What Kind of Scanner do I need to listen to Gwinnett County PD

[Mdfenley]

Just curious of what kind of scanner I need to pick up Gwinnett County PD - My service area recently changed and I am spending more time in that area. I have a Radio Shack Pro - 164 and I can get the fire channels no problem, but can't get the pd. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[rapidcharger]

None of them.
GCPD is encrypted.
Top secret.

[Mdfenley]

Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I will have to be happy with just the fire / ems. : )

[N8IAA]

Originally Posted by Mdfenley

Just curious of what kind of scanner I need to pick up Gwinnett County PD - My service area recently changed and I am spending more time in that area. I have a Radio Shack Pro - 164 and I can get the fire channels no problem, but can't get the pd. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

You can't have a Pro-164 and receive the GCFD They are P-25, digital. You must mean a Pro-106.
Larry

[Mdfenley]

Oops. Senior Moment - You are correct. I forgot that I found them on the scanner app for my Android phone. I really gotta hurry up and upgrade to a new scanner...... Any recommendations?

[rapidcharger]

There's a several scanners for digital trunking systems that start around $450. But IMO it's only a matter of time before it's all encrypted. Just don't be surprised when a short time after you make that investment (just to monitor the fire department) that you can't hear any of it here in Gwinnett County.

[N8IAA]

Mdfenley, you have a PM.
Larry

[N8IAA]

Originally Posted by rapidcharger

There's a several scanners for digital trunking systems that start around $450. But IMO it's only a matter of time before it's all encrypted. Just don't be surprised when a short time after you make that investment (just to monitor the fire department) that you can't hear any of it here in Gwinnett County.

Just for info's sake, they were totally encrypted (FD, PD's, SO) when they went into service in 2008. The FD couldn't interop with the surrounding counties and had to go unencrypted. Unless all systems in the metro area go encrypted, I doubt that will happen.
Larry

[rapidcharger]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Just for info's sake, they were totally encrypted (FD, PD's, SO) when they went into service in 2008. The FD couldn't interop with the surrounding counties and had to go unencrypted. Unless all systems in the metro area go encrypted, I doubt that will happen.
Larry

I'm not trying to derail your deal with the OP. For <$200, I could see buying a scanner to listen to only the fire department but then again I live here and I'd like to know whats going on. But just my personal opinion, I wouldn't plunk down any real cash on a scanner because the trend is public safety comms becoming more and more difficult to intercept and less other stuff to listen to when you can't listen to public safety. That's why I haven't bought a scanner in 20 years.

First it was 800 mhz. OK, no problem I'll go get a scanner to listen to 800 conventional.
Then it was trunking. Oh shoot. I guess I'll head down to Radio Shack and buy a trunk tracking scanner.
Then it was the mass exodus to IDEN and cell phones for business users, the band suddenly became a lot quieter.
Soon after that it was digital. Some monitorable, some not.
Then it was encryption.
Then it was 700mhz. Hope your scanner goes down there.
Now there's new digital modes like DMR and NXDN, like what Jackson, Paulding and a number of other smaller agencies have begun migrating to and Radio Shack can't help you now.

Then again to some people, $450 is nothing and so what if in a year's time it's obsolete. It was "only $450". If it weren't for those people, I wouldn't be able to listen to the streams online.

[N8IAA]

Originally Posted by rapidcharger

I'm not trying to derail your deal with the OP. For <$200, I could see buying a scanner to listen to only the fire department but then again I live here and I'd like to know whats going on. But just my personal opinion, I wouldn't plunk down any real cash on a scanner because the trend is public safety comms becoming more and more difficult to intercept and less other stuff to listen to when you can't listen to public safety. That's why I haven't bought a scanner in 20 years.
That is your personal opinion. But, sour grapes posts are not productive to newer scanner listeners.

First it was 800 mhz. OK, no problem I'll go get a scanner to listen to 800 conventional.
Then it was trunking. Oh shoot. I guess I'll head down to Radio Shack and buy a trunk tracking scanner.
Then it was the mass exodus to IDEN and cell phones for business users, the band suddenly became a lot quieter.
Soon after that it was digital. Some monitorable, some not.
Then it was encryption.
Again, not all are encrypted in the metro area. Forsyth, DeKalb, City of Atlanta are in the clear. The only other P-25 system that only has FD in the clear is Hall.
Then it was 700mhz. Hope your scanner goes down there.
All new (last 4+ years do 700 MHz trunking) Only one does X2 TDMA, or, Phase II. That is the GRE PSR-800.
Now there's new digital modes like DMR and NXDN, like what Jackson, Paulding and a number of other smaller agencies have begun migrating to and Radio Shack can't help you now.
Well, Jackson was bamboozeled into getting MotoTrbo with encryption. So, even if you did get a MotoTrbo radio to monitor, you can't on their system.
Those that have gone to NXDN have their own problems, but, it can be monitored with the right radio and software. You can even buy an Icom or Kenwood commercial radio to listen.
Likewise for MotoTrbo.

