need help

jdmcx · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 05:42 PM

i need some help. i am new to scanners and would like to purchace one but i have no idea where to get started on what model to get ect.. i live in Berrien County and was told i would have to get one that is digital
any help would be great.
jason

bsdunek · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 08:18 AM

If you want to hear any police activity, you need digital. All police in Michigan are now digital. With an analog you can still hear some EMS, fire, aircraft, ham, park & recreation, trains, etc.
As time goes on, there will be more changes to digital, so if I was buying today, that's what I would get.
Hope that helps.

jdmcx · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 08:27 AM

Thanks i appreciate the help
with the digital can i still hear analog? i was told i couldn't
jason

k8tmk · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 08:27 AM

Jason:

Yes, you do need a digital scanner that can handle 9600 baud. The Michigan State Police, Berrien County Sheriff's Department, and most other juresdictions are on the MPSCS digital system. St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, and Benton Township are still on their older VHF frequencies, although I read that Benton Township is planning on moving to 800 MHz (probably the MPSCS system).

I have the older Bearcat model, and it works fine. Bearcat has a newer model, BC-996 that will also work.

Radio Shack also has scanners that will work. Just be sure it can handle 9600 baud APCO 25.

I too live in Berrien County (Stevensville).

Randy

k8tmk · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 08:29 AM

Jason:

Digital scanners will also accept the analog signals just fine.

Randy

Thunderbolt · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 12:32 PM

The new line of GRE scanners will work very nicely on the MPSCS in Berrien County. Their new PSR-500 handheld and soon to be released PSR-600 base/mobile unit, have excellent audio quality. Moreover, GRE was the manufacturer of Radio Shack's scanners for many years.

http://www.greamerica.com/scanners.html

73s

Ron

gg750 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsdunek

All police in Michigan are now digital.

Far from it. Many LE agencies in Michigan are still analog, or using non-digital trunking.

G

a29zuk · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k8tmk

Jason:

Digital scanners will also accept the analog signals just fine.

Randy

Yes, the new digital scanners can receive analog signals. Uniden has the BCT-396(handheld) and the BCT-996(base). Radio Shack has the Pro-96(handheld) and the Pro-2096(base). GRE has the new PSR-500 (handheld) with the new base PSR-600 coming out in the next few months.