Scanner Recommendations?

[jepenny]

Hi:

I'm looking to get into the scanner hobby again. I had a few old scanners given to me that I played with back when I was about 11-12 but things have obviously changed in 13 years.

I mainly just want to listen to OPD, OFD, etc and am looking for a good scanner recommendation. A handheld unit would probably serve me well.

What do you recommend that will work for our area?

Otherwise, the Radioreference Wiki articles etc should get me on the right path.

Thank you,

Jesse

[Hobbyscan]

Might as well go for the latest model (digital). I prefer Uniden myself due to their user friendlyness. NSP will be using digital soon and if you want to catch all or most of the action I think this is the way to go. That being said, it will set you back a few hundred dollars.

[jepenny]

How difficult is it to program these APCO-25 digital scanners? I consider myself pretty proficient technical wise.

I doubt it's as easy as it was back in the old days when you could just buy a copy of Radio Reference and plug in the frequencies.

Thank you,

Jesse

[Hobbyscan]

Not sure as I don't have the funds yet. I like to download the manuals before I buy to get familiar with the product.

[KG4WHM]

Not that hard.
You can either buy or download free programming software.
Some even support downloading system info both conventional and trunking from RR. You do have to be a premium subscriber with RR.