TRX-2E Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online

Summary: What Squawker PC and Squawker Online can do for a Whistler TRX-2E: live logging with Squawker Connect, the Whistler text export, and what isn’t supported.

At a Glance

• The TRX-2E has no built-in UK frequency database (see TRX-2E Overview, Features & Package Contents), so you’ll be filling it from your own lists. UKAFG’s data is a natural source.
• Squawker PC Scanner Programmer does NOT support Whistler scanners. It can’t read from or write to a TRX-2E or TRX-1 (the Programmer’s Whistler code is marked “not yet implemented”).
• Squawker PC Connect supports Whistler scanners for live monitoring and logging (see below).
• Both Squawker PC and Squawker Online can export a Whistler file (a plain text list) that you copy onto the scanner’s SD card.

Squawker PC: Connect (Live Logging)

Squawker PC is UKAFG’s Windows app. In Connect Settings you can create a profile with Scanner System Whistler, pick the Scanner Type, choose the COM port (or use Scan for Whistlers to have Squawker PC probe the ports) and launch the profile. Squawker PC then follows the frequency the radio is on, using Whistler’s remote control protocol at a fixed 115200 baud, and matches it against UKAFG’s frequency data so you can see and log who you’re hearing.

• The Scanner Type list offers TRX-1, TRX-2, WS1010, WS1025, WS1040, WS1065, WS1080 and WS1088; there is no separate TRX-2E entry. Squawker PC recognises a radio whose reported model name contains “TRX-2”, so choose TRX-2 for a TRX-2E. I haven’t seen confirmation that this has been tried on a TRX-2E, so treat it as unverified until you’ve tried it.
• Whistler radios get no on-screen radio controls: you can watch and log what the radio receives, but not press its keys from Squawker Connect.

The Connect guides: Supported Radios & Scanner Systems, Creating a Connection Profile, Connecting Your Radio: Drivers, Ports & Menu Settings, Launching a Profile and Radio Controls (Uniden Models Only).

The TRX-2E guide doesn’t describe the radio’s serial connection itself, so if Scan for Whistlers finds nothing, check the USB cable, that the scanner is on, and that no other program has the port open.

Exporting a Whistler File (Squawker PC and Squawker Online)

Both programs produce the same Whistler export, and it’s the quickest way to fill a TRX-2E with UK frequencies:

• Squawker PC: choose your data, then use the Whistler button in the Export panel.
• Squawker Online (ukafg.co.uk/squawker-online-search, part of Squawker Online): search, then click Whistler under the export buttons.

The result is a text file with a header line and three columns: Alpha Tag, Frequency, Mode (the short name, the frequency and the mode, using AM where none is given; Squawker Online cuts names to 16 characters). It carries conventional frequencies only: no CTCSS, DCS or trunking data.

Copy the file onto the scanner’s SD card. The card is under the remote head (see TRX-2E SD Card, EZ Scan Software & Updates): with the scanner off, remove the head and take the card out to use a card reader, or connect the scanner by USB so the card shows up as a drive. Copy the file across, then refit the card. Back up the card’s CDAT folder first. The TRX-2E guide doesn’t describe this file or where the scanner or EZ Scan picks it up, so if it doesn’t appear, check the file loaded in EZ Scan or contact Moonraker.

Other useful exports: CSV and Excel (six columns: User, Description, Short Name, Frequency, Channel, Mode) and Copy to the clipboard. Details are in Exporting to Scanner Software and Exporting to Files – What Each Format Does. More UKAFG tools: Common Scanner Frequencies, WTR Business search and Amateur Repeater search.

Loading a Single Frequency by Hand

For a one-off, or if the exported file doesn’t load:

1. Look up the frequency in Squawker Online (or the Whistler export).
2. On the scanner: MENU, Program Menu, Add Conv Freq, key in the frequency, set the RX Mode (airband AM; most other UK voice services FM or NFM), name it and Save Changes.
3. Put it in a scanlist and switch that scanlist on. See TRX-2E Programming Conventional Channels & Editing Objects and TRX-2E Objects, Scanlists & Scan Sets.

Tips

• Choose the UK bandplan and check coverage first: see TRX-2E Bandplans & Frequency Coverage. The UK plan doesn’t cover 88-108, 512-806 or 960-1240 MHz.
• Use the Service Search menu (Public Safety, U/VHF AM, Mosque, Amateur, CB UK, VHF Mar, PMR446) to find local activity and store what you find. You can put your favourite on the WX key.
• Keep a backup of the CDAT folder or use Backup Data before big changes.