Recommendation

[jeffbridge]

Can someone recommend a good, starter portable scanner that works well in Plymouth County. I had problems before with a Uniden and issues with programming. Also, how do I find or obtain digital frequencies where a local police has moved off of analog?

Thanks for your help.

 

[troymail]

Can someone recommend a good, starter portable scanner that works well in Plymouth County. I had problems before with a Uniden and issues with programming. Also, how do I find or obtain digital frequencies where a local police has moved off of analog?

Thanks for your help.

Depends a bit on what you want to listen to.

From the listings found here in the RRDB:
Plymouth County, Massachusetts (MA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

For local county activity - which at this time seems mostly to be conventional analog, you can probably get away fairly cheaply with a very low end scanner like a Uniden BC75XLT or Whislter 1010. Note that these radio won't handled trunked radio systems which is what your state police use.

If you're looking for a trunked radio scanner, there are quite a range of options also and it may come down to how much you want to spend. The prices for analog handhleds appears to be running between $250 and $500+.

 

[mainetrunk]

If you have the money, I recomend the newer scanner from Uniden.
Digital systems are popping up everywhere//
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts (Project 25) System Trunking System, Statewide, Massachusetts - Scanner Frequencies

 

[N1BHH]

The P-25 system doesn't cover Plymouth County at all. The only P-25 in use is rarely used conventional by a couple PD's, so your best deal, if you want to include State Police is just about any current radio with trunking capability, don't discount MSP, you're only going to hear a small number of talk groups.

Pro-652, 197, 106, 651 are among current and recent (still available) models that will give you what you're looking for, and Whistler has a few models, too.

The latest up to date frequencies are here:
Southeastern MA Portal - Scan New England Wiki

 

[jeffbridge]

I should clarify. I want to listen primarily to Bridgewater Police which is all digital as Bridgewater Fire and BSU, etc. Everything local essentially.

 

[fourthhorseman]

Honestly,PSR500s/PRO106s can be obtained for 200-250-300USD...New in many cases..

It pays to go digital upfront so When an agency go's P25 its a
programming update rather than a radio upgrade..

 

[Junior08]

I should clarify. I want to listen primarily to Bridgewater Police which is all digital as Bridgewater Fire and BSU, etc. Everything local essentially.

Bridgewater Public Safety is analog, not digital. If that is your primary monitoring interests then any analog conventional scanner will suffice.

 

[jeffbridge]

Bridgewater Public Safety is analog, not digital. If that is your primary monitoring interests then any analog conventional scanner will suffice.

I'm confused. I am using an anlaog scanner to listed to Bridgewater Police, the freq is inputted as listed on many sites including this one, but I don't get a thing. I can hear ham operators in the 147.xx range but no police or fire at all. Any ideas?

 

[Junior08]

Bridgewater PD - 484.7875 PL tone 203.5.

Please confirm this is what you have programmed, then we can figure out what's going on.

 

[jeffbridge]

Mark,

I cannot program PL tones into my Uniden Bearcat. Too old. Could this be the problem?

 

[Junior08]

Bridgewater FD - 460.525 PL 107.2

 

[Junior08]

Shouldn't be an issue, do you have 484.7875 for the PD? and 460.525 for FD?

 

[Junior08]

What scanner are you using?

 

[jeffbridge]

I have both those frequencies in. BC200XLT

 

[Junior08]

Have you tried any other surrounding town frequencies to verify you are receiving anything?

 

[jeffbridge]

I get Brockton clear as bell. But no Bridgewater.

 

[Junior08]

I can usually receive Bridgewater PD from my location, monitoring now to verify.

 

[Junior08]

If you want to upgrade, which it sounds like you do, and are only interested in "Local" channels in your area, this scanner will fit your needs. If you want to monitor MA State Police you will need a trunk tracking scanner, which can be found used for around $150 maybe less?

Uniden Bearcat BC75XLT Police Scanner | ScannerMaster.com

 

[jeffbridge]

Ya, may have to get a new scanner. Can't understand for the life of why this one doesn't work anymore. Thanks for your help.

 

[Junior08]

One advantage to getting a trunk tracking scanner is that it gives you more options should your interests increase. Plus, they will allow you to program in the PL tones for conventional analog channels so that you are assured of only hearing the departments you want to, and not some other agency that may use the same channel with a different PL tone. Your current scanner doesn't know the difference.