GRE/RS PC Object Oriented FAQ

GRE/RS/Whistler SD & PC based Object Oriented FAQ

Welcome, here we'll start from scratch, and take you through some of the most basic of questions, and (in many cases) what things mean and how to find information. A word of explanation; if a word or phrase appears in blue and/or underlined, then it's a link; clicking it should take you to another article in our wiki, another part of our website or perhaps a different website.

Please put all tips, problems and solutions here in this FAQ page with anything GRE, Radio Shack (RS) or Whistler did not include in their manuals or their software ( i.e. GRE / Whistler EZ-Scan or Radio Shacks iScan) here.

What Models Does This FAQ Cover?

This FAQ covers GRE/RS/Whistler PC based, scanners with Micro SD cards, apart from Whistler's WS1088 & WS1098 and TRX1 & TRX2, the other scanners listed here lack a conventional keypad; you use either GRE, Radio Shack, or Whistler proprietary software to write data to the Micro SD card, they utilize Object Oriented technology, that allow Talkgroups TGRP/TGIDs to be "Grabbed and Shared" across many ScanLists, this is used in these scanner models specifically:

GRE	Radio Shack	Whistler
PSR-700	Pro-107
	Pro-18
PSR-800	Pro-668	WS1080
		WS1088
		TRX-1
PSR-900		WS1095
		WS1098
		TRX-2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is Object Oriented Scanning and how does it work in the GRE/RS/Whistler Scanners?

• Please see the Object Oriented Scanning Described article

Do the standard GRE PSR-800 and standard RS PRO-18 work the same way and have the same functions?

• They are not precisely the same, see the RS PRO-18 article to see the functional differences between the two.

Can these scanners handle the newest APCO P25 Phase II TDMA systems that are coming online?

These systems are identified by Project 25 Phase II in the System Type in the database.

• These cannot be received by the PSR-700, Pro-107 or standard Pro-18.
• Can be heard by the standard PSR-800 with GRE's last (beta) firmware.
• The Radio Shack PRO-668 , Whistler WS1080, WS1088, WS1095, WS1098, TRX-1, and TRX-2 can also receive these systems out-of-the-box without a firmware update,

Notes: Newer firmwares do have improved algorithm (and default settings) to decode these newer system types.

• Whistler Official Upgraded (WOU) firmwares have vastly-improved decode-performance (see below)

Can these scanners handle DMR systems?

• These cannot be received by the PSR-700, Pro-107, standard PRO-18, standard PSR-800, and/or standard PRO-668.
• The WOU scanners PRO-668, PSR-800 and PRO-18 can (see below).
• The Whistler's WS1080, WS1088, WS1095 and WS1098 with home-based firmware upgrades, allow monitoring of DMR.
• The TRX-1, and TRX-2 can also receive DMR out-of-the-box without a firmware upgrade.

How do I make the TRX-1 / TRX-2 work on NXDN Trunked Systems?

• These scanners track NXDN systems when programmed as NXDN as conventional objects. For more info see our How to improve NXDN Scanning Thread and our NXDN Update Now Available Thread.

Why is the 796-806 Mhz range locked out?

• According to a GRE representative, it's because there are intermod issues with these scanners at this range. Please see the first posting of our Info on Missing 796 to 806 Mhz for Pro-106 Thread.

How do I clean out dirt that gets into the LCD display?

• See our Cleaning the PSR-800 LCD Display article.

I want to get a another or Replacement SD card, what do the size impact, does speed class make any difference?

• See our Working with Scanners with Secure Digital (SD) Cards article.

Why does may scanner reboots or turn itself off when I disconnect power but have batteries installed?

• It's most likely related to the USB power device you are using; is it over the recommended voltage of the USB 2.0 standard - 5v DC and amperage of 500mA, the scanners do NOT seem to like when either is too much above spec. 5v at 850mA seems to be the limit before scanner senses abrupt powerloss as total power removal, it's also more likely to happen when using low capacitance batteries (of any kind).

Common PSR-700, Pro-668, Pro-107, or Pro-18 Questions

Are there any hints for working with and installing the iScan Software?

• See our iScan Installation and Tips article.

What are Playlists and how do I use them?

• Playlist are the same as Scanlist continue to follow below and interchange Playlist for Scanlist, ignore ScanSet as your scanner is a single ScanSet or see out Working with Playlists article.

EZ-Scan Questions:

How do I properly install EZ-Scan? What do I do if my PC already has a Driver for the cable?

