Need help deciding what scanner to buy

[nnuser]

Please help! My son has asked for a Police-Fire Scanner that works in Newport News Virginia. What is the best brand/model to buy considering:

- needs to be easy to program/use
- picks up police and fire calls in Newport News VA
- costs less then $500
- needs to be portable

Thank you in advance!!!!

 

[N8IAA]

Newport News uses an analog trunking system. A Uniden BC-346XTC will work to hear the system.
What will help is getting the Uniden USB-1 programming cable and Freescan. Freescan works great and is free!
HTH,
Larry

 

[nnuser]

Thanks Larry!!! Do you know anything about the Uniden BCD436HP?

 

[Nasby]

The BCD436HP in a nutshell is a high end scanner designed to scan more complex radio systems than what Newport News uses. It would be drastic overkill.

If you check in the WIKI section here and scroll to "radio models" look at the various analog handheld units. The key term is to look at "analog" and not "digital trunking."

There are many excellent choices from Radio Shack, Uniden and Whistler.

A good analog handheld unit will cost less than $200.00.

 

[bailly2]

they recently changed a bunch of stuff on their license. appears to be just different power levels, added channels, the change in emissions could be just adding a mobile repeater, im not sure. just wanted to put it all out there
fjallfoss.fcc.gov/General_Menu_Reports/license_search_out.cfm?service_select=%25&accessible=NO&soundex_select=newport+news&wild_select=on&state_select=VA&zip_select=&frn_select=&begin_grant_date=&end_grant_date=&begin_expiration_date=&end_expiration_date=&limit_select=3&sortstring=%2C+lic_name%2C+file_num

 

[Voyager]

The BCD436HP in a nutshell is a high end scanner designed to scan more complex radio systems than what Newport News uses. It would be drastic overkill.

But would be somewhat "future-proof" - at least more so than the 346.

 

[N8IAA]

Thanks Larry!!! Do you know anything about the Uniden BCD436HP?

What snjct2000 said. Too much scanner for what you need.
Larry

 

[pinballwiz86]

Check out the Uniden BCD396XT. It does analog trunking and in areas with digital, it can do that as well!

 

[hiegtx]

Check out the Uniden BCD396XT. It does analog trunking and in areas with digital, it can do that as well!

The 396XT would be a better choice than the 346XTC.

While Newport News itself does not have any digital usage listed, the statewide system, STARS, Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) Trunking System, Statewide, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies, is P25 Phase I If state police are an interest, you will need a digital scanner.

Neighboring areas Hampton City and York also have digital systems.
Hampton Trunking System, Hampton, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies
James City / York / Williamsburg Trunking System, Various, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies

Not to mention a number of the military bases are also Phase I P25, which the 396XT can handle. Yes, there is a learning curve, but there is free software available, FreeSCAN. The 396XT, if bought new, will come with a programming cable, but that requires a serial port on the pc. Many new computers do not have serial ports, only USB. If that's the case for the OP, then perhaps consider also buying the Uniden USB-1 cable.

The 396XT can be found at a number of places online, including Amazon, for considerably less than the 436HP.

Of course, the 396XT does not have the 'zip code programming', that the 436HP does. It also does not do P25 Phase II, but there is none in your vicinity that I see. Another "easy to program" scanner would be the Home Patrol 1, however, that's not exactly a true portable. It does run on batteries, and comes with both an ac and dc power adapter. ScannerMaster does sell a case, with a belt loop, for it, but it is more designed to be used as a desktop scanner. There are windshield and vent mounts available for in-vehicle use.