Another newbie

[jtm1549]

Hopefully, I’ll get this into the correct thread.

I live in SW Missouri (Lamar, Barton County) and most agencies here are still non-digital, non-trunked which my present scanners (an old Pro-2006 hooked up to a RS magnet mount antenna and a BC72XLT w/stock antenna) do a great job of picking up, but with so many agencies going (or have gone) digital, I would like to get a scanner to receive them. Although I’ve had a scanner ever since the old crystal days, I’m totally in the dark when it comes to the digital stuff.

I think I have 3 main problems in which scanner to choose (other than cost – that’s a given – lol).

1. I’m not very technical minded, so have absolutely no idea what most of the terms mean. I use the glossary a lot, but it seems to define one technical term by using others, so I get lost trying to figure out what I was looking for in the first place. Not complaining – just trying to explain my problem – I know that a lot of technical terms of any kind can’t be explained easily.

2. I’ve done so much research over the last couple of months that I’m starting to get individual scanners mixed up with each other – which does what, etc.

3. I think this one is a result of first two – there’s so much information here and elsewhere that I’m beginning to suffer from “information overload”.

I’ve read the wiki over and over, followed links, and read many of the threads posted – not just the new user and Missouri threads, but also the GRE, Uniden, and Radio Shack threads. Also anything that just looks like it may help.

So, does anyone have any recommendations? I’m mainly interested in Missouri State, Joplin, and Kansas City (when I go there). If I understand correctly, all of those use the same type of system? If it helps any, this area is mostly rural and pretty flat with no obstructions, but according to the database, the nearest state towers to my location are about 20 miles away. Also, sad to say, an outside antenna isn’t an option – health issues plus I rent.

[Rt169Radio]

Hello and welcome to RadioReference, if your suffering from information overload it is always good to take a step back and recollect your thoughts, then start from the beginning. The problem is trying to learn everything all at once.

Now there are three scanner brands that have digital scanners: Radio Shack, GRE, and Uniden. Most of them are the same with what they can pick up, the interfaces are the things that are different. Try this, pick a scanner brand and then what scanner model you like from that brand and study that and learn about it. You could also get some radio magazines and read them along with browsing this fourm to learn things. Remember we all started out as newbies when we first started in the radio hobby.

[jtm1549]

Thank you for your reply and you are absolutely correct. I didn’t think about it that way until you pointed it out for me. I guess I’ve been trying to compare individual specs rather than all specs for individual units. No wonder I got lost. I’m kinda leaning toward a handheld, but I’m not sure of the audio output (not the quality) on them since it’ll be sitting on a cabinet about 10 ft away.

On a side note, would I be right in thinking of trunking as “somewhat” similar to the way a computer arranges itself? That is, hard drive followed by directories, then folders, then files, and last by the information contained in those files? If so, that would make it a LOT easier for me to understand and help me decide based on how easy/hard the programming looks.

Once again, thanks a bunch for your reply.

[HelixArray]

Welcome to the forums.

Also, I feel your pain. I went from a hand held RS pro-89 to one of these bearcat "flat models", hell, I don't even know what they call them. My first few days of operating it---hmm, ok, I know what squelch does. I know what scan is. And that was about it. Had to read and watch video tutorials on how to navigate through the robustness.

At any rate you found the site you want to be at. These guys know their stuff around here.

[Rt169Radio]

Originally Posted by jtm1549

Thank you for your reply and you are absolutely correct. I didn’t think about it that way until you pointed it out for me. I guess I’ve been trying to compare individual specs rather than all specs for individual units. No wonder I got lost. I’m kinda leaning toward a handheld, but I’m not sure of the audio output (not the quality) on them since it’ll be sitting on a cabinet about 10 ft away.

On a side note, would I be right in thinking of trunking as “somewhat” similar to the way a computer arranges itself? That is, hard drive followed by directories, then folders, then files, and last by the information contained in those files? If so, that would make it a LOT easier for me to understand and help me decide based on how easy/hard the programming looks.

Once again, thanks a bunch for your reply.

Well if you get a handheld and the sound is not loud enough for you, you could always get a external speaker.

You can read the info on this link to understand more about trunking. If you start to get overloaded from the info just take a break from it and come back to it later.

Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki

[benbenrf]

jtm1549

How good are you with PC's and software?
Share with me some insight to your capabilities e.g. can you load and configure software, can you uninstall and install hardware such as sound cards and/or video cards? Any understanding of Python, or C+ or C++ - or any other source coding? What about utilities and software patches, like those associated with Apple and or Android - any capability with them? Could you write up a software patch/application for Apple (or Android)?

There is an option for you to explore that's very useful in getting the best out of the transition from so-called analogue to so-called digital , but how viable it would be is very much dependent on ones' skill level with PC hardware & software.

[jtm1549]

Sorry I haven’t been back for awhile – been doing more studying and comparing. Although I’ve been spoiled by my old PRO-2006, I think I’ve just about decided on one of the Unidens this time; either the BCD996XT or the BCD396XT. From all the reviews I’ve read, pro and con, they seem to have a slight (not big) edge for my purposes. Now all I need to do is save all my pennies and nickels – lol. Hopefully, I’ll run across a few bargains after the holidays.

To benbenrf: Sorry, but I don’t know anything about source coding or stuff like that, although I can and do swap out hardware and get it setup right. Patches, applications, and such are also pretty much limited to whatever my computers tell me they need, (I have a 10 year old desktop w/XP Home SP3 and a 5 year old laptop w/Vista Basic SP2 – nothing fancy) I do want to thank you for the suggestion, though.

Wouldn't let me post - said I wasn't logged in???

[Rt169Radio]

Either scanner is a nice one, but of course as you already know the handheld scanner can be taken more places then the base scanner. So would you be scanning alot at your house? Or while mobile?

[DickH]

Originally Posted by jtm1549

... I’m totally in the dark when it comes to the digital stuff. ...

Digital is just another type of modulation, something like AM radio vs FM radio. The programming is exactly the same. Many digital capable scanners use a different scheme - no banks and channels, but both Analog and Digital are programmed the same, so don't get hung up on the term digital.

Trunking is another story. Here is a simple explanation of how it works, based on Motorola, the most common type system in use.

Motorola Trunking:
The object of trunking is to allow many users to share a relatively few frequencies.
A trunking system is controlled by a computer. Information (data) is exchanged between the system radios and the computer on a control channel, sometimes called a data channel. It sounds like a strong buzz.
A large system can have up to 28 freqs., 4 of which may be used as control channels. The control channel may be changed once a day or as often as the programmer decides. Some scanners need only the control channels to track an entire system. Just put in the 4 Control Channels.

Each group of users (Fire, Police, etc.) is assigned TALK GROUPS. In a Motorola Type II system, the most common type, TGs are usually in 32 number steps starting with 16 and going up to 65536; 16, 48, 80 --- 4656, 4688, 4720 --- 28944, 28976, etc. System radios can have more than 100 TGs programmed into them.

How it works
When a user pushes the talk button on his radio, data is sent to the computer. The computer chooses an unused freq. and sends that data to all the radios set to the TG of the originating unit. This all happens in a fraction of a second and it happens EVERY TIME a radio is used.

EXAMPLE:
Fire Dispatch calling Engine 4 (TG 4528 on 856.7125)
Engine 4 answering Dispatch (TG 4528 on 852.2625)
Respond to 73 Elm Street (TG 4528 on 855.9625)
Engine 4 responding (TG 4528 on 851.6375)

If you have entered TG 4528 into your scanner, it will decode the control channel data and change your scanner freqs. to follow the conversation on TG 4528.