Scanning the Tuscarawas County 800MHz Trunked System with a conventional scanner can be a bit of a challenge, but it really isn't difficult to do.
First, program the following six frequencies into your scanner - ideally in the same bank.
Now, once you scan these, one of them is going to scream at you. Okay, not scream, but it will emit a very annoying sound. That's the "Control Channel" - it's a computer-generated signal that tells the radios in the system who's saying what on which channel and such. You need to lock it out. Don't delete it, though! The control channel will rotate approximately once every 24 hours to a different one of the seven frequencies we entered above, so tomorrow you'll need this frequency to hear some of the conversation!
When you turn on your scanner and again hear the screeching control channel, you simply need to do the following:
That's all there is to it!
Now you will quickly understand what I was referring to when I said you'd likely hear more then you care to. Unfortunately, with a conventional scanner, there is no way to tell exactly who you are listening to, or lock out any particular talkgroup. Don't lock out any of the seven channels above, except for the current control channel! Otherwise, you'll miss part of the conversation that you want to hear. If you watch the scanner as you follow a conversation, you'll notice that the frequency will change during a conversation. You might hear the Sheriff's dispatch on 856.5875, the deputy answer on 860.5875, and the dispatcher's reply on 858.5875. If you have any of the seven frequencies other than the control channel locked out, you'll miss parts of the conversation.
Unfortunately that means you have no choice but to listen to Senior Transportation talk about getting Thelma to her appointment on time right along with the Deputy pulling over your boss. The only way around this is to buy a trunking scanner. I know, it feels like an evil marketing ploy by Radio Shack, doesn't it?
