Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!

sparks40 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 10:59 AM

I had purchased a PRO-528 a time ago, which i used to pick up anything and everything, including local businesses and police frequencies. The problem now is that almost all the police frequencies in my area (winnebago county, IL), have gone to Starcom21. I now have two scanners that are pretty much useless as far as i know (the other is a PRO-82). My question is do i need to invest in a more expensive digital scanner now, or is there any options for upgrading the PRO-528?? If not, what's a good handheld that should'nt become outdated?? All replies appreciated.

Dave

ERICMYERS · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:46 PM

Now or later, dave, determined more by your wallet than anything else. There is nothing you can do to either of those 2 scanners to make them receive Starcom. Neither are rebandable either.

They can still receive some things of course...not totally useless. Any of the new Unidens like the 996xt or the 396xt would be a good long term investment. A used 996t or 396t isn't bad either.

try this for research Digital Scanners

jclarkr6 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 10:18 PM

I use a BCD396XT to monitor the Starcom21 towers in my area and I have been impressed with how well it performs. While I would recommend a BCD396XT to just about anybody, I realize that everyone has a different taste in electronics. Take a look at the BCD396XT and compare it to the GRE PSR-500 and the RadioShack (excuse me, "The Shack") Pro-106. I compared all three of them for quite awhile until I finally decided to get the BCD396XT and I think it's one of the best purchases that I've ever made.

sparks40 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 12:34 AM

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured i was in for a new scanner, i'll just have to hide it from the wife for awhile with the price tag....hehehe. Any pros and cons, likes and dislikes, etc. for the units mentioned above?? I'm thinking of staying away from the Radio Shack unit, just because i don't appear to be able to get alot of technical support, but i'm open to suggestions. Thanks again.

BCFlash · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 01:30 AM

Actually Dave, in Winnebago County the only non- Federal agencies that have gone digital are Rockford PD and the IL State Police, everyone else is still analog. Check the RR database to make sure you have the latest frequencies.

RoninJoliet · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 06:28 PM

I also have the 396XT and the GRE500, i very much prefer the Uniden 396XT for better digital decode and in the mobile for less overload from cell towers on Starcom even tho they rebanded....The GRE500 has a slight edge on volume on digital but the 396XT has "extra volume" menu...I prefer the Systems and Groups method on the 396XT rather than the ScanList Object programming on the GRE500 where things are kinda mixed up rather than in order....I have programmed everything by hand to get a complete idea on how each programs as they are entirely different from each other and any other scanners of old....

rhalld38 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 08:57 PM

Well at least you could listen to Winnebago County PD and Rockford Fire until you get a digital scanner that you would have to hide from your wife.

SouthSideScannerGuy · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparks40

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured i was in for a new scanner, i'll just have to hide it from the wife for awhile with the price tag....hehehe. Any pros and cons, likes and dislikes, etc. for the units mentioned above?? I'm thinking of staying away from the Radio Shack unit, just because i don't appear to be able to get alot of technical support, but i'm open to suggestions. Thanks again.

Not a good idea, unless you enjoy sleeping in the spare bedroom (alone) for a few nights once she finds out. Been there (hid my PRO-106 for a couple of weeks), done that and it ain't fun.

RoninJoliet · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 03:30 PM

Question for South Side Scanner Guy, i also have a 346XT and live in Joliet, ILL, Joliet rebanded as i think Hammond has, every time the CChannel for Joliet lands on 852.7875 and i go to the "Custom Search" to search Joliet-851-855 that freqy will not work as i get no volume on the IDTG's...Have you created a "rebanded" Custom Search for Hammond and when the CC's change does it (346XT) work fine? ...When the CC is anyother one in Joliet the Custom Search works fine, the regular part of the 346XT trunking works fine with any of Joliets CC's...Have spoken to the Uniden rep and he is baffled...Two other scanner users here also see the same problem....Thank You...

SouthSideScannerGuy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

Question for South Side Scanner Guy, i also have a 346XT and live in Joliet, ILL, Joliet rebanded as i think Hammond has, every time the CChannel for Joliet lands on 852.7875 and i go to the "Custom Search" to search Joliet-851-855 that freqy will not work as i get no volume on the IDTG's...Have you created a "rebanded" Custom Search for Hammond and when the CC's change does it (346XT) work fine? ...When the CC is anyother one in Joliet the Custom Search works fine, the regular part of the 346XT trunking works fine with any of Joliets CC's...Have spoken to the Uniden rep and he is baffled...Two other scanner users here also see the same problem....Thank You...

Sorry Ron, I just now saw this.

Unfortunately I can't shed any light on this (if it's still a problem). Yes, Hammond has rebanded, and it took me quite a while to get it working again on my 346XT, but I guess I never even considered using/creating a rebanded custom search. At first I tried using a band plan, but all I got was dead air. After some experimenting, I found out that I didn't have to use any band plan; I just downloaded the system from the database, set the type as "Mot Type II / P25" and the site type as "Mot 800MHz Standard (type II)" and I was good to go. It's been receiving the TRS fine ever since.

Don't know the first thing about custom searches, although I probably should learn. There's still a lot about my 346XT I need to learn.

SSSG

RoninJoliet · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-2009, 04:39 PM

Thanks anyway, it maybe that Motorola just changed your freqys 15mgz and that was that like they did here on "Stateville Prison Moto TYPE11, but on Joliet they changed the freqy #ing so we must use the BandPlan1-2...You mentioned Moto Type11/P25, you did not set the 346XT to P25 cause it does not do digital??...I have a Uniden 898xt and its rebandable but i have no idea how to install the new ver: firmware to be able to use the Bandplans,need to find someone in the Joliet area for help.....Ron in Joliet

SouthSideScannerGuy · #12 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

Thanks anyway, it maybe that Motorola just changed your freqys 15mgz and that was that like they did here on "Stateville Prison Moto TYPE11, but on Joliet they changed the freqy #ing so we must use the BandPlan1-2...You mentioned Moto Type11/P25, you did not set the 346XT to P25 cause it does not do digital??...I have a Uniden 898xt and its rebandable but i have no idea how to install the new ver: firmware to be able to use the Bandplans,need to find someone in the Joliet area for help.....Ron in Joliet

Right, but that's what the setting on Freescan says, so that what I was mainly referring to.

ka3jjz · #13 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 05:59 AM

Keep in mind that FreeScan takes a different approach with supporting multiple scanners - it doesn't try to determine which scanner you are really using. I've talked with Assaf about this, and it seems he really doesn't want the headaches of trying to code something for this. I agree that it should do this - heck, it would be simple, in theory, just to have a pulldown for the scanner model and set the options accordingly.

So FreeScan shows all the options for all the scanners it supports, and leaves it to the user to know which ones apply and which don't (for example, setting the audio type - analog, digital or auto - isn't available on the 396 but is on the 996). A little confusing for the newcomer, but not unsurmountable.

73 Mike