What scanner for MPLS/STP?

[Kinix]

I have been reading through the Minnesota forum to find out what scanners work for the Twin Cities (police/fire/sheriff/rescue) area and am finding myself very confused. I'm ashamed to admit the last radio I bought was a PRO 2026 -- which is pretty quiet these days.

I see people talking about the PRO 96 and the PRO 106. Is one much better than the other? Is one easier to use with the local system than the other? Are there other scanners/brands I should be considering? The very top of my budget is $400.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[mmtstc]

You will need somethign that can do P25 digital trunk tracking.

]you can probably save some money by purchasing an older used unit such as a Pro96, bcd396t, bcd796t as they will work fine. they may lack a couple of options, but they really do the trick. I absolutely love my bcd396t...

[Raven95150]

If your budget is only $400, you will have to find something used. A new digital scanner will run $500+.

I would also highly recommend the Uniden BCD396T, mainly based on my personal experience with mine. I think the 396 is a much better scanner for ARMER because of Uniden's dynamic memory.

Take a look on ebay, there are usually quite a few digital scanners for sale. I picked up my 396 on ebay 3 years ago for $400.

You could also check Craigslist, there are sometimes a few people on there with scanners for sale. I just looked and there was someone selling a Pro-96 for $275.

It also wouldn't hurt to check some pawn shops, they get a few scanners once in a while. A while back I found a Pro-96 at a pawn shop for $200. I couldn't pass that deal up so I bought it but I decided I didn't like it. I put it on ebay and it sold for $300.

Also, if you aren't ready to spend the money on a digital scanner, there is still stuff you can hear with your old scanner. See this thread: VHF Freqs?

[ofd8001]

One thing to bear in mind with the BCD396 is that it will do only one site per system. That means you'll have to create separate systems for Minneapolis (city sub-system), Hennepin East, Hennipen West, Ramsey and Minneapolis (state system). Also, for other outlying areas - Dakota County, etc., will need their own system as well.

Still if money is tight, the BCD996 will be fine.


The BCD396XT (the newest version of the BCD396), the BCD996 and BCD996XT can do multiple sites on a single big system (like ARMER).

The BCD996XT just came out and they can be found for $495.

[wogggieee]

I saw in the Grove catalog that they have a PSR-500 going for $449. Like the previous post said, you're not going to get a new digital scanner for less than 400, you'll have to go used.

[Kinix]

Thank you all for your assistance. I think I will stick with Radio Shack scanners as that's what my older units are -- I'm hoping the learning curve will be less.

Since the Pro-96 will work with ARMER, based on your posts, I think I'll shop for a used unit to save some cash versus the Pro-106 which has been on sale recently for $399.

RR has been a wealth of information for me, thank you all again!