Newbie here...suggestions appreciated!

[sobo1]

Hey folks....

I've had my scanner for quite a few years with a bunch of frequncies plugged into it, but to be honest I'm not sure what the frequencies are for so I'm never sure of what I'm listening to.

My ultimate goal here is to try to find out about Police, Fire and EMS occurances just in the general area that I live.

My first problem is I have not found the frequencies for those on this web site- I live in Loudoun County, Virginia- zip is 20152

I guess my only other question would be any tips you could offer up when listening to the scanner on how be made aware of Poilce, Fire and EMS calls in my area....sometimes they seem to talk so fast in in code it's difficult to follow along.

Thanks in advance for any insight

SWB

[xxdanielt3]

Originally Posted by sobo1

Hey folks....

I've had my scanner for quite a few years with a bunch of frequncies plugged into it, but to be honest I'm not sure what the frequencies are for so I'm never sure of what I'm listening to.

My ultimate goal here is to try to find out about Police, Fire and EMS occurances just in the general area that I live.

My first problem is I have not found the frequencies for those on this web site- I live in Loudoun County, Virginia- zip is 20152

I guess my only other question would be any tips you could offer up when listening to the scanner on how be made aware of Poilce, Fire and EMS calls in my area....sometimes they seem to talk so fast in in code it's difficult to follow along.

Thanks in advance for any insight

SWB

First of all what kind of scanner do you have? Upon research I see your county uses a P25 system. Are you using just a conventional analog scanner?

[W8RMH]

Welcome to RadioReference. Click on the links below (in blue).

Loudoun County Trunking System, Ashburn, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies

Currently the only scanner that can receive this system is the PSR-800.

You would have to listen to police and fire dispatch channels to monitor for activity in your area. As far as understanding the lingo it just takes some practice.

Also here is a live Fire/Rescue feed for in your county. Loudoun County Fire Rescue

You posted your question in the amateur radio forum which it does not pertain to.

Next time try the Virginia Forum where local listeners can give you some more details.
.

[WayneH]

Originally Posted by W8RMH

You posted your question in the amateur radio forum which it does not pertain to.

Thread moved to the New User forum.

[sobo1]

Originally Posted by W8RMH

Welcome to RadioReference. Click on the links below (in blue).

Loudoun County Trunking System, Ashburn, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies

Currently the only scanner that can receive this system is the PSR-800.

You would have to listen to police and fire dispatch channels to monitor for activity in your area. As far as understanding the lingo it just takes some practice.

Also here is a live Fire/Rescue feed for in your county. Loudoun County Fire Rescue

You posted your question in the amateur radio forum which it does not pertain to.

Next time try the Virginia Forum where local listeners can give you some more details.
.

Thank you for the feedback- my apologies for posting in the wrong forum.

Here are some details on my scanner- it appears I have a scanner that is not compatible with my county- that kind of stinks! Can you offer up any suggestions on where to get the scanner that does work at a reasonable price?

My current scanner-
Radio Shack
Trunk Tracker 800mhz
PRO-2050
300 Channel Direct Entry Programmable AM/FM scanner receiver.

Also, are you saying that if I enter all those frequencies in the list that you attached that would give me full Police/Fire/EMS coverage for my area? (Assuming I get a compatible scanner)

Sorry for the silly questions....I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Thanks

[Rt169Radio]

Hello, welcome to RadioReference. You could try looking for that scanner on various places like the RR classifieds, Ebay, Amazon, etc.

You could also try various radio stores, as there are quite a bit out there.

[sobo1]

Originally Posted by Rt169Radio

Hello, welcome to RadioReference. You could try looking for that scanner on various places like the RR classifieds, Ebay, Amazon, etc.

You could also try various radio stores, as there are quite a bit out there.

Thank you for the feedback- much appreciated...

Please just clarify a couple things if you cold be so kind

1- Does it have to be the PSR-800 or is there another one that may be an option- ie- PSR-600 or PSR-700? The PSR-800 carries quite a price tag ($400+) and was hoping to get something for less than that.

2- From what I've read, I don't necessarily need frequencies if I do buy this- you simply enter in your zip code and it picks up all the frequencies in your area? How cool!

Thank you again- this is very much appreciated.

[mass-man]

Your county is using a P25 X2-TDMA modulation scheme for their system. The PSR-800 is the ONLY scanner that will listen to that type of system. There maybe others coming soon, but they are not going to be cheap either. As a listener, you are very much in a bind...if you want to listen, you have to have the right equipment, if you don't, then move onto listening to other services. It stinks...in my area, there are police and fire depts that have moved to a modulation scheme that NO scanner can hear. I have just had to stop listening to those and find other things to listen to. I guess as our tastes in music, or movies, or apparel changes, we have to do the same with scanning.

And yes the PSR-800 is preloaded with the system info, so all you do is enter your zip and it knows where it is and what to listen to. That is an oversimplification, but essentially what it does.

[sadman3]

from a quick look at your county it looks like the PSR800 is your best bet. I dont have that radio so can help much with it. Rite now the PSR800 is the only scanner that can pick up X2-TDMA with the new update.Hope this helps

[W8RMH]

1- Does it have to be the PSR-800 or is there another one that may be an option- ie- PSR-600 or PSR-700? The PSR-800 carries quite a price tag ($400+) and was hoping to get something for less than that.

Originally Posted by W8RMH

Currently the only scanner that can receive this system is the PSR-800.

It doesn't get any clear than this.

[sobo1]

Appreciate the feedback- you guys have been very helpful.

One final question (for now). I think monitoring the local Police/Fire and EMS wouuld be really cool- but I'm very much a novice.

Is there any chance the county may change again in the future and make the PSR-800 obsolete?

I certainly don't want to dish out $400+ only to have them change to some type of other technology in a year or two...

Thanks!

[Rt169Radio]

Originally Posted by sobo1

Appreciate the feedback- you guys have been very helpful.

One final question (for now). I think monitoring the local Police/Fire and EMS wouuld be really cool- but I'm very much a novice.

Is there any chance the county may change again in the future and make the PSR-800 obsolete?

I certainly don't want to dish out $400+ only to have them change to some type of other technology in a year or two...

Thanks!

The PSR-800 covers alot of radio systems so I don't think you have to worry about that.

[Spitfire8520]

Originally Posted by Rt169Radio

The PSR-800 covers alot of radio systems so I don't think you have to worry about that.

Unless they go with encryption or an unsupported digital format.