• Before Connecting Scanner to PC, You should Install & Update EZ-SCAN™ or IScan from their respective download link or MicroSD card 1st, Prior to Connecting Scanner via USB to a PC.
  • Use of a microSD card reader is a "User Best Practice", for all applicable Updates & Programming, as well as ensuring fastest connection rate possible for a less error prone connection and writes to SD card.
  • If scanner was connected to PC prior to installation of Application, the Driver initially/automatically installed by Windows Device Manager, may need to be manually replaced with the Whistler driver (unsigned). Their driver is stored in a Zip format and will need to be unzipped with Windows Explorer or another third party tool like "WinZip" or "7Zip". The link for the drivers can be found on there respective page or below for direct links.

What do I do to fix an error code 740 from the EZ-Scan software?

• Enable Run as Administrator in PC, Right Click Icon, Select Properties, Select Compatibility TAB, Select check box.

EZ-Scan term definitions and tips

• Object Oriented Scanning tips not all apply

ScanList and ScanSet Questions

---

For all GRE PSR-800 based scanners

Objects basics:

• In order to be scanned, any Object - Conventional "Analog" Frequency must be:
  • be a member of at least one ScanSet and that is Enabled
  • be a member of at least one ScanList and that's also Enabled

or

• In order to be scanned, any Object - TGRP/TGID must be:
  • be a member of at least one ScanSet and that is Enabled
  • be a member of at least one ScanList and that is, also, Enabled
  • be a member of at least the "correct" Trunk Radio System, place in Talkgroup Details TAB

ScanList and ScanSet basics:

What are Scanlist and how do I use them?

• There are 200 ScanLists. Every "Channel" whether it be a TGRP/TGID or a Conventional Object can be programmed into: Any, All, some, many or none of the ScanLists in a singular ScanSet. ScanLists are toggled On/Off via the "ScanLists" Menu, all of that one ScanSet's 200 Scanlists are in that menu, all 200.

What are ScanSets and how do I use them?

• ScanSets are total of 20, with a check box for each. Each ScanSet contains a Scanlist of 200 Check boxes 1 for each of the 200 Scanlists. Each ScanSet is edited (and their member Scanlists Toggled) by a Menu, that looks just like the one mentioned in the previous paragraph. ScanSets themselves, are Enabled/Disabled via the "ScanSets Menu".

By DEFAULT:

• ScanList 001 is Enabled, All others are Disabled
• ScanSet 01 is Enabled, contains all ScanLists 200 members, All other are also Disabled

These "DEFAULT SETTINGS" are geared toward the presumed majority of Users, effectively making the ScanSets feature transparent. Since, ScanSet 01 is Enabled, contains and displays all of its 200 ScanList's members. If conditioned, you can completely ignore the ScanSets feature, and just use ScanSet 01, like you might on a PSR-500, PSR-310, PSR-700. Those User, whom may be: Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, whom will only have a few ScanLists they want to monitor at a time and can control what they hear by just toggling "a few Scanlists On and a few others Scanlists Off," at any time, may be fine, with these Defaults. For the intermediate and advance user, they may want to follow along, if not scroll down to Programming Tips and How To's.

The "Intermediate & Advanced" Users, who might have many areas of interest they want to split among, many ScanLists, but might have a few 'Common' listening setups, with certain 'Unique' groups of ScanList - they want to commonly monitor, where "Toggling 30 or 40 of the 200 ScanLists" might be cumbersome. The ScanSets are intended to help with that. Going onto say, the ScanSets feature is geared toward people who have lots of different things; where "different" is based on geography, agency, usage, etc; they may want to monitor different way at different times or places, rather than just Toggling ON/OFF of Individualistic ScanLists. They may have multiple different kinds ScanSets of with different ScanList All READY (and checked), just waiting for the ScanSet to be Enable.

*EXAMPLES: 10 City PD's and FD's each with their own, County Sheriff, and State PD. With 4 Different ScanSets and mulitple different kinds of ScanList, each having their Unique Set-Ups, with commonality amongst their ScanList (for human memory), but really sorted for ease of changing 'what type' the user, wants-to-listen-to, fairly quickly
ScanSet01

Scanlist 1-10

• All cities' PD (All)

Scanlist 11-20

• All cities' Fire (All)

Scanlist 21-30

• County PD (All)

Scanlist 31-32

• State PD (All)
  

ScanSet02

Scanlist 1-10

• All cities' PD (Dispatch)

Scanlist 11-20

• All cities' Fire (Dispatch)

Scanlist 21-30

• County PD (Dispatch)

Scanlist 31-32

• State PD (Dispatch)
  

ScanSet03

Scanlist 1-10

• All cities' PD (Tactical)

• • Scanlist 11-20
• All cities' Fire (Tactical)
• Scanlist 21-30
  • County PD (Tactical)

• Scanlist 31-32
  • State PD (Tactical)
    

• ScanSet04

Scanlist 1-10

• All cities' PD (Everything but dispatch)

Scanlist 11-20

• All cities' Fire (Everything but dispatch)

Scanlist 21-30

• County PD (Everything but dispatch)

Scanlist 31-32

• State PD (Everything but dispatch)
  

• Note: Different ScanSets can help quickly Enable/Disable such 'groupings,' much easier, than going through 50 Scanlists. While ass you can see, in ScanSet 01 has All of these, combined, into a the ScanSet 001, the User would have to Skip or L/O a lot, to narrow down to just a couple of TGRPs to listen to, without having to just Hold/Pause on one Object, wasting the efficiency of the "Scan"ner.

