Info on AOR Scanner Purchase

[nixon_30]

Hi everyone, this is my 1st time posting to the forum. I am considering purchasing a new scanner (possibly an AOR 8200 MKIII).

It has been several years since I have used a scanner. I have an AOR 1000 I purchased long ago while in college and I cannot get it to work. My main question is whether I would need a digital scanner. I do not mind buying something good but do not want to overspend on features I will not need.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

[n2mdk]

Two questions for you.
Where do you live ie State, County, City/Town or equivlent
What do you wish to listen to.

[nixon_30]

Originally Posted by n2mdk

Two questions for you.
Where do you live ie State, County, City/Town or equivlent
What do you wish to listen to.

I am in NE Alabama, very close to a city named Gadsden, which is about 45 miles NE of Birmingham (zip code 35903).

Honestly, it has been so long since I listened to my AOR 1000 scanner (more than 10 years, I bought it when I was an undergrad in college) I am really usure exactly waht I want to listen to. Definitely the local police/fire channels and any other things available.

My apologies for sounding like a newbie but everything has changed so much since I read Popular Communications mag back in the early-mid 1990s. Any advice/helpful websites, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

I want to make certain I choose the right equipment for my casual listening.

[n2mdk]

That gives me a place to start, if you look at this link you will see what it happening in your county http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=28
This link give you Gadsden itself http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=278
There is also a Statewide system http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=373
Gadsden and the State System are EDACS trunked systems so you really need a trunking capable scanner. Don't really need a digital capable for that area, it's a good idea to ask in the AL regional forum as to what going on in that area of your State.
If your going to spend a lot of money it might make sense to get one of the digital capable scanners available at around the cost of the AOR.

[nixon_30]

Jerri.....thanks for all that information! That gives me a great place to start.

What is your opinion on the Uniden BCD-396T digital scanner vs. the AOR 8200 MkIII? Or is there another company making a good digital scanner? From my research it seems that Uniden, AOR, and GRE seem to be the industry leaders.

Originally Posted by n2mdk

That gives me a place to start, if you look at this link you will see what it happening in your county http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=28
This link give you Gadsden itself http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=278
There is also a Statewide system http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=373
Gadsden and the State System are EDACS trunked systems so you really need a trunking capable scanner. Don't really need a digital capable for that area, it's a good idea to ask in the AL regional forum as to what going on in that area of your State.
If your going to spend a lot of money it might make sense to get one of the digital capable scanners available at around the cost of the AOR.

[n2mdk]

There really aren't any other manufactures out there. The thing about the AOR is it doesn't do trunking which you need for your area.
As far as the BCD396T seems to be a good scanner but there are postings about problems people have had with them, seems like a firmware upgrade might make a difference.
Right now it looks like with the release of the new firmware for the GRE-500 it's the king of the hill as it were in digital trunking scanners.
I noticed you asked down in the AL regional forum, I would see what responses you get from locals.