   --  864.4625  -  "          "          "
73   --  863.9125  -  "          "          "
74   --  863.8625  -  "          "          "
75   --  863.7875  -  "          "          "
76   --  863.4625  -  "          "          "
77   --  862.9125  -  "          "          "
78   --  862.8625  -  "          "          "
79   --  862.7875  -  "          "          "
80   --  862.4625  -  "          "          "
81   --  861.9125  -  "          "          "
82   --  861.8625  -  "          "          "
83   --  854.4875  -  "          "          "
84   --  854.1125  -  "          "          "
85   --  854.0625  -  "          "          "
86   --  853.4375  -  "          "          "
87   --  852.7875  -  "          "          "
88   --  90  Unused

Bank #4:  (Madison County Transit, Illinois Power & MetroLink)
91   --  861.7375  -  Madison County Transit ; Edacs
92   --  862.7375  -  "              "          "            "
93   --  863.7375  -  "              "          "            "
94   --  864.7375  -  "              "          "            "
95   --  865.7375  -  "              "          "            "
96   --  Unused
97   --  860.3375  -  Illinois Power ; All sites ; Motorola
98   --  859.3375  -  "         "            "    "         "
99   --  858.3375  -  "         "            "    "         "
100 --  857.3375  -  "         "            "    "         "
101 --  856.3375  -  "         "            "    "         "
102 --  855.6625  -  "         "            "    "         "
103 --  855.3875  -  "         "            "    "         "
104 --  852.3375  -  "         "            "    "         "
105 --  860.9625  -  "         "            "    "         "
106 --  858.2375  -  "         "            "    "         "
107 --  859.3125  -  "         "            "    "         "
108 --  857.3125  -  "         "            "    "         "
109 --  855.1625  -  "         "            "    "         "
110 --  860.2375  -  "         "            "    "         "
111 --  860.3125  -  "         "            "    "         "
112 --  856.3125  -  "         "            "    "         "
113 --  855.7375  -  "         "            "    "         "
114 --  854.8625  -  "         "            "    "         "
115 --  856.9375  -  MetroLink TRS ; Kenwood LTR
116 --  856.9625  -  "                "         "               "
117 --  857.2375  -  "                "         "               "
118 --  857.7375  -  "                "         "               "  (Data Channel)
119 --  857.9375  -  "                "         "               "
120 --  857.9625  -  "                "         "               "

Bank #5:  (Ameren/UE High Ridge & Nextel Downtown TRS)
121 --  856.3875  -  Ameren/UE High Ridge Site ; Edacs
122 --  857.3875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
123 --  858.3875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
124 --  859.3875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
125 --  860.3875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
126 --  854.9875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
127 --  855.5375  -  "                  "       "        "        "
128 --  855.9875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
129 --  855.4875  -  "                  "       "        "        "
130 --  865.5375  -  Downtown St Louis Nextel Business TRS ; Motorola
131 --  864.5375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
132 --  863.5375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
133 --  862.5375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
134 --  861.5375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
135 --  860.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
136 --  859.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
137 --  858.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
138 --  857.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
139 --  856.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
140 --  853.0375  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
141 --  853.0125  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
142 --  852.3875  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
143 --  852.0125  -  "                 "   "        "          "             "        "
144 --  150  Unused

Bank #6:  (Ameren/UE Creve Coeur Site, Chrysler & Ford TRSs)
151 --  855.7875  -  Ameren/UE Creve Coeur Site ; Edacs
152 --  856.7875  -  "                  "         "         "       "
153 --  857.7875  -  "                  "         "         "       "
154 --  858.2375  -  "                  "         "         "       "
155 --  858.7875  -  "                  "         "         "       "
156 --  859.7875  -  "                  "         "         "       "
157 --  859.2375  -  "                  "         "         "       "
158 --  860.2375  -  "                  "         "         "       "
159 --  166  Unused
167 --  856.2875  -  Chrysler Plant in Fenton, Mo ; Motorola
168 --  857.2875  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
169 --  857.4125  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
170 --  858.2875  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
171 --  858.4125  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
172 --  859.2875  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
173 --  860.2875  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
174 --  860.8625  -  "             "       "   "           "       "
175 --  854.9625  -  Ford Plant in Hazelwood, Mo ; Motorola
176 --  855.7375  -  "       "        "  "                  "       "
177 --  858.2375  -  "       "        "  "                  "       "
178 --  858.9625  -  "       "        "  "                  "       "
179 --  859.9625  -  "       "        "  "                  "       "
180 --  860.9625  -  "       "        "  "                  "       "