Then again to some people, $450 is nothing and so what if in a year's time it's obsolete. It was "only $450". If it weren't for those people, I wouldn't be able to listen to the streams online.
A $450 dollar radio is a big chunk of money for most of us. I do my research on what is going to be the best for me to use for what I monitor. Yes, I was, and still am unhappy that Gwinnett and Hall chose their path on comms. Will I give up monitoring? No, not at all. New scanners will come out eventuall. My first trunking scanner was bought in 1998 well after the locals moved to that type of comms.

I look forward to seeing positive posts from you More can be learned and shared by those of use who have been monitoring for more years than you can imagine.
Larry

[rapidcharger]

Originally Posted by N8IAA

I look forward to seeing positive posts from you More can be learned and shared by those of use who have been monitoring for more years than you can imagine.
Larry

Sorry. I don't do "positive".

I look at buying a scanner as an investment. And I've learned time and time again they become obsolete quickly. That's not sour grapes, that's just a fact.

I don't doubt that I have a lot to learn from elmers of the scanning world so can someone please tell me how I can monitor my local public safety without buying a $450 scanner that won't be completely useless in 5 years or less?

Until these agencies come back down to earth and figure out that digital does not mean better, higher frequency does not mean better, encryption is totally unnecessary and some of the money dries up, I think the answer is Broadcastify. Let somebody else keep buying the scanners.

[Mdfenley]

Originally Posted by rapidcharger

There's a several scanners for digital trunking systems that start around $450. But IMO it's only a matter of time before it's all encrypted. Just don't be surprised when a short time after you make that investment (just to monitor the fire department) that you can't hear any of it here in Gwinnett County.

Well, it wouldn't be just to listen to the FD. I am starting to travel a bit for work, All around GA and parts of TN and I figure a more up to date scanner might serve me well.

[MTS2000des]

Originally Posted by rapidcharger

Sorry. I don't do "positive".

I look at buying a scanner as an investment. And I've learned time and time again they become obsolete quickly. That's not sour grapes, that's just a fact.

I don't doubt that I have a lot to learn from elmers of the scanning world so can someone please tell me how I can monitor my local public safety without buying a $450 scanner that won't be completely useless in 5 years or less?

Until these agencies come back down to earth and figure out that digital does not mean better, higher frequency does not mean better, encryption is totally unnecessary and some of the money dries up, I think the answer is Broadcastify. Let somebody else keep buying the scanners.

Anything technology based is obsolete the minute you buy it. Computers, cell phones, microwave ovens- it loses value the minute it changes hands. Radios are not precious metals, their value rarely increases. This is a HOBBY and any investment should equal enjoyment.

For most folks there is (and likely will be) plenty to listen to. Where I live, I can hear Cobb, Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb reliably. All of them are in the clear except a handful of sensitive talk groups. All of these agencies (except Fulton) have no intentions on replacing or making major changes to their radio systems regarding encryption, so Im not worried about it. Only a few outer counties buy TRBO or NXDN, so it doesn't affect me. Most major metro areas throughout the state are on 700/800 trunking of some kind, mostly Motorola Astro 25, a few still on analog and a smaller number older mixed mode v4.1. So the current crop of scanners do just fine for the majority of us.

As far as relying on broadcastify, maybe you should consider contributing to some of those volunteers, electricity, Internet and scanners don't grow on trees, but that's just me. I would,if I used them regularly, but with a table full of system radios I have no need to.

[rapidcharger]

Originally Posted by MTS2000des

Anything technology based is obsolete the minute you buy it. Computers, cell phones, microwave ovens- it loses value the minute it changes hands. Radios are not precious metals, their value rarely increases. This is a HOBBY and any investment should equal enjoyment.

For most folks there is (and likely will be) plenty to listen to. Where I live, I can hear Cobb, Atlanta, Fulton and DeKalb reliably. All of them are in the clear except a handful of sensitive talk groups. All of these agencies (except Fulton) have no intentions on replacing or making major changes to their radio systems regarding encryption, so Im not worried about it. Only a few outer counties buy TRBO or NXDN, so it doesn't affect me. Most major metro areas throughout the state are on 700/800 trunking of some kind, mostly Motorola Astro 25, a few still on analog and a smaller number older mixed mode v4.1. So the current crop of scanners do just fine for the majority of us.)))

Enjoy it while it lasts. I'll be sure to ask you in 10 years from now how you're enjoying the hobby then.
Of course I know you'll always have a radio on your local systems given your position in your organization but the rest of your county is going to be in the dark like mine is now. Scanners aren't precious metals but it's still a safe bet which direction they're going. Back when a scanner was $150-300 it was bad enough when what you were listening to went silent. But the crazy prices of scanners now, I just use common sense and am more sensible with my money than the agencies that have bought these radio systems. In my line of work pay is either stagnant or going down, it's not rising with the costs of scanners but maybe yours is.

Originally Posted by MTS2000des

(((As far as relying on broadcastify, maybe you should consider contributing to some of those volunteers, electricity, Internet and scanners don't grow on trees, but that's just me. I would,if I used them regularly, but with a table full of system radios I have no need to.

That's excellent advice and I regularly do chip in to web services that I make use of regularly. Especially the ones that don't have annoying ads telling me how many people just "unfriended me."