In the market for a new scanner, calling on those in the know.

[Logan005]

I am looking to get a new scanner. the old bearcat I am using is slow and does not display the received DCS and or CTCSS numbers. I guess my question do any scanners display DCS and CTCSS info or does any scanner offer this as an option? also what are the advantage of a trunk tracker? I would prefer a portable, but open to a desktop as well. What else should I know before I buy a new scanner? not so much looking to listen to police, but maybe fire and rescue, GMRS and MURS. Any help is greatly appreciated. Best Regards..Jim..

 

[Logan005]

BTW, I considered the OPTOELECTRONICS XPLORER Receiver, but after talking to the dealer I am not sure a near field receiver/decoder is what I really need. as nice as it is, I would rather have a good scanner.

 

[trap5858]

The market is rather slim right now since GRE is out of the picture until Whistler who bought their "line" is up and running. Uniden makes excellent radios and rumor has it they will have something new to offer soon.

My advice would be to evaluate your listening needs (targets) and look at the database to see what the requirements would be for those frequencies. Today's handheld scanners pack a lot into a small package and with the software and database, they are easy to program.

I have Uniden and GRE equipment and like each for different reasons. It is like people with cars- some like FORD some like CHEVY and so on.

 

[Logan005]

any that decode and display the CTCSS or DCS of the locked on signal? This is mostly what I am looking for.

 

[N8IAA]

any that decode and display the CTCSS or DCS of the locked on signal? This is mostly what I am looking for.

If you are just wanting analog VHF/UHF, any of the newer scanners such as the Uniden BC125AT will do that. Your county has two or three trunked, LTR systems. No CTCSS/DCS will display for those. Give us a better idea, or, maybe ask in the Florida state forum, further down the forums page
HTH,
Larry

 

[pepsima1]

I am looking to get a new scanner. the old bearcat I am using is slow and does not display the received DCS and or CTCSS numbers. I guess my question do any scanners display DCS and CTCSS info or does any scanner offer this as an option? also what are the advantage of a trunk tracker? I would prefer a portable, but open to a desktop as well. What else should I know before I buy a new scanner? not so much looking to listen to police, but maybe fire and rescue, GMRS and MURS. Any help is greatly appreciated. Best Regards..Jim..

Well it looks like you have some Motorola Type II systems which is analog and all in the clear and no encryption. I would wait until next month even buy anything. I honestly would not buy any of the older models on the market. Their shelf live have expired in some aspects.

I would buy the latest models coming out in the next couple of months from Uniden. This will give you all of the latest technology and will be backwards compatible with all of the older trunk systems and will give you access to the latests trunking systems. If your county get a wild hair and gets some grant money and moves to a Phase II TDMA system then you will be all set with a great unit. My 2 Cents

 

[Logan005]

If you are just wanting analog VHF/UHF, any of the newer scanners such as the Uniden BC125AT will do that. Your county has two or three trunked, LTR systems. No CTCSS/DCS will display for those. Give us a better idea, or, maybe ask in the Florida state forum, further down the forums page
HTH,
Larry

Thank you Larry; so I searched the BC125AT and read over the data sheet.

I found this line, I must assume refers to the feature I am looking for,

"Close Call RF Capture Technology - you can set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions"

If this is so, It is exactly what I am looking for. Please advise. Best regards..Jim..

 

[fxdscon]

Thank you Larry; so I searched the BC125AT and read over the data sheet.

I found this line, I must assume refers to the feature I am looking for,

"Close Call RF Capture Technology - you can set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions"

If this is so, It is exactly what I am looking for. Please advise. Best regards..Jim..

Some info on Close Call...

Uniden Close Call - The RadioReference Wiki

.

 

[Logan005]

Some info on Close Call...

Uniden Close Call - The RadioReference Wiki

.

thank you fxdscon, I found "Close Call Auto Store"

"Automatically stores frequencies found by Close Call to the Close Call system, Found Channels group. This mode is particularly useful when listening to the scanner is not possible (ex. shopping in a department store, walking through a casino, etc.), but one would like to later review what frequencies and CTCSS/DCS tones were found active"

I think this is exactly what I am looking for. I noticed the wiki list several models with this close call feature. so I will research them before I buy.

