Posted: 8/23/2009 3:54:39 PM EDT
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Forgive me if this is the wrong forum but I thought this would be a good place to start. I am looking for a Police scanner for home (not mobile or handheld). My dilema is I would like to listen to 3 differnt agencies. One of the agencies is in the 700Mhz, one just transitioned to 800 and the third is using I believe 154. VHF (NOT positve though) but will be using 800Mhz within a year.
My question is, is there a decent scanner that will cover all of those frequencies that is arround $200? I was looking at the Uniden BCT8 but it does not look like it covers the 700 range. Any help would be apprecited. Thanks |
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Quoted:
you will need to go digital,they are expensive. Not true. Unless they are using digital, you dont need a digital scanner. You can get by with just a trunking scanner. The PRO-2056 worked just fine for me when I was into it. If they are running something like APCO, you will have to get a digi scannner. I had the PRO-2051 when I was into it, and it worked just fine for me. |
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Quoted:
My dilema is I would like to listen to 3 differnt agencies. the answer, unfortunately, is "it depends". in addition to the frequencies they are operating on, there is the matter of *how* they are using those frequencies. there are traditional analog (FM) systems, there are trunked analog systems, trunked digital systems, and so on. moreover, there are 87 different varieties of trunking and digital modes, and finally the digital systems can employ encryption. how the three departments implemented their systems is a function of many variables: available finances, local department needs, politics, vendor-provided golf outings and visits to strip clubs, and of course kickbacks. (but not necessarily in that order of importance). why do you need to know this? because you don't have enough information (yet) to buy ANY scanner with complete confidence that it will receive the transmissions from all three agencies. you need to dig deeper and find out EXACTLY what these departments are using. it is not enough to know only the frequency. utilize Google and sites such as radioreference.com (link) to determine what frequencies, modes, and features are employed on each of the three department systems. then you can look into scanners which have the capabilities to receive all three. this approach is THE ONLY WAY that be certain. ar-jedi |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
My dilema is I would like to listen to 3 differnt agencies. the answer, unfortunately, is "it depends". in addition to the frequencies they are operating on, there is the matter of *how* they are using those frequencies. there are traditional analog (FM) systems, there are trunked analog systems, trunked digital systems, and so on. moreover, there are 87 different varieties of trunking and digital modes, and finally the digital systems can employ encryption. how the three departments implemented their systems is a function of many variables: available finances, local department needs, politics, vendor-provided golf outings and visits to strip clubs, and of course kickbacks. (but not necessarily in that order of importance). why do you need to know this? because you don't have enough information (yet) to buy ANY scanner with complete confidence that it will receive the transmissions from all three agencies. you need to dig deeper and find out EXACTLY what these departments are using. it is not enough to know only the frequency. utilize Google and sites such as radioreference.com (link) to determine what frequencies, modes, and features are employed on each of the three department systems. then you can look into scanners which have the capabilities to receive all three. this approach is THE ONLY WAY that be certain. ar-jedi I agree, I will start researching. Thanks!! |
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A good number of departments use either Motorola or EDACS standard for their comm system. Both of which will be covered by any scanner put out in the last 2-3 years. I live near Kansas City and they are still have not updated to digital. In fact the only agency I've found so far (at least that I have any interest in) that uses digital in KS is the highway patrol.
Use radioreference.com to see what your local PD's are using. Actually I'll do one better. Go Here and put your info in and it will tell you what you need and give you a selection of mid and high range scanners that would be good for the job. Chances are the BCT8 will fit your needs just fine. It sounds like the agencies in your area have either just upgraded to 800mhz or are still back in the stone ages in using 154/400Mhz. |
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Quoted:
Radio Shack Pro-97 will do everything you require. oh really? suppose all three agencies are using digital modes and/or encryption? then what? in that case the RS Pro-97 (or any similar analog-only scanner) is just an expensive paperweight. THIS IS WHY THE OP MUST FIND OUT WHAT MODES ARE IN USE IN THE THREE DEPARTMENTS. meanwhile the Pro-97 is an obsolete unit, and a 7+ year old design at that. moreover, the OP stated that he did not want a portable unit. i'm curious as to how you came up with a solution before the problem was fully defined. 
ar-jedi |