Programming Tips and How-To's

ALL the next step are "exact" except the listings precludes that you have already installed and started the EZ-Scan software. Also, don't for get to archive, back-up and etc... as well when your are finished, any of they these tasks: Don't forget to "Copy Configuration to the Scanner\SD card."

#START EZ-SCAN SOFTWARE

How do I activate a Wildcard?

• Look at the Trunked Radio Systems TAB on the far right hand side.

How do I manually Reband a (800MHZ) system i.e Motorola Type I or Type II or make a non-standard Custom Band Plan ?

1. Select your System in the "'Trunked Radio Systems"' TAB.
2. Select the System.
3. Select the Site.
4. Select the '"Site Options"' TAB.
5. Under '"Trunking tables'" and beside "'Type"' Click the down arrow '"Custom"' is selected.
6. Select '"Edit"'.
7. Select "'Set Reband"'.
8. Select "OK" to close pop-up window.

• Note See GRE\RS\Whistler Rebanding Software Support Page, for more info

How can I improve the performance on decoding LSM systems?

1. Select 'Advanced,
2. Select the "'Show Trunked Radio Systems Tab"',
3. Select '"Trunked Radio Systems"' TAB,
4. Select on the correct System;
5. In the area below Select the '"Site"' in the "Site Details" area,
6. Should change the grayed-out area to a user changeable settings, and change the Data Decode Threshold (DDT) to around a low of 70 and a high of 98.

• Notes: These adjustments should be made with "Multi-Site" systems, not ones that are a Single Site.
  • These adjustments could be made as well GRE/RS/Whistler based DSP ADC/DAC Adjustments

What must I do to hear Phase II?

1. Select your System in the "Trunked Radio Systems" "TAB"
2. Go to "Trunked System Site Information" area, below to the left
3. Select the "a "Site" in the "Site Details tab
4. Select "Site Frequencies" tab to the right, and enter Frequencies
5. Then Select "Site Options" tab to the far right
6. Under "Trunking tables" and beside "Type" Click the down arrow and insure that "Auto Fill" is selected.

• Notes: Make sure the Band Plan is, at least, set to Auto Fill.
  • If the System uses non-standard frequency-steps, you must turn on "Flex Step"

How do I turn on "Flex Step"

1. Go to '"General Settings"' TAB on the top bar, then select Flexible Frequency Entry

How do I import a System from the Library?

• Importing an entire Statewide System requires these steps:

1. Press "MENU" key to display main menu
2. Select "Browse Library". You're presented with a list of States.
3. Scroll down to and select "State". You're presented with 3 parameters "Agencies / Counties / Systems" to chose from.
4. Scroll down to and select "Systems" (this will show all State-Wide Systems).
5. Press "SEL" key to select the System.
6. Press "MENU" and select "Import Selected"
7. Select target Scanlist/Playlists for Talkgroups (TGIDs)
8. Press "MENU" and select "Import Now"
9. Wait while scanner parses DB files and builds its data.

• Note: If you only wanted a few Sites and/or TGIDs, you wouldn't select the entire System in step 5. Instead, you'd drill into the System and select individual Sites, Categories, and/or TGIDs.

What is the hierarchy of the database?

• In the scanner or in the software has a Menu-driven version of the Radio Reference Database layout:

Code:

States

Agencies

Categories

Subcategories

Frequencies

Counties / Independent Cities

Agencies

Categories

Subcategories

Frequencies

Categories

Subcategories

Frequencies

Systems

Sites

Talkgroup Categories

Talkgroups

Systems

Sites

Talkgroup Categories

EZ-Scan term definitions and tips

• Object Oriented Scanning tips

Heap error messages

• I am getting a Heap Error message. What is causing this?
  • You have some TGRP objects that are not associated with any TSYS. Associate or delete these TGRP objects and reload.
  • To correct the HEAP ERROR condition, look for any TGRPs that have "NEW" as their TSYS, and delete them (press FUNC CL) or associate them with a new or existing trunking system.
  • This can be caused by having duplicate TGRPs in a TSYS.
  • This is the knowledge based article that appeared on GRE's webpage - no longer available ->