 

[Logan005]

after much reading I decided Larry was right on track and went with the BC125AT, I could have got a manufactures referb for 85.00 but decided 114.00 was worth it for a brand new one. Thank you Larry and fxdscon for the info.

 

[Blackink]

That's a good scanner and it will display the CTCSS/DCS tones.
Here's a link from the Wiki that gives you some details on that scanner ~~~>BC125AT - The RadioReference Wiki.

And if you click on the picture of the scanner on the right on that Web page, it'll give you a nice close-up view of it.

 

[Logan005]

Thank You Blackink, for the link to the full wiki. good info indeed.

 

[Logan005]

Well I've been playing with my new BC125at and for the most part this is a great scanner radio. However it only detects and displays the CTCSS and DCS codes for very close radio transmissions. and even then for all of a second or 2, not long enough to copy the data to a piece of paper. I do not see a log of close calls. or even a log of captured CTCSS or DCS codes. another issue is this thing kills battery's, even when I place Alkaline battery's in the unit, they last all of 4 maybe 5 hours. device must be plugged in to use with the NIMHI battery's and then when unplugged, only last 3 hours or so. anybody know how to pull the close call log? download by USB? What am I doing incorrectly. Please advise. Best regards, Jim...

 

[pinballwiz86]

Well I've been playing with my new BC125at and for the most part this is a great scanner radio. However it only detects and displays the CTCSS and DCS codes for very close radio transmissions. and even then for all of a second or 2, not long enough to copy the data to a piece of paper. I do not see a log of close calls. or even a log of captured CTCSS or DCS codes. another issue is this thing kills battery's, even when I place Alkaline battery's in the unit, they last all of 4 maybe 5 hours. device must be plugged in to use with the NIMHI battery's and then when unplugged, only last 3 hours or so. anybody know how to pull the close call log? download by USB? What am I doing incorrectly. Please advise. Best regards, Jim...

I have a BC125AT.

Sorry to hear you're not getting the full performance from your radio! I recommend you plug it in to the wall to save on batteries. I use an old Morotorola cell phone charger with the "micro-USB". You can also spring for rechargeable batteries. A lot of guys will tell you not to charge them in the scanner.

In regards to the radio and CTCSS/DCS. It will pick up distant stations as well. What happens is, you need a good reception. If the signal is scratchy or noisy the scanner may not display the tone. Also, if the transmission is very short it will also not display the tone. Just keep listening. After a while, you will know what the CTCSS/DCS look like only need the first two numbers to get it right.

Plug the radio into your computer and use Uniden's software to get the close call log. You can also program the frequencies in this way.

Caveat! Do not turn off your scanner without noting the close call frequencies as they will disappear.

Have fun!

 

[nyair1]

I bought one of these to backup my Pro-97 for Milair and i was wondering if you can change the 136-141 to AM for air to air Milair. I have looked around but can't seem to find anything on this?? Thanks

 

[pinballwiz86]

I bought one of these to backup my Pro-97 for Milair and i was wondering if you can change the 136-141 to AM for air to air Milair. I have looked around but can't seem to find anything on this?? Thanks

It's already setup for AM for Milair. Just save the frequency you want or run service search #7.

 

[nyair1]

It's already setup for AM for Milair. Just save the frequency you want or run service search #7.

Yes the 225-380mhz milair band is but is there a way to change the 136-141mhz to AM mode for milair?

 

[nyair1]

Anyone??? Or am i just out of luck on changing modes on the 136-144 military band??

 

[N8IAA]

Anyone??? Or am i just out of luck on changing modes on the 136-144 military band??

Yes. In either the Uniden software for the scanner, or Arc-125, under the mode, click and you can choose Auto, AM, FM, or NFM. Bet you can do it through the Menu too.
Larry