Need some scanner help

[FFemtKilroy]

Hi, so I am new to the whole scanner deal. The closet thing I've used to scanners would be pagers and the Teamspeak application on my computer which allows me to listen to many counties.

My question is what scanner do I need. Currently I am a member of a call department in Oakham Massachusetts. It is non-digital, however, I might be joining Wrentham Mass in a few weeks and that is digital or going to be I assume. So what would be the best scanner I could use to drive around with in my car and just keep on me. Im also looking for one with a fire tone out feature. Ive looked at the Uniden Bearcat BC346XT and BCD396XT and feel they'd be perfect.

Another problem I have is that they all are charging more to be programmed. Is this something I can do myself. I am very good with computers and tech based issues.

If you could help me out or give me any advice in anyway it would be greatly appreciated, and if the scanners I've looked at aren't the best for me, any suggestions that would be awesome. Thank you.

[DPD1]

If you can afford it, I'd go with the digital. There will most likely be some time when you wish you had it for something and be disappointed you don't. If you were just into air stuff or something, I'd say don't bother. But in emergency service stuff, you will probably come across something digital, and that will only increase with time. The Unidens are good.

I don't see any reason why you can't program yourself. If you can do computer stuff, you can do that. And most of the hard part is frequencies, which you have most of here.

[AlabamaRS]

Also if you get frustrated programming it yourself, get the premium membership here AT RR & import them all in just minutes ( need the USB cable) and appropriate software

[jnewell]

Hi and welcome - Boston area here. There is just enough digital in the area to make spending the considerable extra dollars worthwhile, unless you're really sure that your local systems of interest aren't going digital (many/most in our area won't unless they decide to spend their Stimulus $ on radios - can't afford it otherwise when they're laying off teachers and PS personnel). However, there are already some local systems on digital and some neighboring states' SP are already digital. Digital scanners won't get cheaper IMO but they will get better, so as with many technology purchases, if you can defer, you may be better off. Your call.

I have both a GRE and a Uniden digital scanner. Performance is equal as far as I'm concerned. The user interface, especially how you control the memory, is very different - not better/worse, just different. The Uniden handhelds are a lot smaller, though, and that might be a factor.

Programming is not hard, and there are resources that can get you files you can start with, but there is no reason not to use either FreeScan (free) or ProScan (my choice; 30 day free trial) to manage the memory and the small cost of being a premium subscriber here so you can do direct downloads rather than keying numbers in by hand is worth it, in my opinion. The Uniden and GRE scanners come with cables (but the Uniden is a serial cable, not USB, so you'd need an adapter if your computer doesn't have a serial connector - most laptops don't anymore).

You should check in at Scannewengland.org (or .net? I forget...) also.

[rvictor]

You should be able to do the programming yourself. You install one of the programs such as FreeScan or ProScan and enter the frequencies into the program by typing them in, by cutting and pasting them in, and/or by downloading them from here with a premium membership. Once you've got them arranged the way you want them, you upload them to the scanner using the serial cable that's supplied with Unidens and available for others if you have a serial port. If you have no serial port, you buy either a serial to USB adapter or a cable which contains the adapter and do it through the USB port.

Since you save the datafile on your computer, you can make changes as desired from time to time and reupload. This approach also lets you use datafiles that someone else has created for your area if you happen to know someone that's already done the programming.

Either of the Unidens would be good, but obviously the digital gives you more capabilities if you can afford it.

Dick

[FFemtKilroy]

Thanks for all the help. I'm about 90% posative I'm gonna pick up a Uniden BCD396XT Scanner. Its digital, and I dont want to get a non-digital and then get in a spot where I wished I got it, especially when the majority of towns around where I live in Wrentham are digital now.

And is Scanner Master the best place to buy a scanner like this? The prices are pretty much the same everywhere online. Also, I'm about a half hour from their store in Natick, MA so I might go there and save the shipping $$.

Thanks for the help, and if anyone still has any comments feel free to leave them, I'll still read them.