Heap Errors are most often caused by one or more talkgroup (TGRP) objects that are programmed into the radio, but not associated with any trunking system (TSYS). When programming an OOUI scanner by hand, this can happen when a new TGRP is saved without mapping it to a new or existing trunking system, e.g., pressing the Save softkey when "NEW" is displayed in the TSYS field of the TGRP object menu. Specifying "NEW" in the TSYS field tells the radio that a new trunking system is needed. If SEL is pressed while NEW is displayed in the TSYS field of the TGRP menu, the radio will present a blank TSYS menu that can configured with the parameters for the new system, named, and saved. Once the new TSYS is saved, it can be used over and over again for more talkgroups on the same system by scrolling through saved TSYS(ystems) using the left/right arrow keys at the TSYS field.

To correct the HEAP ERROR condition, look for any TGRPs that have "NEW" as their TSYS, and delete them (press FUNC CL) or associate them with a new or existing trunking system. To review programmed objects, press PGM, then use the left/right arrow keys to browse through the Scan Lists, and the up/down arrow keys to scroll through objects mapped to the selected Scan List. Third party programming software can also be used to find unassigned talkgroups. For example, the Win500 application has a feature that displays only TGRPs that are not mapped to a TSYS.

In rare cases it may be necessary to restore the radio to factory defaults to clear a Heap Error. To reset the radio to factory defaults, turn the radio on, wait for the Welcome screen to appear, then immediately press 0, then 1, and follow the instructions on the LCD display to reset the radio. This will result in the loss of programming data, so use this as a last resort.

Technical Issues

• Windows 10 installation of GRE PSR-800 Software and Driver
• Do you have Connection Issues Under Win 10.x? See the article above for the PSR-800
• Converting AU files to MP3 (RR Thread)
• Go to the Working with Scanners with Secure Digital (SD) Cards article to learn how to work with the SD cards in these scanners
• PSR-800, Pro-668 and WS1080 Error Codes

Firmware and Software Sources

GRE

• GRECom home page has links for Firmware, Drivers for USB and Device with varied versions of EZ-Scan applicable to the PSR-700 and PSR-800

Radio Shack

• RS PRO-668 webpage
• RS PRO-668 Direct Download Link of IScan

Whistler

• Whistler's versions of EZ-Scan, drivers and CPU firmware updater can be found HERE
• All User have to fictiously "Purchase" for free, then item will be available to download, after all info is entered or will be e-mailed (w updates sent to that e-mail) with a time sensitive download hyperlink.

Other Useful Utilities

• Whistler Remote Control Software Also functions on PSR-800 and PRO-668 and PRO-18
  • Remote Control Software (Whistler)
    • Whistler Remote Control Thread
• WhistlerQ Import tool for EZ-Scan
• Digital Frequency Search Quick Import Tool to import DMR, NXDN, and P25 into EZ Scan (as conventional objects)

Official vs Hacked

Officially Upgraded Scanners

Officially sanctioned, endorsed and supported by Whistler, this update added the ability for the PSR-800, Pro-668 and Pro-18 to be upgraded to enable DMR/MOTOTRBO decode, and add Project 25 Phase II decode to the Pro-18. There is additional fee to replace the daughter board if the unofficial hack was applied which resulted in the scanner being LOCKED. Once upgraded, continued programming support for the PSR-800, Pro-668 and Pro-18 will be applied via Whistler's EZ-Scan Software for the WS1080. See the WOU article for a discussion on this procedure.

Unofficial Hacked Scanner Firmware

This process gives the GRE PSR-800, Pro-18 and Pro-668 the ability to copy DMR/MOTOTRBO; adding other modes was deemed not feasible due to memory constraints. This procedure was developed before the official Whistler process, in order to give owners of the 3 older scanners (both GRE and Radio Shack have since abandoned the scanner business) a path to decode DMR /MOTOTRBO. As with the official process, software support going forward is applied using Whistler's EZ-Scan Software for the WS1080

Additional Resources

Easier to Read Manuals - GRE / RS / Whistler

• Pro-18 and iScan Manual
• Pro-107 / iScan Manual
• Pro-668 / PSR800 EZScan / iScan Manual
• PSR-700 and EZScan Manual
• Easier to Read PSR700, 800, Pro-18 and 107 Manual printed via Scanner Master

ALL WOU except CPU Loader for legacy WOU models PSR-800, Pro-18 Pro-668 now regarded as WS1080

• Whistler WS1080 / 1088 and EZ-Scan Manual
• Whistler WS1095 / 1098 and EZ-Scan Manual

Other websites

• Whistler Help Center