Bank #7:  (America's Center, Lambert Airport, St Charles City Police,
                 Shell Oil & Industries South Inc TRSs)
181 --  854.9875  -  America's Center / TWA Dome ; Motorola
182 --  855.9875  -  "               "            "        "           "
183 --  858.7375  -  "               "            "        "           "
184 --  859.7375  -  "               "            "        "           "
185 --  860.7375  -  "               "            "        "           "
186 --  856.9875  -  Lambert Airport ; Motorola
187 --  857.9875  -  "             "             "
188 --  858.9875  -  "             "             "
189 --  859.9875  -  "             "             "
190 --  860.9875  -  "             "             "
191 --  856.2625  -  St Charles City Police ; Motorola
192 --  857.2625  -  "    "           "     "           "
193 --  858.2625  -  "    "           "     "           "
194 --  859.2625  -  "    "           "     "           "
195 --  860.2625  -  "    "           "     "           "
196 --  856.3125  -  Shell Oil Plant in Roxana, Il ; Motorola
197 --  856.4125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
198 --  857.3125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
199 --  857.4125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
200 --  858.3125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
201 --  858.4125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
202 --  859.3125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
203 --  859.4125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
204 --  860.3125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
205 --  860.4125  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
206 --  860.8625  -  "       "     "      "   "                 "
207 --  859.5125  -  Indsutries South Inc ; Motorola
208 --  860.5125  -  "              "        "       "
209 --  210  Unused

Bank #8:  (Two Nextel Motorola SMRs)
211 --  865.6125  -  Nextel SMR ; Motorola
212 --  864.6125  -  "          "          "
213 --  863.6125  -  "          "          "
214 --  862.6125  -  "          "          "
215 --  861.6125  -  "          "          "
216 --  860.3625  -  "          "          "
217 --  857.0125  -  "          "          "
218 --  856.0125  -  "          "          "
219 --  855.6125  -  "          "          "
220 --  855.4375  -  "          "          "
221 --  855.1375  -  "          "          "
222 --  854.5375  -  "          "          "
223 --  854.4625  -  "          "          "
224 --  854.2625  -  "          "          "
225 --  854.2125  -  "          "          "
226 --  854.0125  -  "          "          "
227 --  853.9625  -  "          "          "
228 --  Unused
229 --  865.1625  -  Another Nextel SMR ; Motorola
230 --  864.1625  -  "            "          "          "
231 --  863.1625  -  "            "          "          "
232 --  862.1625  -  "            "          "          "
233 --  861.1625  -  "            "          "          "
234 --  860.5875  -  "            "          "          "
235 --  859.5875  -  "            "          "          "
236 --  858.5875  -  "            "          "          "
237 --  857.5875  -  "            "          "          "
238 --  856.5875  -  "            "          "          "
239 --  853.5875  -  "            "          "          "
240 --  Unused

Bank #9:  (Boeing TRS & Nextel Business SMR)
241 --  247  Unused
248 --  856.8125  -  Boeing TRS ; Motorola
249 --  857.8125  -  "          "         "
250 --  858.8125  -  "          "         "
251 --  859.8125  -  "          "         "
252 --  860.8125  -  "          "         "
253 --  865.8875  -  Nextel Business TRS ; Motorola
254 --  865.2375  -  "          "             "         "
255 --  864.2375  -  "          "             "         "
256 --  863.8875  -  "          "             "         "
257 --  863.2375  -  "          "             "         "
258 --  862.8875  -  "          "             "         "
259 --  862.8375  -  "          "             "         "
260 --  862.2375  -  "          "             "         "
261 --  861.8875  -  "          "             "         "
262 --  861.8375  -  "          "             "         "
263 --  861.2375  -  "          "             "         "
264 --  860.0625  -  "          "             "         "
265 --  858.0625  -  "          "             "         "
266 --  857.0625  -  "          "             "         "
267 --  856.0625  -  "          "             "         "
268 --  854.2375  -  "          "             "         "
269 --  853.4625  -  "          "             "         "
270 --  853.3875  -  "          "             "         "

Bank #10:  Empty for now, future use coming...
271 --  300  Unused

That's 24 Trunk Radio Systems crammed into my 245xlt's 9 banks.
I have plenty of room to add more, if I want.  Programming multiple
TRSs into each bank is easier on the 245xlt then on the older 235xlt
and its clones.   Hope this inspires others to do the same with their
local Trunk Radio Systems.  Only one Trunk system in St Louis is
omitted from my scanner ; Its the encrypted Anheiser Busch system.

73 from todd hartzel / n0vkg
E-mail:   [email protected]